~ Josephine's 1st Birthday ~

We celebrated Josie’s 1^stBirthday with a Penguins & Pizza Party at Alfy’s Pizza in Lynwood. It was actually difficult to find penguin party supplies that were not for a holiday party but I settled on Happy Feet supplies & they looked great. We had a fabulous group of family & friends including; Grandma Mel, Auntie Nicole& Warren, Gramma Laura & Mark, Cousin Jackson, Erin & Ryan, Maddison, Haley, Diane & Matt, and Jennifer & Lily. Josie got a great selection of clothes & toys as gifts. After the party we went home to enjoy some family time. We ate left over pizza, watched Happy Feet & played with Josie’s new toys. It was a PERFECT DAY, thank you to everyone who came.

This pic is of Josie at her regular check up.

On Tuesday the 13^th I took Josie to her 1 year well child check.  Josephine was 29 inches tall & weighted in at 20 lbs, 5 oz.   At past visits our pediatrician had expressed a small concern for a heart murmur Josie has but told us that it is normal for infants to have a heart murmur that comes out when they have a high temperature.  However, after noticing the heart murmur is consistent even when Josie has no temperature created a concern & we were given a referral to a Pediatric Cardiologist from the Children’s Hospital.  I was able to take a cancellation spot & got us in on Thursday the 15^th.  I took Issac to a friend’s house & Tyler went in to work at 4 am so he was able to join me for the 115 appointment. 

This pic is at the Pediatric Cardiologist office.

Josephine’s diagnosis was given to us after a series of tests including an EKG & a Cardio Ultrasound.   Pulmonary Valve Stenonsis was described to us by the doctor as a condition where the valve that distributes the blue blood cells from the heart to the lungs is not connected.  Some people live their entire lives with the condition without ever having any issues; others have to have a series of procedures or surgeries.  We don’t know what the future has in store for us but we go back in March to monitor the growth changes.  Currently Josie’s condition is rated at 37, we were told that if the rate is growing that after 50 we will begin to discuss a procedure where they place a balloon in her heart. 

I was most devastated by the Cardio-ultrasound.  We were holding Josie down so she was fussy but that didn’t bother me because I knew she wasn’t hurt but just mad that she was being held down.  I lost it when we could see on the screen Josie’s beating lil heart, then the technician focused in on where the vessels were not attached & I knew that was where something was wrong.  It looked like two red & blue jelly fish flapping around & my heart sank to my stomach because I knew now for sure that something was wrong.  It is our hope that nothing will ever come of this besides regular testing & monitoring but we have to be emotionally prepared that one day Josie might need heart surgery.  Until then she is otherwise a perfectly happy & healthy 1 year old.

Josie at ONE:

Josie and Issac are similar & different at the same time.  For Breakfast Josie loves to eat eggs, cheese, peaches, bananas, tortilla pieces, toast or blueberry pancakes.  At lunch she loves beans, bean soup, chili, navy beans soup, carrots, broccoli, apple slices and about whatever Issac eats.  At dinner Josie is served whatever we eat but she loves whole grain pastas with crushed tomato sauce, chicken and veggies or meatballs.  At snack time her favorite is whole grain goldfish crackers or cheerios.  We have begun to limit the bottle & introduce whole milk but are still in transition. 

Josie spends her days chasing after Issac or playing by herself with her babies or one of Issac’s cars.  She loves pick-a-boo and being chased or tickled.  She blows kisses, makes kissy noises to call the doggies and makes a raspberry noise which always makes me smile.  Josie is a super happy baby until her brother makes her mad by taking a toy or book from her but she chews on EVERYTHING.  I guess we got lucky with Issac but Josie puts everything in her mouth and chews on everything from stuffed animals to Hot wheels, paper and even books, we hope that she’ll grow out of this horrible habit.

  Josie also loves to dance. If she hears music on the TV she comes running to dance, if she’s in her highchair she rocks back and forth or head bangs.  In the morning I play music while I make breakfast & you can find both kids in the kitchen rockin out.  Josie also loves wearing shoes, no joke she will bring us her shoes if they fall off or if she wants them on.  It is opposite from Issac who takes his shoes off the second we walk in the door.  All in all; Josie is a fun & silly girl!  We can't wait to watch her become a sassy lil tot in the coming months!!!