Heart Surgery

I am having heart surgery tomorrow. It was discovered recently that I have a congential heart defect called a Atrial Septal Defect or ASD.

During fetal development, the upper chambers of the heart (atria) divide into right and left sides. In some, the closure is incomplete leaving a "hole in the heart". The hole in the heart is measured on a scale of 1-5 (5 being the greatest) and mine was considered a 5+.

Since pressure in the right side of the heart is lower than the left side, blood can flow from the lungs directly through the ASD back to the right heart; re-circulation through the lungs again and again. This abnormal recycling of blood through the lungs is called "shunting". The amount of blood flowing (or shunting) through the lungs may be many times more than the blood flow to the rest of the body. Shunting is an extra blood volume to the right side of the heart which can cause an overload of the heart. This overload can cause enlargement of the heart, abnormal heart rhythm, congestive heart failure, and injury to the arteries of the lungs. Since the filtering function of the lungs is bypassed, stroke or brain abscess may occur if clots or bacteria cross the ASD into the left side of the heart.

I have had severe migraine headaches my whole life. I usually get them once a day. The heart problem was discovered because of my headaches. Tomorrow (Monday, April 12) at 8:00 a.m. I am scheduled to have a surgery. I will be put to sleep and a catheder will enter my femoral vein and go up into my heart. There, the hole will be closed with an umbrella-like patch that comes out of the catheder. I'm scheduled to be in the hospital for two days.

Hopefully all of this will help my headaches. Wish me luck!

Best Dressed

Recently our Stake had an adult dance with an 80's theme. A few days before the dance, we were talking with David's family and asked them if anyone had some 80's clothes. Adam, David's brother in law said, "Ya I have some pink parachute pants". The day of the "big dance" arrived and I did not know what I was going to wear. I went to my closet. All I could do was laugh as I reminisced about actually wearing some of the clothes that now I was going to wear as a costume. I peg legged my pants, hair sprayed my hair to make me look like I had wings, put on bright blue eye shadow and I was ready for the dance. David put on his bright pink pants and a Sesames Street neon yellow shirt and we were off to the dance. I was hoping we would not be noticed too much as I don't like to be the center of attention. Well that did not happen. We walked into the gym and the crowd was in the middle of learning a line dance. A friend in the ward noticed us and yelled out..."HEY STOP! EVERYBODY!! LOOK AT BROTHER MCMILLAN!". or something like that. Well the music stopped right in the middle of the song and all eyes were on us!!! It was like it all happened in slow motion. It was very embarrassing. Everyone started chanting "McMillan's, McMillan's" So we ran into the middle of the dance floor and David did some sort of break dancing move and I tried to act... well not totally humiliated. Later in the dance David and I received the "Best Dressed" award. We won a 80's wig. FUN TIMES!!!

We have a New Uncle David Club Member

We are so excited to welcome another member to the Uncle David Club, Kira Janine McMillan. She was born on March 20, 2010. Her parents are David's brother and his wife, Danny and Heidi. This is a significant date in our family for several reasons. March 20th is David's Mother's birthday and Juliann's parent's anniversary and now Kira's birthday. We have many reasons to celebrate on this special day!!

Congratulations Lindsey!!

David's youngest sister Lindsey, got engaged on Jan 30, in Salt Lake. She is marrying a guy she met at BYU named Preston. They are getting married June 11, 2010. They make a great couple. We are very happy for them!!

In Loving Memory

Late last night or early this morning I awoke with a start. I got up and went and got a glass of water, as I was drinking my water my eye glanced at the calendar and then at the time. The time was 12:04 am and the day January 23, 2010. My mind immediately became aware that it was 10 years ago today at 12:09 am that my dear mother Pauline passed away. It seems like yesterday, yet at the same time it seems like a lifetime ago. The years have healed the outside wound. I don't cry outwardly as often as I use to, but inwardly I miss her deeply and wish I could tell her this or that. Her courage and example of how she faced life with a smile has given me courage so many time when I face challenges in my life. And so ten years later I reflect...

Thank you Mom. I love you!!

Mom had a fun sense of humor. We always seemed to have fun together.

Mom and I just before she passed away.

Mom as a young Bride


Mom and I, when I was a teenager.



Mom and I, the day I was born.

We have a New Uncle David Club Member

Announcing the new arrival of Shaela Linda Boyer.

She was born December 30, 2009. Juliann's Brother and Sister-in-Law (Robert and Kris) are the proud parents. They had been hoping to adopt soon but were surprised when they got the call that they needed to be at the hospital in 15 minutes as the birth mom had decided that she wanted Robert and Kris to be the parents and was going to be leaving the hospital soon---Kris called me on the phone and said, "Guess where we are going?" I was very surprised to hear they were going to the hospital to pick up Shaela. We went and saw her and she is adorable. We are a proud Aunt and Uncle.

A Season to Remember...

A Season To Remember….
Amid the hustle and bustle of the holiday season----the shopping for the perfect gift, the wrapping, the cooking, the decorating, the card writing, the parties, Christmas concerts, family gatherings, and the list of a hundred things goes on and on---we stop for a just a moment to reflect. This is a season to remember. We remember the Christmas's that have past and the joys of childhood memories. The special feelings we feel at Christmas are cherished because of the memories of Christmas’s past. We cherish beloved friends and family and enjoy the memories being made with them. We remember with fondness our dear loved one who aren’t with us anymore—especially Juliann’s Mom Pauline, Nephew’s Ashton Boyer and Carl McMillan and our dear grandparents, aunts and uncles who are now watching over us from heaven. How we miss them and love them and Christmas would not be the same without their memory and the treasured memories we have with them. We especially stop to remember why we have these special feelings in our heart at this time of year. It is because of our Savior. We love Him!! We Remember Him!! These feelings are special. This time of year is special. Thus we Remember…

“ Each of us is an Innkeeper,
Who decides if there is Room,
For Jesus” ----Neal A Maxwell



Great Christmas Video....Enjoy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vStl9PXWtiw