Life Is Good

Sunday, May 9, 2010

Happy Mother's Day!

So these...

came from one of my favorite little boys. Therefore, they are some of my favorite things. This was Ryan's Mother's Day present to me. He was so excited to give them to me. Friday morning he came bouncing into my room exclaiming "Happy Mom's Day! Happy Mom's Day!" He handed me a pink sack containing a pink monster truck and a pink "candle" (air freshener--but he associates candles with smelling good and wanted Mom's room to smell good) that he picked out all by himself. It was the sweetest thing in the world. Also in the sack were shower gel and lotion from Bath and Body Works. Those came from my mom and they, too, were a very pleasant surprise. Something simple to bring the feeling of beauty to this hospital-bound Mommy.

Happy Mother's Day to all the mothers reading this. I hope everyone around you makes you feel like the most amazing person on earth today showering you hugs, kisses, gifts, and appreciation. May your heart swell today knowing that you've made such a huge difference in the lives of your husband, kids and everyone else around you.

Happy Mother's Day to my amazing Mom. I want to be just like you in so many ways. You've guided me, encouraged me and challenged me. You've always helped me to see life with a "silver lining". Thank you. And thank you so very much for stepping up and being a "mother" to my son while I'm gone. He sure does love his Nana. You're an amazing Mom and Nana. I love you.

Happy Mother's Day Diana. You, too, are an amazing Mom and Mimi. You're love touches so many...from your own kids (pets included) all the way through to the smallest of your grandkids.

Happy Mother's Day Sharon. You are a great Mom and Gigi. I hope your day is blessed as much as you've blessed others.

Happy Mother's Day Sue. Thank you for loving our family and being there for my dad.

3 comments:

Hilary said...: Ok LOVE the monster truck and it's pink.... That would be something that August would pick out for me too..that's too cute!!!
Happy Mother's Day!!! :); May 9, 2010 at 9:15 AM
mimi and Grampy said...: HAPPY MOM'S DAY to a Mom laying flat on her back in the sack! Life,now, isn't fun, but at the end of the tunnel there is a SON! Even though time isn't going fast, you will have a precious Gift that will last & last! Pretty corney, but so true. Thanks Julie for acknowleding me on Mother's Day.
I love you, Mimi; May 9, 2010 at 11:33 AM
COUNTRY MOM said...: Just found your blog. Wanted to wish you a Happy Mothers Day... Hope to get caught up on your blog soon. Many Blessings,; May 10, 2010 at 10:22 PM

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Brandy Danielle

Brandy is our firstborn, our precious angel baby girl. Her entry into this world wasn't without excitement. At 26 weeks I started preterm labor with contractions 5 minutes apart. With 10 weeks of strict bedrest, most of which were in the hospital, she made it to 36 weeks.
Brandy was diagnosed with "possible/probable" heart defect around 28-30 weeks gestation. After her birth she was whisked away to the NICU for monitoring and after a few days her defect was formally diagnosed and labeled...atrial septal defect and a cleft mitral valve.
Brandy, upon indications of failure to thrive and pulmonary hypertension, underwent her first of 2 open-heart surgeries at 4 months of age. A week after her surgery on the day of her anticipated discharge home Brandy coded for 13 minutes...a stoke.
From that point on Brandy's life was full of doctor's visits, endless crying, pain and suffering. She underwent another heart surgery, fundoplication and g-tube surgery, treatment for infantile spasms, and a mountain of tests and procedures. Her brain damage was extensive.
Upon counseling of our wonderful, most amazing heart surgeon, Dr. Christopher Knott-Craig, and many hours of prayer, we finally called in hospice and called off all of the extensive medical interventions and surgery needs that would prolong her suffering while possibly prolonging her life. Brandy, our precious baby girl...our angel...passed out of our arms and into the arms of her Saviour, Jesus at the tender age of 17 months.

Ryan Andrew

Ryan, our micro-preemie miracle, is a ball of life. After nearly a year of trying to conceive imagine our delight when we finally knew he was on the way. My pregnancy with Ryan was uneventful at first. It seemed perfect and with all of the precautions for preterm labor being taken and monitored we entered this pregnancy with cautious anticipation covered over by a whole love of naive excitement.
At 20 weeks we discovered our "Baby Peanut" was going to be a little boy. We began to make plans and began dreaming about the day we would meet our son.
Almost 2 weeks later everything changed in our lives. It wa a whirlwind of fear and emtions as I began to bleed, was sent for monitoring in L&D and eventually had an appointment with my OB only to find out that it was serious. I had incompetent cervix with hourglassing membranes. The doctor admitted me to the hospital immediately and an emergency cerclage was placed. The statistics were grim, but the hope was to keep our son inside for at least 10 more weeks. We only made it 10 more days.
Early in the evening of February 11, 2007 our son, Ryan, came into this world in emergency fashion at only 23 weeks 5 days gestation. He weighed 1 pound 8 ounces and was 12 ½ inches long. He was so tiny. All I could think of was “oh my goodness is he really that tiny? And is there any way he could actually make it?” I tried to hold on to hope, but in all honesty I had never met anyone with a baby born that early and that small that ever made it.
Ryan did make it! It was a long, hard road, but in the end he spent 90 days in the NICU. He was on a ventilator for 2 months. Finally on one fine glorious day in May we bundled up our 4 pound 4 ounce baby boy and went home...May 11, 2007.
Ryan is now a spunky, lively, strong-willed little boy. His laughter is contagious and his spirit is compelling. He is our miracle. There are no words strong enough to share our delight and joy that God has blessed us with this little boy.

Evan Alexander