Happy Halloween

Happy Halloween Everyone! The cutest pumpkins EVER hope you have a great night! We also have to wish a VERY Happy Birthday to my Grandma...the girl's GreatGrandma Zellar! She turned 90 today and is the youngest, hippest 90 year old that has ever lived! We love you GG!!!!

Reunited...and it feels so good!

The family is back together again! Reagan came back from her vacation to Kiawah and the girls were so happy to see each other! I'll update more later but...we went to the hospital yesterday and everything is looking really good! No leaking of the valve and the echocardiogram and xrays looked great. Believe it or not, we don't have to go back to the hospital for almost 2 weeks. What are we going to do with ourselves?!?!?!?

Not much new around here (ha!)

Can someone please tell this kid that she just had open heart surgery on Thursday? She doesn't seem to know.

You wouldn't believe the change in Riley today. If you didn't see her chest or the loads of meds that she has to take, you'd never even know she had any kind of surgery at all...let alone open heart. The doctors, surgeons and nurses are amazed at this little kid and so are we. We got discharged about an hour ago and she's sleeping in her swing. Yes. I said in her swing. At home. OUR HOME....she's HOME. Already. It's a miracle...amazing and the greatest day ever. Matt and I are a tad terrified that she's so fragile right now and they just turned us loose, but we have been living this now for a few days and know pretty much exactly what to do. I almost could be a nurse at this point. My parents took Reagan out to Kiawah until Wednesday to give Matt and I a chance to get settled here with just Riley (and to maybe, finally get some sleep?!?). We miss Reagan terribly already, but know that it's the best thing for everybody. We'll be back together again soon and she is going to be so excited to come home to her sister.
So...that's our scoop. We are so beyond thankful to the amazing surgeons and doctors and nurses at MUSC. They are our heroes and we love them all so much. I can't wait for Riley to go back and visit them and show them just how fabulous she's doing. (And we're going to be going A LOT....we already have an appointment on Thursday!). Thank you to the rest of you for all of your continued love and support. We are so relieved and happy it's indescribable. We never would have imagined last Thursday morning that we'd be holding her in our arms in our own home on Monday afternoon. Modern medicine is absolutely amazing. (God is too!).

5 days later-can you even believe it?

She continues to blow us away. Now if only she would start to eat...and give us some smiles! We're so excited! What a great way to start a week!!!!

Out of ICU

We're out of the PCICU!!!! WOOHOOOOOO! We have our own room now and Matt calls it the deluxe suite. It actually has a couch for us to sleep on instead of just a chair...it's not that bad at all! I slept with her last night and Matt's taking over tonight so that I can get some sleep at home. The couch is nice...but it's not very easy to sleep around here. They come in every hour to check vitals and then are in constantly with different meds and changing things around. Riley slept really well though and I'm so happy about that!!!!
She's doing so well....it's absolutely unreal. The nurses in PCICU called her the star of the unit. She is amazing everyone. We've only had a couple of very small setbacks and for the most part everything is going so smoothly. This afternoon the surgeons came in during rounds to check on her and they took out her chest tube and the last of the other tubes. We had to leave the room during that because they said we wouldn't want to see it and she would be really upset. They gave her another dose of oxycodone before they did it. She handled it pretty well (we could hear her crying down the hall which made my heart break) but she was incredibly strong and brave once again and now is resting (okay...more like she's passed out or stoned).
I finally got to hold her and it was so awesome. You SO take for granted just being able to hold and love and kiss your babies whenever you want to. I've wanted to have her back in my arms since the nurses took her Thursday morning and it finally happened. We have to hold her very carefully and have to pick her up in a very different way (it's just weird to have to think about how you pick up your kid...it's just not something I've ever really thought about). Holding her is great but she's still pretty uncomfortable so sometimes it's best to just leave her laying down in her crib and just sit next to her and hold her hand. She's much more alert (when not stoned out of her mind!) and we're reading to her and playing with her. She's not eating so well so they're watching that, but they said that now that the chest tube is out she'll likely start to eat again.
The most amazing thing is that the doctors and surgeons say she'll probably go home in a couple of days. When Matt and I first heard this we were stunned. WHAT?!?!? First of all, we were told we'd be here a lot longer, and second of all....I'm not so sure we're ready! I mean, I can't wait to have our family back together at HOME again, but she's still really fragile and sore and on drugs and I'm no nurse! I suppose I'll be terrified whenever she comes home so it might as well be sooner, rather than later. We're confident they won't send us out of here unless they know she's ready and we've already been told we'll be back here a lot for follow up stuff in the next few months.
So....all in all, this little girl is doing better than we could have ever, ever imagined she would be. We've only gotten one smile so far but we're sure more are coming soon!!! We're just praying that it continues to go smoothly and that she continues to feel little pain. (oh...and that they don't send us home too soon!!!!...stupid insurance companies!).

Being an only child is not that bad of a gig

We're so lucky to have so much help while Riley is in the hospital. Our parents continue to be amazing and are making it so much easier for Matt and I. Reagan is being spoiled rotten and loving every minute of it. I went home today and put her down for 2 seconds and she had a fit. Matt and I are starting a major Baby Boot Camp for both of these ladies once Riley is all better! Just kidding (sort of!!!). Yesterday was a gorgeous day and Susan brought Reagan downtown to visit. She can't visit Riley so she visited mommy and daddy instead! We went for a walk downtown and then sat out in the courtyard at the hospital and just played. It was the BEST. She is so hilarious and made my day so much better! My dad sat outside with us and she had a ball just bouncing around. I think she's in for quite the wake up once Riley comes home and has to share mommy and daddy's attention again!

Bless her (new and improved!) heart

Well...she did it. Here we are, about 24 hours after surgery and our little peanut is doing so well. The surgery went really well and there were no surprises. The doctors were able to fix both holes and everything looks really good so far. The one big surprise was that we found out the day before surgery that Riley's left valve has only 1 muscle (all normal heart valves have 2). They didn't fix this during surgery because it just wasn't possible. However, so far, so good and her heart seems to be working okay with only one muscle at this time. We are beyond thrilled, so relieved and so grateful to God that He took (and continues to take) such amazing care of Riley. The great news so far....
This morning, Riley came off of the ventilator and is BREATHING ON HER OWN!!!!!!
She has opened her eyes a few times so far...she doesn't seem to know what in the world is going on or where she is but she has definitely responded to my voice and has even squeezed our fingers numerous times. (talk about melting my heart...it's the greatest feeling in the world!!!) She is in a lot of pain even though she's on a lot of pain meds and when she does cry it's more of a whimper (her voice is virtually gone due to the breathing tube). I got to feed her this morning and she ate so well. The head cardiologist of the pediatric icu came in this morning when I was there and did another echocardiogram and said everything is looking beautiful. No leaking at all. There won't be any big changes today...nothing else is going to come out but if all goes well today, there is a chance that she may be moved out of ICU tomorrow! The surgeon has to come to her and approve it and remove this huge tube coming out of her chest...but if that happens then she'll be moved to the 8th floor and that will be HUGE. So far though, we couldn't be more pleased with how well she's doing.
I have to say this though...we could NOT get through this without all of the love and support of our family and friends. Our parents have been so unbelievable. They haven't left our sides...and when they have it's to help us take care of Reagan, or go shopping for us or do anything else that we ask them to do. They are amazing and we feel so blessed to have such amazing parents. Our other family and friends have also been amazing. Thank you so much for all of your love, support, cards, and especially your prayers. We absolutely, 100% feel them and we know Riley does too. Reagan definitely misses her sister at home...but she is being so spoiled and while I miss her so much when I'm here at the hospital, when I get home and see that sweet smile it makes me happier than ever. She is helping Matt and I more than anything to smile through all of this....which is so needed.
Riley still has a ways to go, but we're so optimistic and can't believe how strong this little thing is. She is my hero! I will do another update after we get out of ICU.
One thing I do feel the need to say....while what we've been through has by far been the hardest thing that Matt and I have ever been through, what we've experienced since being here has been such a wake up. There are so many families here with stories like ours, and so many families here with stories that you wouldn't believe if I told you. I like to think I'm strong...but seeing some of the mommys here and what they are handling (sometimes for months at a time) give new definition to what strength and faith really are. So please, keep your prayers coming for Riley...but make sure that you thank God for all of the blessings in your life. Most of us are so beyond lucky...us included.
Riley sends her love....the pic of Riley alone I took last night before I had to leave her to go home (hardest thing I've ever done...besides handing her over to the nurses in the morning) and the pictures on here when she's with me are taken today after the vent came out. This is pretty much what we do all day. I just sit and hold her hand and talk to her. Parents and grandparents are the only visitors allowed. There isn't a lot to do when you're in there but I did read her a few articles from InStyle magazine this morning...a girl can never have too much fashion advice, right?! Seriously though...thanks again for caring so much about all of us! We feel the love for sure!

The day before

We spent the day before the surgery (all day!...8-5!!!) at the hospital for pre-op stuff. As usual, Riley was a total champ. She was super brave all day. She had echocardiograms, EKG, tons of bloodwork...you name it. Matt and I also met with so many doctors, nurses, surgeons that our heads were spinning by the end of the day. We were told what to expect during the surgery, how to handle certain things that might pop up and pretty much a bazillion other things...thank God for paperwork because I couldn't remember a thing. All I could do was focus on my sweet little girl. I'll be honest...I held it together pretty well for most of the day but towards the end (and especially when meeting with the surgeon) I kind of lost it. I think it just hit me what a big deal this is (that sounds stupid...I mean, I've known what a big deal it is...the "realness" of it just set in I guess). However....my little sweet pea had the entire nursing staff in love. Everyone kept coming to visit her...even people who weren't in charge of her or had nothing to do with her surgery. She flirted all day long and made her daddy and I so proud. (not because she flirts well...because she's just so amazing!). She entertained us all...Matt even took a video of a bit of it. You can hear all of the nurses laughing at her in the background!! About 5 or 6 of them pulled chairs up around her bed and she put on quite a show. I LOVE this video...it is SO her.

Race For a Cure

This morning I ran the Susan G. Komen Race For a Cure! I had fun and did it in celebration of many close friends and family who have been affected by this nasty disease. I can NOT believe that we haven't found a cure yet....my prayers are that by the time my girls are older there will be one so that they never have to worry about a scary thing like breast cancer.
The race used to be run in downtown Charleston but a few years ago it moved out to Daniel Island...where we live! It was SO nice...it took me 1o minutes to walk to the start line from our house and Matt was able to take the girls out to the course to cheer on their mommy! They were the BEST cheerleaders ever! I was so thankful they were there and I got to see them a couple of times during the race so it gave me extra motivation to run faster! I had fun and the weather was incredible...think I even got sunburned (oops!). There were over 12,000 runners so it was a really fun morning!
We're staying in today (of course...continuing our "lockdown") and watching the Spartans and Buckeyes today and then the Browns tomorrow. Since the weather is so beautiful I'm sure we'll take a few walks too. We have a BIG, BIG week ahead of us so we're trying to stay as relaxed (yeah right) as possible.

What a great day

Today was my birthday! I was made to feel SO special all day long (and yesterday too!) and I am so thankful for all of the cards and emails and texts and facebook messages that people sent. I feel so loved! My parents took Matt and I to dinner last night at Al Di La...one of my very favorite places in Charleston. It was extra special to me because it's a place that my mom and I used to go to all of the time when I was in grad school. Once I was teaching at Ashley River she would drive in from Kiawah on occasion to treat me to my favorite Italian around. Only fitting that I married an Italian and we had to go there for dinner! We haven't had any good Italian food since we moved back! It was just as good as I remembered it and it was so great to celebrate with mom and dad too.
Today Matt and the girls spoiled me rotten! They gave me special presents, we had a really yummy dinner from the same place that we went for Matt's bday (although we did takeout since we're on "lockdown" with Riley and can't take her out anymore!) It was just as good as if we'd gone there. And to top it all off....Matt and the girls got me my favorite coconut cake complete with candles ( uggghhhh...how are there 34 of those already!!!!). I'm the luckiest lady in all of Charleston. It was the perfect day and I can't imagine a better birthday. I wish for all of my birthdays to be just like this one with my amazing family!

A South Carolina Pumpkin Patch

So...all of my great Cleveland friends have been sending absolutely gorgeous pictures of their sweet kids enjoying the fall weather by going apple picking, on hay rides and of course to the pumpkin patch! We used to take field trips to do some of those things when I taught there...it's just kind of a given up north...it's what you do with young kids in the fall on the weekends. As soon as the pictures started pouring in it made me start to think about taking my girls to do those things! In Cleveland there seems to be a pumpkin patch in every town. Around here they're relatively hard to come by! We ended up at a pumpkin patch in a church parking lot! HA!!! It's not that big of a deal this year...especially as evidenced by the pictures from today! The girls were much more interested in each other than in the pumpkins. It was mostly a trip for Mommy to get her pumpkins for the porch and some pictures for their books. My mom (Nana...yes, we think she has an "official Grandma name thanks to Cooper!) met us and we spent the afternoon together and it was so much fun. Riley was pretty sleepy so getting a smile out of her today wasn't going to happen no matter how hard we tried! Reagan smiled enough for both of them though. While Charleston may not have an abundance of fall activities...we have so many other things that we can do (like go to the beach in January!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!). I'll sacrifice the pumpkin patch and a hay ride for the sunshine in winter....just keep those fall pictures coming and I'll enjoy the change of seasons through you guys!

We're 6 months old

There is no way my little angels are 6 months old already. I can't believe it!!!!! Every single day is amazing with them. It's exhausting and stressful at times (okay...a lot of times) and especially with everything we've been dealing with lately it's been harder than usual....but I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world. These girls have changed our lives in so many ways and like I've said so many times before....they make my heart so happy.
I can't even begin to describe all of the ways that they are growing and changing every day. Reagan is SO close to sitting on her own. It's going to be any day now...she'll do it for about 30 seconds until she realizes we're not helping her and then she'll just topple right over. She is happier than ever...laughs and smiles non-stop and makes her mommy and daddy (and everyone else that she's around) so happy. She continues to crack us up. Her newest discovery is her voice. She recently realized that she has one and LOVES to use it. She talks all the time and has just started SCREAMING. It's more like screeching...it's n0t fussing at all...she just thinks it's hilarious to scream bloody murder every once and awhile. It's funny. Sometimes. Sometimes Matt and I look at each other and wonder just how long this phase is going to last (and we're praying/counting on this being just a phase!). She is so strong and getting bigger every day. Her hair is growing really fast and is pretty blond now. She continues to just be so in love with her daddy. He can make her light up like no one else can and watching it makes me happier than anything. I can't say enough about how much I love this little girl. She is too much fun.
Riley's new favorite game is peekaboo...she puts things over her face all of the time now and as soon as we pull it off she laughs and smiles and then puts it right back on her face. She'll do it for hours. She rolls around so much and has recently started scooting everywhere on her hands and knees. If I put something that she wants a little ways away from her she'll scooch herself over to get it. It's not crawling...but she's getting there! Her hair is still not that visible...but it's getting there too. It's going to be blond too I think! She has the MOST beautiful blue eyes ever. She is going to break some hearts with those eyes someday I'm sure. She is a little love and still loves to cuddle (especially with mommy) and has started to play with Reagan when they're next to each other. She reaches out to grab her all the time. She LOVES apples (applesauce) but not so much any vegetable. She's just like her parents! She is just incredible and amazing and I can't imagine a life without her in it. I feel like she's always been with me. The surgery is coming quickly. October 20th will be here before we know it and we're very ready. We've had a few "scares" lately with her breathing etc...which they told us would happen. We're just so ready to have her fixed and back in our arms safe and sound and ready to grow big and strong!!! We're lucky enough to have our parents all here for the surgery which will mean so much to Matt and I and make us feel so much better. It's going to be tough but with all of the support and prayers we have from everyone it's so much easier.
They continue to amaze me. They are already teaching me to never (for even a single second) underestimate them. They are quickly getting a reputation for being “the happiest babies ever” as they dole out huge (I mean gigantic!!) smiles left and right and let out bellowing belly chuckles that make everyone else laugh too. They laugh all the time, at everything and the joy they spread around is so infectious.

Reagan and Riley...you two have changed the path of my life in the most wonderful way. Being your mother is the greatest thing I have ever known. To watch you grow and develop into two unique, individual little people is a daily gift. So often daddy and I will just stop what we are doing and say to one another “Aren’t they incredible? Can you believe WE made them?” I can’t imagine this awe ever wearing off.

I know I must sound like a broken record. And please, please don't get me wrong. We have our moments around here where Matt and I long for our old days back again where we actually had a social life (or really any life at all) and could do what we wanted to do when we wanted to do it. But those times are really pretty few and far between. These girls were by far the best thing to ever happen to both of us and we just hope that someday they'll look back at this blog and will be able to even sort of get a feel for just how much we love them! Happy half birthday beautiful girls!!!!!! I can't wait to see what the next 6 months have in store for the Iofredos!!!