~Updates~
*Please note that updates will appear with the most recent post at the top, to read earlier posts just scroll down.
August 2005:
What a busy year for Tom! He had a great time in the Young 5’s class at his pre-school and will be headed off to Kindergarten in just a few weeks. At Young 5’s graduation, all the kids were asked what they wanted to be when they grew up and Tom proudly and loudly said, “a surgeon”. He is so interested in everything medical and loves to give check-ups to his little sis, the dogs and any willing babysitters.
This summer he is playing a starfish in the musical version of “The Little Mermaid” and is enjoying swimming at grandma’s lake whenever he gets a chance. He enjoyed his first season of t-ball and turned out to be a really good hitter. He also tried golf for the first time and once he quit trying to hit it like a baseball did well with that too. His heart remains healthy and strong. He has to stop and rest during bike rides or recess sometimes, but takes it all in stride and goes right back at it as soon as he can. Birthday #6 is coming in September along with his Aunt’s wedding in October. Will post more pictures and an update from his fall cardiology visit then.
Sept 2004
Tom recently celebrated his 5th birthday with a fun dinosaur and taco party. The picture above is of Tom cutting the ribbon at our local Heart Walk to benefit the American Heart Association. He is back to school and doing well, will be starting gymnastics and swimming this fall and is learning to read. He is a great big brother to Sarah and is very protective of her. He got a clean bill of health from his cardiologist last week and will be just kicking back and enjoying the fall and winter.
Spring 2004:
After getting a clean bill of health from the cardiologist in March, Tom is heading into spring preparing for tee-ball and golf. He is finishing his second year of pre-school and looking forward to Young 5’s in the fall. He remains a huge fan of tractors and his Thomas the Tank Engine trains as well as dad’s biggest helper around the house and yard. We look forward to a trip to Michigan’s Mackinac Island in May and also returning to the University of Michigan in June for their complex cardiac reunion. Will post an update and photos again after that.
Summer 2003:
As the 2nd anniversary of Tom’s Fontan comes and goes, he is enjoying a typical summer in Michigan. Fishing, swimming, kayak rides and gardening with dad are his favorite summer activities. There has been some debate over whether to close his fenestration or not, with the final decision being “Why mess with success?”. Tom is a terrific big brother to his heart healthy sister, Sarah, who was born April 12. She is a wonderful baby who has brought a lot of joy to our family and we are really enjoying caring for her and getting to know her at home instead of at the hospital like her brother.
Tom & Sarah
Spring 2003:
Tom is enjoying everything about being three and a half: pre-school, roughhousing with Dad, his wooden Thomas the Tank Engine train set, playing onthe computer and zooming around on his tricycle. His cardiac condition is very stable and no one who meets him suspects he has any kind of problem. We are all anxiously waiting our heart healthy baby girl who is due to arrive in early April.