Quick Random Update

Thought I would drop in and just give a brief update on what's going on in my crazy life haha.

My 2nd Summer term of classes started last week. I have two classes instead of one like the first half of the summer. I'm in school most of the day Tuesday and Thursday (11:30-2:20 & 6:10-9) which can get me tired, but I mange pretty well and I'm proud of myself for it! I graduate in December and I can not wait! Woohoo! :)

I sat down and thought about what I want do as a career after college for a long time over a few day period it was in my head. I think I'm going to try my hand at being a Child Life Specialist. I know what it's like to be in and out of the hospital, so I think I would do well at this. This will mean that after college I need to do 100 volunteer hours, then a 680 hour Internship, & lastly pass a test... all this to be certified. I hope I can do it. I'm going to give it my best effort and either way the experience will mean a LOT!

Life continues to keep me busy with ups and downs, but I'm doing pretty well. Keeping my head up and looking at positives. I am blessed and grateful for so many things.

I have my Liver/Abdominal MRI this Friday. I can't eat or drink 4hrs before... so that means I need to get up at 7am (can't eat or drink after 8am) to eat and brush my teeth. I won't know the results that day, but I will post a quick update on how the MRI went. I also have not gotten my 24hr Holter results yet even thought it's been almost 4 weeks, but they told me it can take up to 8 weeks for the results... so I will post when I have them. The best part of this MRI is a Heart Mom I've known online for awhile works in the MRI department that I'm going to this time around, so we will finally meet! :) And Chris is taking me out to eat after the MRI. So I'm going to make the best out of it!

That's about it for now. What kinds stuff do you want me to post about? Let me know... I could always use a topic. I wish I wrote funny posts, but maybe I need help in that area. I need to think of funny stuff.

**Oh almost forgot** Adult CHDers who had the Fontan AND CHD Parents whose child has had the Fontan, please if you have 10mins click on the link below and do this survey. The University of Michigan, Mott's Children's Hospital is doing this Anonymous research survey on anyone of any age who has had the Fontan surgery. This survey could collect great information in how to better the treatment for who, like me, have had the Fontan surgery. Thanks! Link to the survey: https://umichumhs.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_8GHoFYmVjkHb4I4

Thanks so much for all the prayers and support! Sending prayers & **Heart Hugs** to all!

With Lots of Hope, Love, and Faith,

A Quick Bunched Up Update... Another MRI...

Hello Everyone!

Happy July! Woah can't believe it's already July! I will be 24 next month... where did the year go?! Geez... time slow down a little! I've been super busy still, but wanted to write a quick update... there is a bunch of stuff to quickly talk about, so I'm sorry if this update is all over the place.

I finished my first summer class on Monday! Woohoo! I did well! :)

I start my other two summer classes on Tuesday... if one wasn't busy enough, I will have two... but need to get that college degree in December. I keep telling myself only 7 more classes away from a college diploma now! :) So excited! I decided I want to be a Pediatric Social Worker or a Child Life Specialist as a career... hopefully that works out... I think I would be good at both, just have to see which one I can get. Fingers crossed! :)

Last Sunday I saw my mom's side of the family for my Grandma and

Uncle's birthday... it was so nice. I got to see my niece again! Oh my Lily (my niece) keeps growing! :) Here is a picture of here and I... not a great one as she looked away haha. Oh got a new haircut last week, so that is a good picture of my new do.

So, I tried my hand at making sem-homemade cinnamon rolls last weekend. I had dark brown sugar, cinnamon surgar, butter, and pizza dough balls... they smelled great and looked great (see below picture), but they tasted nasty haha. Not sure what I did wrong, but I'm almost certain it's the pizza dough... I've learned to never use pizza dough for cinnamon rolls... it was worth a shot though. I had fun even though it was an epic fail ha! Now, I need to think of my next food experiment haha. ;)

**Health News: So in my title I say Another MRI... let me explain the best I can. I had gotten a call 2 weeks ago about my lab/blood results. My Cardiologist's Nurse Practioner said everything looked fine, but I asked to get a copy of my results sent to me so I have a record of them (I try to get a copy of all my medical records). A few days later in the mail I get my lab/blood results and I look over it, then decide to compare with last years. My new Cardio has never seen last years as I had them done before I first met him... that's why I wanted to compare. I noticed that my Bilirubin (liver function levels) were slightly high last year, but that is Normal for most CHDers especially Single Ventricles who had the Fontan like I did... but I noticed a big jump from last year to this year, not a huge jump but almost a point higher which "can" be concerning. So I called my Cardio's Nurse Pac... we ended up playing phone tag for a few days (hate that). I finally told her my concern and wanted her to ask my Cardio what numbers should I start being concerned... the nurse said she would ask and call back in a day or two. Well, I get a phone call 2 days later by one of my Cardio's secutaries wanting to schedule my Liver MRI.... UM WHAT?! She said "Oh I'm guessing you don't know..."... Well later that day my Cardio's Nurse Prac. calls me saying sorry for scaring me and not getting to me first. My Cardiologist had went to conference about a week ago... the topic of Fontan-ers (my second open heart) and livers were brought up... that even a slight jump in Bilirubin from year to year "can" be concerning and eventually effect my heart (which is going well). So, they the increase in my Bilirubin is high enough to be concerned to get a Liver MRI as a precaution... that way if there is anything it will be caught in time before it effects my good heart function. Makes total sense. So, on July 15 at I go back to the hospital for a Liver MRI (well it's called an Abdomen MRI). I'm hoping everything is ok and this is just going to be a baseline MRI for my Liver.

Alrighty, I have a busy busy weekend and week ahead of me. I hope everyone had a safe and wonderful 4th of July weekend! Sending thoughts, prayers, and **Heart Hugs** to all!

With LOTS of Hope, Love, and Faith,

♥