More Park Time

On a recent walk to the park, Eli spotted this beautiful cardinal in the tree. Oh how I wish I had a really good camera to capture this picture.

This park is right next to our neighborhood pool. Eli walked around the fence of the pool many times hoping to find an opening. He was really wanting to swim!!!

Ahhhh....A Pedicure

Who doesn't love a pedicure?? This is what I found when I let Eli play in the kitchen sink recently.....

Park Time

If there is a hint of warmth in the air, Eli wants to go to the park. Recently we walked to the park and nature trail near our house. Eli loves this park, but I will only go there during the winter. During the spring and summer there are too many creepy crawly things around...especially spiders! :

Graduation

On a recent walk to the park, Chase rode in the big stroller. He did really well and seemed to like it much better than his car seat stroller. Happy Stroller Graduation, Chase! ;)

Please Pray for Chase

This is small compared to heart surgery, but Chase was circumcised today and seems to be in a lot of pain. I'm so sad for him! I feel like a horrible mom....I feel like I shouldn't have agreed to do it without general anesthesia. He just had a local and I was assured that he would not be in pain. He WAS in pain....babies don't scream like that unless they are in pain. PLEASE pray for him!!! Thank you!

A Letter to My Sweet Boys

My Sweet Elijah & Chase:

Tomorrow is a historic day for our country. Tomorrow, Barack Hussein Obama will be inaugurated as the 44th President of the United States of America. George W. Bush was President when you were born, but Obama may be the first president that you will recall. It doesn't seem possible that someday you may recall the presidency of Obama, but the first presidency that I can recall is that of Ronald Reagan and I was 7 years old when he was elected. I am lucky to have very fond memories of a great President.

This inauguration will be historic not only because Obama will be the first African-American president, but he will also be the most liberal president to ever lead our country. As your Mom, it is not my job to tell you how to vote when you are of age, or to tell you which political party to support, but it is my job to instill in you characteristics which honor and bring glory to God.

Our country has departed so far from the basis that it was founded on that it is barely recognizable. To borrow words from a very well-know man, we have lost our spiritual equilibrium and reversed our values. We have exploited the poor and called it the lottery. We have rewarded laziness and called it welfare. We have killed our unborn and called it choice. We have shot abortionists and called it justifiable. We have abused power and called it politics. We have coveted our neighbor’s possessions and called it ambition. We have polluted the air with profanity and pornography and called it freedom of expression. We have ridiculed the time-honored values of our forefathers and called it enlightenment.


Please know that on this historic day, I will pray for our country and its leaders. Romans 13:1 states, "Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God." No matter who is in office or how uncertain the country may seem, God is sovereign and in control. Always remember that God is our ultimate authority.

With Love & Prayers for the United States of America,
Mommy

Busy, Busy!!

We have been so busy this week! Chase had his 4 month check up on Tuesday. He weighed 11 pounds, 3 ounces and was 24 inches long. He is in the 5th percentile for weight and 25th percentile for height. He is catching up!! His doctor said that developmentally he is right on track, which is pretty amazing for a baby with such serious heart disease. Chase is eating well, but still not nursing. I'm trying, trying, trying, but no success so far. I just know how easy life is with a nursing baby compared to a not nursing baby, so I am trying everything possible to get him to nurse.

In the car yesterday:

Chase: {SNEEZE}

Eli: Bless you, Chase

Mom: Eli, that was such a sweet thing to say.

Eli: {pointing to Chase} I love him.

: )

4 Months!!

It's hard to believe, but today Chase is 4 months old. When I look at him, it is so hard to believe that 4 short months ago, he was having a cath procedure to determine if his pulmonary veins were draining close enough to his heart. If they were, the doctors could proceed with surgery. If they were not, there was nothing that the doctors could do to help our sweet boy. Praise God that the veins were close to his heart and the surgery happened the day after he was born. Four months later, he is doing amazingly well and looks so healthy. He still has a long road, but we are so thankful to God that there is a road for him. We love this little boy so much and are so blessed to have him in our family. We love you, sweet Baby Chase!! : )

Look how much he's changed in just over 2 months! God is good! : )

Improving Your Serve

"For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many." Mark 10:45

Each January, I try to read all or part of a wonderful book, Improving Your Serve, by Chuck Swindoll. It is such a great reminder to serve others and live an unselfish life. This year, it is my goal to begin teaching Eli the art of unselfish living, specifically in the area of helping/serving others in need. We are trying to do small things each month that help Eli learn these things. Yesterday, we made a meal for our friends that have a new baby. It's such a small thing to do, but while we were making the meal, Eli and I talked about helping others. The conversation was so sweet. During the discussion, Eli said (many times), "But, what are we having for supper?"...a little indication that he didn't totally get it, but he will in time. : )

Tears!

Chase had an appointment with the Cardiologist today and what an appointment it was!!! His cardiologist was so amazed by his progress that she was in tears! She had to stop talking at two different times because she was starting to cry. It is so good to have a doctor that cares so much for her patients.

Chase weighs 11 pounds and is 23 inches long. He is now on the charts in both weight and length! 1% in weight (up from -5%) and 25% in length. She said his heart sounds great and his O2 sat was 100%.

We are so thankful to God for Chase's progress. What a miracle he is!!!

His next appointment is February 10. At that appointment, Chase will have an EKG, chest x-ray, and sedated echo. All of this is to ensure that he is ready for surgery in March. According to the cardiologist, the surgeon that will be doing Chase's malrotation surgery is wonderful. We are praying that we like him as much as we love our cardiologist! : )

Sleeping

Chase is a great night sleeper. He goes to sleep around 8pm. I wake him up when I get in bed to give him his medications and to feed him. He usually goes right back to sleep and stays asleep until about 5 or 6. I feed him and then he's back to sleep for 2-3 more hours. Like Eli, he seems to love sleeping in the bed with everyone. A couple of nights ago, Eli said "I'm so glad we all sleep together." I said, "me too!" There was a pause then Eli said, "I'm so happy." My heart melted. : )

Overall, Chase continues to do well. We've made it half way through cold & flu season with no issues. We're praying that we make it through March! He seems to be gaining weight well. We aren't doing weekly weight checks anymore so I don't know his exact weight. He had an RSV shot on Christmas Eve and he was 10 pounds. We have our monthly appointment with the Cardiologist tomorrow. Hopefully our appointment tomorrow will be uneventful. We aren't supposed to have another echo until February.

Crazy Pizza Night

We enjoyed pizza with Lisa's family before they headed back to Alaska. The last day they were in Texas it was 82 degrees. When they arrived home in Fairbanks it was -49 degrees....a 130 degree difference!!! YIKES!!!

Playing Toys

Eli enjoys giving Chase toys while he's in the swing.

Welcome 2009

Hunter, Eli, Chase and I stayed up until just midnight to welcome in 2009. We were waiting in bed when the clock hit midnight. At about 12:03, Eli was asleep!! : )

I don't have a picture, but Hunter popped some popcorn while we were all playing last night. At one point, Eli threw a handful in the air and said "Happy New Year!" It was so funny! Although...it did leave popcorn all over the living room floor. : )

Our last pics of 2008


Eli is a little obsessed with "air tanks" (aka scuba and/or snorkeling equipment). He's wearing some "air tank glasses" to ring in the new year. : )

We are VERY excited about 2009 and look forward to everything that God has planned for us this year. Happy New Year to all!!!