Safe and Sound!

We arrived in Houston last night around 10pm. It was a relief to get here and get settled at Grandma and Grandpa's house (Brian's parents.) Aubrey did great on the flights and made lots of new friends along the way. She loves to smile at almost anyone who will give her some attention (eye contact and smiles.) We are happy to be in some warm weather and with family. Right now it feels like vacation. We feel really hopeful right now and are filled with peace. Thank you all for all of your encouraging words and prayers. We are so thankful for all of the support we are receiving.

Heading to Houston

Last night a large group of wonderful friends up here
in Alaska came over to pray with us and encourage us. 
It was so uplifting and encouraging and exactly what
we needed last night.  God has been so good to give us
so many supporters in this strange journey.  We can
sure see His hand already working out all of the
details that need to come together to help our little
girl.  We also notice so many ways He has prepared us
for this time.  We are so thankful.  

We leave for Houston at 9am tomorrow morning.  We are
told the best of the best are there to treat what
Aubrey has.  Our Anchorage Cardiologist advised us to
make the trip as soon as possible and we have all of
our appointments scheduled for Tuesday at Texas
Children's hospital.  She will be examined in the
Cardiomyopathy unit there.  Brian's parents live in
Sugar Land (just outside of Houston) so we will be
staying with them for now.  We are planning to enjoy
family time for the weekend before the appointments
begin on Tuesday.  

Brian is taking some time off of work for the time
being.  They have been incredibly accommodating  and
supportive.  We have a round trip ticket scheduled for
a couple of weeks, but we are also prepared to stay as
long as we need to for Aubrey.  Brian could
potentially be transfered to Houston if that is where
we need to be long term.  

We really don't know what God has for our future.  We
are really hoping for the best.  We know He will carry
us through this storm.  We talked to the Cardiologist
about some possible scenarios, most are pretty scary,
but we know God is much bigger than our circumstances
and that He can heal her.  Please keep praying for
us--we know you already are.

Tough News...

Friends and Family

We received some really tough news today.  I am sure
you will have lots of questions--right now we don't
have any answers.  Our hearts are breaking as we watch
our sweet little girl and face a really uncertain
future.  Outwardly everything is perfect.  Her heart
isn't growing right, though.  At her sixth month
doctor visit, we found out she has a heart murmur.  We
made an appointment with a children's cardiologist.
We were all quite shocked by what he saw.  The septum
between her ventricles has grown very thick and is
beginning to obstruct the blood flow to / through her
aortic valve.  This is extremely unusual--especially
because she is so very young, and the fact that it
wasn't detectable for her first few months of life.  
For now she is being put on a medication to lower her
blood pressure.  More tests are needed, but the doctor
wants to do more research before deciding what tests
are most pertinent.  As of right now, our next
appointment is May 15th, unless the cardiologist has
more information for us.

We know that we have a good God, a loving Father, that
is taking care of us and Aubrey Ella as well.  I am
confident that He will meet our needs and carry us
through this future we are facing.  God gave us this
incredible baby girl--and we get to love her and raise
her for as long as He lets us.  For that we are both
thankful and fearful.

Please pray.  Pray for our strength to be the best
parents for Aubrey.  Pray for God to meet us as we
hurt.  Pray for us to become closer together.  Pray we
can face the days ahead with grace and courage.  Pray
for wisdom and clarity for the doctors and that they
would know a way to help her.  Pray that Aubrey can
have a full and wonderful life. Pray for healing. 

I am attaching a link so you can see a drawing of her
condition, Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy. 

http://images.healthcentersonline.com/heart/images/article/Cardiomyopathy.jpg

Love,
Brian, Julie and Aubrey

Pictures of Aubrey FYI-
http://picasaweb.google.com/bjbuckshots