Happy New Year!!

2016...  You have been a wild ride.  It has been wonderful, emotional and has rocked our world.  So many good memories and scary ones thrown in the mix. Here are just a few of the highlights.

After 4 years of orthodontics, Kam got her braces off just before her 16th birthday!

Then she got ther license.

Then she became more than just the best sister to Logan... something she loves!  (And hates when people assume he is her son)

Logan went from baby to toddler overnight. 

These boys became best friends.

We said goodbye to Nana and we miss her.  

Owen has had the busiest year of us all.  

He survived a terrifying cardiac arrest and was immediately listed for transplant.

After 100 days in the hospital, we went home for 7 weeks before coming right back.

At least we transported in style...typical Owen fashion.  Go big!!

 

We bought a new house...can't wait to see it!

My love has grown even more for this man I chose to marry 17 years ago.  

Tonight we celebrate a year of challenges and blessings!  We survived! 

2017...Bring it on!!!  

 

Holiday Break ... Day 218 and counting

It had been such a fun week!  Carson flew home on Tuesday, which is always a bummer.  We had Christmas aftermath which has included a ton of Lego building and puzzles with Logi.  My babies are here until Saturday so I am just soaking I all in!

Owens labs came back perfect today!  His anti rejection and anticoagulant levels are within range.  His organs are all very happy.  I make him take one walk a day at least and get out of his room.  

Kam and I snuck out for pedicures yesterday.  Owen sent us for lunch and Logan slept through it all.  It was a perfect afternoon.  Owen had a buddy come play Xbox today so we snuck out and grabbed a few groceries.

My kids are totally chill and I am so grateful!  The hospital environment is so normal to them.  Logi runs in, up the elevator and straight to Owens room.  There is a tempting little button right at his eye level as we get on and off the elevator and it's a Code Blue button.  One of these days he will get to the button a few steps ahead of me.  

Each night I cuddle these two to sleep and head back to the hospital to be with Owen.  This has been a crazy year and we have all made huge sacrifices. One day we will all be together, under the same roof, and it will be wonderful!!  

Christmas 2016

Christmas in the hospital did not disappoint.  We had each other and we were surrounded with love. My heart is full of gratitude and I feel so lucky for all we have.  It may not be a traditional Christmas but we made it magical.  

After a long 13 hour drive through rain storms and congested traffic, our family made it safely. Nothing is better than being together!

Christmas Eve started with a breakfast out of the hospital while Owen slept in.  We let the kids unwrap presents with Gma Kathy on FaceTime.  Carson and I snuck away during nap time to finish up some holiday prep. 

I took the kids to the RMH for Christmas Eve dinner.  Logan LOVES the RMH!

Logi wasn't thrilled because all he wants to do is 'walka walka' and run around.

We came back to open Christmas Eve Pjs and we called it an early night.  Well, Owen went to bed at about 11 and I stayed up LATE being stealth.  

Christmas morning started off quiet as Owen and I did our routine...meds, tube feeds, vitals, IV med changes.  Carson and the kids ate breakfast at the RMH. Owen patiently waiting to open his presents...

Logan's favorite toy was the wooden maze where you pound the balls through.  He moved on to playing with the ELMO box

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Kam got lots of clothes, gift cards, ECHO Dot, make up and nerdy video games.

Owen for a billion Legos!!  This should keep him busy while inpatient.

A glimpse into our day!

Kam, Logi and I went to the RMH to grab lunch and let Logi run wild for a while.  The pine trees smelled so good and the weather was perfect and chilly!

We opened gifts from my entire fam and when Logi opened the last gift of the day, he freaked out!  We had fun with this batman voice changing mask.

Janesa came down to hang with us for the afternoon and for dinner.  We played Suspend, laughed a lot and went outside to fly drones.

This Christmas was wonderful and I already cleaned up and sanitized the room. We missed extended family but FaceTime makes it easier.  To all the volunteers at the hospital and RMH, Santas workshop and snowflake station...we have been surrounded with GOOD this season.

Our Savior is born.  Merry Christmas!!!!

 

 

Hospital Holiday Fun

We have been very fortunate and have never spent the holidays inpatient.  This is a first for us.  It has been amazing to witness the amount of service and kindness all around us.  They really make it a magical time for these kids.  

Today we got to hang out with the Menlo Park Fire Department and Santa brought books, a stuffed reindeer, candy canes and the kids got to pick something off the tree.  Owen loves to socialize with everyone and you'd think he was a 30 something with the way he can carry on a conversation with anyone.

We have been showered with Christmas Cards and sometimes other goodies as well.  Thank you all for your generosity!  Owen loves reading every card and gets concerned when I tear up while reading them.  Today we got a batch from Gigi's middle school and the things these 8th graders wrote to Owen were so sweet.  I may have cried a time or two.  He finally took the cards away and said "I'm reading them now."  He held up these stick on snowflakes he got yesterday and said "I'm winter Ironman."

 

On Monday we had the Redwood City fire department drop by with a ton of toys and Owen picked out a spygear set.  This kept him busy for most the afternoon.

I had to go in the Anteroom and talk to him so he could listen to me though the door and the Windows. 

He also picked this led racecar that he drove around the hospital halls late at night.

Without school in session, we play a lot of games.  It's either card games, board games or XBOX.  He started watching a cartoon series on Netflix so I am catching up on Hulu!  Totally watching the OC right now (throwback to early 2000).

On Tuesday, Baseball Legend, Willie Mays dropped by to see the patients.  Owen had no idea who he was so we spent time in the morning doing some baseball history research and turns out he is pretty amazing!  Owen loved his visit and got an autographed ball.  It was a memorable experience.

Owen shows everyone his Willie Mays ball.  He thinks it's pretty great!  A couple heart moms dropped by with wagons full of gifts for the cardiac kids.  Her organization is "Share The Loveys" and they do such great things for the cardiac kids at LPCH!

If someone would have told me on May 25th that we would be waiting for 7 months... I may have had a complete breakdown.  We just keep pushing through and are so thankful he is so stable.

Because of organ donation, three families from the RMH got new organs today!  A heart and two kidney recipients went to the OR his afternoon.  The best you can possibly give to someone is through organ donation...give life!

Back home...   

Kam was busy with finals and even found time to bake cookies for all her teachers and friends.  She finished the semester like a rockstar and only got a B in AP Physics and AP Calculus.  The rest of her classes were solid As and with a heavy Honors load I couldn't be more proud of her! This year has been a crazy one and she keeps on kicking butt!

We had our Simmons family Christmas party this week and we were so grateful to 'be there' via FaceTime.  When did these little cousins grow up?

They all sang Happy Birthday to Logi and he has been spoiled with love.

Continue prayers for a heart to come soon.  Carson and the kids are driving up Friday and we can't wait to be together for the Christmas!!!  Celebrating our many blessings!!