Officially Official

We are really really done! I took Aidan in for his last ENT visit today and Dr. Singer said that it looks beautiful!!! We said our goodbyes and shouted "HOORAY" as we walked out the door. I have to admit, I did get a little emotional because it was a very official LAST visit. What an incredible feeling knowing that Aidan is completely normal now. What a long, difficult journey but it is over!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YAY!!!! HOORAY!!!!

We Are Done!!

I'm just posting this picture because I think he is one of the two cutest things in the world and this post is all about him and his FINAL SURGERY!! I can hardly believe it but it looks like we may be done!! I don't have any pictures because my camera battery was MIA but 2 weeks ago Aidan had his last surgery. We thought that the trach removal was the last one but the stoma didn't heal properly so there was still air and some fluids leaking from the trach hole (stoma). We had to schedule another surgery for April 20th but they had something open up on March 16. We were so excited! The surgery went well but it was a little more than we expected. He originaly just had a small hole but in order to close everything up from the inside out they had to make an incision about 1 1/2 inches long across his neck. My heart ached when I saw it. What they had to do is go in and stitch up his actual trachea. Then they pulled muscle over it and stitched that and then they stitched his skin. He seemed like he was recovering really well until about 3 days after the surgery, it got really red and swollen. He had a hard ball underneath the incision so I called his doctor and he asked us to rush him over to his office. It was infected. Rich had to hold him while the doctor squeezed puss out of it. It absolutely broke my heart to see him in so much pain. Then the doctor took sterile scissors and cut it open a little to let it drain. Along with a lot of the things I watched him go through in the NICU this was one of the most difficult things to watch. My baby boy is my hero. He is so strong and overcomes everything that he is faced with. His neck seems to be healing nicely. We are happy to hopefully be done watching Aidan go through so much. So blessed to have him.

It's Amazing!

Trust me, I know it looks silly but I am telling you, you have to run out and buy one now!! Well I guess you only need it if you have a baby that eats baby food. This cool little gizmo is called a...ready for this??? Boon Squirt Baby Food Dispensing Spoon. When we first moved out here to Florida I saw one of my friends feeding her baby with one. I kinda chuckled and thought to myself, "Give me a break! What are they going to come up with next?" Then I watched her for a little while and noticed how easy it was. She was holding her baby in one arm and feeding him with her free hand. I went out and bought one even before Maya was born. I used it for the first time a few days ago and I am in love with it! It's all I use. You just fill the orange part with food and squeeze to dispense the food onto the spoon. Ok, I'll stop rambling on about this but seriously, Amy, Julianne, anybody who is going to have a baby... buy one!!

Aidan "holding" Maya

This little boy cracks me up! Recently, I let him "hold" Maya and now he loves it. The video is a little shaky because I was trying to video and move Maya around.

He also has started tickling her and giving her lots of kisses. Also, if she is crying and I tell him to go and play with her, he will do it. It's getting to me more and more fun around here.

New Calling

Today I was set apart as the 2nd counselor in the Young Women's Presidency. I'm a little overwhelmed when I think about how I'm going to juggle 2 kids and such a big responsibility on Sunday's but I am also super excited. I know that it was an inspired calling and for that I am grateful. Beginning of an incredible little journey. Can't wait!

Beach Day

It was a beautiful day and what better way to spend it than on the beach.

Aidan has always been and continues to be scared of anything new. The beach was no exception. We decided to take him there a few days ago and initially he didn't like it. He wouldn't even walk in the sand unless Rich was holding his hand.

It took him a little while but soon he got so comfortable with the sand that he decided to taste it.

He didn't like it very much.

We had a really good time on the beach.

I thought this picture was really funny. Aidan was actually reaching for me but it looks like he's reaching for the bird. Cute.

It was a great day.

Maya is 5 months old!

Oh how time flies. Maya is 5 months old as of the 22nd of February. It makes me sad and happy at the same time. Sad because my baby is getting so big! Happy because my life is getting easier :) Some things that Maya is doing now that she is 5 months old:

*She just started on rice cereal. I am super excited about this because I'm hoping that she will soon start to sleep through the night. I know, I can't believe she still isn't sleeping through the night! Aidan slept through the night at around 3 months. This little girl is just killin' me!

*She is entertaining herself in the saucer. I love, love, love this! This means that I can kinda get stuff done. I still have Aidan, who seems to be attached to my leg all of the time. He's really good at keeping me from getting anything done.

*She laughs a lot! It's so fun to make faces at her and tickle her because she is so giggly.

*She is getting her 1st tooth!!!! Gosh, my baby really isn't a baby anymore is she? It's the one on the bottom right. I think this phase is so cute because all she wants is something to gnaw on, even if it's your face. She grabs my face and just attacks.

*She is also getting more and more beautiful but she's been doing that since she was born.