Goodbye 2016

2016 was a good year for us.
- We welcomed Connor into the family
- We graduated from speech therapy, confidently eating all food orally
- We  excelled at both Neurodevelopmental clinics, testing almost at age level in all areas
- We graduated from Early Intervention, six months early
- We managed an entire year without surgery, hospital stay or any major interruption in our daily life
- Connor started food and taught me that eating can be easy
- We are almost all sleeping through the night regularly

This year looks to be a little more trying.  We head into 2017 with the 3rd of the 3 step surgical procedure to repair Lucy's heart on the horizon.  To say we are not prepared is an understatement.  Our routine cardiology appointment ended with a Holter monitor.  Seeing Lucy hooked up with cords and a little satchel to hold the the battery pack sent me back to our hospital days.  The Holter monitor is a battery-operated portable device that measures and records heart activity continuously for 24 hours.  It has wires with five silver dollar sized electrodes attached to her chest.  It is the first step in preparing for surgery.  The echo give us a snapshot at Lucy's heart.  This device will allow us to see how it is functioning throughout a full day.   

  Our next step will be the catherization.  It will allow the doctors to get a better look at her heart function and lung pressures.  We are scheduling the procedure for the end of February.  It will be an overnight stay in the hospital and our first taste back there.  I know the amazing staff at Advocate will welcome us back with familiar faces (and hugs) and Lucy will be in great hands.
  Amidst the black cloud that is looming surgery, we still have so much to be grateful for and look forward too.  

-a third birthday

-a first birthday

-10 year anniversary

- the big 4-0

We had our school district evaluation.  I meet with the team Thursday to review the results.  It will tell us if she has any delays and would qualify for help through the school district.  I spent the hour in a separate room going over Lucy's medical history.  Who knew a medical resume would be such a handy thing!  I am excited to hear how well she did.  But I have to say, my favorite part was coming back into the evaluation room to hear the therapists tell me Lucy was one of the politest little girls they have ever met.  SO PROUD.




















Connor will be turning one in just under three months.  Oh my.  He is a pro at sitting!  He is also a pro at making very loud noises.   He is anxious to move but doesn't quite want to crawl.  I truly believe if he could skip the crawling and start walking he would.  He loves food.  I mean, he cannot open his mouth big enough and the minute he sees that bottle it is all over.  His first teeth are on the verge of popping through the top gum.  His night time sleeping is getting better and better.  We found a little trick that works wonders.  When he is a little squirmy, holding a pacifier in his hand calms him right down and puts him back to sleep.


Other fun things we did were:

Trotting at the annual Dan Gibbons Turkey Trot.  Connor experiencing the race for the first time!  Helping to feed the hungry across Dupage County

We celebrated Thanksgiving.  GG got to feed Connor.

We had a fabulous Christmas.  We hosted both eve and day and Lucy could not have loved it more.  The attention from the grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins was her most favorite part.  Staying up later than normal was a close second.  Presents were right up there too.  Connor was not a big fan of the crowds and noise.  I have no doubt he will grow to love it as much as Lucy.

We thank all of you, who have kept us in your prayers throughout this year.  We couldn't be more blessed to have you in our lives.