365 days HOME!

365 days ago we brought C home from Duke! Here are some pictures from that day and a few new ones. He's come such a long way in just a year.

Wow, little Dude. It’s been several months since I’ve told you what’s going on, and I couldn’t think of a better day than today to do an update!

As of today you are a week shy of 16 months old and we are celebrating your homecoming. One year ago, today, you came home from the hospital after 115 days at Duke. We shed a few tears that day for the friends we were leaving behind, the life we had become accustomed to, and for the sheer joy in finally being able to bring you home. From May 30^th, 2008 (Diagnosis day) to January 30^th, 2009, your future remained uncertain ~ we just didn’t know IF we’d ever bring you home. Your birthday is absolutely a special day, but this is a day to celebrate as well, because it’s the day that marks your success in kicking CDH booty!

I’ll never forget that day. Susannah was our nurse, we had roomed-in the night before with you, and when we found out you would be discharged a day early, we began running around like monkeys trying to get everything together. We were so excited to leave that we forgot to ask about your medicine and feeding schedule and had to call the unit from the car to find out when you were supposed to eat! We finally drove away from the front doors (and it was COLD that night!) around 7pm, not getting home until almost 10pm. Your Daddy couldn’t wait to put you in your crib for the first time, under your name, and I couldn’t wait for you to meet Lucy.

So, here we are. A year later, and what a fabulous year it has been. Here’s what you have been amazing & entertaining us with lately:

• You weigh 22 lbs, 13 ounces (as of 1.20.10)
• You have 15 teeth (you are currently “growing” 3 canines)
• You are obsessed with books & turning pages. You will sit in my lap and read “Peek-A-Who” or your animal book from Dr. Benjamin (you seem to favor the dog) a hundred times if I let you ~ they are your absolute favorite books right now
• If I tell you to “get a book” you will go to your books and get one out to read
• You point out your tummy, ears, and feet when asked; if you find a sock or a shoe, you will try to put it on your foot
• You point out mama, dada, Carter, and Lucy when asked by patting us with your hands
• You give hugs ~ it’s the cutest when you give Lucy a hug because you put your chubby cheek against her and grin
• You do "touchdown" with your arms
• You love puzzles
• You are standing unsupported for longer periods of time
• You can stand up from sitting (on a bench/chair) without holding on to anything (you mastered this in one try with your PT and she was very impressed)
• You are taking 5-10 steps at a time and are getting more brave with each day
• You are wearing orthotic shoe inserts to give your feet more stability; we notice a huge difference in how comfortable you are walking when you wear them
• You climb the stairs effortlessly and have been caught climbing up on the couch
• You love to open and close doors, peek under the doors if Mommy or Daddy are on the other side (it’s so cute to see your little fingers poking out from under the door), and “help” with chores (laundry, dishwasher, getting water from the dispenser on the fridge)
• You are eating/drinking entirely by mouth (it’s still amazing to me each time you toddle up to your straw cup, pick it up and drink away)
• Your current favs include: waffles with butter, sweet potato fries, pizza, fruity cheerios, mac & cheese, mommy’s baked ziti (but you hate all other spaghetti sauces!), Cheese puffs, whole wheat Ritz crackers, green beans, refried black beans, green peas (as Daddy calls them “little green monsters”) ~ as long as you can pick it up and feed yourself you are ok with eating it, but you have a FIT if we try to feed you with a spoon or fork and won’t let you “feed the baby.” You recently ate ¾ of a McDonald’s Double Cheeseburger!
• You don’t care for most meats (slimy or stringy meats, but hamburger is ok), sweets (cookies, donuts, ice cream, etc.) and dips (ketchup, ranch dressing, etc.)
• You drink from the bottle much better for Daddy, but eat table foods & drink from a cup much better for me ~ go figure?
• Your favorite TV shows are Yo Gabba Gabba and Sesame Street (the old school ones from the 1970s long before Elmo was even thought of) and your favorite skit on Sesame Street is James Taylor singing “Jellyman Kelly” with a couple of kids who sing along
• You love to be chased while you are crawling. When I say “I’m going to get you” and start crawling behind you, you bust out laughing and take off! You are SO fast and you almost fall on your face every time from laughing and trying to get away!
• Mrs. Michelle, from Daddy’s work, gave you a ladybug on wheels that pops when you push it along on the floor. You LOVE pushing it all over the house and go ‘round and ‘round and ‘round and ‘round….
• You have soooooo much energy ~ your Daddy and I find ourselves saying more than once a day, “he has been into EVERYTHING!!!” with a big ol’ grin on our faces, because we wouldn’t have it any other way.
• You are really into exploring and trying to figure out how things do what they do

Thank you for continuing to be a delight. It seems that no matter what life throws at you, you just roll with the punches, which is one of the things we greatly admire about you.

We love you bunches!

Mommy, Daddy & Lucy ("lala")