So many emotions!

Check this guy out?! 

The top picture is him right before his School Christmas Program, where he sang his heart out.  His heart.  He has so much of it.
I have spent the last hour putting together a collage of pictures to display at the dinner we have in his honor.  I can't look at these pictures with out completely bawling my eyes out.

 His chest, before he got a scar...  that means he could live.  :)

I am so, so thankful.  So Thankful. 
Still bawling.  And thankful.

Happy Three Lukey!!!

Heart Follow-up. He's great!

Look at those lips!

Waiting with Dad, wearing his "supie-man" shirt.

Weighing

First EKG.  I was surprised how still he was.  10 stickers. 

Bubbles- trying to take blood pressure.

He "helped" her listen to his heart.

Lucas had his heart follow up appointment.  He is great.  She said that like 6 times.

We are so, so thankful.

A year ago- today

We brought our little Lucas home.  What an amazing kid, whatayear!

Hitting one year past it all seems like a big step.  It seems like I am more able to tuck away the memories.  The celebration we had for Lucas' birthday, the Ronald McDonald House dinner, and having family visit from SLC made it all the more memorable and all the more fun!  We read lots of books, ate very well, and played.  Oh yes, and we worked.  I am pretty sure there was more cleaning and cooking at my house with my family there, than in the previous six months:)  They were great!  Every time I look in a cupboard that was organized, or my table that was freshly oiled I smile at all the wonderful work they did while in our little place in Savage, Minnesota.  My mom made 21 dozen rolls from scratch, we got pedicures, we had a dance lesson(from Adeline) I got to Zumba with Ju-ju!  We met beautiful Ruby.  Aleisha and Mom took Adeline swimming.  All this in 10 short days!!!

I love our heart baby.  I love our little family.  I love our extended family-  I am so thankful for all that we have been watched over and taken care of.

It was an honor to volunteer and serve dinner at the Ronald McDonald house.  I almost cried like 18 times.  Okay maybe I did!  My heart was so full and is finally starting to heal, too.

9 months ago, TODAY.

Lucas Jack had open heart surgery.

UN.Real.

He is now a crawling, cooing, giggling explorer of his world.  He is so freaking awesome.  I am so lucky to be his mom. 

Last week at his 9 month check up (with our pediatrician.)  Everything went well, he measured 19 pounds, 15 ounces.  He got some shots, but recovered quite well.  He AMAZES me.

I am so thankful for our little family.  Lucas has a special smile and giggle reserved for big sister Adeline.  Adeline is likewise adorable with him.  Jeff is a great dad, and well, we are plugging along.

So to rewind a little, and to process a little-- here we go:

3 months ago at his check up (with the cardiologist,) we found out he had some aortic leaking.  It is only a 'mild watch,' and if it stays like that he will be fine, but if over time it continues they would treat it first with medication, and then... ?
Finding this out made me teary, emotional, and REALLY realize that this little guy is a heart baby, and that at any point things could be different, or potentially he could have surgery again.  EESH.

That is a lot to think about.  It also makes me happy for every day that he does well, feels good and grows like a normal healthy baby.  I freaking adore him something fierce.

Our next follow up with cardiology will be when he turns 1 in January- and if all goes well we will not go back until he turns 3.  Does that amaze you?  It completely blows me away.  I am so thankful again for the advances in medicine that allow him to be a part of our lives. 

He so easly smiles, but is determined to learn about his surroundings.  He is coasting along the side of the couch, and bench.  He will be walking before he is one!  AAK!

I am so thankful for our heart baby.  If you are reading this- he is also your heart baby!  An aunt, cousin, grandparent, friend or any number of you have supported us through an amazing year.

Wow.

This past week marks 3 months since Lucas had open-heart surgery.  He had open heart surgery.  HOLY CRAP! 

He is doing so well, and is just darling.  His physical therapy is going very well, in fact we have one more time, and that will probably be it.  He is a good eater, and smiles so much.  I remember before we had him, how hard I tried to think about being here, with his surgery complete, and part of my family.  It was so hard to imagine.  I am so glad it is our reality now.

I appreciate all of you who stop by to see if we have updates...  If you want to hear more about our family, I have a private blog I will invite you to.  Please email me at amandahaun@hotmail.com

Here he is, smiling way.  And those chunky thighs that I just love!! 

Thanks again for all of your support and love over the past months of our lives.  So thankful for the outcomes, and for the outlook. :)  We are thankful every day for this little guy.  He continues to amaze us.

13

Lucas is 13.1 pounds!

By comparison, Adeline was 13 pounds at 4 months. Lucas is 2 months!

All in all the doctor said good things about him. He got 2 shots which made me cry, too.
He has torticollis, and will need some physical therapy, but should not be too bad. He favors looking one direction and has a hard time looking the other direction. I am convinced this is because of the IV's he had in the hospital in his neck, they kept him looking that favored direction often so they would have access to his IV for labs, and such. I get why they did that, but it kind of sucks. It will be interesting to go to physical therapy. Hope it goes well.

13 is a lucky number for us! I am excited he is growing so well... He is in the 80th percentiles for height and weight for his age. Adeline was always in the 30th for weight and 50-80th for height. Interesting how different they are... And I am sure this is just the beginning!

I love how he is growing, and his big cheeks. A nurse that took his temperature under his arm pit said "he has reserves." Still not sick of people calling him big. :)

We have been having home visits from nurses, and they will be coming 2 more times. One for the Synagis shot again- next week and then after that for a final home visit. How much will he weigh then?

I am so glad to be a Mom, and still so exhausted. Hoping for him to start sleeping longer than 3 hours at a time soon... In a way I guess, that lack of sleep is a small price to pay for him to be growing so well!!!

Still Growing. And totally adorable.

So Lucas is now 10 and a half pounds! He is growing and doing so well. His scar is healing and we are starting to get a bit of a routine... Of course I say that and it could all change! :)

We are at least getting a little bit of sleep, which helps!

Next week we have our follow up with the pediatric cardiologist. He has had his first dose of immunization against RSV shot, we both cried.

He is just doing great. I never get sick of people asking me how old he is or saying how cute he is, makes me happy!

We loved having grandma and grandpa(Jeff's parents) here, and now grandma(my mom) is here. We have been so spoiled, and it has been nice. Adeline is loving having a grandparent here. It is so fun to watch her interact with them, and get so excited to see them.
Adeline just adores her brother, it melts my heart. She loves to check on him and really tries to help. Even if she is not so gentle with the pacifier. She shares her blanket, and sings to him. We read stories.

We are thankful for all of your thoughts, care and concern... we are so grateful for his continued recovery.