Why We Homeschool

If someone would have asked me 8 years ago if I was planning on homschooling my children. I would have told them they were out of their minds.

While I was pregnant with Avery I would joke about homeschooling my child. For the simple fact I couldn't even bear the idea of one day my sweet baby who I hadn't even met yet would be leaving me.

That was 8 years ago...

Today and 3 kids later things have changed.

I started toying with the idea shortly after Chloe was released from the Hospital after her first almost 2 week long stay for RSV.

Both Avery and Bella were in preschool and were always sick and now my baby who is already fighting for her life. Didn't need to worry about getting the germs the big kids were bringing home.

When Chloe was 3 weeks old. We were informed that even a simple cold could cause serious complications.

At that time our biggest fear was open heart surgery on a newborn. I had no idea that our stuffy noses could cause heart failure. In turn if meds couldn't help counter act her heart failing that would lead to a heart transplant.

After a very sickly first year, along with weekly weigh ins and monthly meetings with Chloe's AMAZING Heart Doctor... Dr. Stamm.

Our minds were made up...

We were told that if we could make it to year 2 without any major heart problems Chloe's VSD ( Ventricular Septal Defect )would require repair at age 2.

Avery would be mid way through his school year. With that in the back of our minds we didn't want to worry about who would be around and able to take him to school if I was at home caring for a baby who just had open heart surgery.

Knowing that if I were home with Chloe caring for her there was no reason why I wouldn't be able to teach my son.

Then started the quest for the perfect homeshool curriculum. Sonlight was one of the first I found and after looking at what seems like thousands, but more like a hundred different ones. We went with Sonlight!

We are almost 2 full years into Homeschool and I couldn't be any more happy with the choice that our family has made. I get to spend my days with my children watching and helping them learn and grow.

After 2 very long years of prayer Miss Chloe walked into Dr. Stamm's office and was given a clean bill of health. While her heart defects remain they have gotten smaller. She doesn't have to go back to see him until she is 4. While the worry is gone for the most part, the memory still remains of what could have happened.

With all that being said I want to THANK YOU all for everything! The prayers over the years and the positive encouragement during our journey of life and parenthood and everything in between. We couldn't have done it without you!

Hugs and Loves,
Taylor

Best News Ever!!

And no I'm not Pregnant...
I don't really think that if I were it would be good news. The blog would be titled "Padded Room Please"

Yesterday was Chloe 2 year Cardiology check up! I called Tuesday in hopes to get in sometime next week and well I was told to come in the next day. To think I thought that was great news being able to take Chloe alone without the big kids.

Now are you ready for the really really really really really really good news? My sweet baby with who has holes in her heart and a temperamental bowel. Doesn't need to see Dr. Stamm again for 2 years!!!!!! Its hard to think that in 2 short years my baby will be 4.

So the Ventricular Septal Defect remains, but its small. I guess most VSD close by the time a child is 2 if its going to close. He remains hopeful that it will close by the time she is 4, but most likely it wont. She will not require it to be patched nor will she need antibiotics before going to the dentist. Chloe is still small as if we didn't know that by looking at her, but they are thinking this is because she was just born early. And not because of her heart and well being small and a girl isn't a bad thing. I'm sure we will all wish we could fit into her size zero pants when shes 15.

It's hard to look at Chloe and not remember all the hard times. Then when you watch her run around the house, coloring on walls and eating markers we are so very lucky she is her today. There was a point in time that we had no idea if we were going to be able to watch her grow up and turn into the sweet, wild and crazy soon to be 2 year old that she is.

I know we are really lucky to have had this outcome. I thank God daily for my sweet baby girl. Even though the first year was really hard and so was most of the second. I wouldn't trade it for anything. She has shown us how to love more and be thankful for what we have. Life if such a special thing and I know how truly special it really is.

Chloe wouldn't be here today if it wasn't for the wonderful Doctors and Nurses at Children's Hospital and the great Nurses at Evergreen Hospital's Breastfeeding Center. We love you Dr. Thomas, Dr. Stamm, I wish I were able to list all the nurses at Children's that helped us while we were there, but I know we don't have that kind of time. Thank you Karen and Sally at Evergreen you helped Chloe so much. If it weren't for you two Chloe wouldn't be here today.

Remember 1 out of every 100 babies born will be born with a Congenital Heart Defect. If you don't know someone now you will. If you would like any information on Congenital Heart Defects or how you can help raise awareness please feel free to email me.

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Until Next Time,
Just MOM