Greta the Swimmer

This fall, Greta decided to try out doe the swim team. She made it and she been practicing twice a week. This Saturday we had our first inter squad meet - at her level she’ll get to have 2 or 3 of these I think. I didn’t know what to expect but to my surprise she shocked me! 

2 peas in a pod - Greta and Izzy

First up - backstroke which she said wasn’t her best… she won her heat! 

Next up… breaststroke… which she said is her least favorite … I thought she won but didn’t get the heat ribbon. So 2nd.

Last up…. Freestyle which is her favorite and she won her heat again! 

Then the final results were published and she was the overall top swimmer for 8 and under for breaststroke (so she did win) and freestyle and 2nd overall for backstroke and last to one of her besties who swims 2 levels above her and it was close. 

So proud of her! I love when kids surprise you and kick it up a gear.. She’s definitely competitive so we’ll see where this goes. Season doesn’t end until March so more fun to come! 

Greta Bible Day at Church

In third grade at our church, you get a bible. Greta has been so excited about this when I started to tell her. We did a 3 week class together at church were she learned about the Bible and the books and how to use it. She loved it. 

And after listening to the books of the Bible song a lot of times… she knows almost all of them. 

Then on today, she was given her Bible at church. Proud mom moment but also you could see the pride in her face as well. And I loved every minute of that. 

24 hours

24 hours is only a day. But as I watched seconds and minutes tick away during that 24 hours, I realized how long a day can really be. 

I’ll start with the ending and that is Greta is okay.  And what a blessing that is. 

Never in a million years did I imagine walking into the ER and having the next 24 hours unfold like they did... but they did. 

Since October, Greta has had 4 episode where she complains (and I now say that with a heavy heart) that her heart is beating really fast and she doesn’t like it. It usually happens also when she is not doing much of anything - not running, jumping, playing soccer or anything that would make her heart beat faster. Then usually after about 2 to 4 hours she would start puking and would continue to puke for the next 8 to 10 hours. This usually happens at night so the next morning she would wake up fine.

Im December we went to the ER the morning after one of these episode and they didn’t find anything. Then 3 months past and nothing. So I’m thinking we are all good. 

Then April 7th happened. And strangely, all the other episodes also happened on the 7th of the month. 

5:30 pm Arrive at Motts ER (Greta told her teacher about 2:30 her heart was beating fast). 

Explain symptoms and get pulse checked by Triage nurse. 

Get taken back snd hooked to EKG machine.

Greta is in SVT. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/supraventricular-tachycardia/symptoms-causes/syc-20355243

We immediately get rushed to a new bigger room with lots more people. Then I start to realize this probably isn’t a good thing and start to get nervous. 

They give her some medicine to try to bring her heart down. 

This medicine fails 3 times or rather works but her heart then goes right back into SVT.

Greta starts puking and continues for about 3 hours. 

See cardiologist. Start talking about ablation procedure. Realize how much more how serious this is and also realize every time this has happened in the past, it was this and then mom guilt sets in because I did not bring her in.

Do a ECHO of her heart. Takes a long time because poor thing is puking the entire time and crying and saying she wants to go home. I try to reassure her she’s okay and she would say back, no I’m not. And a couple times I chuckled because she was right. 

7:50 pm - Talk to surgeon 

8:06 pm - Call Ryan to give update

8:30 - Surgeon calls Ryan

Surgery schedule for next day at about noon 

930 pm - try new meds and they start working almost immediately - her heart rate finally comes down to about 125 after about 6 + hours of it being at 240. 

And she sleeps! 

Great friends drop off a bag of clothes, pumping stuff , snacks for me and books for Greta. 

10:30 pm - Move to room on pediatric cardiology floor 

Get settled and talk with nurses about the night. Order some cold hospital sandwiches. Poor Greta isn’t hungry and I realize I haven’t eaten anything since lunch. 

I cuddle in with Greta and hold her for like 2 hours. She slept peacefully! I then tried the chair for a bit but didn’t get much sleep. 

Morning was pretty relaxed.  Got a new nurse. Met the doctor. Saw the residents. Called family to give updates. Greta got to paint. Play with play dough. Thanks for the great care team at Mott. Watch movies. But really all she wanted to do was eat. Poor thing hasn’t eaten since noon the previous day. She would say she was soooo hungry and that was a thousand o’s. 

Ryan arrived about 11 and we started to get Greta prepped. About 12:30 we went to the pre-op room and met lots more people including the anesthesiologist, the nurse anesthetist and lots of other people that were going to be taking good care of her. I could see she was starting to get scared and when it came came to give her some medicine to relax her, it was a big fight. At this moment I realized it was a blessing I had my mask on and I could cover part of my face so she couldn’t see the fear in my face too. At 1:20 pm, they took her. They took my baby to fix her heart. To fix something on her I didn’t even know was broken. I felt the wind leave my lungs and I prayed. 

The next 4 hours were long. Ryan and I walked to get lunch. A nurse gave us updates periodically. Good ones. Said her heart kept going into SVT so it was making their job easier. 

At about 4:45, doctor came out and talked with us. They found the extra path and fixed it. So she should be good as new. There is a small chance that it could happen again but very small and is unlikely. This is what she had https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/svt-ablation/pyc-20385010

At 5:25 pm, I got the word I could see her. I was so anxious. And when she saw me, she smiled and I think we both knew it was going to be okay.  

Greta had to lay flat for 4 hours and then we would get to go home. Go home time was set for 8:52. 

We got back to our room about 6 pm - about 24 hours after we arrived. And Greta was ready to eat despite having a sore throat from the tube. First ice cream, then a popsicle, then part of a cookie and part of a Turkey sandwich, then more cookie, and apple juice and water. And the more she ate. The more I saw Greta coming back. 

7:30 pm, Greta gets a monitor to wear for the next 48 hours. 

8 pm, IV comes out. 

8:30 pm, get Greta dressed

9:15 pm, we packed up and were walking out (well Greta was getting wheeled out). 

A quick stop for a milk shake and we arrive home about 9:45 pm - just 28 hours later.  

And as I type this, I realize how much happened. I am truly grateful for all the amazing people at Motts. They really are the best. I thank God he watched over Greta. And I feel so blessed that we walked out of there with a kid ready to tackle life again! I could not imagine my life without Greta. 

Wipeout

It was bound to happen ... one of the girl was took from wipe out on their bikes... and to my surprise ... it was Greta! 

We went in the last stretch before the car and I was back pushing Nora and getting Lola started on her bike when I heard the cry. Ran up. Got her up. No blood. No broken bones. But a bruised chin and sore side. 

Confession from Greta she was trying to ride no handed. 😢 and now we know we aren’t quite ready for that. 

Greta teacher conference

We had a good teacher conference for Greta as well.  Her teacher had some great things to say and showed us her improvements in her reading and writing, which was fun to see. Her teacher said she’s great in class and follows instruction well and is helpful. Areas to work on are spending up math addition and subtraction (she knows them just needs to answer quicker) and then spelling. But no red flags which was good considering how much continues to change for these kiddos. 

Very proud of her and especially proud because she does her work all by herself and stays motivated.

Back to virtual

And just like that we are back to fully virtual. Both girls are pretty sad and say they will miss school abs seeing their friends. I will miss those 2 days if the week when the house is pretty quiet. 

Greta tooth #3

Finall, finally she pulled it out! This poor tooth had been dangling for quite a while. Last night I told her, before you get up, take some time all by yourself and pull it out. And she did!!

Greta wrote the tooth fairy a very nice note and asked her favorite food. Tooth fairy (Luna) came and told her apples, yogurt and cheeseburgers. Greta was pretty pumped! 

Horseback riding lessons

With so many sports not happening, the girls have started up horseback riding lessons just down the road and are loving it! Greta really wants to learn to ride and jump. Lola just loves helping take care of the horses and learning to ride. 

Mandy, their trainer, says both girls are quite comfortable on the horse and Greta has confidence riding. 

Greta growing up

Tonight when putting the girls to bed, 

Greta:  “tomorrow she was going to look on safari for some Barbie food.”

 Me: Safari?”

Greta: “yes! You can find anything on safari.”

Me: you know safari is just the internet right?”

Greta: .... 

Speechless! 😂

Greta’s 4wheeler lives

New parts and some wrenching by Ryan, gretas 4wheeler finally works again and she couldn’t be more excited. Ryan even let Lola drive it - with him on the back. Lola has 1 speed - fast. Greta is much more responsible driver. 

Sibling Love

I want to be able to remember these moments forever. I should have known that Greta and Nora would have a great bond. She talked and read so much to my belly while I was pregnant that I was certain after my voice, Nora would know Greta’s next. And she does. Nora follows Gretas voice and now lights up when Greta talks with her. She’s my mini mommy!

This picture and video prove it. 

Greta’s quarantine birthday fun

Starting to feel bad gut Greta... last year we all had influenza. This year we are quarantined so no party. I tried my best to make her birthday special even though we couldn’t do a lot if the things we usually do. 

Presents in the morning. New rollerblades was her favorite. Although she’s definitely made more rubber band bracelets.

She picked the food menu hit the day. Pancakes like at I-hop, tacos and cheeseburgers.

A cookie cake - made by me! And it was actually good. 

A surprise virtual party with friends, which both made my day and made me sad because I miss people. The girls played charades and had a dance party. 

The night ended with Aristocrats - her pick and a camp out in their box fort. 

Here’s to many more happy birthdays. And hopefully one year you’ll get to have a party. 

Happy 7th Birthday Greta

Wow! Hard to believe I have a 7 year old. I still look at her and see my first baby girl. I remember when my water broke and we scrambled to pack and install the car seat. I remember then next 50 hours waiting maybe not so patiently for her to make her entrance... eventually by c-section. I remember seeing her for the first time. I remember nursing her for the first time and last time.  I remember her first words and steps. All those cute baby things,  And now as she is growing up and into a big kid, I'm enjoying big and little moments with her - learning to ride a 2 wheeler, losing her first tooth and then another, watching her score her first basket and the huge smile that came after. So many more moments.

Big moments in her 6th year!

• First 2 lost teeth
• Reading like a champ
• Getting a new little sister
• First year of softball (well t-ball)
• First sleepover with Lyla (and Aunt Alicia and family) at a hotel (we were just down the hall)

Interview with Greta

My favorite friend is: Presley, Loralei, Sydney, Izzy, & Mia
My favorite thing from last year was: Going to Chicago
If I could go anywhere in the world it would be: Chicago     
When I grow up, I want to be a:  Teacher
If I had one wish, it would be: Lose my top teeth
What do you want to do now that you are 7: Carry Nora
Food: Cheeseburgers and Mac & Cheese
Snack: Little bits muffins
Book: Freddy the Fearless First Grader
Color: Coral
Sport to play: Basketball
Team: Cobras (my Upward team)
Subject: Gym
Song: Old Town Road
Movie: Turbo
Toy: Horses and Barn
Season: Summer

She’s smart, determined, creative and an amazing big sister. 

Greta’s big moment

Greta has been trying so hard at basketball. She is constantly dribbling around the house and in the games she always gives 110%, which is all I can ask. But she has struggled to make baskets. She just doesn’t quite have the umph to get it up there. Well Saturday, we as a family of 5 all went - our first outing! And Nora must be good luck because Greta scored not once but twice! And the first one I got on video. And the smile she ran down with after was a moment I will never forget! And then after the quarter she ran over to her coach Dawn and gave her the biggest hug! 

Then on Sunday Ryan and Greta went to get an early birthday gift, a basketball hoop; which Ryan mounted in the garage. And she’s been out here lots!! I’m one happy mama! 

Gretas first basketball game 2020

Greta has had 3 practices and her first game got cancelled last weekend cuz of snow... so today she was super exited to play. And I was super excited to watch but a little weird because this was her first game that I wasn’t coaching. I really like her coach.

So today at her game I saw a totally different Greta. She was confident. She hustled more than I have ever seen. She got rebounds. Ran after loose balls. And was always the first one down the court. Took lots of shots. And to top of off - she scored!! Was a very proud mom moment! Can’t wait to watch the rest of the season!

Don’t mind the face paint - we went to U of M gymnastics and she got her face painted like a mermaid 

Greta’s 2nd tooth

After a lot of wiggling and encouraging - especially form Uncle Scott... she finally did it and pulled out her 2nd tooth.

We were at Dads house for Christmas and the kids were outside for some fresh air when she came running in, with sheer excitement. 

She wrote a nice letter to the tooth fairy - Luna - and the next morning she got $5.

Christ Our King Christmas Program

So proud of both girls at the Christmas program. Lola had 1 like and Greta had 3 and both did great. They also sang lots of songs and knew all the words.