Thatcher's 1st Birthday Week: Happy Birthday Sweet Thatcher

Sweet baby Thatcher what to say to you? You had a great first birthday. It was full of your infectious smile, toddler giggles with your brother, learning how to play hide and seek, and just a few one year old meltdowns along the way. Of course your birthday started with a peaceful, pouring rain, making your Grandpa three for three for saying hi on my boy's first birthdays. It was pretty chilly most of the day so you didn't get to run around outside near as much as you would like, but we braved it briefly because I know how much you love it.

 

 

Zane was sad to be missing your birthday so we opened presents with him before he left then went to eat lunch with him at school as well. We spent the morning planning a surprise scavenger hunt for Zane while you melted down about things like, not being able to eat hand sanitizer, and other classic one year old problems. Yesterday you learned how to nod yes and did so all day with your little eyebrows raised and the cutest grin. At Target Rowan picked out a little bus that he thought you needed for your birthday which he played with most of the day, much better than any of the gifts I had picked out for you. You did play with your new little lantern quite a bit since it sang to you.

 The Easter bunny was going to bring this big frog, but your brother's found it so it become a birthday gift instead.

 

 While Rowan slept you helped fill Easter eggs.

 

Yesterday you showered everyone with kisses, saying "abbaa" to me, blowing kisses, and even handing out kisses to the big bear you're just now learning to love in your room. You let me cuddle you, hold you, and pretend for a few moments that you were a baby again. You're brother showered you with love as well, which you mostly enjoyed. You watched as your big brother's dyed eggs, happy to eat your snack and not take part in that mess just yet.

 

 

It was a great day, if not a more than a little bitter sweet for your dear old mom.
Yesterday was my last first birthday for one of my babies. This year has flown by faster than I could have ever imagined. For some reason it felt like you grew up quicker than the others, doing things way before you needed to, and only being a baby for a blink of an eye. All of my boys are miracles in their own special way. I'm in awe that I have you all, but especially in awe that we have you. You snuck into this family in a tiny sliver of time when we were open to having three children, far enough removed from Zane's heart condition to no longer be terrified another baby would also have it, and right before Zane's heart condition became acutely stressful where we thought we couldn't handle another baby. In that tiny window God sent us you to be a constant beacon of light and happiness to us all. You're an amazing blessing to me and bring me more joy than I can ever express to you. I am eternally grateful for your sweet smile, your little laugh, your tiny kisses, your baby hand in mine, and for all the love you've brought to our family. You had the happiest of birthdays fitting for the happiest of boys. I love you more than words.
Love,

Mamma

Tales of TET Baby: MRI 2.0

Today was the second go at a cardiac MRI for Zane. Sunday night, as Zane was finally starting to get over the stomach bug Zach came down with it. I kept Zane home from school Monday to make sure he was completely over it and to try to rehydrate him for his scan today. Yesterday Zane was fine, but Zach was down for the count. We were hoping he would be better this morning so he could come to the scan with us but no such luck.

Zane was first case today which meant we were up bright and early, dropping the little boys off at daycare at six, and at the hospital by six forty five this morning. Zane did great and was happy to see his favorite nurse, my friend Sandy, again. Before the big event he collected his Kohl's Cares book and stuffed animal. He got Sneetches at his last cardiology appointment and today he got Markin K. Mooney Will You Please Go Now and a stuffed giraffe from And To Think That I Saw It On Mulberry Street.

There was even time to watch some Teen Titans Go and learn what channel cartoon network is at the hospital for our future stays.

 



This morning everyone I saw in the hospital knew me. There are days when I never see anyone I know and then there are days like today where everyone I see I know. They all had a brief moment of confusion, followed by understanding of what was happening, followed by realizing that means my son has had and will have open heart surgery, quickly followed by the sad eyes. So I walked around aimlessly until finally finding a quiet hiding place in the atrium to wait and enjoy the rain. The atrium at my hospital is gorgeous, surrounded by windows, perfect for being enjoying dad's comforting rain. I don't know why I was so surprised when I opened the door this morning and it was pouring rain, but it's always a lovely surprise.



The scan lasted two hours then it takes thirty minutes or so to recover him from the sedation. By the time I get called back he's awake and sipping on sprite. This time they kept him a little bit longer than last time so he wasn't as wobbly and was more awake when we left. As promised he got his new penguin blanket when we got to the car then headed to Panera Bread for his favorite white mac and cheese. Then we headed home and settled in for Harry Potter and The Chamber of Secrets. We watched the first on yesterday in preparation for HP again today.

 Since I was going it alone today we opted for a wheelchair instead of trying to carry the huge kid out to the car.



Now we wait for results and wait to figure out how much time we have before surgery.



Thatcher's 1st Birthday Week: Woodland Birthday Party

I'm going to be really honest here, I put no thought into Thatcher"s birthday or his party until maybe last week. Rowan picked out the theme one day when we were in Hobby Lobby. I gave him the two or three choices and he went with Woodland Creatures, keeping with the theme of his nursery. I am sucker for a hedge hog so I was fine with it. At some point during the various illnesses going around our house we briefly decorated before everyone fell back onto the couch. Everything turned out adorably and I stuck to my normal rules, banner on the fire place, happy birthday banner above the windows, hang some things from walls/light fixture over the table and we're ready to party.

 

 This time around I just bought pieces with the months cut out on the top to make the 12 months of pictures banner. All I had to do was take the pictures on and hang it up. I think with Zane I cute out multiple colors and sizes of triangles to make his banner. Craziness!

 

 The cake was probably my favorite part of the party. I saw various versions of this online and it looked like a very cute, super easy, cake option. Zach was involved in making the brown frosting look a log. I try to use candy rocks as often as possible, because I think they're adorable and then Abbey brought her famous Christmas Tree Magic Mushrooms which really pushed the whole thing over the top.

 

 The birthday boy did wear his little hat ever so briefly and by some miracle I was able to snap a picture of him. I did buy a birthday onsie for the day. I have a First Birthday onsie that I've had since Zane was probably eight months old that hasn't fit any of them on their actual birthday. To small for T and Zane and too big for Ro. They've each gotten their very own closer to the big day.

 Present time at one year old birthdays is always pretty entertaining since the birthday boy is clueless to what's going on around him. Aunt Abbey brought him a huge, adorable, fox who his brother's have lovingly named Tiny. We gave him some balls and Grandma gave him a bubble machine. The Blakley's  were working and trying to avoid the illnesses that are going around our house.

 We went outside and let the birthday boy stomp around and play while we waited for dinner. Thatcher played catch with his cousins while I tried to tend to my biggest boy who was still sick.

 



 A week ago Rowan had a stomach bug that lasted three or four days. Zane woke up Thursday throwing up, had been sick that day and Friday, then was perfectly fine Saturday, but was back to being sick Sunday. By that time everyone coming to the party, except the Blakley's, had already been around him when he was sick so they decided they could come in spite of Zane's illness. All I really for wanted for Thatcher's birthday was a tiny sliver of time when myself, and everyone else, could just celebrate Thatcher and give him all our attention for a brief second. Of course this didn't happen, poor baby T's party was eventually taken over by vomit and rising stress levels over potentially not being able to sedate Zane for his upcoming MRI.

 After cleaning up loads of vomit and sending Zane to the shower we tried to power on through singing and cake time. Of course we sung while Zane was in the shower, leading him to cry about missing it, and me to cry about the general disaster that poor T's first birthday party was dissolving into.

 

 

 In giving T a piece of cake someone gave him a fork as well. This was the first time Thatcher had ever eaten with a fork, but used it like a pro, like he'd been eating with it for months.

 

Then it was off to the bath with the baby, off to comfort the big boy for me, and call my nurse friends to try to figure out what the rules are with vomiting and pediatric sedation. I missed most of the party and poor T just toddled around happy as a clam the whole time. This is pretty much how our life is on a daily basis now, so it's only fitting that's how his celebration went. I hate that it wasn't a great celebration of him, for him, because he's such a wonderful, amazing, light in our life. We are so very blessed to have him as part of our family. I'll try to do better next year. 



Thatcher's 1st Birthday Week: These Are a Few of Your Favorite Things

Here are a few of Thatcher's favorite things at one, in no particular order and with no specific number of things.




1. Blankets: T is our only baby that wasn't a fan of pacifiers, but what he lacks in pacifiers he makes up for in blankets. They remain all over the house and he has a keen radar that can find them anywhere. He can never have enough blankets. He can frequently be found toddling around the house with a whole arm full with some dragging behind him as well.





2. Balls: T loves to throw a ball around or play catch with his brothers. He also is a fan of kicking them and watching the little basketball the big boys have bounce around the house. I love watching Thatcher play with his big brothers and this is the first activity that they've really been able to with him which they are thrilled about.



3. Transportation: Thatcher is staying true to all the boy loves that we've seen from our other children with his love of all things transportation. I personally feel he has started driving cars, trucks, trains, pirate ships ect, around the house much earlier and more effectively than his big brothers. It's so stinking cute and he's even recently learned how to say go and vroom vroom (ish words) when he plays with them.

 



4. Big Fire Truck: This was a gift to Rowan on I think his second, possibly third birthday and it has been very well loved. Thatcher loves climbing on it and beeping the horn. He can successfully get in and out of it and is actively working on driving it around, not yet, but that's ok he always had plenty of people to push him around the yard.

Beep beep



5. Outside: This should be up higher on the list if the list was going to be in order. Thatcher loves to toddle around outside. This month he learned how to say "bye" very clearly and will stand at the door staring at me saying "bye.... bye" until I can find his shoes and take him out. If a door is left open he will make a break for it, moving faster than at any other point in his day, to get outside. He toddles all over our huge backyard, picking up sticks, rocks, eating dirt, all the normal things. He also loves to swing, throw balls, climb, and over all explore the great outdoors.

He's fascinated by leaves.



6. His brothers: Thatcher adores his big brothers and I adore watching them all play together. T will go say hi to them both first thing in the morning and has started giving very nice pats this month when his brothers and I spent a lot of time crying. He will give them kisses or "get them" when they are laying on the floor. He jumps on them and tries to wrestle which is so cute and shockingly they are amazingly gentle with him for the most part.



7. Climbing: This month Thatcher has learned how to climb on to everything, the fireplace, furniture, his activity table, you name it he can quickly climb it, stand up, and look around. He's particularly enjoyed the Easter grass on the table behind the couch this month, which had to be relocated so T would stop eating it. After a few tumbles off the couch he has successfully learned how to get off of the couch as well. I have no memory of the other two climbing on things this early. My hypothesis is that this is a survival technique, seeking higher ground to get away from all the craziness happening below. It's also that I think I would have freaked out about with my first child and doesn't really phase me with T. Have a mentioned third children are amazing.





8. Eating: This kid can eat. Not only can he eat a lot he is one of the neatest baby eaters I've ever seen. Rarely is there anything in his bib and the only time there is food on the ground around him is when we take to long to get him out of his high chair and he starts throwing it on the ground in protest. He'll eat any and everything, happily, and all day if we'd let him. It's no accident that dude weighs twenty six pounds at one years old.

 His last bottle was sadly last night, but that's a whole blog post in itself.