It's not what life hands you but how you handle life that matters.

We are all still here and all still waiting. It has been hard to update anything because honestly I don't know what to say. We are still in the CICU. Ruths overall health varies each day. Some days she is looking up, some days down... but a constant "okay". Things are going "okay". No heart news yet and I am sure I will not have any heart news until it is here. So we are just praying and waiting sometimes waiting and praying. ( to switch it up a bit ya know?!?)

Ruthie has had a first this week despite our location. Yesterday she had her very first Coke. Silly, right? Well her NJ (which us a feeding tube that bypasses her stomach and goes straight for the intestines) was a little difficult to flush after all of her daily oral meds so Tricia, the nurse, got a small syringe full of coke and ta da! It is so funny that she got a soda to flush the line but hey whatever works. I knew I didn't want to have to go through another NJ placement, so good idea Tricia.
So she had her very first soda:) she didn't seem to mind at all!

Currently Ruthie has a fever of 100-102. They ran cultures on everything 3 days ago and nothing came back. Yesterday they took her off the antibiotics to see if her fever would subside. Unfortunately it returned so they are running cultures again and restarting antibiotics until we know what is causing the fever. So once again, we must wait.

Please keep praying for Ruthie and her special yet sick heart. Pray that she can rest up and be ready for this transplant. Pray that her heart stays well enough to get us there. Pray for her doctors, nurses, techs, etc.
Please please pray for the families who have children struggling. Pray that they find peace. Pray that those that must lose their little ones will donate their organs. Pray that God can lead the right family to donation for us. Pray for our strength and our courage. Pray.
As you pray, remember all the heart angels that have gone before us. pray for their families. Pray for all the families and children currently facing a challenging time. Pray for all our heart babies.

Thank you for being with us during this tough waiting time. You don't know how much we appreciate your inspiring words of hope and prayer. Of course this is not easy, but having such a support system makes it bearable. I don't know what we would do without our friends, family and heart families. You are true miracles in our lives.

Happy Mardi Gras!!!

Much much love and appreciation!!

Laura