California McMillans

Scott asks to go on adventures around the backyard in which I get to "teach" the kids about sun/shade, bugs, weeds, roots, etc.  The bizillion random things you can teach a toddler.  Motherhood with toddlers consists of being a full-time teacher which I am learning little by little with occasional breaks to absorb the sun.  I love spring!!  Can you tell?

I can't get enough of Roman.  He is soo cute.  I am so thrilled for Tyler and Scott to have a cousin so close by to play with and babysit.    Have I ever mentioned that Tyler LOVES babies?  He does.  One of his first words was baby and he will let you know of every baby that crosses your path. I stole this from Heather's blog.  Scott couldnt wait to go over and hold Roman.  When he did he was very quiet and watched him very carefully.  It was really cute.  He was such a great big brother and will be such a great cousin.

Danny and I work every other Saturday and my parents usually take the kids. Have I ever mentioned that they are the BEST grandparents in the world. My mom can play non-stop and my dad is the most interactive, caring, protective "Pop" that I know. They always find the coolest and most fun attractions for the kids. Last weekend they went to the new and improved, kid friendly Marine World Africa USA. Scott and Tyler enjoyed the Thomas section of the park. My parents both got season passes to return with the kids in the summer. What lucky boys and now they have a third grandson to spoil!

I was talking to a longtime pediatric cardiologist who I highly respect. We had an interesting discussion about support groups. He pointed out that many longtime group members are those with severe conditions. He says it becomes problematic when these groups are constantly grieving over the loss of someone in their extended "heart family". I understand and respect his viewpoint and can see how this wouldn't be beneficial, but wish he could comprehend how angels have blessed me. He said that faith is an important element of that which I couldn't agree more to. I wouldn't change the fact of knowing any of these children, no matter the length of stay they have on this earth. Although I am not part of a support group in this area, I have come to know, adore and been strengthened and uplifted by numerous heart children and their families. Many are in Intermountain Healing Hearts. It has been nothing but a humbling, uplifting and testimony-building experience for me. T

We are renting our condo.  If you or anyone you know is looking, it is a great place and location at an affordable rate.  Happy Hunting! Email me at heidi.mcmillan@gmail.com $1500/month  970 Square Feet w/ large rooms Within minutes of dowtown restaurants, shopping, BART, civic Park Updated appliances Laminate floor in Family Room, Carpet in Bedrooms Great Balcony w/ mountain views Quiet Upper Corner Unit Great Neighbors and Community

A lot of people have questioned me about temples lately due to HBO. Here is a great post that explains and shows the temple if you are interested. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-x_-TQivCx8

Dr. Paul Stanger was Heather's cardiologist until a couple years ago when she was transferred to adult pediatrics. He is still at UCSF and was great to us during Tyler's surgeries. He is highly respected by all. What a guy! Heather had a 2 day labor. They went as slow as possible with her heart with a couple snags along the way. We are grateful Heather and Roman made it through and are doing well. Here is the cute little man! Roman Walter Maddox. 6lb. 10 oz. A lot of people think he looks like Scott as a baby. He is so cute. Can you tell I am a very proud Aunt. I love this little man so very much! I am so excited for Scott and Tyler to have a little cousin to play with. View from Heather's room at UCSF. UCSF is in a beautiful part of San Francisco. Golden Gate Park is such a great place full of life, great musuems and cute little shops and restaurants. The pediatric social worker asked if I wanted to be part of UCSF's childrens hospital Advisory Board. They are buildi

Many of you know I coach swimming. Four of my swimmers had a joint birthday party which was a lot of fun. Danny took some swimming pictures of them at practice for gifts. Happy 10th and 11th birthdays!! Can you match the swimmer with the person? Just what do swimmers do for their birthday party?... A swim party. For fun I raced these guys in a 25 and barely won. Danny couldn't believe that the old lady could actually still swim. They would have smoked me in a 50 and I think are all faster than me when I was 10. They are some of the fastest swimmers in this area and in the nation. Pretty fun to coach them. Here are some of the swimmers I coach. The entire group was invited and over half the entire group made it. So much fun!! Tyler and Scott had fun swimming and eating at the party too. Tyler and his cake and pizza. Scott loved playing with the noodle!

Proof that your kids will always love you.  Tyler couldn't figure out what was in my mouth.

To all my Utah Friends and Family: Please support Paul Cardall at this wonderful benefit concert put on by some of his friends who care (Kurt Bestor, Peter Breinholt, and Ryan Shupe and the Rubberband, along with other talented artists). I saw some of these guys in concert while at BYU and they were great. This is very dear to me since it is helping a wonderful family who has inspired many heart families including mine. This would be a GREAT FHE activity for students and families. The “Living for Eden Concert,” so named in honor of Cardall’s 3-year-old daughter, will get underway at 7:30 p.m on Monday, April 6 at Cottonwood High. A silent auction will precede the concert beginning at 6:30 p.m.“ Cardall, who was born 35 years ago with a severe congenital heart defect, has been on the waiting list for a heart transplant since last August. He has been limited in his ability to support his family and to meet escalating medical expenses during his prolonged illness. Seeing their friend’s c

One of these days I am going to try to update my blog links. If I miss you and you want to be added (especially our heart friends) let me know. Thanks!

My sister-in-law published a story this month about not gettin along with someone and looking inward instead of outward for the problem and solution. Check it out here . It was really well written and a great life lesson. Anyway, it inspired me to sit down and write my story. Since I doubt it will ever be published, here it is. It was really fun to write. I used to write articles in college but never sent them in. Maybe I am not as lazy as I used to be. You should do it too. So many of you have such faith promoting stories! From adolescence, I dreamed of someday being a mother and blessing my children with all the world could offer. My dream became a reality when my husband and I welcomed Scott, a beautiful, healthy boy into our family. Nineteen months later, we were blessed with a second son, however, this time it was different. Many of our initial hopes and dreams to have a healthy child were stripped from him before he was even born. Tyler was pre-diagnosed with Hypoplastic Left Hea

Kelly Ripa was talking about an article on designer babies. Fertility clinics being able to determine the sex, eye color, etc. of your baby. I think there is a flood of fertility stories due to the octuplets arrival. Of course it is a good thing to desire the best for your children. But what does that really mean? Some children's problems are more visible than others, but all come with unique and diverse challenges. No child is perfect, yet society thinks a certain child will be loved more, simply better if they fit their criteria as a "designer" baby? I feel honored to be the mom to Scott, Tyler and Carl. Would they be considered designer babies because in my mind they are? Maybe Scott to the naive eye, but most definitely not Tyler with his heart and Carl with his brain. Still the same, they were perfectly made for my family and know they were designed exactly how Heavenly Father wanted them to be. Scott, my healthy child, has brought me great joy and love, however,

Treasured Gifts Gracie Gledhill lost her fight with HLHS today. I can't imagine what Tom, Michele and the children are experiencing but gain comfort in their faith and testimony of our Savior and eternal families. Please pray for their family during this difficult time. Joseph Smith said , “The Lord takes many away even in infancy, that they may escape the envy of man, the sorrows of evils of this present world; they were too pure, too lovely, to live on earth; therefore, if rightly considered, instead of mourning, we have reason to rejoice as they are delivered from evil, and we shall soon have them again . . . “ (History of the Church, 4:553-54: from a discourse given by Joseph Smith on Mar. 20, 1843, in Nauvoo, Illinois). This couldn’t be any more true than for Gracie. Can you imagine how good she must have been? How good Tom and Michele must have been to be honored as her parents? She was too pure and too lovely to stay here on earth. I think we were all able to witness a