All Things T: July-ish Edition

Crazy. Entertaining. Busy. Talkative. Happy. Cute. Growing too fast.

This munchkin definitely keeps me on my toes. He is full of energy and loves getting into everything. What can I say except for that he's REALLY good at being two! He's craved a little more attention lately which has meant a little feistier T (and a whole roll of TP in the toilet, and Daddy's glasses being broken, and at least a dozen books ripped to shreds) but we've been trying to give him attention for good/cute things...like him wearing my big shades around the house!!!

He loves his baby brother SO SO SO much. He kisses him on the head all the time and likes to play with his "wittle fingers and tosey woseys!" He also likes to be a good example for baby Ev.

His sleeping habits still crack me up. I can't help but take pictures of him when I check on him at night. He's getting so big, but he's still so little. Gosh, he's sweet..especially when he's fast asleep!

T has gone on some big-boy only dates with Mema (my mom) and GG (Jim's mom)/Chaya (Jim's little sister Kate) and he's loved the "special, special time" with them. He saw Winnie the Pooh with my Mom and went to Funderland with Kate and GG. He is still talking about both of those dates. It's great to have family so close.

Speaking of talking... T is doing A LOT of it lately. He can pretty much say anything he wants, and he understands anything he wants as well! Just a few days ago I wanted to take him on a special date to McDonald's and the grocery store (OK...maybe not the most awesome date idea, but he usually loves it). That day, however, he refused to go on a date with me until I brushed my hair. I laughed and kept heading to the car when T ran to the back of the house. He came back with a brush and said, "Mommy, you brush hair." Wow! Then later he said, "I no want go on date with Mommy." It's a good thing I have good self-esteem!

We found some new froggie boots on sale at Target for $3 and bought them for this winter. T already found them, however, and has decided they make for perfect summer shoes. He wears them everyday and loves them! Some things never change, huh?

Those big beautiful brown eyes look even better with chocolate to accent it!

T and I LOVED our snow cones at the Pioneer Day celebration at the park on Saturday. Sure, his ended up spilling all over my white shirt, but that's OK! Mostly I just love T so much. He is such a character and always keeps me laughing. I couldn't ask for a better little friend.

3 Weeks as a Fam of 4

.I.Love.My.Boys.

Care's Birthday

We had a BBQ birthday party at the Big Wig's house for Jim's sister Care and it was a blast! She is a beautiful, amazing person and we were thrilled to celebrate her big day with her.

Jim and Care.

Um...I don't think Ev is a dog fan. Whoops!

4 generations of Wiggy men! We'll have to let Ev in on the pics next time!

Kate, Care and T.

Mommo, Joyce and Great Papa!

10 OUNCES!

The excitement of having baby Ev home was tainted by one thing and one thing only: the scale. The only way we could keep him home was if he gained weight. The only way he could gain weight was if he ate. The only way he could eat was by waking up, and the only thing he wanted to do after being bugged for 12 days in the PICU was sleep. And sleep. And sleep.

With threats of another hospital stay looming over my head, I woke that little man up around the clock, urging him to eat. He would take three sucks or so, and then return to slumberland, refusing to eat anything more. On his second day of being home, I called our favorite PICU doctor in tears, asking her what I should do. The next day an appointment was scheduled with our pediatric cardiologist and my fear was confirmed...he had lost weight. Granted, he had only lost an ounce and a half, but the doctors weren't willing to take any chances. They set another appointment for today and told me to do everything I could to help him beef up.

I cried and prayed and nursed pretty much all week long. With Talmage I was very scheduled and only nursed when it was "time." This time around has been so different. Pretty much everytime Ev opens his eyes (or even one eye) I offer him some mama's milk! I've been nursing nearly ever 90 minutes, or more. Luckily, the little peanut gained an appetite over the weekend...and at our appointment today we were given this sticker...

WOO-HOO!!! He's gained 10 ounces since Thursday and overall is doing GREAT! He lost a lot of weight since birth because of his surgery and heart issues, but he's now up to 8 lbs 11 oz. I am so excited. He's also 22 1/2 inches long.

And gosh darn, isn't he so cute? I just love that little baby to pieces. Especially that thick head of hair and big beautiful eyes! Keep eating baby boy...I can't wait for your rolls to come back!

he's home

and sleeping like a baby.

we couldn't feel more blessed.

Look who is wearing clothes!

I'm pretty sure baby clothes never looked cuter.

Our New Normal

Jim and I were sitting in the hotel cafeteria for lunch when we saw a huge group of people come in. We don't know why they were at the hospital, but our guess was that they were awaiting the arrival of a new baby. They were all happy. They seemed excited. They laughed and joked in anticipation. As I watched their joy I began to cry, bawl rather. I wished for a second that I was still pregnant, excited and ignorant about the path ahead. I wished for a second that I was a normal person that could have a baby and take them home instead of spending weeks in the ICU. I wished for a second that I could see that same joy in childbirth that they saw, instead of the fear I feel.

The last few days have been a mess of emotion. It seems as Everett continues to improve (with only a few small bumps along the way) James and I have been forced to face our new reality. We have once again been forced to mourn the perfect birth we did not experience, and find peace in our new normal. A normal that means doctors and nurses poking and prodding our baby more than we can touch and love him. A normal that means pumping around the clock in hopes that someday his appetite will come back enough to nurse. A normal that means big brother still thinking baby brother is his belly button because they've spent no time together. A normal that means my baby is 10 days old and still in the hospital with a release date that is constantly being pushed back.

But at the same time, we are experiencing a new normal of immense blessings that we know would not have been realized except by this situation. A normal where friends send care packages to Ev and us, brightening our days. A normal where thousands of people, family, friends and strangers, are praying for our family (and we certainly feel the power of those prayers). A normal where our son was literally saved by the hands of skilled doctors and a loving Heavenly Father. A normal where seeing a heart of any kind brings a tear to my eye. A new normal that is more empathetic, more loving, more patient and more faithful. A new normal that is grateful, oh so grateful.

This was not the normal we planned for ourselves, but we are determined to find joy in our new normal. And with the two handsome boys we get to call ours (3 I get to call mine!) it won't be that hard to do!

Everett was able to get his first sponge bath since the surgery and I was in heaven playing with the little man! He can't have a real bath for 6 weeks post-op, but I was just grateful that I could wash his body and head and try to get all the tape off. It wasn't completely successful (I fear he'll have tape rashes for years!) but at least I had him smelling like a newborn!

We've been enjoying lots of cuddle time with Ev. Our biggest stumbling block since his surgery has proven to be eating. His stomach, intestines and bowels were damaged after he was born because they weren't receiving enough blood, so we are slowly trying to help tolerate food. We've worked up to full feeds, but he doesn't always (read: ever) want to take them. Until he's eating like a normal baby, we can't go home...so here we are! Today has been better though, so we're hoping his appetite will only go up from here.

Ev is almost line-free. He has one last IV in his arm (that is wrapped up like a cast) and then lots of monitors, but other than that he is one disconnected baby! It has been fun to see the lines come out of him one by one, but sad to see how bruised his little body has become. We are hoping to get that last line out soon and run, run, run out of this hospital!!!