Mardie's room

I have been looking at bedding for weeks, and I just didn't love anything out there for girls. It all seemed very cutesy, or just really expensive!

So, I went with mom last weekend to JoAnn's and found this great material. Mom is making the bumper pads out of it.














Also, we are using this pinkish coral eyelet for the skirt and the valences.














I saw this precious pinwheel mobile on etsy, so I decided I will make my own.














I wanted to paint the room a sunflower yellow, but I got vetoed by Jeff. So I think we are going to go with one of these greens. He likes the lightest one, but I think we may go with the middle one.















The room won't be ready to actually put anything in for a while. Jeff's office is still in there, and he is particular about where the boxes of records go. And he says he is too busy to do it now. I am going crazy not having a place to "nest"!

But I will update you when progress further. :)

It's a girl!

Mardie Elizabeth

PSA

1 in 120 babies are born with some sort of congenital heart defect. I was 1 in 120. A lot of people do not know about these statistics. It is nothing to be worried about, but it is important to be aware.

This is my story:

I was born with patent ductus arteriosus and congenital pulmonary venous stenosis.I was born 6 weeks early, and at 3 weeks, I was having trouble breathing. The doctors found a rapidly growing cyst on my right lung. I had surgery immediately, which removed a lobe of my lung. This helped to close my PDA. Still, I continued to have trouble staying oxygenated. I was diagnosed with congenital pulmonary venous stenosis at three months. I had my surgery in Birmingham, AL in November of 1983, at three months.

My surgeon, Dr. Pacifico preformed a new procedure where they used my tissue to create a bypass on one side of my heart and to strengthen the vein on the other side. My parents were not given a % chance of my survival, because it was so risky. No child before me had lived over 18 months from this rare disorder. It was thought that one vein would be hard to get to due to the angle of a heart inside the cavity. However, when I was opened up, my veins were both visible. I am now 26, and perfectly healthy. I have never had subsequent surgeries, and have never had a problem with my blood-oxygen level. My doctor has told my parents that this surgery paved the way for other children with pulmonary venous stenosis, but unfortunately few have been as healthy.

God still works miracles! I have been told since I was young that God chose to keep me here, and keep me healthy, for a reason. My scar has always been a badge of honor. As a senior in high school, the senior picture photographer tried to "blur" out my scar (which is nearly invisible!) and I took my photos back to be un-retouched.It infuriated me that they would try to remove it! It has always been a part of me, and without it, I would not be here.

I am now pregnant and expecting in Feb. I go for a fetal echo on Sept 24, just to make sure all is well with my little one, and I am praying for a healthy baby :)

This was taken after my open heart surgery on November of 1983.

update :)

I am 18 weeks today!

Our next ultrasound is on Sept 23, and we go for a fetal echo on Sept 24.

Go to the previous post and contribute to the baby pool, and vote on our baby names at


I can feel the baby moving a little. It is noticeable at times. :) I cannot wait until Jeff can feel it.

some fun things

Who would play you, your love interest, your best friend, a parent and your worst enemy in a movie about your life? by Brandi

1. Jenna Elfman
2. Matt Damon
3. Debra Messing
4. Sally Field
5. Isla Fisher



also: