Santa calls the kids!

Today I received a VERY special email for Mason and Blake from none other than Santa himself. These are some pretty lucky kids!

Santa calls the Galligans from Tiffany Galligan on Vimeo.

Week 'O Fun!

Being at home this week has been wonderful (something a girl could get used to, to tell you the truth)! The kids went to school, but we picked them up by 3:30 everyday and took them on a fun adventure. Some pics from our week 'o fun. Merry Christmas!

Happy Birthday, Disco Baby Jesus. Keep Austin Weird!

What could represent Christmas better than a pig with a lollipop?

Astrodome home run lights are a family favorite!

So excited about 34th street lights!

Besties riding the Zilker Zepher train.

Little people riding a seal.

Little GaGa

Mason got a karaoke machine as an early Christmas present. Which means now we all get to enjoy her fondness for Lady Gaga in stereo. Bryan is thrilled it comes with two microphones so Mason and I can sing duets to him!

Little Gaga from Tiffany Galligan on Vimeo.

Update on the boy's heart: reality check

Although Blake's heart looks great, it's time for us to start thinking about what's next for him. It's been over two years since he's had heart surgery,and it's easy to get used to life outside the hospital.

One of the main procedures as part of Blake's last surgery was to augment his aortic arch from underneath to provide more room for blood flow. In his last cardiology visit they noticed that the flow from the natural part to the augmented part was slightly different. They called the difference mild but noticeable.

A couple of months before his next surgery (Spring 2011) they will do a cardiac catheter and will attempt to stretch the aorta with a balloon. We will wait a couple of months for this to heal and reassess the flow.

He will undergo his third and final open heart surgery (the Fontan procedure) next Summer. If the cath balloon is successful they will not need to re-operate on the arch, if it's not successful it may complicate the Fontan.

We have mixed emotions. We have always known this day was coming, so it is nice to have 6-9 months of warning/prep. But at the same time we are used to normal life with our little guy and this is a brutal reminder of just how fragile he is.

Santa!

We went to our friends', Edgar and Ann Cardinas, Christmas party on Saturday. As luck would have it, Santa stopped by. Mason warmed up slightly to him, but refused to sit in is lap. Blake clung to us for dear life and wouldn't go near him.

Blake wanted NOTHING to do with Santa.

A hug for Santa.

Mason made Santa a gift!