Saturday, December 10, 2011

She's peeing!!!

Hello, this is your freindly neighborhood reporter, Mr. Peppley, bringing you news from Seattle Childrens. Anna is indeed peeing, and that is a good thing. She started on a medication to make her pee, which in turn is to reduce the swelling she has encountered. By the way, the swelling is an expected side effect of the surgery, so no worries about that.

All in all, Anna is doing good - all things considered. Or at least I think so. The nurses are doing a lot more standing around and shooting the breeze than they did yesterday. In fact, I don't remember them doing that at all yesterday. So I take that as a good sign.

NOTE: the following is a sleeper of a paragraph, and it has some "technical" stuff in it. You are free to skip it if you want. Also, for any heart savy people out there, please feel free to correct my inaccuracies. I'll punch you in the mouth first when I see you corrected me, then apologize.

Anna is hooked up to a pacemaker, but that also is nothing out of the ordinary. Each heart has a primary node, which is on the atrium. The node sends an electrical impulse to a node on the ventricle via the septum (in a normal heart, that is...Anna doesn't have a septum), which tells that pump to fire. So the first node signals all the other ones to fire, and keeps them all in synch with each other. With Anna - and other heart surgery patients - sometimes the primary node doesn't communicate that will with the other ones, so the pacemaker is set up to help that. There are three "levels" of impulses that heart patients see. The first is having the heart do all of the work - all by itself with no outside help. This, of course, is preferred. The second is when the pacemaker "activates" the primary node, or the one on the atrium. And the third is when the pacemaker "activates" the ventricle node. This one is used when the communication line between the atrium and ventricle break down - whatever that reason is. The doctor (or, actually, the fellow) who explained it to me said it is not uncommon for the patient to go from one to the another and back again, or from any one to any other. So she could go from A to B to C, and then to A, then to C, then B, then to A...you get the picture. The point is, it's fairly normal and nothing to be concerned about yet.

Okay - I got through that paragraph. Phew! And when I sat down to write this post, I thought I would try my darndess to make it short...

Just one more thing. We really wish we could be in Tumwater tonight or tomorrow morning. Our church is putting on a Christmas concert, and it is always good - no - spectacular. And no - I'm not saying that simply because the director is my mother-in-law. So if you are in town, go to Mt View tonight at 7 pm or one of the services tomorrow, 9 or 10:45. Or if that doesn't work, go to one of your local concerts. It's good to get out and get a little bit of culture.

Love you all. Thanks for sharing with us! (mooch-mooch, hug-hug)

20 comments:

  1. Good job Anna girl! Love hearing about progress. Much love and continued prayers from great aunt Wendy.

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  2. Hello There Daddy and Mommy Peppley:
    No, I do not personally know you.... My son Ryan Vogt shared your story on fb and I in return reposted your story. First off I am a believer of when other's are faced with difficult life situations that I need to be a prayer warrior on their behalf! I know the Lord hears every prayer and He grieves and stands with us during every moment of our life! Because we are all in the family when another member is going through what you are we all feel the struggle. Secondly, I am a mom and gma and my heart knows the love of which you feel for your children.
    I am most grateful to our God for giving us his son! the sacrifice He made always brings me to humble knees!
    Tk- you for allowing this gma to pray and watch the Lord perform His mighty miracles.
    Prays continue and thankful you are held tightly in our Lord's grip!
    Gma loves for your beautiful children!

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  3. Hoorray!!!! Sounds like things are still going well. Thanks for the updates. Hugs to you & alissa

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  4. SSSSSSSSOOOOOOOOOO excited for Anna! God, Your healing power is amazing and we continue to lay baby Anna Joy before You - Continue as You have done so far doing what You do so well! Heal, Renew, Remake, and Enjoy Your beautiful little creation, Anna! thanks God! In Jesus' Name, Amen.

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  5. Go Anna go!! I'm a friend of Alissa's from YWAM. Praying all throughout every day. Thank you so much for keeping us updated on little Anna and you and Alissa. Including the technical stuff :)

    P.S. About the fellows...
    My dad had to see a skin specialist for melanoma, and still tells the story
    Of his difficulty keeping a straight face when he was introduced to Dr. Faries' Fellow. :)

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  6. Yay, Anna Joy! Thanks so much for keeping us informed, Matt. It means so much to us. Love you all!

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  7. Way to go, Anna!!! We are praying and loving you from home. The kids ask all through the day how Isaac's little sister is doing. Even Sierra!!! We love you bunches. Please let us know if you need anything. Kisses!!

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  8. Hi Alyssa!! This is Andrea Gurnsey! I just wanted you to know that your blog has brought many tears to my eyes just reading your innermost thoughts and feelings as you go through this trial. I found the Lord after college and know that He DOES HEAL! I am on a warrior path when it comes to praying for your baby Anna and you and your husband. The Lord will give you the strength to get through this and one day (if not already) help others rely on the Lord in similar situations. Thank you so much for being so candid and vulnerable through your pain. It allows others to pray more specifically for you all. There are so many people that are now praying after I posted your story on Facebook. God is powerful, your family is powerful and undeniably—your daughter already has almighty strength in that little heart of hers. She definitely has a calling beyond words!!!

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  9. Never cheered for pee before but I'm so happy for this. You were very much missed at the concert tonight. And... as you said it would be it was fantastic. Still praying.

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  10. So thankful and continually praying. Talia is praying, too! Paul keeps asking how Anna Joy is doing as does my Mom.

    I am enjoying reading all these blog posts...technology is amazing...I get teary, smile, thanks so much for writing to us all to keep us up to date with her progress...

    WE LOVE YOU!!!!!!

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  11. Everytime I read your blog I listen to the song "When You Believe", sung by Mariah Carey and from the movie "Prince of Egypt. Anna Joy truly is a miracle. Your blog has brought inspiration and hope to the thousands of readers who are following, including me. Thank you and Merry CHRISTmas!

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  12. Matt..thank you, thank you, thank you for your blog posts(see we can say thank you too)...I read everyone, every word...praying for your family, and extended family....what a miracle. Just hours ago on King 5 you and Alissa shared God's comfort and peace thinking Anaa Joy would be briefly with you and forever with the Lord. Now you continue to share as you 'stand' in Jesus' presence, power, grace....etc. as HE displays HIS character through HIS story in your lives.....you are a blessing, as you are faithful to our LORD. Absolutely love the posts. Oh and about the fear, I must add that fear, even this type of very intense and gripping fear, is a common enemy....I am praying against that (from one who is familiar with such fear)....Lord cover this family with Your presence, grace and strength....hold them in Your mighty arms...give them rest..as they are confident of Your good purpose...as they remember...'YOU have got this one'.....prayers, prayers, prayers...

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  13. We sang our last concert at church this morning, and Pastor Bill shared from you blog. Oh my... we almost made it without crying our eyes out but not quite. Many of our tears were of joy, thanksgiving to God for the blessing of having Anna Joy here, among us. We are praying angels around her, ministering to her, holding her lovingly, gently, allowing her to heal. We pray... without ceasing. Blessing on you all!

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  14. In case you guys would like something local - come to Jingle Jazz - at Mosaic tonight at 6:30 - it is a good time and have good latte' and just relax for a bit - I am behind the counter making drinks.
    http://www.mosaiccoffeehouse.org/

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  15. I heard about Anna Joy's story through my friend Angel. It breaks my heart that such a little human being has to go through so much. I have been praying for Anna Joy as well as you guys and her big brother. She's in Gods hands! God bless and take care.

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  16. You are an excellent writer Mr Peppley - although you already knew that was a gift you had... Despite the anguishing situation you are describing, your writing make me smile. Thank you for letting us in on your story, your heart, and your family. My prayers follow you under the lights of the ICU... And the nurse in me appreciates the technical details you include.. :)

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  17. I've only been following Anna's story for the past week, but I have been overjoyed by her birth and progress. You asked why people unknown to you would be reading this blog....well, I stumbled across a link to it somewhere on facebook, and have been captivated ever since. You're love for your daughter (and son!) and your faith in God is heartwarming. I'll continue to pray for your precious Anna Joy, and for peace and health for you, her parents.

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  18. Our church has been praying for you all so much! We have been declaring nothing but perfect health. No sickness in heaven so we've been calling heaven down on sweet baby Anna. She is going to be an amazing woman of God. Big plans for this girl. Blessings on you all. Abbi Rodes church of the undignified.

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  19. Hi Matt, Alissa, Isaac, and Anna Joy! God is amazing. I started watching a link from FB and as I started watching, I realized, "I know that guys!! That's Matt Peppley!!"....then I recognized the term: Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome. One of my friends from high school just gave birth to a little baby girl, Evie, who has the same thing. We have been praying for her for months. She was born a few weeks ago. Anyway, I continue to be amazed by God's interworkings and how He orchastrates everything. Our God is mighty and powerful indeed. We are praying for Anna Joy and all of you now too! By the way,this is Jennifer Marion, now Ditges, and I went to NNC with Matt and I've started to send the news and blog links out to some of our friends from our "good ol college days" for prayer and support too. Thanks for letting us in on a very special part of your life. We are praying!

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  20. All the glory is to the almighty God!!!

    How we love you Lord God!

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