Bela Girl

PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, if you don't yet have plans for Saturday consider running or walking in Ethan's run with us. Ethan's mommy put together a 10K run and 1 mile walk event to celebrate when he would have turned 1 year old, and to benefit the hospital where he spent most of his life. The proceeds will benefit families that have long term hospital stays with their little ones. It will be so fun and it is for such a GREAT cause! And it's right here in the east valley. Ethan's family have become close friends and we are excited to support them in this.. In Ethan's mommy's words (who can explain it best): The FINAL COUNTDOWN is on for ETHAN'S RUN: HOPE FOR HEART DEFECTS! Please help spread the word. It has come together very well. The event is in the community of Las Sendas in NE Mesa. Please enter from Power & Thomas Rd. and plan on arriving by 8 (so not to cut it too close). If you didn't notice, the fun/run is now ONLY A 1 MILE. Sorry if yo...

Track number 1 on the cd that is almost always in Bela's CD player is Baby Mine, by Alison Krauss. Jenna, Lily's mom, made us the CD during Bela's second surgery. Every song on that CD does something to me when I hear them. They stir many memories for me. I sing Baby Mine to her every night as I rock her before she goes to bed. She snuggles right up to me, it is my most favorite moment of the day. Tonight was particularly tender for me as I thought about little Lily, born the same day as Bela, in a hopsital bed recovering from her 4th open heart surgery. It is amazing really, that someone so little can endure so much. My thoughts and prayers are with her and her mommy tonight. I am extremeley grateful tonight for how blessed we've been. Bela's health has been amazing lately considering all that is against her. Sometimes it's so easy to want to believe that it's all not real, that she is a whole and healthy little girl. When you've imagined life w...

This little girl.. she sure does know how to throw us for a loop. After 10 days of not being herself, she has totally rebounded 100%. She is back to her beautiful enegetic little self and I love it!! I missed her! I hate all the worrying. She has been so happy the last two days. Just tonight we played peekaboo and chased her all around the house as she giggled her little head off. So whatever it was, it never got too bad and went away! Horray! I just hate when the words heart failure are mentioned...they are sickening words to hear! It's been way too long since I posted pictures of her and of Bens.. So I'm gonna go way back.. Halloween (WAY back, I know) Bens's bday party. My little man is 4! Some random shots of the last couple months: And just as I was uploading some christmas pictures, my computer has decided to stop working right. I'll try again tomorrow..

Update: Great news! No sign of heart failure.. BNP looks "beautiful" in Beth's words.. YEAH!! I honestly wasn't even worried about heart failure until it was suggested.. I'm glad that's over and it's ruled out! We're assuming its just something viral she's fighting.. life can resume..:) It's been a rough couple of weeks with Bela. We've all been worried.. something isn't right but I can't put a finger on it. She just hasn't had that usual sparkle in her eyes or her normal bubbly personality. She's been really tired, quiet, and calm. But she never had any other symptoms. I ALMOST called her doctors several time, ALMOST wrote or texted Beth, but everytime I'd be reassured by a little spark of energy that would last for an hour or so. I just havn't been sure what was wrong. Bens was sick after christmas and I just was sure her body was just fighting something. And it could be.. I've had her into see most ...

It's been awhile... It's hard to believe that Thanksgiving has come and gone and we're only a couple weeks away from Christmas.. I love this time of year so much. Thanksgiving this year was so full of gratitude. I'm so grateful for my two angels.. One protective big brother and one sweet, spunky little girl. It's been so fun to see them play more together and get excited to see eachother. Bela can hardly wait for Benson to wake up in the morning. She always tries to sneak away and go knock on his door. She'll start up the stairs and I'll ask her where she's going and she'll say 'no,no' because she knows what i'm going to tell her. When he wakes up she squeals and giggles. She's saying so many words and tries to repeat everything we say. She calls herself 'Wewa' and is usually carrying around her 'bag' or her baby. She's such a girl, her favorite word is 'pretty'. She is still obsessed with Yo Gabba...

We went to the cardiologist yesterday and had another terrific appointment. Bela showed off her new walking skills to everyone and cried whenever anyone got close to her. That's my Bela.. She was up in weight! :) Her current weight is 18 lbs 11 ounces. Maybe by her 2nd bday she'll be legally turned around in her carseat.. She got to skip the echo because when I got there for her echo I was told she didn't have one. She really did there was just some confusion and by the time it was all figured out, it was late and they let us just skip it... I wasn't complanining, although it always nice to know her heart was seen by her doctors. We go back soon enough tho.. Today was day 2 for Tan's trip.. Feels like much more than that. He's in Brasil.. probably on some beautiful beach soaking up the sun. I'm so happy for him to be there.. he deserves it so much.. nothing makes him as happy as Brasil (besides us :)). I only have (ugh) 9 more days to go. I hope ...

At my baby shower for Bela I got gas cards, gift cards, books to read at the hospital, things that you'd get someone in my situation. I mean.. what do you get someone that isn't sure if the baby will live or not? I also got this shirt.. It is a size 12 month. I don't think I've ever said anything to the person that gave it to me, but getting this shirt meant so much . 12 months! At the time I could only dream and hope that she would someday wear a size 12 month shirt. I hung that shirt in her closet.. it was my hope shirt. The day it fit her was a day of pure joy for me! We went down to the park that day and saw some friends.. I wanted to share the significance of that little shirt she was wearing, share what that REALLY meant. She has worn this shirt many many times over the last few months. She spilled on it and got it dirty, just like she should. And yesterday I just put this shirt away in a box with all the other clothes that Bela has grown out of.. Amazing...