IHH Picnic

Saturday was the big Intermountain Healing Heart Family Picnic. We had so much fun. It was great to see all our heart buddies and have a reason to go to the hospital for a party instead of pokes and xrays.



I remember attending this picnic last year while I was still pregnant and scared to death of what the future would bring. We met so many amazing families and it gave me such hope to see kids running around everywhere and I couldn't tell which were the heart kids and which ones were healthy. I was glad that I could give a little something back to the group by organizing the party this year.



Jack got to play with his buddy Daxton who got a new heart last September. Last fall these two were so tiny and sick, and look at them now!




I bought Jack a cool "Chicks Dig Scars" t-shirt.

We had a heart shapped dessert contest, and people were SO creative. I loved seeing what everyone came up with. I wish I could claim that I was cool enough to have made this awesome cake, but uh, see that big, boring tupperware toward the back of the picture full of big boring heart shaped rice krispie treats? Ya, those were mine.

We had a fun little craft project.

Jack helped Grandpa who came to the party and made everyone snow cones.

Thanks to all who came. It was so good to see you.

Another highlight of the party was that we got to meet Brooke, a 23 year old HLHS survivor. She is married, graduated from college, and is one of the first people to have all three surgeries. She still has all her own anatomy, doesn't have a pacemaker, and they just got the go ahead to try to have a baby. Amazing! I told her that if she gets pregnant she had better start a blog and document it so we can all check in on her daily. It's pretty cool.

A Parade

I took Jack to his first parade on Saturday. Those who know me well know that I am a parade and festival junkie, so I'm trying to train him young so he'll want to come with me to fun events unlike his party pooper father (just kidding sweetheart! :) I had helped coordinate it for South Jordan this year, so I especailly wanted to go and it was great.

Jack fell asleep on our way there so he missed the first half, but then he woke up and had a pretty good time. As soon as the last entry went by he finally started to wave which made me laugh.

His favorite part? Yep - the candy. He liked the crinkly wrappers, tossing things around, and banging them together. I'm hoping he'll do better on the 4th when he's got cousins to show him how it's really done.

Other than that we've just been packing our house and getting ready to move. We're also trying to get things ready for the Intermountain Healing Hearts Family Picnic this Saturday. I'm in charge and hoping I've got everything ready. We can't wait to see all our heart buddies.

Ta Da!

If you can't tell what he's trying to do, it's this.

In addition to now being an excellent stander (while holding onto something sturdy), Jack's latest trick is that he has learned how to pivot. Sit him on his bum in the middle of a pile of toys and he can turn himself in circles to reach them all. He's also getting good crawling practice each day as I stack blocks or cups just out of his reach and he has to work hard to get close enough to crash them down then bursts into fits of laughter at how clever he is. I have no doubt that the day we are moving when we need him to hold still will be the day he decides to become mobile.

...and then it started to rain

A week or two ago we took Jack to watch his little buddies play baseball at the park. The kids played well and Jack had fun...and then it started to rain.


A few days later we took a trip to Ikea to get out of the house (since it was raining outside).


Later in the week we went to Wheeler Farm with some friends and posed with the turkeys...and then it started to rain.

One day we tended Jack's cousins and played on the play ground and were having so much fun...then it started to rain.

Are you catching the trend here? We love the rain, but boy are we ready for some sunshine!

A New House for Jack

After a crazy year of ups and downs, and lots of on again off again house hunting, we are finally buying a house! It's just perfect and we can't wait to move in next month. We completed the inspection today and things are looking good in terms of our funding so hopefully we won't have any unsightly hiccups like the last time we tried to buy (i.e. everything falling apart at the very last minute, practically sending me into early labor. Not good)

It even comes with a fabulous swing set for Jack and a nice big man cave...I mean family room, so the party's at our house

Now we just have to find someone to rent our condo and we're in great shape. If you know anyone looking for a nice little 3 bedroom, 2 bath townhouse on the east side of West Jordan, send them our way. :D

Cabin Adventures

This weekend Jack and I went to my parents cabin with my family (Hardy was in Reno coaching at a basketball tournament). I was a little unsure how he'd handle it since it's so much higher in elevation and therefore lower in oxygen, but he did great. We had such a good time.

Jack got to play with lots of cousins and learned all sorts of tricks.

He had early morning pajama parties on grandma and grandpa's bed.

He made beautiful music with cousin Alex.

And nibbled on some corn.

He even got to go on a 4 wheeler ride or two (very slowly and carefully down the road and back.) He loved it!

We also saw lots of moose and deer. My nephew Nathan named this one Darrin. It hung out right by the cabin and was fun to watch from the deck.

Mostly Jack just stuck with the chipmunks though. They were just his size.

He's a true mountain man now.

A 5k for Charlie

Last Saturday Jack, my dad and I did a 5K for the Brain Injury Association of Utah in honor of our friends the Christensen's and their sweet little boy Charlie Cooper.

Jack was a trooper and was good the whole time, and my dad and I enjoyed walking and talking. It was a beautiful day to support a good cause and see some friends.

Jack continues to do great and is cute as can be.

As for those who have noted how much he looks like his father, you'll be happy to know his volume level is also starting to match Hardy's. Wow, the kids got lungs! I'm sure our neighbors are delighted about that.

9 Months Old!

My baby is turning into a little boy. His hair is getting thicker, he sits up like a pro, and he loves to eat just about everything (hurray!) He's also getting a bit sassy and throws a little fit when he doesn't get his way. But to compentsate for the sassiness, he's learning to wave and give hugs and big open mouthed kisses. Such a fun stage. Still no crawling or standing on his legs, but he definitely knows what he wants and is trying to get there, so I have the feeling we're getting closer.

We had Jack's 9 month pediatrician visit this week. He is now 28 inches (45%) and 18 lbs 10 oz (25% - and that was right after a big bottle and a bowl of mac & cheese). It's funny, everyone always comments on how chunky he is due to those big kissable cheeks and round thighs, but he's really not that big. He's just perfect though. The dr said he looks fantastic, and I couldn't agree more. We don't have any more doctors appointments until AUGUST and those are just check ups with his ped and cardiologist. Oh how wonderful to have a doctor free summer after going at least every 3-4 weeks.

We also took Jack to a pediatric urologist earlier this week to discuss getting him circumcised since we weren't able to do it when he was tiny. After talking with the doctor who said it would be pretty straight forward but recommended against it, and chatting with some of my friends on Monday night who several mentioned their kids had not had it done, we have decided just to leave him like he is. Hardy's argument in favor of it is that he can name every kid in his high school who wasn't and Jack is going to have enough scars to deal with in the locker room. But the doctor said it is much less common than it used to be (which we realized was true after talking with my friends), and locker rooms are different than when we went to high school. They would have to intubate and sedate him again, and he'd be sore for a while, and we decided we just don't want to put him through one more thing. We hope he won't hate us for this decision when he's a teenager.

A Year of Change and Hope

I was talking with my little sister the other day and she recalled that it was one year ago that we got Jack's diagnosis. Oh yes, that fateful April 23rd. It's really amazing to me how far we've come since that oh, so scary day when we learned how uncertain our baby's future would be.

It seems strange, but given the option, I don't think I would change a thing. During this past year I have learned to pray more sincerely than I ever knew before. I have learned to trust in the Lord's plan, and not make quite so many of my own. I have witnessed miracles and gained compassion and empathy. My eyes have been opened to a whole new world of amazing people who have overcome insurmountable odds and held on to their faith through the most difficult trials. I have become more in tune with the whisperings of the Holy Spirit and have drawn closer to my husband and family. Hardy and I have felt so much love from people we know and some we don't who have prayed and continue to pray for Jack's health and well being. My testimony of the Savior has grown leaps and bounds and I believe so has my character.

I don't know why Jack has been given this lifelong trial, but already he's had a profound impact on me and so many who love him. I have a feeling this is just the beginning and I can't wait to see the great things in store for him in the future.

Zoo and Tulips

This week Jack and I have been bummin'. My sisters husband was out of town so we helped them have a "staycation."

On Thursday we went to the Tulip Festival. The weather was perfect and the flowers amazing. Jack had a fabulous time.

Then on Friday we went to the Hogel Zoo.

We saw elephants...
...ate Oreos...
and smiled a whole lot.
Here's Jack making his scary alligator face while sitting on an alligator and wearing his alligator shirt. What a guy.

Wiggles

I think we have finally turned the corner on Jack's eating. In the last few days he has decided that food is kind of fun, especially grown up food. He's figured out how to get puffs and bread in his mouth all by himself, and this morning he actually ate some banana and melon without freaking out on me. Fruit is still not his favorite, but he didn't immediately reject it so that's progress. He IS a big fan of chocolate pudding, cookies, yogurt, and ice cream. Like mother, like son.

He's getting very good at not being on his tummy to avoid his exercises. I guess that means at least some muscles are getting stronger, even if it's the wiggly ones instead of the crawling and standing ones.

And he is very glad that it's finally decent weather outside so we can go to the park.

Potraits

My mom and sister have been bugging me forever to get Jack's portrait done, so I finally broke down and took him to Target a few weeks ago. They turned out pretty cute. Such a handsome boy. I just want to squeeze him!

It's a miracle. I have been sicker than sick this week and somehow Jack hasn't caught it. He's just cute and happy and busy as ever. Thank goodness. And thank goodness for Hardy who was on duty and let me take nighttime cold pills every night this week so I could work on getting better.

At the moment my boys are off watching the NFL draft together at a friends house. How Hardy loves having a son. Such a good dad.