Ethan's 1st trip to a restraunt

As everyone knows we are not able to get Ethan out much right now. He can't be around big crowds and really has to stay clear of other children. We debated for a long time about taking him with us to eat for my Birthday last Saturday at the Cypress Inn. We wouldn't be around anyone but the waiter and the place was not going to be crowded so we decided to let him venture out with us. Usually Ethan only gets to go to his doctor appointments and occasionally to some family's houses. This was quit a treat for him and us. He did so good. He just watched us as we ate and played with his books. I loved having him there more than anything. I get so depressed when we have to go places with out him because it always feels like a part of us is missing so it felt so great to have all of us together away from home. We had a great time and can't wait to start letting him go with us to other places, other than the doctor's office, real soon.

Good Reports

Ethan is doing great. We went for his 4 month check up last week and everything is great. He started him on some solid foods so Ethan is eating some yellow vegetables and is loving it. Ethan also had an appointment with the cardiologist and he said that everything was working well and is trying to slowly get him off some of the medications he is currently taking. We go back to the cardiologist next month and if all is well we should be able to space some of his check ups out further like every 3 months instead of every 3-4 weeks. That's great news!!!
Next week we will have to get 4 month shots since we are a month behind and also he will have to have his 3rd RSV shot so that we can possibly bring him to church December 21 and get him out Christmas if all goes well. Next week will be hard on Ethan and us but in the long run it will benefit all of us. I'm so excited that we are getting closer to being able to get him out. He is really developing a personality and is so fun to be around. I hope that we can spread some of that joy to others just by having him around. He is eating so well and has lots of fun doing it. I'm usually a mess by time he is finished with his vegetables but it is worth it. I had to put some pictures on here of him trying to feed himself. Apparently I don't feed him fast enough so he has to take over. It is so adorable!!

Eating is so much fun!!

Our Family is thankful for.....

This has been by far a very tough year for all of us which makes this Thanksgiving all the more special. We are so thankful for our Heavenly Father and all that He has done for us in the past, for what He is doing now and what we know He will do for us in the future. It is so awesome to know who holds tomorrow even though we don't always know what tomorrow may hold. We are so thankful for Ethan and his wonderful recovery and his will to live. He has been such a blessing to us and has brought many people together in prayer. We are so thankful for our friends , family and all the churches that have supported us and kept Ethan lifted up in prayer during these difficult days. All of you have been an inspiration to us and it has helped us to keep our heads up when sometimes we felt like putting them down. We have so much to be thankful for and will celebrate that not only on this holiday but everyday of our lives.

Hmmmm!!! I can have the whole turkey leg????

Ethan's 1st Thanksgiving

Yummmm!!!

Eating good at Aunt Karen's house!!!

Ethan's 1st Hair Cut

Yes, it is true, Ethan had his 1st hair cut today.He did great but got a little fussy towards the end. Great Aunt April did an excellent job and he looks sporty in his new look. I just coudn't stand the rat tail in the back and wings on the side look any more. Santa is coming to take pictures with Ethan real soon and I didn't want him to look like Elvis in all his pictures. Don't worry , as you can plainly see in the pictures, we just got it trimmed and he still has almost all his hair. I couldn't let her cut too much cause his hair is just so cute!!!!

Ethans's 1st Hair Cut (4 months old)

THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME

Recovering @ Home

Hello All,
Things have been crazy ever since we got back home and my time has been very limited so I have not had a chance to blog. I hope that everyone is doing well. We are doing great here. Ethan is really getting back in to his routine and seems like he is back to his old self again. We had his first check up on Friday with the cardiologist and he was very pleased with everything. He even mentioned that by his next check up he should be able to take him off some of the medications he is currently on.That would be great because he is on a BUNCH and it is round the clock.
Anyway, I just wanted to update everyone on Ethan's progress and I put some new pics of him on the blog. I can't wait to get him out so everyone can see him in person. Please continue to pray that he will continue to get better and we can get back to what ever normal is or close to it at least.

Getting Ready to leave Le Bonheur Wednesday

Finally Home!!

It is late but we finally made it home !!!! Ethan had a great night and Doctor Knott-Craig released us this morning but we had to wait on some papers and all of Ethan's medications to be filled before we could leave so it was after 3:00 before we got on the road.We are exhausted but so glad to be here. Ethan is so excited too and I will put some pictures on the blog tomorrow but I really just want to get in bed right now and get some much needed shut eye. Matt and I are so appreciative of EVERYTHING and all the PRAYERS that were sent up on our family's behalf. We are truly greatful. We must remember that God is so awesome and he has really blessed us and our family. Ethan is such a blessing to us and we can't wait to share him with all of you.
We love you all and are so glad that you have shared in this extremely difficult time with us.

Recovery Day #7

So we are still here. Ethan ended up being admitted back into the CVCICU last night so I haven't had a chance to update the blog all day. I think we finally have him settled and we are now back in the step-down unit.He is having some withdrawals from the pain medications so they have started him on something to help and it seems like it has. They also removed some annoying pace lines and an IV in his hand so he seems more comfortable. We are all so tired and just ready to come home. I'm getting sick and trying to fight that off but with little to no sleep it is nearly impossible. We have had all the x-rays, examinations and echos that we could possibly have so hopefully Ethan will do good through the night and we can head home sometime tomorrow. Just keep praying and we'll see ya soon.

Recovery Day #6

Well, I wish I could tell everyone that we were headed home and everything is great but we're not and things seem to be moving backwards. Ethan is still fine but he is back on oxygen and he is still having these horrible screaming fits like he is really hurting somewhere. No one seems to know what's going on. They took x-rays of his stomach and said he has alot of gas built up and it may be really bad gas pains but the gas drops and other things they are treating it with doesn't seem to be helping. Doctor Knott-Craig seems to think he is stressed out so they are going to start him on something for that soon but his heart rate is sorta low when he is sleeping and I'm afraid it will drop it even more. I wish he could talk so he could tell us what is wrong but we are having to play the ruling out game. They said his heart is great, lungs are great and bowel sounds are great so we are hoping something will be figured out soon so we can come home. Looks like another day or so depending on how he does. Please pray that all will be great and Ethan will be back to his old self soon.

What did mommy do to my hair?????

I love my daddy!!!

Recovery Day# 5

WE ARE IN THE STEP-DOWN ROOM!!!!!!

It was late last night but we finally got moved. Ethan is doing great! The night wasn't that great because it took Ethan forever to get settled in his new room and nurses were in and out all night long so we are exhausted. Also, Ethan really wants to be held and it is so hard with all the wires and oxygen but I have gotten him out several times this morning.He has these spurts of high pitch screams that usually last for a few minutes. It is so horrible to see your baby scream like that and know that they are hurting but you can't do anything about it.They are giving him Tylenol but it is only when asked for and we are trying to wean him off the strong pain medications before we head home. We dealt with this some the first time but it seems worse now because he is so active and never stops moving. For the most part we are great and ready to get home. The doctor should be in sometime this afternoon to go over plans for getting everything unhooked and getting out of here. We are hopeful that it will be Monday but it could roll into Tuesday. Either way Ethan is doing good and we should be home real soon!!!

Recovery Day #4

Wow!!! It is so amazing what can change in 4 days. Ethan is doing fantastic!!! He has been jabbering and smiling at all the nurses. They may not let us leave cause they just eat him up. Doctor Knott-Craig came by this morning and said we would be moving to a room today and should be headed South by Monday sometime. I wish ya'll could be here .He will not stop jabbering, it's almost like he has been so quiet for so long that it is built up inside of him. It is so precious. How fast they forgive and forget. The nurses are so glad to see him smiling and jabbering since they feel so bad when thet have to poke at him all the time. I will keep thr blog updated once we get him settled into a room but if anything changes I will let everyone know.
Oh, thanks for the prayers about his oxygen level. Now his alarms go off because they are so high. God is so good!!!!!

GETTING BETTER EVERY DAY!!!!!