Last month, we were getting ready to face open heart surgery: well, not me, per se, but our nearly nine-year-old daughter.  The fear, the uncertainty we felt was tremendous.  Then Kaitie had her surgery and she did surprisingly well; it was a leaky valve that caused all the problems.  She is now out of the hospital, where she continues to heal and regain lost strength.  

While she is still not ready to run around for long periods, to see Kaitie playing with her toys and her brother and two sisters is definitely a huge step in the right direction.  She isn't hardly in any pain and the incision on her chest is healing nicely.  

Dr. Chalamar, her surgeon, and his staff are very pleased at her progress.  I think it's safe to say that her latest heart surgery was a success.

Granger was at first scared when his big sister came home because she had a huge bandage on her chest and she looked pale and tired, but then he realized that she was going to be okay; now they're the best of pals again.  Diamond, her big sister, has been the little mother, taking care of her and making sure she doesn't fall on her chest or making sure she eats and takes her medicines.  As for Emma-Kate, she doesn't care: she's only a baby.  She is too little to realize what has happened to her big sister.

The medical bills are piling up fast, but Van and I are both trusting God to get us the needed money to pay them off.  Friends and family have been bringing food, well-wishes, get well cards for our daughter, and even money, which isn't needed, but we still appreciate, nevertheless.  Our church family has embraced us with their prayers and support.

I don't know what we would do without our friends or church family!  We couldn't have made it this far without their help!  

God has been good to our little family.  I pray the blessings continue.

Well, Kaitie is hollering like a stuck pig, so I'll see what's going on.  I will write in here again soon; until later, this is Colbie Colbert saying so long and God bless!

~Colbie.  :)