Thursday, December 20, 2007

Happy Birthday Baby Girl

One year old today, and what a year it's been. 2 open heart surgeries, 2 emergency catheterizations, countless trips to the cardiologist. So much worry, so many prayers. So many smiles, so much laughter, and so much joy. It has been an amazing first year.

A year ago, we didn't know what was in store for us. We didn't know if we'd have Abby in our lives for a minute, a day, a month, or the whole year.

A year ago we had no idea the joy Abby would bring us, or the strength she would show us in the coming months. We had no idea the parents we could be, and the strength we had within us.

Today has been an emotional day for me. I have been tearing up all day thinking about how special a day it is for our family. How far we've come. We made it. We made it through her first year and she is still here. There are no words to describe what that means to us.

Thank you for being here for us this past year. It has been a year of ups and downs, and I don't know where I would be without the support of our family and friends.

I only pray we have many, many more birthdays to celebrate with Abby. We should be so blessed.

7 comments:

Gavin's Mama said...

Yay!!! Makes me tear up too! Heres to MANNNNNNY more birthdays.

Happy Birthday Heart Buddy! Love, Gavin

Anonymous said...

WOW-- that just makes me so happy! I am so glad that Abby and her big sister are both doing well. Merry Christmas!

-- Kerry Dunne (aka KerryD, mom to fellow July and December babies Nora and Maggie)

kaysdee said...

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas.

She is really adorable and I am so happy that she is doing so well. Beautiful.

Kelly

The Curtis Family said...

Instead of being a "blog stalker", I thought I would introduce myself. I am not sure how I stumbled across your blog, but I too have a son (who was born May 1st) with HLHS and had his Norwood at 6 days old. We weren't diagnosed in utero and were very overwhelmed with the situation. My son Ethan has done very well considering the severity of the diagnosis. I thought we had done well to only have spent 1 month in the hosptial after he was born but I was shocked to read that Abby was off the ventilator the same day of her surgery along with having had her chest closed. Ethan's chest was kept open (which is fairly standard at the hosptial he had his surgery at) for 2 days and was on the ventilator for 3 days. He just had his Glenn in September. I hope you don't mind me following your story. It is always nice to see how other children and families with this CHD are doing. I am always trying to find out all of the information I can get my hands on, and sometimes the only way to do this is to actually see and talk to people who have been in your shoes. I hope and pray that Abby continues to do well. Congratulations on the 1st birthday!

---Allison Curtis

Jen said...

What a year! Your whole family is so strong and loving. What a fighter she is - Happy Birthday, Abby!

Anonymous said...

alison,
i know it's well after her birthday, but i wanted to send my well wishes anyways. i am so glad she is doing so well. very very glad.

Allison xoxo said...

Happy belated birthday to your gorgeous girl. :)

Allison M.