First Tooth!

Oliver's first tooth popped through today! He was a little cranky last night and this morning.  I checked this morning and it hadn't broke through yet.  At lunch I was feeding him carrots and noticed a little white and checked and sure enough it had broke through.  It seemed like he was a different boy after, full of his smiles.  It looks like the other tooth will be here soon and it's all down hill from there! 

Heart Ball 2012

Last year we attended the Heart Ball since Thad was one of the heart heroes.  This year the AHA invited   Mended Little Hearts kids to Heart ball 2012.   The kids got all dressed up and stole the show! 

My survivor!

They wanted the kids to hand out the flashing heart pins when people bid during the special appeal. They all wore "Survivor" sashes and had a red balloon tied to their wrist.  Thad did a good job handing out the pins but he wanted to hand them out to everyone even if they didn't bid! I'm always worried what Thad will do in these situations when I really need him to be good......... He did great handing out the pins even though he wanted to take a bite of someone's dessert and wanted to take everyone's paddle.  Luckily he's cute and can get away with things.  After we handed out the pins they called our group to the front and introduced MLH.  Last year at the ball they had a party up for bid for MLH.  The AHA decided to do another one this year so they wanted our group up at the front so people could see the kids.  500 people staring at us, bright lights and lots of photographers (I was really hoping Thad would behave during this).......at this point he didn't want his balloon tied around his wrist, he wanted to let it go.  I managed to save the balloon from going up to the ceiling and I held it instead while trying to smile for the pictures.  Then my sweet little boy decided to run away from me.  I took a deep breathe and started after him.  There were tables everywhere close together and he was running in and out of them until he made it over the dance floor to the back of the room.  The entire crowd was laughing and the announcer said "One of our heart survivors is making a run for it!" I'm slowly making my way in and out of the tables trying to catch up to him carrying his red balloon.  My first thought is "I can't believe I thought he could stand up there for 5 minutes, I'm so embarrassed!" Hearing all the people laughing and them telling me along the way I better catch up, or how cute he was made it a little easier.  I found out he was giving people high fives as he was running past them.  

Adam called it, he knew this would happen and I told him he would listen and be a good boy.  Adam said he wanted no part in going to the front so he was going to hang with Ollie in the back.  He said he heard the announcer make the comment about one of them getting away and he knew right away that it was Thad.  Silly silly boy, but I wouldn't have him any other way.  He is full of life and that is what being a survivor is all about.  I was worried about what the people would think of him running but it actually went okay and people called him the "runner boy."  

When we arrived they weren't ready for us yet so we got to hang out with the Star Wars characters.  Thad wasn't too sure about Darth Vader so he wanted me in the picture with him.  I have to admit, he is a little scary! He is so tall and just creepy in all black.  

 This was Thad's favorite.  He told me when he grows up he wants to be one of the white one's. But then he informed me he would be gone for a long time if he became one of these guys.

The storm trooper even let him try on his helmet.  He looks pretty darn cute in it!

I'm glad we had a distraction with the Star Wars guys and they were great to take all the pictures with our kids and families.  

It was a such a fun night.  Two people ended up bidding on a party for Mended Little Hearts.  The AHA raised over $6000 for our party and now we get to have two parties where they plan everything for our group.  Last year we went to a Sky Sox game and had dinner.

Happy Heart Day! Celebrate a survivor and remember an Angel.

Oliver- 8 Months

Oliver is 8 months old already.  He is showing more of his personality every day.  He uses his voice to tell us if he is mad or happy!  I can officially say his first word is Momma.  At first he was just making the mmm sound but now it is clearly Momma.  He will say it if I leave the room or if Adam is holding him and he wants me.  

He hasn't really started crawling just yet.  He gets on all fours and rocks back and forth.  He can move around on his belly by scooting and pivoting.  He mostly pushes himself backwards to get somewhere and then he will get his leg stuck under the couch. Silly boy.

He started off in the center of the room sitting up and managed to get over to the kitchen area.

He loves to play peek-a-boo.  He would put his blanket over his face and bring it down with the biggest smile.

Peek-a-boo!

He also destroys things.  He has his basket of toys and he gets over to them and dumps them all out.  Thad has made a few comments that it is messy in the living room but he didn't do it, Oliver did.

After he dumped his toys he went for the basket of burp rags and dumped those out too. It keeps him occupied for a few minutes.  

He is trying out a sippy cup with water and seems to like chewing on it instead.  He loves to eat.  Sometimes I have to hide what I eat because he grunts at me and gives me a smile that says "I want some!" I am making his baby food and he gums other foods like pasta and bread.  Thad is a good help and feeds his brother.  Ollie ends up with food everywhere but Thad likes to help.  No teeth yet and I keep saying those bottom ones are going to come through any day.  

I don't have the heart to kick him out of bed yet even though I'm really ready for a good night sleep without being smooshed between Ollie and Adam (I'm sure Adam is ready too so he isn't hanging off the bed!).  We kicked Thad out when he turned 8 months but honestly I don't want to do the "cry it out" technique so I figured I can do it a little longer for him :) Plus I get more snuggle time because before I know it he will be too busy to give his momma snuggles.  

CHD Awareness Week

CHD Awareness Week is February 7-14th.  Congenital Heart Defects are the #1 birth defect in the world.  By the 28th day of pregnancy, the baby's heart is formed.  A CHD occurs usually before the mother even knows she is pregnant.  CHD's do not discriminate- they affect all types of families.  

Here are a few CHD facts:

* CHD's are the #1 cause of birth defect related deaths

*About 1 out of every 100 babies are born each year with a CHD, approximately 40,000 per year

*There are 35 known heart defects with more being identified every year

*Nearly twice as many children die from CHD's in the US each year as from all forms of childhood cancers combined, yet funding for pediatric cancer research is five times higher than funding for CHDs

*40,000 units of blood are used each day, half of that is used by CHDers

Before I was pregnant with Emma I had never heard of a Congenital Heart Defect let alone think that I would ever be affected by this.  CHD's are real.  We need more research so one day they can find a cure.  CHD's have affected our lives forever.  Most of you know I am a part of Mended Little Hearts.  I am a co-program coordinator and we have a great group of families.  We are very involved in the community and this week for CHD week we are having our 2nd annual Blood Drive with 6 locations this year.  If you live in Colorado Springs, please come out to one of our blood drives and donate.  

February 7

Blood Drive- Stetson Hills Police Station

4110 Tutt Blvd 10 am-2 pm

Blood Drive- Culver’s (Falcon Location)

 7220 N. Meridian Rd. 12 pm-4 pm

February 8

Blood Drive- Dodge Dealership

7455 Austin Bluffs 10 am-2 pm

YoYogurt Fundraiser (Briargate/Union) 

11 am-10 pm 

(Must mention Mended Little Hearts)

February 9

Blood Drive- Remington College 

6050 Erin Park Drive (on Academy between Vickers and Lehman Dr.) 9 am-12 pm

Parent Support Group Meeting

Dr. Duster will be our guest speaker

6:00 - 8:00 pm

Location: Serco- 1090 N. Newport Rd 

Building B (Powers/Aeroplaza)

Dinner and childcare is provided.

New families are always welcome.

February 10

Blood Drive- Walmart (Palmer Park/Powers) 1575 Space Center Drive 2 pm-6 pm

February 11

Quick Quack Carwash Fundraiser

4285 Austin Bluffs Pkwy

7 am-7 pm

Support a “little” heart while getting your car washed! Quick Quack will donate $2.00 for every Good, Better or Best car wash

February 14

Blood Drive- Jackson Elementary

4340 Edwinstowe Ave

11:30 am-4:30 pm