Catching Up!

Okay, so we haven't totally left the blogging world, we've just been enjoying every moment at home with our sweet little man!

I guess I should start back in November when we FINALLY made it home!

Owen spent exactly 100 days in the hospital. On Monday, November 15 our doctors decided he was ready to bust out of that place! :) We knew it was coming soon, but nothing could have prepared us for the joy we had walking out of that hospital. However, we are so, so grateful for the love and care provided by our doctors and nurses at CCHMC. But it was finally real. Owen was our's. We could hold him whenever we wanted, we could decided his medicine schedule, when to give him a bath, what clothes to wear. My personal favorite: I could walk wherever I wanted and not have cords tangled all around me and NO BEEPING MONITORS!! It was so exciting, yet a little scary at the same time!

Our sweet nurse took our picture right before we pulled out of the parking lot. Saying goodbye was more difficult than I thought it would be. We were so blessed to have such wonderful nurses and doctors. Many of which became like family over our 3 month stay.





First picture at home! :)

We settled in very quickly and enjoyed some time together as a family. We are so fortunate to have wonderful family members who volunteered to come help clean, organize and help Mommy and Daddy get the hang of the parenting thing. Our small group blessed us immensely by coming to our house the weekend before our discharge and doing a cleaning makeover and some major grocery shopping!

We were so excited to have our boy home we just wanted to show him off. However, we have been strongly cautioned by our doctors to remain at home as much as possible through the winter months. We did take him to our favorite restaurant just to show him off a little! Although we went at about 4pm so we were one of two families there!:)

For some reason Owen just wasn't as excited about going to El Mariachi as we were!

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving....just staying home. :) My family came up and we ordered the Cracker Barrel Thanksgiving meal and it was great! No cleaning pots and pans, just enjoying each other's company, and most especially our little man. :)

Just hangin out with Dad! :)

Things were pretty stable after Thanksgiving. We were getting into somewhat of a routine, his dialysis was going great and we were LOVING being at home.

Then he got sick. Basically what happened is Owen's calcium level bottomed out. He was put on a new phosphorus supplement (because it was low). Well, apparently calcium and phos go hand-in-hand and when one goes crazy the other goes too, in the opposite direction. So Owen's calcium was way low and his phos was through the roof. We had a quick stay in Cincy and then once his calcium was normal again we were free to go!

Still happy even while in the hospital!

We were released (again) from the hospital on Dec. 21. Just in time to celebrate Christmas at HOME! Michael got the normal 2 week Christmas break. So we were able to fit in some great family time. The precious memories made during this time will forever be embedded on my heart. We made cookies, a cake for Jesus, sang songs and simply enjoyed each other. I don't know that I've ever truly known what it means to just enjoy someone. From Owen's cries to his giggles, they still send goosebumps up my arms. These were sounds we were never guaranteed we would hear. So each tiny little milestone is huge in our eyes. I have never felt so blessed and content in all my life. My perspective have been totally changed. I'm not into the latest styles (I stay home with Owen-he likes my sweatpants!) or the fanciest cars or home decor. I'm content to be with my boy. I'm so blessed that I can be with him everyday. I don't want to miss a moment of his development. There is a closeness and bond between a mother and son that is totally indescribable. His bright eyes captivate me. They are so full of life, and wisdom.

Christmas was a time of thankfulness for Michael and I. We were able to start many new traditions that we will continue each year. It is our hope and prayer that Christmas is not so "commercialized" in our home. We want Owen to of course know the meaning of Christmas and we pray that the Lord blesses us with wisdom in raising Owen in a God fearing, God loving and obedient home. We have been researching ways to incorporate Santa with our Christmas traditions, but have Owen know that the words we tell him about Jesus are true, and Santa is a fun pretend part of Christmas. We love Mark Driscoll's opinion. You can read it here: http://onfaith.washingtonpost.com/onfaith/panelists/mark_driscoll/2010/12/what_we_tell_our_kids_about_santa.html

The BEST Christmas Present ever!

We brought in the new year with some great friends. Owen didn't quite pull an all nighter. But that is SO okay with Mommy and Daddy! :)

Lately we've been doing a lot of relaxing, hugging, kissing and laughing. Owen is such a joy and the happiest, most easy going baby! He loves, loves playing with his toys and talking to Mommy and Daddy. His sweet little laugh brings tears to my eyes each time I hear it. We continue to marvel at the majesty of our God and the great works He is doing in little Owen. We stand firm in our faith knowing that deliverance is coming from Owen. Whether it be via transplant or through the miraculous healing hand of God. Either way, we are praying and giving thanks NOW for the healing we will see. Thank you, friends for your prayers, thoughts and words of encouragement. We hear Owen has quite the fan club! :) Thank you for leaning on our Savior and turning to Him to intercede on Owen's behalf.

I'll leave you with a few last sweet pictures this little miracle. Please continue to pray for Owen. Pray that his dialysis will continue to work and that the Lord is planning out Owen's deliverance from Kidney Failure. That He will bless our doctors with wisdom. And continue to PRAISE our Father for the amazing works He has done, is doing and will do in our sweet boy!

"Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope." Romans 5:3-4