Stella and I explored this morning and found the Lake Hollywood Dog Park. I've always been a sucker for "Hollywood" especially the iconic sign. What a neat dog park!
When I was little, growing up in Texas, I used to tell people I was from Hollywood! In reality I had never even been to California! I guess on some level I knew I'd get here someday...I just thought it would be under more glamorous circumstances :)
Every Thursday is filled with Doctors appointments. We spend a lot of time sitting in rooms just like this.
Note to self: Do not go to Universal Studios when your 9+ months pregnant...you can't do ANYTHING! Not even the tram ride :(
Our house is 10 minutes from Universal and we don't even need to get on the freeway to get there (YAY!). We went on a beautifully uncrowded Wednesday. They have a great deal going on right now where you pay for one day and you get an Annual Pass! That's a sweet deal! So even though we could only see shows (the Animal Actors show is pretty cute) we can go back anytime before the end of the year.
We had a great time walking around. It has been 10+ YEARS since either of us has been...maybe longer. I was bummed that they don't have "Back Draft" anymore and I was shocked that they have a "WaterWorld" show. Really?! an entire show based on the worst movie of all time.
A few months ago we decided that in order for Santiago to receive the best care possible we would need to temporarily relocate to LA. We will be living in Los Angeles for 6 months! This was super important to us because the time between his first and second surgeries are going to be the most critical. That is the time when most heart babies lose their battle. Plus I have at least 2 doctors appointments every week from now until delivery. The 200 mile (through LA traffic) roundtrip drive, twice a week would kill me.
When I transferred care to CHLA from UCSD I was enrolled with IMFH (so many accronyms!). IMFH (the Institute for Maternal Fetal Health) is a partnership between CHLA, Hollywood Presbyterian Hospital and the USC school of medicine. An IMFH team is going to do my delivery at Hollywood Presbyterian. And they will also track Santi throughout his surgeries and beyond. I believe it is their thoroughness and quality of care that is going to give my baby boy the best chance, not just to survive the procedures but to thrive and grow to be a healthy, normal kid. Six months in LA is a small price to pay for your kids health LIFE.
Honestly, we've been looking forward to our LA adventure. Abe's parents got us a gorgeous rental house to call home in the Hollywood Hills, 3.5 miles away from the hospital. For the next couple of weeks, our days will be filled with doctor appointments, exploring LA and maybe going to a TV taping or two. Once he's here, our lives will never NEVER be the same. We are excited and anxious to meet our son. But until then, we are celebrating the end of our life as a twosome.
We moved in last night. Let the adventure begin!
A sweet client from Haute Yoga contacted me to do a quick photo shoot. We shot at Leo Carrillo Ranch in Carlsbad, close to my house. Here's a sneak peak of some unedited shots she just sent me.
Abe has been friends with Cliff and Andrea since childhood. I have truly enjoyed getting to know them over the years. When they first started wedding planning I was afraid I wouldn't be able to go...I thought I'd either be too pregnant or be at the hospital with my HLHS baby. Luckily for me the timing was perfect. Cliff and Drea got married on February 18 in Santa Fe, NM. We were able to coordinate my El Paso shower and the road trip back to CA with a mini vacation in Santa Fe to celebrate with them.
The wedding was so gorgeous! It was held at La Posada. They married in the presence of 75 people, mostly family with a few select friends. I'm so honored that we were among the select friends! These two are special, we are so lucky to have them in our lives!
Seriously, who wears Louboutins when they're 8.5 months pregnant?! ....I guess I do!
Abe and I met with our surgeon today, Dr. Vaughn Starnes.
As soon as we found out that Santiago had HLHS we were on a mission to find the best resources possible. Living in San Diego, Rady Children's Hospital would have been the natural choice, it's a great hospital. But as any parent knows sometimes "great" isn't enough. I wanted the best. I needed the BEST.
After a lot of research, and even considering Children's Hospital Boston (the country's top neonatal cardiac hospital) we decided on Dr. Starnes at CHLA. After meeting with him today we are both confident that we made the right choice.
He told us that considering the circumstances, Santi's heart is in relatively good shape and that he is a great candidate for the Norwood-Sano surgery. The Norwood-Sano will take place 3-5 days after he is born.
This is roughly what we can expect following the surgery: 5-7 days in the cardiac NICU, followed by 3-4 weeks of recovery in the hospital. He will have a feeding tube that goes through his nose, among other tubes, wires and monitors.
Everything mentioned above is the "best case scenario." There is always a risk for infection or other complications. We will do everything we can and the doctors will do everything they can.
For a better understanding, here is a picture showing how his heart is different from a healthy heart
As promised, here are photos from the gorgeous shower my mother-in-law threw for me and Santiago in El Paso on February 12. My extended family lives in Texas and I was so thrilled to have my aunts, grandmother, mother and cousin come to El Paso to celebrate.
The shower had a Heart/Valentines theme representing both the time of year and my HLHS baby. Everything about the shower was so wonderful and thoughtful. Delicious food, lot's of sweets, stunning decor and most importantly family and friends showering us with love and support!
As we got closer to LA, we blindly booked a room using Hotwire.com (you know, where you don't find out where you're staying until AFTER you pay). We totally lucked out and got a room at the Hollywood Roosevelt for a great rate. On top of that we lucked out again at check in, Abe asked the clerk if they had any upgrades available. She put us on the 12th floor in the room that adjoins the penthouse. And guess what? The doors that connect it to the penthouse were OPEN...we couldn't help ourselves, we had to explore the suite. It was awesome!
Our room had a great view of Hollywood Blvd. The Oscars are this Sunday and they already have the street blocked off, filled with trailers and surrounded by security. The Red Carpet was rolled out (covered in thick plastic) but we walked on it into the Kodak Theater. Getting to see all that goes into it will make watching the award show this weekend even more special.
We arrived at the Grand Canyon at 10:30am. The air was a chilly 37 degrees, snow still scattered the ground and hardly anyone had ventured into the park yet. This is by far the best time of year to see the majestic canyon. We wandered along the south rim, photographing the incredible landscape and pondering what it must have been like for the first settlers to discover this greatness. Truly magnificent!
BELLYSHOTS- 35 weeks = 8 months & 3 weeks
We left Santa Fe and headed west towards the Grand Canyon. Abe has never been and I'm so excited for him to see it. It's one of those places that you can honestly describe as magnificent.
We have had such a great time in Santa Fe! The wedding was gorgeous, I'll post pictures when we get home later this week.
There is so much to see and do in this beautiful city. We went to the Loretto Chapel and saw the "miraculous staircase." A staircase that was built in the 1800's without nails. It has been featured on Unsolved Mysteries. No one knows how it was built or how it is still standing.
A friend of my dads is a co-owner of The Santa Fe Brewing Co. We met up with him and got a private tour of the brewery. I let Abe do the tasting.
We also drove up to Chimayo and visited the sacred chapel. There is a room in the church that has a hole in the floor where you can take the sacred healing dirt. We took a little bit and bought a small heart shaped vessel and filled it with the dirt. Our time in the chapel was very special and we said prayers for our baby Santiago.
After a fantastic week in El Paso, week packed up our new ride and hit the road. Our first stop is Santa Fe, NM for our dear friends, Cliff and Andrea's wedding.
My sweet mother in law threw me the most gorgeous shower in El Paso this weekend. Here's a sneak peak...more pictures to come.
I haven't really had any of the pregnancy cravings that you always hear about, you know, like pickles and ice cream. But the other night it just hit me. I HAD to HAVE chocolate almond milk! And it HAD to be ice cold.
I drank the entire carton in less than 24 hours. Yum! I should get more.
On 1/17, we had a 4D ultrasound and got to see his sweet face!
Big yawn!
holy moly we're getting close!
I still have an innie, but it's on the verge of becoming an outtie :)
I received the loveliest care package from Sisters By Heart this week!
SBH is an organization of "heart moms" who have come together to support other heart moms throughout their journey with HLHS and other Congential Heart Defects.
We are only two steps in on this long HLHS road and it feels so great to know that we are not alone.
3 Weeks ~ but I didn't know it at the time!
sunbathing in Boston
16 Weeks ~ in the backyard with Stella
21 Weeks ~ Las Vegas Babymoon
22 Weeks ~ painting a mural with my hubby
24 Weeks ~ Turks & Caicos Babymoon
27 Weeks ~ El Paso
28 Weeks ~ At my baby shower
I am almost 31 Weeks now and growing everyday. I'll post a current photo soon.
We met in college in 2003
We have traveled all over the world together
We have an adorable Jack Russell named Stella
We are so in LOVE
Photo by Luna Photo