News on Sam!

Thank you for your prayers for Samuel. The cardiologist met with all the other pediatric cardiologists in OKC today and discussed Sam's case. As a group they believe that it is in Sam's best interest to move ahead with the catheter balloon procedure soon. As of now, we are scheduled for surgery this Thursday at 7:30 AM. Because the pressure in his heart was a little too high they think it's best to act now so that no damage is done and so he doesn't start to develop symptoms. The procedure will be done at Children's hospital and they will go through arteries in his leg and neck to reach the valve and expand it. He will stay overnight and then most likely go home on Friday. Honestly, we are very scared about the whole thing, but we do have comfort that has only come through prayer and the strength that only Christ can give. Please pray for our little boy, the doctors, and for us as we prepare this week.

A matter of the heart!

8 weeks

I've talked about parenting being hard so far but it gets harder. I mean I have to say that things are actually starting to become more routine and Sam and I are getting in a groove and I'm feeling much better and enjoying being Sam's mom. However parenting will always be hard because there are things that are out of your control and that you can't protect your children from. That is my test this week.
This week we got some tough news. We went to the pediatric cardiologist for a problem they had suspected at birth. John and I had been praying about this problem and hoping that it would go away, but...it didn't. We found out that Samuel has aortic stenosis which is narrowing of a section of the aortic valve. This causes the other sections of the valve to work overtime which is not good. The cardiologist did an ultra sound and said that his was more severe that he first suspected and so we will have to have something done sooner than later. We are unsure exactly what this means as far as a time frame, but know that he will undergo a procedure where they run a catheter to the valve and use a balloon to inflate it. The doctor want to consult with other cardiologists and we will go back to see him in 4 weeks. The bad news is that this will be a lifelong condition that will have to be monitored and could influence certain activities Sam is allowed to do.
Although we are sad and worried and scared I'm so thankful for a heavenly Father who is the God of all comfort. I continuosly have scripture running through my head that calm my anxious heart..."Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you 1 Peter 5:7... Be anxious about nothing but in everything by prayer and supplication present your requests before God. Phillipians 4:6...I created you and knit you in the womb Psalm 139...Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life. Matt 6:27." Please join us in prayer over this situation. We will keep you updated.
In the meantime we have a beautiful little boy who is growing bigger everyday. He is changing before our very eyes!

7 weeks & 7 wonders!

7 weeks

All parents know that there are just some things about babies that seem unexplainable. They just make us "wonder". This is something I've discovered and when you ask people about baby things you are likely to get a million different answers, because here is the key...ALL babies are different. Here are some of the things I wonder about most.

1. Baby Poop: Samuel and I BOTH failed miserably at breastfeeding (I'll spare you the gory details). After mourning the loss of it we are now formula baby. So here is the question. If a baby only eats one thing in the same amounts at about the same time everyday how can it's poop be so different from poop to poop. I don't get it.
2. Sleep: I've heard of it all in this category, but again...All babies are different. I wonder every day and every morning at 4 am how do you get a baby to sleep longer. I dream of the days when I get more than 3 hours of sleep.
3. Crying: So I've changed him, fed him, burped him, walked him, bounced him, swaddled him, and he is still crying. Usually I can get him to calm down eventually, but what I wonder about is...What is he crying about so much?
4. Smiles: We have entered the stage where he smiles at us and it is becoming more frequent, but sometimes I'll watch him and he is staring at the blank wall smiling and cooing when I'm trying my hardest to get him to grin. What is he thinking that would make him so happy with the wall?
5. Timing: How can babies be so in tuned with there surroundings that they can always tell when mommy is about to take her first bite of dinner, just stepped in the shower, just laid her head on the pillow or the preacher is about to begin his sermon? They have impeccable timing!
6. Family: When family comes to visit they walk in and look straight past me or John to Samuel and after about 5 minutes or more they say hello to us. It's not really that bad, but I wondered how our family would react to him and I'm amazed at how much they love him too.
7. Love: This is cheesy, but it is the biggest wonder of all. How can my heart be filled with so much love for him.

These are just some of the most intriguing parts of having a baby for me. I seem to have millions of questions all the time and am always looking for answers. But I've learned to be a little more relaxed about not knowing the exact answer and just enjoying the adventure of understanding my precious little boy!

Friends and Fun!

Friends and Fun!

This past week has been really busy for the Sherrer family. Samuel made his first overnight trip and he did great. We went to Arkansas to celebrate the wedding of some of our closest friends. We stayed the night with John's grandparents and my mom (Nana) came to help us with Samuel because John and I both had roles in the wedding. We stayed 3 nights and we were all very tired when we got home. Then John took the whole week off to be with us and we took an overnight trip to Burns Flat to visit family. We enjoyed our visit and loved having other people to hold Samuel during some of his crankier times. The funny thing about overnight trips is that it used to take us about 20 minutes to get everything packed and get out the door, but now that Samuel is with us it takes us all day and somehow we are still late getting out the door. I'm proud of myself though...I did not forget one thing for Samuel on either trip. I wish I could say the same for me and John. Sorry there are no pictures of our July 4th activites. We spent Thursday and Friday watching Daddy play in a softball tournament. It was fun, but Samuel doesn't like being hot, so mommy spent most of the games holding and comforting him. Needless to say, the camera didn't come out of the bag. However, I was able to catch him smiling for the camera (in the comfort of our cool home). Isn't it so cute. I can't wait to have lots more pictures or him cheesing it up for us!

Samuel's Great Grandparents

Great Grandparents

Samuel is very fortunate to have most of his great grandparents still living. He has gotten to meet all of them already in his first 6 weeks. They all think he is pretty cute and enjoy telling us stories about their own babies (our parents). It is very important to us to let our families know how much we love them. We do not take for granted any day that we have with those we love. One thing God has taught us this past few months is that you never know what tomorrow may bring. These are precious picture of Samuel's heritage!

Playtime!

Playtime

It is so fun to watch Samuel begin to grow and change. He is starting to do some fun stuff. He smiles now and not just in his sleep! It is so cute. I'm going to try to catch it on camera. He also has started watching us. He follows us with his eyes and likes to look at things more closely. You can tell his eyes are developing more and he doesn't go cross eyed as much! Oh the little joys we celebrate. We are starting to see more of his personality and we have decided he is a passionate and intense little guy. He is a little stubborn and John and I are both pointing the finger about where he got that. He knows what he likes and what he doesn't like that is for sure! Here are a few things we've discovered...
Samuel likes: FOOD, being read to, being sang to, listening to loud music in the car, being held, being swaddled, his pacifier, sleeping in his crib, getting his food immediately, the sound of running water
Samuel doesn't like: Waiting on his FOOD, sleeping more than 2-3 hours at a time, going to sleep by himself, getting buckled in the car seat, being in his swing, being burped when he isn't finished eating, being hot, when his pacifier falls out of his mouth!