Cardiology Update

We had another great cardiology check-up this morning.  I can breathe for another month. :)  Dr. Porische was so pleased with Field.  His weight is great.  He looks amazing.  He is happy and just cooing away.  She couldn't believe how alert and "chatty" he was.  She told him she can definitely tell that he is loved and talked to often because he didn't stop talking in the office.  As far as the heart goes, everything looks great and just at it should.  No leaky valves, pressures are great, pulses are perfect, and the PA band is working well.  I had to break the news to her that we are going to have Field's surgery in Houston with Dr. Fraser.  She was totally on board with that and said she is happy to be Field's local cardiologist and will always send a report to Houston on how Field is doing each month.  She assured me that she would get second opinions if it were her child and she definitely respects Dr. Fraser and his team in Houston. 

On that note, we have a date set for the surgery!  On Monday, January 3rd, we will meet with Dr. Crystal, our cardiologist at TCH in Houston.  On Tuesday, January 4th, Field will undergo a cardiac catheterization to check the pressures and blood flow of his heart.  They will also do all of the pre-op work for the surgery (blood work, chest x-ray, etc.)  This is considered a minor procedure and we will most likely just stay one night in the hospital.  Thursday, January 6th is the BIG day.  Field will have his first open heart surgery early that morning.  I get sick to my stomach when I even say that word.  Sending my sweet, innocent baby boy into such a serious surgery is absolutely heartbreaking and will be the hardest thing I will ever have to do as a mommy.  We would SO appreciate your prayers for that day.  For a speedy, successful, and complication-free surgery.  For comfort and NO pain for Field.  And for peace for Brad and me.  We have 2.5 months to pray for this day.  Please join us in praying that all goes perfectly and just as it should and that Field will be stronger than ever leading up to the surgery.   

And can I just say that I love my husband.  Please read his detailed email he sent to our family today:

Hello Fam,
I just got off the phone with Texas Children's, and it looks like we are heading to Houston the first week of January. Here is the projected timeline of events:
Sunday, January 2nd: Johnson family will travel to Houston to get situated at home base (Blair and Bryan Loockes)
Monday, January 3rd: Consult with Dr. Crystal (cardiologist) to discuss the catheterization, and any other check ups needed.
Tuesday, January 4th: Have the cath procedure (done by Dr. Crystal the cardiologist), as well as other lab work needed for pre surgery.
Thursday, January 6th: Have the bi directional glenn shunt and damus kaye stansel operations (done by Dr. Fraser the surgeon).
There are still a lot of details to iron out, but this is a rough draft of what is to come. At some point in time between the cath and the surgery we will meet with Dr. Fraser about what he expects out of the procedure. Field will probably have the opportunity to sleep at the Loockes the night of the 4th, but will be readmitted on the 5th prior to surgery.
If all goes well, and I'm am hopeful it does, Field will spend ten days at TCH, and then will have to stay in Houston three more nights as a precaution. Then we will be homeward bound.
Regards,
Brad W. Johnson, CFP
Investment Officer

He is SO on top of things and so great at organizing appointments for Field.  Yes, I am a lucky girl and Field is a lucky boy. 

And here's a pic of sweet, little Field-ie-poo.

Funny story...we took Field to the pumpkin patch and then to dinner afterwards in this outfit.  We had THREE different people come up to us to tell us how precious our DAUGHTER is.  How cute SHE is, how big SHE is, and then asked how old SHE is.  Brad was not too happy that I put Field in such a girlie outfit.  I guess I should put a second thought to what we dress our little "pretty" boy in.  I do think he is a beautiful boy but I don't really like that he was mistaken for a girl several times yesterday.  I am so sorry, Field.   I won't make you wear these outfits too often!  :)

Dear Field...4 months!

Dear Field,

You are 4 months old! 

Here are some things we LOVE about you, sweet boy.

1.  You are SO smiley.  We think God made you extra smiley because you always have a smile on your face. 
2.  You love bath time.  It's your favorite way to be soothed - except when we wipe your face.  :)
3.  You LOVE Christmas Carols!  BB discovered that if we sing Silent Night and The First Noel, you will drink your entire bottle in about 25 minutes.
4.  Your reflux seems to be better.  Such an answered prayer!  Still spitting up, but no pain when drinking and a much stronger desire to eat large quantities of momma's milk - yay!
5.  You love to sleep on your side and in the swing - not so much on your back.
6.  You love to watch T.V. (uh-oh!) - especially Dancing with the Stars - a future in music and dancing? 
7.  We are still swaddling you - one arm in and one arm out.  Otherwise we've found that your hands are all over the place!  But we know it's time to stop so we are working on it.  Maybe we'll work on that next week.  :)
8. You've been rolling over since you were 6 weeks from front to back.  (Makes tummy time cut short often).  You are so close to rolling from back to tummy.  I hear sleeping improves once you can roll to your tummy on your own.  Bring that on! 
9.  We do not like vaccinations!  Of course we don't like you to be stuck by a needle (who does?!?), but that is the least of our worries with all your little body has to endure.  It's the aftermath of the vaccinations that's tough.  High fever for 24 hours and no desire to eat for a few days after shots.  :(  It's not fun seeing you when you feel yucky, but you always amaze us with how tough you are! 
10.  You bring JOY, JOY, JOY to all that know and love you (which is a lot of people!).  We are so thankful that God made you and we love you just the way you are.  You are perfect in our eyes, Field-ie-poo!

Walk for Field!

A few weeks ago I was playing around on my computer while Field was sleeping and came across the American Heart Association Heart Walk that will be in San Antonio on Saturday, November 6th.  I immediately signed up "Team Field" and was ready to get all of our friends and family on board for the walk in honor of sweet Field.  Then I realized I was being way over ambitious - the walk is in just a few weeks and I am a busy new mommy and also attending graduate school.  I don't have time to get this organized!  So I decided that Brad, Field, and I would walk in it and then maybe next year we could make it into a bigger event.  God is so good, because He knew this was something I wanted but just didn't have the time to put together.  Not just a day later and I got an email from one of my very best friends, Courtney, saying that she would like to put together a team to walk in honor of Field.  Wow!  I told her I had already set up a team and she took over from there. 

To our local SA friends, please do not feel obligated in any way to join us, but I wanted to pass along the information just in case.  Thank you, Court, for putting this together!

Dear Family and Friends of the Johnsons,
The American Heart Association will be having its annual Start! Heart Walk in San Antonio on Saturday, November 6th.


We are forming a team in honor and support of Field Johnson and would love for you all to join us! The event is FREE and if you would like to make a donation to the American Heart Association in honor of Team Field you can do so when you sign up on the website. All money raised goes to the American Heart Association to help support research, education and advocacy for heart issues including congenital heart defects. You can simply join our team and come walk to show your support or you may also get others to support you in your walk by making donations. Our team goal is $1,000 and I have no doubt that we will reach it quickly!

The walk details are below:

Saturday, November 6th

8:00 AM Opening Ceremonies
9:00 AM Walk Start!

(*Choose a 3.1 mile route or a 1 mile route)
Brackenridge Park Joske Pavilion

The following link can be used to join the team:

Team Field

I will send more details to those who join the team as the walk gets closer and we will meet and walk together with Lisa, Brad and Field!  Thank you for supporting such a wonderful cause that is so dear to our HEARTS! I know it will mean a lot to Lisa, Brad, Field and their families.

Courtney Williams

Thank you ALL so much!  I just checked the Heart Walk Team Field page and saw that we already met our goal of raising $1,000 for the American Heart Association.  Thank you ALL so much!  We are honored and blessed by your love, support, and friendship.  And we hope that our money raised will go on to help support CHD awareness and research for future families like ours.  And on that note, stay tuned for another event in honor of Field.  My sister and I are in the works of putting together a special event to raise money for CHD research and awareness.  It won't happen for another year or so, but we are super excited about it! 

And here are a few pics to share...

Nonnie, Field, Mommy, and BB at his Sip and See

 Mommy, Field, and Aunt Barbie (one of Nonnie's good friends)

Have a great weekend!

Field's First Football Game!

We took Field to his first Texas football game a few weekends ago.  I know fans were looking at us like we were crazy when we walked in with a 3 month old, but I promise we aren't crazy.  The Johnsons have a suite on the North end of the stadium so we were inside with air conditioning during the entire game.  We weren't around the big crowds in the stadium and Field was able to watch parts of the game and nap the entire time.  Just as we would at home!  Both sets of grandparents were with us, too, so he got lots of attention.  Unfortunately, we didn't win the game.  What was that about Horns?  This was a first of many football games for Field and he did SO well!  Way to go, Field!

Poppy, BB, Mommy, Field, Daddy, Uncle Matt, Nonnie, and Graddaddy

Longhorn Fan!

Our Little Family

Meeting Auntie Blair (college friend) for the first time!