Merry Christmas!!!

Malachi is getting so big!

All the Good Things...

The words say it all. This is my new prayer song! This song is called, "All the Good Things", by Jill Phillips. Her website is: Jill Phillips Enjoy the words to this precious song:

All The Good Things

Every once in a while the world stops spinning enough
That I can take a step back and get the picture
I see the twists and the turns, I see the patterns they form
I see how perfect they are and I remember

All the good things
All the good things
All the good things You’ve done for me

Though the feeling is real I know it’s fleeting to feel
One day I’ll forget You are here and start to wonder
In that season of doubt, You’ll still be showering me
With blessings I can’t see, that can’t be numbered

All the good things
All the good things
All the good things You’ve done for me

Forgive me for my shortsighted look at this world
Where You keep proving that You know what You’re doing

If I could see like You do with Your perspective view
The fires I’m walking through would look much different
I’d see those difficult days for who they made me become
And I would count them among

All the good things
All the good things
All the good things You’ve done for me

Heart Buddies!

I just had to post these picture of Malachi and his Grampa Mike, who underwent open heart surgery on October 15th. They both have a special bond now, and matching scars! Mike is doing really well. He said every day he feels better and better. Praise the Lord for taking care of our family! Enjoy the cute photos!

Malachi 1 Year Old!!!!

Malachi turned a year old on November 2nd, 2008. I still can't believe it! Many times, when we were stuck in Pittsburgh, it seemed that time was standing still. Now, looking back it has flown by! Much has happened with him. He is now rolling over both ways, and lifting up his head. He is sitting up, until he decides to throw himself backwards and lay on the floor. He is standing and jumping. He is babbling and saying, "Dada," "Momma," "Anana," and "Yeah!" I think "Anana" is his way of saying, "Gramma," Grampa," "Aunt," "Uncle," and pretty much everyone else! He is eating really well. We now only have to feed him five times a day and it is working much better for him. He doesn't vomit nearly as much. He is taking baby food, and likes it.

We have had a couple of scary times when he developed a fever and we had to take him to the ER. Every time it ended up just being an ear infection, but with his heart, and where we were with him a year ago, you can't just "assume" he is alright. He is seeing the GI doctor for his reflux, that we continue to pray for the Lord to completely heal him of. He sees the Cardiologist about every three months to make sure all is good with his heart, and he has a CT scan in December to make sure all is well with his stent. We are being referred to an Orthopedic doctor about his scoliosis, which is a new development in the past few days.

To recap this past year; there have been a lot of times of uncertainty, unknown, anxiousness, fear, sadness, frustration, and hopelessness, BUT God has always remained faithful, even when we weren't. He ALWAYS showed up and showed us what His greater plan was, even though He didn't have to. I am amazed at how much love the Lord has for His children even when we have all but given up hope. (2 Timothy 2:13) I have a tendency to look back and see a lot of the bad, but honestly, there is SOOOOOOO MUCH GOOD! Malachi is alive! He is doing so well, and he is growing and developing. You would never know that he is a heart kid, unless you saw his scarred chest.

A few months ago the Lord gave me Isaiah chapter 43 as a promise. I know that it was written for the Israelites, but I couldn't help but think it was written with us in mind. If you have time to read the whole chapter it is amazing the promises in it, but the part that stuck out the most was verse 19: "Behold, I will do something new, Now it will spring forth; Will you not be aware of it? I will even make a roadway in the wilderness, Rivers in the desert."

I used to think that it meant that the Lord was going to heal Malachi's reflux, or that He would allow him to sit on his own before he turned a year old, but I realized that the "new" thing was going to be in me. The Lord was going to transform my attitude and give me a peace and contentment in my circumstances. (Philippians 4:11) He was going to change how I would handle things that came about. Malachi may never be healed of his reflux, he will always have heart troubles, and more things could be discovered with his health, but one thing will always remain constant.... the Lord and His plan for us. I still have no idea why He has given us the honor and privilege of having such a wonderful baby boy, but He has. He has chosen us to walk this path of life. And I am convinced that it is all so that we will have a jar full of tears to annoint His feet with. (Psalm 56:8) It reminds me of the woman in Luke 7:36 - 50. She had much to be thankful for, and I always wondered why the Lord would keep our tears in a bottle. I think (my opinion only) that one day He will give them back to us and we will be able to wash His feet with them, as a thank you for all He has done for us. I know that is what I want to do with mine!

It amazes me how far Malachi has reached to touch so many lives. A few weeks ago we had our annual Church Retreat. A lot of people were there that had been praying for Malachi, but had never actually met him. May his life continue to be a testimony of the faithfulness of God! We could NEVER thank everyone enough for their faithful prayers and support for our family.

So in conclusion, I will sum it up: God is Good ALL the time, He is FAITHFUL, He LOVES, and He NEVER LEAVES!

We love you all!

Love,
April for all three

2 Timothy 2:3

Family Camping 2008...

This was Malachi's first year family camping and he LOVED it! He was so quiet on the hike Saturday taking in all the sights and sounds. I think camping is going to be one of his favorite things! If you have a facebook account I posted most of the pictures on there, so check them out. He are a few for your enjoyment. What a great time! I wish it didn't have to end!

Check out this Link...

The Steven Curtis Chapman Family was on Good Morning America today. I don't know if I was so touched by the Family because I have listened to him most of my life, if it is because as a mother I felt for Mary Beth Chapman, or if it was sad the thought of losing your child. Whatever the reason their testimony was so powerful and moving. I cried through the whole 10 minute interview. If you have ten minutes please check out this link: Chapmans on GMA

Steven Curtis Chapman will be on Larry King Live on Thursday, August 7th at 9 pm. I am sure it too will be a testimony of Faith, Hope, and Love. What an incredible family. I am sure if you asked them if they had a choice, they would not have ever wanted this to happen. God is already using it to encourage others... like me!

Also check out his song "Cinderella" that he wrote for his little girls.

Grace be with You,
April

Niagara Falls, Canada...

We went on our first family vacation with Malachi this past weekend. The Falls were incredible. They portrayed the Awesomeness of our Great God! Enjoy the pictures! Malachi did great on the Maid of the Mist. (He liked munching on his poncho!) It was a wonderful time with each other and family.

Thinking...

Lately I have been feeling sad. I just put it together that one year ago we had found out about Malachi's heart condition. We had met with a Cardiologist and we were awaiting what would become one of the hardest tests we would ever face. Looking back I realize how completely unaware I was. I had made up in my mind that we would spend just two weeks in the hospital and go home with Malachi's heart repaired, and not have to go back to Pittsburgh until his next surgery, or for an appointment. Little did I know what truly was instore. I still can't believe we have actually been released from the hospital and that Malachi is doing really well. Every time that Malachi has had an appointment, I have half expected to hear that he needed to be admitted. (I guess it became the norm.)

I have struggled a lot lately with what the future might hold. It honestly scares me to think what could lie ahead, but thankfully I am so blessed with a husband that reminds me that we can't go there. We must live everyday as is, and not stress over what could possibly happen.

I will admit that I peek in on Malachi all the time when he sleeps. (I still love to take in the fact that he is home and in his own bed.) His smile is such a precious thing, his babble makes me laugh, and his obvious love for Philip and I is overwhelming! I never knew being a Mother would be so rewarding! I love every minute I get to spend with our little man.

The other day Malachi was playing on the floor and I got down next to him and started kissing him. He just laid there and let me kiss him over and over. I was reminded of something my Mom had said to me when Malachi was under his "nitrogen tent" in the hospital and we couldn't kiss his face... she said that the Lord would redeem the time someday. Well, I thanked Him so much for letting me have that time back to kiss my little man's face over and over.

I have also realized that we will never have a normal life ever again. There will always be hospital and doctor visits. Malachi will always need to have Echos and EKGs, but thankfully they won't be all the time. Things will always be uncertain and unknown, but out great God will NEVER BE uncertain and unknown. He HAS, and IS holding our lives in His hands. I saw this really neat testimony on television today (I'll spare you the details), but it was this amazing story about this woman who the Lord healed of this debilitating illness. She said that it wasn't until she got her eyes off of the healing and put them on the Healer, that she began to see the Lord work in her life. I want that. I want my eyes on the Healer. I want to be a testimony of His Grace. I want Malachi's life to be completely covered with the fingerprints of God. I want others to not see the Prestons, but the Lord Jesus Christ. I want to disappear and let Christ appear. I don't want to question what the Lord is doing, I want to take part in it. I want to leave a legacy for my son to see how the Lord worked in and through our family. I want more of what the Lord has for us.

Malachi's Smile!

He's so cute!


Malachi has been smiling so much more lately and it is the cutest thing ever. It's so much fun watching him grow up! Here are a couple of his more recent smile pictures...

Malachi's Catherization...

Malachi's Cath was on Monday, June 2nd at 10:30 am. Dr. Cheatham performed the procedure. After waiting 6 hours, with a few nerve-racking updates, to hear how the Cath went we were relieved. Dr. Cheatham said that Malachi's Femoral Arteries (main arteries in his legs) were occluded, which means they were closed up. The body makes new arteries to replace those that have "died." They are smaller and more curvy, but still allow adequate blood flow to his legs. They also make it harder for the Cath procedure. This made it longer and harder to access his heart through those arteries. They did get in, and found that his Pulmonary Branch was indeed very narrowed. It was measuring .8 mm! Dr. Cheatham inserted a stent, which is a very small metal wiring that collapses and opens. They use a balloon to widen the stent. This allows his Pulmonary Branch to be much larger and blood can flow freely between his lungs. This is a temporary fix until his last surgery at three years of age, where they will patch tissue to the artery to make it a more permanent fix. He also went into heart block, which is when the electrical firing system in the heart is disrupted and causes the heart to beat out of sync. (He has done this several times before.) His heart recovered on his own and did not need any medicine to help it. Dr. Cheatham later told us that he discovered that Malachi has his valves in his heart switched and thus has a greater chance for heart block.

Malachi was transferred up to the floor within an hour after the procedure was finished, and was eating a bottle that evening. He had some major swelling in his head due to all the fluid they gave him in the Cath Lab. He was given IV Lasix and within the next day he had urinated off most of the fluid.

We came home on Tuesday, June 3rd. Malachi is doing great! His coloring looks really good. (His feet don't get quite as purple, and he doesn't turn purple when he gets mad!) He is eating and sleeping and glad to be home.

I have included some pictures of the procedure and hope you can get an idea of what all Dr. Cheatham did. We are so thankful to our great God for protecting our son once again!

Before the stent; narrowing of the Pulmonary Artery:

After the stent; Pulmonary Artery much larger:

The balloon used to open up the stent. We got to keep it!:

What is Ahead...

Malachi is getting so big! I can't believe he is going to be 7 months old on June 2nd! That is also the day they have scheduled for his Cath. They will be going in to check his Pulmonary Artery to see if there is enough blood flow getting to his lungs. If there is not enough, they will either inflate a balloon or put in a stent. The procedure is scheduled for 10:30 am on June 2nd. If all goes well he could go home the day after the Cath. We are praying that of course! Here are some great pics we took when Malachi turned 6 months old. I do not mind saying he is such a cutie!

Malachi's First Haircut!

Aunt Amy came over on Sunday, April 20th, and cut Malachi's hair. Some strands were 1/2 an inch long! He is going on 6 months and was really needing the cut! He looks so cute with it cut! As sad as it was, I am glad we cut it!

The Journey of Malachi's Life... Warning Some Pictures Might be Hard to Look at...

November 2, 2007, 3:04 p.m., 5 lbs 2 oz, 19 3/4 inches long:

Life in the CICU:

First Surgery to Remove Tracheal Webbing from Throat, November 9, 2007:

First Heart Surgery, November 13, 2007:
Life on 7th South:

Back in CICU after Cath Lab Atrial Septostomy, December 17, 2007:

Home for a Month, December 22, 2007 - January 22, 2008:

Waiting for the Next Surgery in Pittsburgh, January 22, 2008 - February 22, 2008:

Second Heart Surgery, February 22, 2008:

Home for a Week and a Half, March 1, 2008 - March 12, 2008:

Back to Pittsburgh March 12, 2008:

Transfer to Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus, March 19, 2008:

After G-Tube Surgery, March 31, 2008:

Going Home, April 4, 2008:

We Are HOME!!!!

Malachi was ready to get of the hospital. He cracks me up with his "talking." We are now home and so thankful to be. Philip is liking his new job and we are settling in here in Ohio. We miss friends and family in Erie, but it is nice for me to be here close to my family. We love you and appreciate all your faithful prayers for Malachi. When we left this afternoon it was the first time we left the hospital feeling like Malachi was doing really well. He is so content and happy. It is so great!

The New Malachi!!!

Look at ME! NO TUBE!!!!!

Thanks for the Prayers...

Thank you to all for your faithful prayers for our son. He is doing well other than some hunger and surgery pains. We will take some better photos once he is feeling a lot better. I wanted to show everyone what he actually looks like without a feeding tube in his nose! He was cute before but now WOW! Cutie pie! The surgery went very well. Malachi was extubated immediately after surgery. He was in post-op for just 30 minutes and they brought him back to the room promptly. He is in some pain from the surgery, but they are treating it with pain meds. We hope to have him eating again tomorrow evening. Hopefully fully recovered and home by Friday! Thanks again and again for all the prayers and support! We love you all.

Love,
April (for all three)

2 Cor. 12:10