Camps, Drums, Avengers....oh my

Yeah, it's me. I'm updating. Yes, I know. I am severely slacking in my updating skills. Sorry.

Happy New Year!

Christmas was good. Or should I say EXCELLENT from Jillian's point of view. She very happily received the drum set she has told us only 1, 001 times that she has been asking for since she was 2. Funny, I don't remember it that way. But whatever, she got it and she is one drumming fool. If you follow me on facebook you have seen the video of her drumming her heart away and singing a lively rendition of "Girls Just Want to Have Fun". We have a rocker in our midst.

Sometime at the end of November I think, Jillian was having dizzy spells. She would be sitting at the counter doing homework and all of a sudden put her head down and say she felt dizzy. She said she was having that at school, both on the playground and in the classroom. I assumed she was probably dehydrated because if she has it her way she will drink milk all day long and only drink water if told to. I know that dehydration is important with her Fontan anatomy because Dr. R says at every single appointment to not let  her get dehydrated. I will have to educate myself a little more on the specific reasons incase anyone asks why because I'm not entirely sure why, but I know it's important (this whole Fontan anatomy still puzzles me at times).

So I let Dr. R know about the dizzy spells. She had to do the dreaded halter monitor. Dr. R said check the color of her urine and drink more water (see, that whole dehydration thing again.).

I'm driving Jillian somewhere a few weeks back and somebody calls. I answer (on my handless headset of course) but Jillian was in the middle of telling me a story and when Jillian is in the middle of telling her very long winded stories you best not interrupt her or else. So I answered the phone call and put up my finger as in "hold on a minute Jillian, I'm answering the phone"

Somebody identified themselves. I think a doctor, maybe a nurse, definately female. I did hear something about the results of the halter monitor. But by my signaling to Jillian that she would have to pause her story when she was not ready to pause her story......the girl in the backseat went unleashed. She started talking very loudly - I think continuing her story because she was not going to be shushed. I was stopped at a light and I turned around and gave her that mom glare. OMG! By the yell she let out and the crying that followed you would have thought I turned around and threw her out of the car into oncoming traffic.

The  lady on the phone asked if this was a good time. I laughed.

I guess I should have said that I would call her back. But I was being as stubborn as my 8 year old. So I pulled into a parking lot and got out of the car so I could hear her. She went on and on about something regarding skipped beats that is normal with Jillian but there was something about a little more than skipped beats or extra beats - I got flustered. It was cold. And then that word "dehydrated" and "blood test".

So all of this to say they are not too concerned about her dizzy spells (which she is no longer complaining about) and she needs to drink more water.

And learn to pause her stories.

Along with all of this strong-willed, story telling, increasingly independant little being.....Jillian wants to go to Camp Taylor.

For those of you who don't know, Camp Taylor is a camp for children with CHD. A place for them to meet other kids like them. Check it out at www.kidsheartcamp.org. I think I mentioned Camp Taylor in her presence last year because I have been wanting to go to the Family Camp since she was born but have never been able to make it work and she has asked about it periodically since.

So we check out the website and she is jumping up and down next to me - checking out all the pictures of kids her age - swimming, crafting, singing, smiling. And she wants to go. Like NOW! Like don't interrupt her story or else!

She has a great argument. She hasn't every really met anyone else like her. She hasn't seen another kid with a chest scar. She is like the bearded lady at school. The girl with the cool zipper. But mom! Nobody else has a zipper like me. I want to go!! I love to swim, I love to craft, I love to sing and dance and play with other kids and like OH! MY! GOSH!! I. HAVE. TO. GO!!!

I told her it's for four whole days. That would be three whole nights. You know? Those nights where you yell to me on a nightly basis can you come to my room. Your scared. You have to go to the bathroom. Is it time yet to get in my bed and cuddle. Those nights? I asked her about that and she was like "Mom, I'll sleep where they tell me and if you are not there I'll stay in my bed, duh!"

Who am I to say no. Although after she left the room I had the registration page up and Russ said "are you serious about this?" Well, I think so. Like I should consider it. But hmmmm, it is four days away from us. He chuckled and said "I mean  you, are YOU ok with this because it will be four days of you away from her."

Ok, he does have a point.

So any heart moms  have any experience with sending the precious cargo away to Camp Taylor (or any other similar camp in another state) at the tender age of 8 (she will be 9 by the time camp comes).