"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."
Hebrews 11:1
Another year down and a new one just begun! Where has the time gone? I will say this much, 2008 ended with a bang for our family!
It was roughly one year ago that we began on a new journey. Gavin was home and our prayers had been answered. 2008 marked the beginning of a new chapter in our life with Gavin. Our life at home.
We have discovered a lot about life with Gavin this past year. First and foremost we have learned that Gavin is a very strongwilled child filled with strength and determination. There is no challenge too big or mountain too high for our Gavin to climb. We have learned to take notice of the little things and also to let go of the little things. Laughter really is the best medicine and Gavin proves to be a great source of comic relief over and over again. Our God is an awesome God. He brought us to this place and he continues to surround us with his love and grace. Without him, we are nothing. Our faith continues to grow and be strengthened each day.
The last few months of 2008 were a challenge for us. It started mid November when Gavin blessed our house with a wonderful case of the stomach flu. Little did we know he had already learned the fine art of sharing and proceeded to share this delightful bug with Brooke, mommy and daddy. Ian remained well. After concluding our rounds of stomach flu, which included 2 rounds for Brooke, we started December with hopes for a great end to the year.
Colin was once again very involved with running sound at the church for the various groups who perform at the holiday season. His perfomance season actually began before Thanksgiving and did not end until after Christmas. Things at his "day" job seemed to ramp up at the same time and it seemed like an eternity that we actually went without seeing each other and spending time as a family. Colin graced our house with a nasty cold/sinus infection the weekend before Thanksgiving. He also has learned the fine art of sharing and proceeded to share with Brooke, Gavin and mommy. Once again, Ian remained well!
In between sound gigs and his day job, our time at home as a family was spent with a box of Kleenex by our side. Christmas day brought a bought of Pink Eye for Gavin compounded by an allergic reaction of some type that continues to this day. Colin had to go out of town for an emergency trip on December 28. Upon his departure, I so wonderfully had come down with Pink Eye and a raging cold/sinus infection. Gavin once again had shared and once again, Ian remained well! On a good note, Brooke remained well too! Colin came home on the 30th and needless to say, we rang in the new year in style.....in bed, with the kleenex still by our side.
So, our new year started with Gavin getting over Pink Eye.....yet having what appears to be a contact allergic reaction to something....which is yet to be determined. Colin is finally over his cold/sinus infection after 2 full months and 3 full rounds of antibiotics. I am on the mend and Brooke and Ian are well! We have opened all of the windows and sprayed lysol on just about everything in this house. I think the bugs are gone for good and we are not opening our doors to welcome them back anytime soon....if ever!
So what's going on with Gavin you may ask? Where to begin....Sometime in November Gavin has his 15 month well child check. At this check up he had shown some growth but nothing too significant. This prompted the doctor to run further testing to make sure there was no underlying cause for the slow growth. The tests revealed that Gavin has Renal Tubular Acidocis. So, with that diagnosis he is now on a sodium bicarbonate 3x daily. He hates this stuff becuase it is like drinking pure salt. We have tried to disguise it in many different things but in the end it is just easier to give it to him straight. The stuff really does taste nasty....spoken from personal experience. This is something that Gavin will outgrow and usually only takes about 6 months of medication to do so. It is very common in infants.
Gavin is still receiving synagis once a month to keep him RSV free for this winter season. At his last shot appointment....last weekend, Gavin weighed in at 14lbs 7oz. He is still a little peanut. Just remember though, he is small and mighty. He remains on the synthroid for growth as well.
Developmentally Gavin continues to amaze us. He is very good at cruising and has become very daring within the past days. He is working to transfer from the table to the couch and only using one hand. Wow! Makes mommy very nervous. He cruises just about anywhere he can stand and hold on to. We have had to lock all the cabinets in the kitchen and tonight upon opening all the drawers in the kitchen, we discovered we may have to lock those as well. He loves to climb into the pantry and paruse the food choices. He is still working to steal daddy's pack of those Kit Kats which seem to be calling his name. It is only a matter of time before his confidence takes him to complete walking.....er......running!
News Flash......Gavin HATES socks. Truly he hates anything on his feet. Tonight we were in Target and I caught him with both socks in his hand dangling them over the side of the cart. He was going to ditch those suckers....but mommy caught him....red handed! Needless to say, the socks made their way to my purse and his tootsies were cold when we went outside to the car.
His language development seems to be exploding these days. He is experimenting with all sorts of sounds and starting to blend them together. Last week was an awesome language week for Gavin. For the first time ever my little boy said "Mama" I tell you, my heart melted. This is our baby, whom we were not even sure would make it home and now he is calling me "mama" I think I will ride that high for quite some time. Today we did hear some rendition of No No come out of his mouth.....boy I cannot wait to have him saying that all the time......
He loves to eat. He will eat just about anything you put in front of him. He really is like our little Mikey! So what is his favorite....Smores Pop Tarts. Chicken. Green Beans. Milk. Crackers. Cheese. The list goes on......and did I tell you he likes to spit food too? This has become Gavin's newest meal time trick. He is eating along all happily and then suddenly he gets this little grin....you know, the one that says watch out cause I am up to something.....next thing you know either you or he is covered in whatever was in his mouth....and then he laughs. Laughs and Laughs some more. Did I tell you that I think parenting him is going to be a challenge?
He is a happy baby. He is always smiling. He is always laughing and he is ALWAYS up to no good! Our God is good. Even though I shake my head many days and wonder how I even go to the bathroom.....which by the way, is a favorite playtime spot for Gavin, I am so thankful that I have the opportunity to be his mom. To watch him learn and grow and explore his world is just amazing. I would not change a thing about him....challenging or not. Each day brings a new surprise with Gavin and each day brings new smiles and laughter for mommy and daddy.
I will say this up front for all of you who have been with us for our entire parenting journey.....Gavin is everything that Ian and Brooke were not. And so, our journey continues. We have new challenges now. We are so thankful for the opportunities that the Lord presents us with and we are prepared for the challenges that lie ahead.
Ian and Brooke continue to do well in school and just enjoy life. Brooke is reading and writing at a 1st grade level and Ian continues to grow his social life this year. At some point, we are hopeful that the academic growth catches up. For now, we are happy to see him making friends and taking risks socially. Soccer and baseball season start in March and they will be back in full swing again. Ian is beginning to think about the upcoming spring Pinewood Derby. Car kits should be coming home in the next few weeks. I am sure daddy and Brooke will make cars this year too. Who knows, maybe mommy will even make one too. They are very excited to have a few days off of school this week.
Colin's job continues to go well although it is very busy. He is traveling quite a bit right now but should slow down some as January comes to a close. He will be in Salt Lake this coming week and then has a marathon trip the last week of the month in which he will be in Montgomery, St. Louis and OK city all in the course of 5 days. I am sure he will be tired but Colin loves a good challenge and he is up for it.
As for me, my job is changing and growing every day. Gavin surely keeps me on my toes. I have been faced with some health challenges and it has forced me to take a healthier approach in 2009. I have committed to lose 25 lbs by the end of March and have feverishly been working towards that goal. Since starting this personal journey, I am pleased to say, I am down 8lbs and feeling better each day. I try to make it to the gym at least 4x during the week and I am following weight watchers online. I simply do not want to have to take meds to get my blood pressure issues under control. With diet and exercise I should be able to manage this on my own. In the end I will feel better and be healthier as a result. I ordered the remaining pieces needed to set up my photo studio here at home. They should be arriving in the coming days and I cannot wait to play.
That's it for our long update. Very much overdo I know. I promise to be better about updating in the future. Thanks again for all of your continued love and support. We truly have the best friends and family ever.
Peace and Love-
Colin, Juanita, Ian, Brooke and Gavin
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