Four

 

Happy Advent loves.

One Little Indian

 

Paulie at school. Oh I love this boy.

First Day of School, G-style

The Gs get their own bus, yo. Well, besides one other kid.

Paul *loved* his first day, owned the classroom.

Luca said it was "fantabulous," double thumbs up.

Leo gave it a thumbs down and a thumbs sideways, wrote "sad" with a backwards "s" on his "On the first day of school, I felt ____ " drawing, said it was really hard, and especially hard to keep listening to all the things the teacher was saying, and that after Friday he would like to stay home until second grade. And don't think I'm not considering letting him.

3 Years

Three years ago this past Friday, my baby came home: Paul is Home!!

Life was so, so hard.

And now, life is so, so good.

Endless thanks to God, and to the tireless loves of our life who pulled us through.

Angel Boy

Is there anything else to say?

Sweet tooth

Hangin' out, watching a show on the iPad.



Best friends.



What. Mom wanted pictures.

Just because he's that cute

Looking through pictures to send some to Mom. From 5 months ago. (Better with sound off...)

Good Morning!

I Saw the Sign

Hasn't spring already come with this child?

Spring Will Come

On March 25, Paul will be admitted to the PICU for a short stay. The purpose: to begin taking steps to wean him from the ventilator.

We believe we have excellent reason to be hopeful that Paul can come off the vent during the day. Paul was trached due to chronic apnea (stop-breathing episodes) which he no longer seems to have, at least when awake.

And his scary desaturations, which still do happen if we are not very careful, are related to his need for supplemental oxygen, something he can get without the help of the ventilator. These episodes - due we believe to something called pulmonary hypertension, which was caused by his lung disease of prematurity, which was caused by the inflammation and scarring from being on the ventilator - might also be treated with medication.

I don't know what the process will look like. But we know what our goal is: The picture above is our little Paulie lookalike, ripped from the pages of a magazine. A little peanut just like Paulie, and if you can't tell, he's got a nasal canula which is how Paul would get O2 if he was both off the vent AND could get rid of his trach.

Please hold Paul in your prayers, and ask his patron saints to pray for him as well. St. Francis de Sales said the Memorare every day, and now so do we:

Remember oh most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help or sought thy intercession was left unaided. Inspired with this confidence, I fly unto thee oh Virgin of virgins my mother. To thee to I come, before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful. Oh Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer me. Amen.

Paul is ONE.

I know baby boy, love of my life, we can't believe it either.

Breakfast

How did I ever not know this face?

Thank you, thank you

Thank you all for all you help, over and over.

This boy is clearly all of ours and you all love him and us so well.

Happy Mothers Day!

I had big ideas of gifts and flowers for all the surrogate moms who continue to make our crazy life possible. But turns out I would have needed one of you to babysit while I accomplished this. (Luca had to come shopping with me for his birthday gifts! really fun actually. ; )

A very Happy Mothers Day to all the ladies in my beautiful family. You can't know what you mean to us.

Especially you mom, but of course. I honestly don't know what we'd do without you. I love you so much.

4 Months Old

I'm 3 Months Old!

And 10 lbs...



...2 of which are in my cheeks.


Treasure.

Blue Jean Baby

My little boyfriend...

... who's doing better after surgery than before. 10 days post-op, he still has some apnea spells, but consistently much fewer. The vote is out on whether he comes home on the vent full time, or just at night.


Weird picture, but it's the one and only time I've seen him without tape all over his face, so I snapped it quick before my battery died. What a punum! Luca in the eyes, Leo in the mouth and chin. And all sugar.


Confession: we DO call him Paulie... Best intentions, but well, when it fits, what can you do? He's just a little baby.

What a year...

So many blessings. Luca's syrinx resolved, homes sold and opened to us exactly when needed, three new souls, an old soul still here and well among us, abundant grace and love in our huge family, both those related by blood and those by prayer. So very, very much for which to be thankful. Oh, and Leo started to sleep at night.

Here's to another grace-filled year. God bless us all.