Finally...

For you created my inmost being;

you knit me together in my mother's womb.

I praise you

because I am fearfully

and wonderfully made;

your works are wonderful,

I know that full well.

My frame was not hidden from you

when I was made in the secret place.

When I was woven together

in the depths of the earth,

your eyes saw my unformed body.

All the days ordained for me

were written in your book before one of them came to be.

~Psalm 139:13-16

Another One Down

Today as we were coming home from MOPS, we passed the cemetery. I couldn't help but look because I knew exactly what was going to be going on when we drove through. I've actually been thinking about this very moment for many days now.

Today, a sixteen year old boy named Michael was buried. My heart has ached for his family and friends for the past few days. I didn't know him or his family at all, and of course they don't know me either. However, his mother and I have something in common.

One morning last week, Michael was taking a shower before school. When he had been in there for what seemed like too long, his mother called for him. When he didn't respond, she went in and found him lying in the shower. Two days later, he died.

Without ever even knowing it, Michael's mom was, and is, a heart mom. You see, unfortunately, Michael had an undetected CHD. He had an underdeveloped valve that showed no signs or symptoms until it was too late. Of course, there was no reason for him to have an angiogram or any other heart tests done because he appeared perfectly healthy. That's the scary thing.

Michael is among quite a few other athletes who have been taken suddenly because of a CHD. I can think of a few stories I've heard, so I can't imagine how many young people have been affected by the beast that is CHD.

So today the small town of Irmo says good-bye to a son, brother, nephew, grandson, boyfriend, teammate, and friend. And today, the CHD beast gets to put another mark in his bedpost.

On a lighter note...

The Congenital Heart Futures Act passed! The Act will increase funding for public education, a national database, and research. You can read more about it here or here.  It passed with a vote of 219-212, which is a win, but wow, that was a close one.  This is a great step in the right direction, but it's not over.  I wish we could go to Lobby Day and rally for funding of the CDC registry and the CHFA research, but we can't.  Not this time.  However, we'll do our part here at home by sending in our letter.  We hope you will do the same!

Gotta get back to party planning for this guy...

and I'll post our favorites from D's photo shoot really soon.  I know, I know, but yes, there's more!

Happy ELEVEN MONTHS Baby D!!

Wow, big guy!  You're ELEVEN MONTHS OLD!  Wow time flies!  Here's what you've been up to...

• You are wearing size 6-9 month clothes, size 2 shoes, and size 3 diapers.  You weigh right at 15 pounds, and you are the definition of energy!
• You're officially off of the fat-free diet and loving it.  You are drinking whole milk now and seem to like it pretty well (but your tummy doesn't).  You don't drink much more of that than you did of the yucky Portagen.  You just don't seem to like the bottle that much, but you refuse your milk in a cup...hmmm.
• You are ALL OVER THE PLACE!  There's no resting or looking away even for a second around here.  You're quick and curious, and you can make a mess in two seconds flat!

• EVERYTHING goes in your mouth.  I can't keep the floors clean enough.  Somehow you find things neither of us would ever see...balls of lint, tiny pieces of paper, lady bugs!  And to think just a few short months ago you didn't like things in your mouth.  Ha! Not anymore!
• We cannot turn our heads for one second.  I'm so thankful we have wood floors.

•  You have started eating some meats.  They're not your favorite, but you'll tolerate them.  You like spaghetti pretty well, but if there's too much meat in your mouth, somehow you can keep the rest of the spaghetti in there and spit out clean meat.  

•   You've really been trying to talk.  You now say bear ("beah"), bottle (("bobble") This one I'm not sure how you learned, because we say "milk" not "bottle." Anytime we ask you if you want milk you say, "bobble" or "Baa-aa"), juice ("duice"), and some ("dome").  You seem like you're trying to say so much more.  There are a few "words" you say often, but we can't figure out what you're talking about.  You look at us like, "Why don't you people get it?!"
• You love riding in your car.  You were scared of it for a while, but you're a pretty big fan now.

• Your favorite food is peaches and you love to guzzle down apple juice.
• You hate having your diaper changed.  Hate it.  You make it incredibly difficult by rolling around kicking your legs, which you sometimes think is funny.  
• You know what "no" means.  Sometimes you listen, sometimes you look at us and continue with whatever you were doing, and sometimes you just simply ignore us.  Already.
• You love harassing the dogs, and lately, you love acting like them.

•  Your favorite activity right now is going over to the stereo and turning up the volume.  You still love loud music and will stand there and dance.  You will play over there as long as we will let you.   

•   You've decided that you're not the biggest fan of riding in the car anymore.  Short trips are ok but you let us know you're not happy after about 15 minutes.  Nighttime is horrible.  You absolutely hate being in the dark and you are not afraid to let us know it!  We even bought a tv for you for our trip to TN a few weeks ago.  It was no help.  I'm sure eventually it will be helpful (although it will only be in the car for long trips).  There won't be any tv watching on short trips, so I hope you don't start liking it too much!
• You fake laugh.  You laugh like you're in the conversation that's going on around you, or sometimes you act like you're having a hilarious conversation with someone we can't see.  It cracks us up!  (Your daddy is on the phone right now, and he just laughed.  You looked at him and started "laughing" and being silly; making sure he was watching you.  Poor guy, you must not get any attention!)
• You fake smile too.  It usually looks like you're in pain, and you do it often, but we're sure it's a "smile."  It really makes taking pictures of you difficult.

•   You started going to Sunday School.  One of us was with you for the first three Sundays, but last week we left you in there by yourself.  You did ok, but Ranna had to hold you the whole time.

• We've also started going to MOPS.  We've only been once so far, and that day you sat with me for a little while, then went to childcare.  You cried a good bit, but you ended up being ok.  I'll take you at the beginning this week. I'm pretty sure this is harder on me than it is on you....at least I hope so.  
• You are so close to walking.  You can stand on your own for about 20 seconds, then you sit down.  You practice all the time!  You are such a determined little guy.

I can't believe that next time I do your monthly update it will be for a ONE YEAR OLD!  I just cannot believe it's already been that long.  It makes me sad, happy, thankful, scared, excited and proud all at the same time.  You're such a special little guy and we love you more than words can say.  Daddy and I love to watch you learn and grow, and we can't wait to see what you do next.

We love you Sweet Cheeks, and we're so proud of you!!

Love,
Mommy and Daddy

Eye Candy...Part 2

Another dose of D...

Before you were conceived I wanted you
Before you were born I loved you
Before you were here an hour I would die for you
This is the miracle of life.

-Maureen Hawkins

Still more to come...

If you missed yesterdays pictures, click here.

Eye Candy...Part 1

Here are a few of the pics from D's photo shoot a few weeks ago.  There were just too many to post at once, so I'll put them up a few at a time.  They were taken by Heidi (who also happens to be D's speech therapist) at the Horseshoe at USC.  It's a beautiful place, and just so happens to be our alma mater.  Another reason it's good to be a Gamecock! :)

(If you get this via email, you'll have to visit the blog (click the title in blue) to see the pictures.)


Enjoy...

"Making the decision to have a child is momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body."  ~Elizabeth Stone

More to come...