18 Months!

Gavin during bath time tonight...

Pictures from the past month...

Dada's Birthday Celebration

Morning Hair
Helping Mama make lunch, a new common place for Gavin, right under Mama
Last week, two of Gavin's cousins got to come over and have play time! Gavin cried and banged on the door after their mommy came to pick them up... Gavin says "Come back SOON!"
Reading time w/ Miss. Camryn
Carson teaching Gavin how to play with the manly toys

Getting some lovies from Camryn

Half of an Angels Heart

It's a beautiful day up in heaven. Jesus is rounding up his tiniest angels, to go live on earth, and be born. One of the sweetest angels says to Jesus "I don't want to leave, I like it here, and I will miss you". He reassures the scared little angel that everything will be okay, and that she is just going for a visit. She is still not swayed on this idea. So Jesus kneels down, and says, "How about if you leave half of your heart here with me and take the other half with you, will that be okay?" The angel smiles and says, "I guess that will work". But the little angel is still a little scared. She asks, "Will I be okay with only half of my heart?" Jesus replies, "Of course you will, I have other angels there that will help out, and you will be fine." Then Jesus gives the angel more details about his plan. He says "When you are born, your mommy will be scared, so you have to be strong, and when you feel weak just remember that I have the other half of your heart." "Enjoy your time with your family, play and laugh everyday." "And when its time to come back to heaven, I will make your heart whole again. Always remember that you are not broken, just torn between two loves." -Author Unknown

Ethan Powell

Ethan went to heaven on Saturday, please keep his family in your prayers during this time. We have sent emails back and fourth to Ethan's parents, and even though our children have different illnesses, they have been such an encouragement to us.

What's it like to have a child with chd?

It’s Lasix,aspirin,Captopril….It’s wondering…Lord what’s your will?…It’s monitors and oxygen tanks…It’s a constant reminder…to always give thanks…It’s feeding tubes, calories, needed weight gain…It’s the drama of eating…and yes it’s insane!It’s the first time I held him…(I’d waited so long)It’s knowing that I need…to help him grow strong…It’s making a hospital…home for awhile…It’s seeing my reward…in every smile.It’s checking his sats…as the feeding pump’s beeping…It’s knowing that there… is just no time for sleeping…It’s caths,x-ays and boo boos to kiss…It’s normalcy…I sometimes miss…It’s asking…do his nails look blue?It’s cringing inside… at what he’s been through.It’s dozens of call to his pediatrician…(She knows me by name…I’m a mom on a mission)It’s winters homebound…and hand sanitizer…It’s knowing this journey…has made me much wiser.It’s watching him sleeping…his breathing is steady…It’s surgery day…and I’ll never be ready.It’s handing him over…( I’m still not prepared…)It’s knowing that his heart… must be repaired…It’s waiting for news…on that long stressful day…It’s …praying…it’s hoping…that he’ll be okay.It’s the wonderful friends… with whom I’ve connected…It’s the bond that we share…it was so unexpected…It’s that long faded scar… down my child’s small chest…It’s touching it gently…and knowing we’re blessed…It’s watching him chasing…a small butterfly…It’s the moment I realized…I’ve stopped asking…why?It’s the snowflakes that fall…on a cold winter’s day…(They remind me of those…who aren’t with us today)It’s a brave little boy…who loved Thomas the train…Or a special heart bear…or a frog in the rain….It’s the need to remember…we’re all in this plight….It’s their lives that remind us… we still need to fight!It’s in pushing ahead amidst every sorrow…It is finding the strength to have hope for tomorrow.
-Author Unknown

We are Home...

We got home Friday night, had a little birthday celebration for Adam with our parents and then we crashed! Gavin did not wake up until 10:30 yesterday morning! He was exhausted! Gavin is doing better, a little wobbly, sleeping a lot and wanting to cuddle... which we LOVE (the cuddling part)! Thank you all for your prayers, this has been one of the several scary moments we have had with Gavin. However, God continues to put his hands over Gavin and us during these times.

Update on Gavin

Gavin has been diagnosed with epilepsy and started seizure medication. He is currently undergoing a 24hour EEG. He will be off the EEG at 4pm today. Should be coming home this evening. Continue to keep him in your prayers and wish his Dada, Adam a HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!

Prayer Request

Please keep Gavin in your prayers, he was rushed to the hospital last night after having 3 seizures. He is doing fine now, playful and happy! Doctors are consulting on the proper medications for him. He will more than likely spend another night in the hospital. Thanks for the prayers.

Easter pics, PART TWO....

"Ladies, let me show you how to do this"

Stained hands for Easter Sunday!
"Let me lick this dye off my hands while they are not looking!"
"What is this stuff in my nails?"
Such concentration....
Cleaning off the dye
"High Five UmmPa"
"Where's my gloves?"
Showing mom and dad the final product...
Hanging out with Mimi

"The KID Table"

Papa, Mimi, Great Granny Barbara, PePa

The Montgomerys, UmmPa, Aunt Kiki and Bubba

Papa, Mimi, Gavin, Mama, Dada

Hope everyone had a HAPPY EASTER!!

Belated Easter Pictures Part ONE...

Dying eggs the night before Easter...

Messy, but he loved every minute of it!!!

Family...

Adams side of the family... minus Jon, Erin and Paxton :(

My side of the family...

The other side of the camera... haha!

Gavin hunting Easter eggs!

Aunt Kiki and Bubba
The Montgomerys... minus Kate

Let's Play Catch Up...

Gavin is officially 17 months old, as of Thursday, March 13th!

Today Aunt KiKi and I took pictures of Gavin at the park, such a pretty day...

Notice the squirrel in front of Gavin, there was another close by, they kept moving in towards us. We got a little scared and started to walk off, they kept coming closer. We thought that they could have been "Killer Squirrels" so we didn't stick around long. Ha!

About to eat an acorn...

Cheesin' it for Aunt Kiki!

"That is HILARIOUS""I picked a flower just for you Mom!"
Getting VERY sleepy....

We have had a lot going on the past couple of weeks...

*Gavin experienced his second snow this year...

*A couple of weekends ago, Adam and I went on a Church Retreat. It was a blast! We did a lot of out door activities, ropes course, games, etc. Gavin stayed with his Nana and Grandpa. The weather was very nice so they took a trip to the Zoo...

Gavin likes to "Monkey Around" with Grandpa and Kiki...

*This past week Gavin had two trips to the ER, diagnosis Croup... Mommy got sick, probably from lack of sleep!!!

*Gavin got to meet his new cousin Paxton for the first time. And of course we forgot our camera, so we don't have any photos. I am sure Auntie Erin has some though!

*Here's a video of Gavin saying family member names...

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Well that pretty much sums up our last couple of weeks. We are ready for Easter and we are excited to watch Mr. Gavin hunt some Easter eggs! Here is to a WARM day!!!

Prayer Request

Tomorrow, Gavin will have a new cousin! Most of you have read comments from Erin. Well if you haven't figured it out by now, that is one of Gavin's aunties! She will be induced in the morning. However, she doesn't live here so we won't be able to make it for Paxton's arrival. Please keep Uncle Jon and Aunt Erin in your thoughts and prayers as they bring this new life into the world. Papa and Mimi are there with them, so keep them in your prayers as they travel back at the end of the week. Can't wait to see our new nephew! Check out her blog and send your prayers and love their way! http://talesofanewlywed.blogspot.com/

I love this little boy SO much...