Better Late Than Never

Wow! So behind in getting things posted but I have been going non-stop it seems. Christmas was fantastic around here! I was off for a good two weeks and was able to spend so much time with my girls. We decorated gingerbread men, gingerbread houses, wrapped Christmas gifts, went to the movies, made peanut butter reindeer cookies, and had a few days where we just stayed in our PJ's. It was awesome! We celebrated Christmas with Steve's family on the 17th and then headed to SC on the 22nd. It went by fast but it seemed that we took ore time to slow down and just enjoy it.  Before we left for SC we traded in our usual trip to Callaway Garden for the Christmas at Stone Mountain. It was FANTASTIC! The girls loved it. There were a ton of lights, a Christmas parade, the Snow Queen, and the best was the 4-D Polar Express Movie. For sure on the list for next year! When we got to SC we had a day or two before Christmas and just got to hang out.  It was nice to not get there and have to jump straight into Christmas day.  We went to Saluda Shoals to see the lights with my parents and Carsyn proclaimed it to be "amazing" all before she peed on my Mom's lap ;) That is what we get for forgetting to make a bathroom run before we left. I need to try and get the video off my phone of here saying this. It was truly awesome- I never expected such a great light display there. We did our Christmas Eve service at Westminster and it was a great service. Carsyn was very eager to hold her on candle and that made for some stressful but humorous moments. My sister was the one holding her so she was the one that got to deal with the drama. Santa came and was very good to everyone. We headed off to Union and enjoyed spending time at my Aunt and Uncles.  It was a small crowd but it was enjoyable to just chat with everyone that we don't get to see to often.  I made  the White Peppermint cake that was on the cover of Dec. Southern Living. It wasn't very pretty but sure did taste good.  I don't think much made it back to Columbia.  My Nanny and Poppy's house was full of the usual yummy food, laughter, and craziness. This year seemed to be extra special maybe because my grandfather was home from his surgery in Charleston and seemed to be doing really well. Steve and I got a contraption that turns our TV into a huge monitor with Internet.  Now we can skype with everyone and surf the Internet on our TV in the den.  It is pretty awesome but we have run into a few kinks with our satellite when it is hooked up.
So even though Christmas was awesome and we are blessed beyond measure Steve and I both felt a gray cloud looming.  As many of you already know he had a heart murmur that was found in early Dec. that he was referred to a Cardiologist for. After a couple of test and few exams it was determined that he has severe mitral valve prolapse that has caused severe regurgitation or a back flow of blood. This in turn has caused severe dilation of his left atrium or top chamber of his heart. We meet with a Cardio-thoracic surgeon on January 22 and he was in agreement that Steve needed surgery to repair the valve.He told us to buy the urgent care MD a bottle of Scotch because he gave Steve 20 years back to his life by finding this.  Better late than never, right? The surgery will be Feb. 20.  Dr. Murphy (who I randomly came across just doing research and have since learned that he is one of the top in the nation) will do the repair roboticly.  So the good thing is Steve will not have to have the usual strenectomy but this is still considered open-heart and he will be placed on the heart-lung machine.  This terrifies me beyond belief and in my typical fashion I am avoiding the thought like the plague until I absolutely have to confront it head on.  His recovery time will be at least a month.  Steve is going to go CRAZY not being able to work or drive for a month!!! We have been so overwhelmed with the offers of help from all of or friends and family.  My parents will be coming to hold down the fort, Steve's mom will also be around to help with whatever we need, my neighbors and some of our amazing friends have said anything they can do just let therm know, even Addison's gymnastics coach has offered.  I can't even put into words how appreciative and thankful I am that I don't have to go through this alone and that people care enough about Steve and I to help in any way they can. Please keep us in your prayers - I never thought my nursing skills would have to be utilized at home- I just hope Steve is a good patient :)  Hope you enjoy the pictures of our Christmas- better late than never!