March 31, 2009

We had a fun but busy weekend! Blaze had his picture taken at two different studios. One session did not go well, the other was fabulous!

Tim was in St. Louis over the weekend, Melissa went to spend some time with her family so Blaze and I invited Grandma Cathy to come and hang out with us. We had a nice time! Blaze is to the point where he wants to talk all the time...and of course he's not saying anything. He's sincerely trying to tell us something, it sounds like he's babbling sentences. It's cute until he tries to drown out the pastor on Sunday morning. I think he gets to go to the nursery next week!!!! Although he LOVES the praise and worship music. I think we'll drop him off in the nursery right before the sermon, so he can jump up and down to the praise music first.

I also wanted to say thanks to Concord Baptist Church in Jeff City. That's the church that Tim's parents attend and the church Tim grew up in. We got to take Blaze there on the 22nd. So many people encouraged us and oohed over Blaze. It was so nice and welcoming. I was touched by so many of the gentlemen who had been through heart surgeries themselves expressing how they prayed for Blaze.

Thanks for your continued prayers and encouragement. We are so blessed!!!

March 26, 2009

Thanks! Thanks! Thanks!

Thanks to you, our wonderful friends and family, Blaze turned 8 months old before we had to buy any diapers!!!!! What an amazing blessing. We're still using wipes from the baby shower. We are so grateful.

Blaze is sporting a few bruises from becoming mobile. He flips rather well now, when he falls so he hasn't bumped his forehead as much. He is just a delight and we love this phase! We had such a great time at Audrey's birthday party. Blaze got his last Synagis shot for the year. He's rapidly growing. It's amazing to watch him grow bigger.

The Parents as Teachers lady is impressed with Blaze. He is developmentally right on track. We are excited.

March 19, 2009

According to Dr. Tong, Blaze's cardiologist, everything's great! Blaze has gained 9 ounces in the past couple of weeks, which is wonderful! He's not gaining too much too fast, but he is rapidly gaining. Hoo-ray! His lungs are clear, so we can stop giving him one of the medicines. Blaze truly is doing well, and we are incredibly excited! AND Blaze has been "cleared" to go to his cousin Audrey's birthday party this weekend!!!! So, we're Jeff City bound tomorrow evening.

It is such an odd feeling. Last year we were thrown into this shock and turmoil, knowing that our son had a heart problem and faced such an uncertain future. We have been so cautious with him, careful to protect him from sickness and illness, and we were right to do so. Because of it, we haven't gotten to see our families as much, our friends as often and every day events like going to the store had to be scheduled around who could stay home with Blaze. And now...we've been given a green light to go back into the world. I cannot tell you how freeing that is! What an incredible blessing. It is going to take some getting used to! HA!

Blaze is beginning to sleep all night, so some of that "lighter feeling" might be us actually starting to feel somewhat rested. He has some nights that are harder than others, but more this week have been good than bad. After 8 months of sleep deprivation, we still have a lot of catching up to do, but it is getting better, thankfully!

Blaze is becoming a social bug, starting with the party in Jeff City this weekend. It's the first birthday party he's gotten to attend. Blaze is getting to spend time with Chris Stanley on Monday (Melissa's going to court that day for her traffic accident-please pray for her), has a Parents as Teachers evaluation on Tuesday, will get to spend time with Miss Karen on Thursday (while Mom has a meeting that night) and Grandma Cathy comes on Friday!!! That's a big week for a little guy!

Thank you so much for your prayers and encouragement. We love hearing from you.

Joy

March 17. 2009

WOW! Lately I have been overwhelmed by the graciousness and goodness of God. We have so much to be thankful for and today is a beautiful day in the Ozarks to count our Blessings!

Spring has sprung, and so has Blaze. We have a mobile baby! Maggie, our dog, isn't taking this new phase with much enthusiasm. She's rather annoyed that he's figured out how to climb up on the couch, where she has been safe from his grasp all these months. He's just beginning to crawl and has been pulling himself up. It's been so fun. We put foam around the edge of the coffee table that was a hand-me-down from my college days. Tim laughed and commented that the foam was probably worth more than the table at this point! We have some cabinet locks up and went ahead and put some protectors on door knobs. It's early, but it puts our hearts at ease.

Blaze is so happy and fun right now. He slept through the night again last night and this morning I heard him making noise at 5:58 a.m. He was sitting up in his crib, playing with a blanket, just hanging out. When I came in with a bottle he didn't fuss or anything, just smiled that I was there and lifted his arms to be picked up.

I think the highlight of my day yesterday was when Blaze was climbing over me and stopped and put his head down on my shoulder, cuddled for a few seconds, then crawled off again. I am lovin' this phase we are currently in.

Blaze loves to go for walks with Daddy and Maggie in his stroller. He's so happy to be outside. We have the stroller set up for him to face forward and he can easily see the world around him now. He loves it.

Sunday he went to "big church" with us again. He gets restless or wants to talk back to our pastor, so I took him out during the sermon. We're still not to the point where he can go into the nursery. I'm personally looking forward to that day. I love worshipping as a family, I just see how it would be easier on Blaze. He does, however, love the music and lights. He's fascinated by the choir and the people around us. I'm afraid we're a bit distracting, though, during the service. We may have to sit in the back. I love that we can take him to church now. It makes my heart sing.

Yesterday I opened a statement from the hospital that brought tears to my eyes. On this paper was listed Blaze's expenses for his last surgery. The amount was over 84,000 dollars. In the next line was what our insurance's responsibilities were, it was also over 84,000 dollars. The next line was our responsibility, and currently that number sits at 0. We are so blessed to not only have insurance, but the insurance that we have. When I took my job I wasn't doing it for the insurance, though it was a plus. Who knew that almost six years later I would be married and have a baby with a heart condition? I had no idea, but God knew. He had a plan and a purpose, to give us a future and a hope. I'm so grateful!

Please let us know where you are as you pray for Blaze, if you haven't already. We're about to start "mapping."

Thanks, Joy

March 10, 2009

Blaze is on the go and trying to talk about it! Blaze crawls around in his bed and on a blanket on the floor, but he has not figured out how to go very far or that he can go beyond the blanket. Once that clicks in, we will be in trouble! He is trying to talk, too. At first we thought he was trying to say "Pa" or "Papa" then we realized he is saying "pup-pup" when he sees Maggie. HA! He is still saying Momma or Ma when he is angry. And last night he started to say a "Dah" sound, which I'm sure will just usher in "DOG" instead of DAD! You see where the Puppy/Dog/Maggie ranks.

Blaze is eating a ton and loving life! He went shopping with us on Saturday. He seemed, at first, more excited about playing with the shopping seat cover than the store itself. HA! When we got into the store he was fascinated with everything. He did not fuss once! He was excited about it. Who knew shopping could be so fun?!?

Blaze is also eating everything in sight. He is one hungry fellow and we are doing our best to accommodate him. He is very vocal when he feels he should be fed. It is a new experience for us to deal with the really hungry Blaze. What a great issue to have!

We are loving the fact that Blaze is so active and full of life. He still wants to cuddle some, too! This is such a fun age. We delight in Blaze and feel so incredibly blessed. Thank you so much for your continued prayers.

Joy

Almost like a Christmas Song March 6, 2009

Blaze slept through the night! It was such a blessing. All it took was a full belly. To get that belly filled, it was almost reminiscent of a Christmas Song. In the hour or so before he fell asleep he had "4 ounces of formula, 3 wagon wheels, 2 mum-mums, 1 container of pears and a ½ container of green beans." Whew! The wagon wheels are made from veggies and are hard. He LOVES them. We have to break them up or he shoves the entire thing in his mouth at once. We watch him very closely when he eats the wagon wheels. But, he actually crawled out of my arms, across the arm of the chair, reached beyond the chair to try to grab the container of wagon wheels, only to knock the container to the floor. I figured if he went to so much effort to get them, I would definitely give him some! He's starting to fill out some now. So fun!

We took Blaze and Maggie on a stroll last night. We had been putting Blaze's car seat into the stroller, so he was going on a rear-facing ride. After we came back in last night, Tim fixed the stroller for Blaze to sit in it like a big boy. Blaze seemed to love it, though he got a bit nervous when Tim was lowering him down the steps! HA! Melissa had taken him outside to enjoy the nice weather and carefully put a hat over his head and ears to keep him out of direct sunlight. He's on some medication that makes him even more prone to sunburn that normal. The hat looked so funny, though. He was so happy to be outside!!! How fun!!!

The jumper came out last night, too! Blaze was so excited to be in his jumper, he rotated around in the chair and spent time with each toy attached to the seat. It was so cute.

I was ridiculously happy to be able to schedule a photo session for Blaze at the Olan Mills Studio in Kmart. I know, I have one of the most documented children in North America, but I was thrilled to be able to sign him up. It's such a normal parent thing to do. I scheduled it for the end of the month, so he should be healed and able to go out into the world more. It's the simple little things that make this time especially sweet.

Today is a big day in our family. This day, 5 years ago, was our first "official" date, so it's a fun memory for us as a couple AND a year ago today we learned that we were having a boy. We also learned of Blaze's heart condition at that same time. What a roller coaster of emotions that doctor's appointment was. If we could have gotten a glimpse of today and how well he is doing now, how much worry and concern would have been eliminated!! We are so blessed!

Celebrating each day...Joy

March 4, 2009

Dr. Tong, our cardiologist, was very pleased with Blaze today! He had gained almost a full pound since he left the hospital. Tim told Dr. Tong that Blaze was "eating like a hoss". Dr. Tong was happy to hear that and said Blaze was just making up for lost time. Everything looked good. I can stop dressing the wound every day now. (The tape is not friendly to Blaze's skin.) We will just put rubbing alcohol on the incision now to keep the germs at bay. We shall see how it goes! Everything looks great! We are thrilled!

Some have emailed asking about my birthday. It was wonderful, thank you!!! I got to go to church with my baby!!! YAY!!! We sat in the back. Until he's completely healed, he can't go into the nursery. Melissa got to come, too! It was so great to be there with my family! AND the fact Tim and I could go together...that had not happened in a long time. He and I had been taking turns going to church, while the other stayed home with Blaze. What a blessing! That afternoon my mom, grandmother and younger brother came to visit. Tim fixed a wonderful fajita lunch for us. Mom brought a cake. It was so nice. Blaze was such a charmer. I kept thinking "What a difference a year can make!" Thanks to those who sent cards! It was so sweet and thoughtful!

Speaking of sweet and thoughtful...we have some wonderful people who have been making dinners for us and bringing them to the house. It has been such blessing to be able to get back in the swing of things with Blaze and not have to worry about what is for dinner! We are so grateful for your generosity and caring concern.

The radio interview went well. The time flew by and it was over before we knew it! It was a tremendous opportunity to give praise to God for how amazingly well our heart baby is doing. My brother said, "I would never have known he had surgery by looking at him." He is filled to the brim with life and energy...and a voracious appetite!

Now if only we could get the miracle boy to sleep at night! HA!

Love to you all, Joy

Blaze is just amazing! March 2, 2009

Blaze is just amazing. There is nothing else we can really say. Only God could do this. He is eating 2-4 times more than he used to. It is shocking how much food we are going through now. This morning he ate nine ounces of formula, only to want another bottle two hours later. He has so much energy!

Tim has learned how to make Blaze laugh--he pretends to sneeze. I actually captured Blaze laughing uncontrollably on my cell phone! It's my ringtone now. He is so happy and energetic. We love our "new" Blaze. He has been looking in mirrors and turning them around to see what is behind it. He is so close to crawling now. You can tell he is feeling better and loving life now. The only down side is when we have to change his dressing. He's not too happy to lay down for that. It takes two of us to do it!!!

The picture gallery has been updated, so check out some newer Blaze photos! Also, Tim & I will be on the radio tomorrow. You can hear it downstreamed live on klfcradio.com or 88.1 FM at 7:30 a.m. (Central time.)

Thank you so much for your prayers!

Joy