Sixteen Months & a Heart Update

How in the world is Caleb already 1/3 of the way through his second year?! Happy sixteen months, Caleb Drew!

I completely forgot to post this earlier because we were so busy the last couple weeks. Caleb had a cardiology appointment on February 13th. His AV Canal repair looked great, and his mitral valve wasn't leaking! Caleb doesn't have to go back for a year!

Caleb has one more surgery coming up... his syndactyly release on his left hand. That's scheduled for March 31st. After that, we won't have any surgeries/procedures on the horizon! Yea!!!

A Good and Perfect Gift

A few months ago, a friend suggested I read A Good and Perfect Gift by Amy Julia Becker. I've read it twice, and my mom is borrowing my copy right now. I loved it and related to so much of what the author wrote. Here's the summary from her website...

A GOOD AND PERFECT GIFT: Faith, Expectations and a Little Girl Named Penny is a spiritual memoir that chronicles Amy Julia Becker's journey through her daughter Penny's first years of life. Top of her class at Princeton, Amy Julia Becker always imagined that her children would turn out just like her. So when her daughter Penny entered the world with Down syndrome, Becker had to rethink everything.

Beyond tackling the day-to-day whirlwind of doctor visits, child development experts, insulting comments from well-meaning friends and even her own prejudices, Becker comes face to face with terrifying emotions. Worry that Penny would die early or that she wouldn't be able to live on her own. Sorrow over the thought that Penny might not know deep love from another person. And her darkest fear, that Becker herself wouldn't know how to love her daughter.

But love? Love from Penny, love from her husband, love from friends, and love from God finds a way to pick Becker up out of her fear and into faith. Instead of being a parent crippled by control and expectations, she finds freedom and joy in loving Penny and watching her thrive in who she was perfectly created to be.

A GOOD AND PERFECT GIFT is more than just a narrative that spans the first two years of Amy Julia Becker's new life with Down syndrome. From the initial dark moments in the hospital to the light and laughter Penny brought into the family, it is a story of a remarkable little girl who surpassed expectations. It is the story of a young couple coming to terms with their first-born child being different than they anticipated, and eventually receiving that child as a precious gift. It should appeal to any reader who wonders how grief can be transformed into joy.

The book is currently available for free download at christianbook.com and at amazon.com. This offer is only available today (Feb 17th), so download it now! 

Starting to pull up!

Caleb has been trying to pull up for a while, but his arms just haven't been strong enough to do much. On Monday, he made some great progress toward being able to pull up on his own! He was sitting on a block (well, actually it was two phone books duct-taped together), and he reached for me. I held out my fingers, and he grabbed ahold. I didn't pull him at all, but I just gave him a stable place to hang onto. With what seemed like very little effort, he pulled up to standing! I was so surprised and proud! We did it over and over and over. And then we did it again when Brad got home from work, so that he could record it.



As Caleb gets stronger, we are going to have him sit on smaller blocks and then eventually the floor. I should note that on Tuesday afternoon, he did pull up a few times from sitting on the floor... but I could tell that it was pretty hard for him.

Happy Heart Day

Happy Heart Day, Caleb!

It's been one year since our little guy had open heart surgery to repair his AV Canal. He is doing so well, and his scars are continuing to fade. One year later, I am still overwhelmed with gratitude for the outpouring of love, support, and prayers from family, friends, and even complete strangers.  

My sedated little three month old right after open heart surgery on Feb 1, 2013.

Caleb eating his heart-shaped pancakes this morning.