Monday, October 26, 2009

Suggestions?

So, Jack is still not walking. Yes, I know all kids do things at there own pace, and yes, I know he's been through a lot so it's not a big deal that he's not walking. The problem is that he's got all the skills (he does great only holding onto one hand or pushing various objects around the house), he just won't let go and it's making us both frustrated. I think he would really like the trouble he can get into once he puts it all together and starts walking.

Anyone have any suggestions as to how to get him to finally figure it all out so I can stop spending my days tripping over the laundry basket, garbage can, tall toys, and anything else he pushes around the house so he can walk to where he wants to go? Or do I just need to be patient?

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Family Pics

We finally went and got some family portraits done last week. They turned out so cute. Here are just a few for your viewing pleasure.





Our cute photos were done by Carrie Butler.

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Playin' and the Pumpkin Patch

Jack loves driving around in his car. He's really good at reverse, still working on going forward, but he's pretty good at keeping his feet up so I can push him around.
Here's where I discovered him the other day, just hanging out with a witch. Notice the laundry basket in the corner - still his preferred choice of transportation.
Looking pretty cute in his scary Halloween shirt.

Last night we went to the Red Barn in Santaquin with IHH and got to take a hay ride out to a pumpkin patch where we picked out a fabulous pumpkin. Jack thought it was pretty fun and we loved seeing our heart buddies and making new friends.



Tuesday, October 6, 2009

14 months old


Jack is now 14 months old. Here are some of the wonderful things he is up to these days:


1. He can stand all by himself…until he realizes that he’s doing it and then he immediately sits down because he doesn’t think he can.
2. He loves to walk around the house all day long pushing the laundry basket until it gets stuck against a wall (which is every 30 seconds) and then he screams and throws a fit, beaconing me to come get it unstuck.
3. I have no idea what he likes to eat these days. It completely changes from day to day, but Mac ‘n Cheese and teddy grahams are usually a “yes” when offered.
4. He can sign “all done,” “more,” and “milk.” And he gives a great “high five.”
5. He can say mama, hi, more, yes, and no and a variety of silly sounds.
6. He’s very good at going up the stairs, but rather unreliable going down them as he likes to stop and play along the way so we still have to watch carefully.
7. He sleeps pretty well at night, but gets up every morning between 5:00 and 6:00 and insists on coming in to snuggle with mom and dad, which we only allow because it usually buys us another hour or so of sleep.
8. He’s still a total mama’s boy and sometimes not even daddy will do, which is kind of sweet to be loved so much, but gets really old when I need to get anything accomplished that can’t be done with a 1 year old attached to my leg. He adores his father though and loves to watch him mow the lawn.
9. He likes music and will wave his hands to the beat with a big silly grin. He also applauds when I sing the ABC song to him while changing his bum since that is the only way to get him to hold still.
10. And now he's wailing under the computer so I don't have time to think about anything else. Good thing he's a cutie.

Monday, September 28, 2009

An update

I realized that I haven't posted for a while. Well, that because we've been playin'. A few weeks ago we took Jack to a High School football game. He made it until about half time before he was just totally done. It will be interesting to see how he handles the basketball games this winter. (For those who don't know or don't recall, Hardy is a basketball coach).

Then we took a fun trip to Idaho to visit my sister while Hardy was out of town. Jack just loved playing with his cousins. He thinks they are terribly clever and hilarious.

He and cousin Alex loved to play on the stairs which was good because Jack seemed to believe Alex when he showed him that you have to go down backwards. He thinks I'm just kidding when I tell him that.

While in town we stopped in to visit Jack's heart buddy Grant. It was so fun visit with you Alli!

On Friday we went to the zoo to see all the baby animals. We loved the little giraffe, and that baby elephant is so adorable.

Last night was Grandpa's birthday so we had a party.
Happy Birthday Grandpa! We love you!

Jack loved the cake, but then spent the night throwing up, so I don't know if it just had too many oreos in it or if he caught another bug. I swear he has been sick ever since he turned 1. If this is indicative of what winter is going to be like, I am really going to have to quarantine. I just can't bear to think about it quite yet.

Monday, September 14, 2009

Feeling better and getting out

A round of antibiotics later and Jack is feeling much better. He's now back to his usual busy, helpful self.

He helped dad make pancakes for breakfast by emptying the contents of all the drawers he could reach.
Then we went to the Utah State Fair. Jack loved the goats and cows, not so much the Bear Show.


And on Saturday Jack and I went to the Intermountain Healing Hearts Walk. There were probably 500 people in attendance. It was wonderful. We got to see Heart buddies (below are Teagan, Gracie and Daxton and their moms) and get to know some new families.

At the Walk they had a beautiful Angel ceremony and butterfly release recognizing those children who have lost their battles with CHDs. I was so sad this morning to read that another one of our Heart friends joined that group last night. Sweet Cali was just over a week old and after a valiant fight and numerous proceedures, she returned to the loving arms of our Heavenly Father. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Orrock family.

Jack's Trick

I think it's hilarious when Jack does this trick, and so does he. I was so happy I finally caught it on tape.

He's getting much more vocal these days and will answer questions with "Ya" or "Nah." In the last few days he's even finally started signing "all done" and "more." Communication is such a nice thing when trying to figure out what in the world a 1 year old wants.



Wednesday, September 9, 2009

Bumps, coughs and misery

Poor Jack. This past weekend he and I went to Swiss Days in Midway then up to my parents cabin for the night. On Saturday he came down with a fever which lasted through Monday. His fever finally broke and he seemed to be perking up yesterday, then last night he got glassey eyes and miserable again. He woke up this morning with a rash and has hardly eaten in days, so I finally broke down and called the pediatrician.

Diagnosis? Double ear infection which is why he is miserable, a bad reaction to his MMR vaccination which caused the measel's like rash and high fevers, and possible pertussis (or whooping cough) causing the terrible coughing fits he's been having at night for the past few weeks. Poor little fella. The result - we had a very excited Labor Day weekend that mostly involved me holding a listless Jack since he refuses to go to anyone else right now. And all the fun things I had planned to do for Hardy's birthday today? Umm, ya, instead of going out for a nice dinner tonight like we had planned, Hardy and I met at the pediatricians office, ordered pizza, and he's now off filling Jack's perscription. Happy Birthday honey :)

Thursday, September 3, 2009

A Sand Box

Jack is getting so busy these days. Earlier this week he discovered that he could walk around the house by himself by pushing a laundry basket. The problem is that they don't turn very well so he's contantly getting stuck and throws a fit until I get him unstuck. Let's just say it's not my favorite game. He's got a car and a walker too that he pushes everywhere, but nothing is quite as fun as holding onto mommy.

His new thing is that at 7 AM (yes, I'm still in my pj's) he likes to grab my fingers, lead me to the back door and pound on it until I take him outside where he heads straight for his swing and then to dig in the dirt. I'm not a big fan of him digging in my flower gardens and picking my flowers, so a couple of days ago we decided to make him a sandbox. We already had a spot ready under the playhouse, we just needed some sand.

Well, look who thinks he's pretty hot stuff sitting in his very own sand box?

It is now a regular activity, but I sometimes suspect that he likes to dig primarily because he knows that I will then let him play in the water after to hose him off. Every day he gets a little busier, and every day I am grateful.

Friday, August 28, 2009

1 Year Well Baby Check

Jack was finally able to have his 1 year Well Baby check this week. He's in the 15% for weight and 80% for height. Umm, ya, looking at Hardy and I you would totally guess that we would have a tall and skinny baby. ;) He's also got a huge noggin - in the 85th percent Thankfully it doesn't look huge because it matches his height. I've also read that a lot of HLHS kids get really big heads after their Glen surgery because of the change in blood pressure to the top half of the body.

He's still cute as a button, but getting rather naughty. When did my sweet baby learn how to throw temper tantrums?

Last weekend we got to go play at Jack's heart buddy Teagan's house. Jack was a big fan of the gravel pit and dump trucks. It was so fun to be having fun and eating a bbq rather than meeting for dinner at the Rainbow Cafe at the hospital like we were doing last year at this time with their family.

Friday, August 21, 2009

IHH Heart Walk - Sept 12

Walk for Healing Hearts
Saturday, September 12, 9:30 A.M.
Riverside Park, 4620 N. 300 W., Provo

Intermountain Healing Hearts is the local support group for families of children with heart defects. It has been an amazing source of help and strength to us during Jack's hospital stays and in between. This group cheers each child's victories and helps each other through the hard days, and we are so grateful for the lifelong friendships we have made.

The Heart Walk is an opportunity for this group to raise money and continue the work they do (including care packages for families stuck at the hopsital, flowers for new babies and funerals, Heart Camp, etc.)

If you would like to come join us for the walk, we would LOVE your company. The cost is $10 per person and you can register online (pre-registration deadline is Aug 26). Or, if you can't make it but want to help, you can make a donation on Jack's behalf through their website.