The heart of it

Our heart beats over 100,000 times a day and pumps around 1.5 gallons of blood per minute. Fetal heart cells can start beating at a mere 4 weeks.  Our hearts are incredible, intricate, essential to human life. So when you or a loved one has a problem with such a vital organ, it can be terrifying.

We had amazing support and care from John Radcliffe Hospital when G was in utero, and thankfully she had no major issues with her heart when she was born, unlike some babes with Turner Sydrome.
So some of you will recall our shock just under two years ago when we found out that G had a hole in her heart. A hole that should have closed after birth. A patent foramen ovule.

Well today, after many prayers, lots of worrying, and consideration of potential implications such as heart surgery, we found out that the hole had closed.  Hurrah! Thank God! I cried......embarrasing!
G was such a gem during the echo. Yes she screamed (so much infact that we had several additional staff join us pulling every trick out of the hat), but job done. Hole closed.

Sadly the news was followed with 'but her aortic valve is slightly abnormal and and we will monitor this again aged 5'......but that didn't phase us. Our consultant was calm,  kind and reassuring, as he always is. Unfortunately we also found out that he is retiring and will no longer be G's cardiologist. Still, we are thankful of his fantastic care up until now, and of G's hole-free heart.

Holiday happiness
We've just returned from a weekend away at G's favourite caravan park. Despite being unwell,  she had a blast. Sea air, football, tree houses, sunshine (not forgetting the rain) and a healthy dose of Nanny and Grandad were just what the doctor ordered. For all of us.

No appointments until when?!
June. Surely that's too good to be true?

Light hearted humour
So many sayings and questions that have had us in stitches recently. Here are a selection for your amusement:
* Why did a lady used to be a girl?
* Daddy can we turn the radio over to radio 4 please?
* Why does it have to be light when it's summer and dark when it's winter?
* Why does a girl have to stay a girl? Can't she be a boy later?
* Daddy go faster.....I can't G it's a 30mph road. ...well find another road then daddy!

Oh and as for living in a bungalow -turns out she doesn't want to have a staircase. ..no naughty step. Mystery solved!