Tonight Mommy and Daddy celebrated Annabel's 4 month birthday. Her special present this month came in the form of a delicious cake given to her by her nurse Kerri.
Happy birthday, baby girl.
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Sweet Message
My mom just told me to read this message that was on another Trisomy 18 blog. I read it and it is so sweet that I want to share it with everyone that checks on Annabel. I know that Jorge and I were blessed with Annabel for a reason. We may not know the actual reason just yet, but I believe we get closer to discovering the reason day by day. She has changed our lives in so many wonderful ways!
THESE MOMS SHARE SPECIAL GIFTS
by Erma Bombeck
Most women become mothers by accident, some by choice, a few by social pressures, and a couple by habit. This year, nearly 100,000 women will become mothers of handicapped children. Did you ever wonder how mothers of handicapped children are chosen?
Somehow I visualize God hovering over Earth selecting his instruments for propagation with great care and deliberation. As he observes, he instructs his angels to make notes in a giant ledger.
"Armstrong, Beth, son, patron saint Matthew. Forrest, Marjorie, daughter, patron saint Cecelia. Rudledge, Carrie, twins, patron saint...give her Gerard. He's used to profanity."
Finally he passes a name to an angel and smiles, "Give her a handicapped child."
The angel is curious, "Why this one, God? She's so happy."
"Exactly," says God. "Could I give a handicapped child a mother who does not know laughter? That would be cruel."
"But has she patience?" asks the angel.
"I don't want her to have too much patience, or she will drown in a sea of self pity and despair. Once the shock and resentment wear off, she'll handle it. She has that feeling of self and independence that is so rare and so necessary in a mother. You see, the child I'm going to give her has his own world. She has to make him live in her world, and that's not going to be easy."
"But, Lord, I don't think that she even believes in you."
God smiles, "No matter. I can fix that. This one is perfect. She has just enough selfishness."
The angel gasps, "Selfishness? Is that a virtue?"
God nods, "If she can't separate herself from the child occasionally, she'll never survive. Yes, here is a woman whom I will bless with a child less than perfect. She doesn't realize it yet, but she is to be envied. She will never take for granted a spoken word. She will never consider a step ordinary. When her child says Momma for the first time, she will be present at a miracle and know it! When she describes a tree or a sunset to her blind child, she will see it as few people ever see my creations."
"I will permit her to see clearly the things I see...ignorance, cruelty, prejudice...and allow her to rise above them. She will never be alone. I will be at her side every minute of every day of her life, because she is doing my work as surely as she is here by my side."
"And what about her patron saint?" asks the angel, pen poised in midair.
God smiles, "A mirror will suffice."
THESE MOMS SHARE SPECIAL GIFTS
by Erma Bombeck
Most women become mothers by accident, some by choice, a few by social pressures, and a couple by habit. This year, nearly 100,000 women will become mothers of handicapped children. Did you ever wonder how mothers of handicapped children are chosen?
Somehow I visualize God hovering over Earth selecting his instruments for propagation with great care and deliberation. As he observes, he instructs his angels to make notes in a giant ledger.
"Armstrong, Beth, son, patron saint Matthew. Forrest, Marjorie, daughter, patron saint Cecelia. Rudledge, Carrie, twins, patron saint...give her Gerard. He's used to profanity."
Finally he passes a name to an angel and smiles, "Give her a handicapped child."
The angel is curious, "Why this one, God? She's so happy."
"Exactly," says God. "Could I give a handicapped child a mother who does not know laughter? That would be cruel."
"But has she patience?" asks the angel.
"I don't want her to have too much patience, or she will drown in a sea of self pity and despair. Once the shock and resentment wear off, she'll handle it. She has that feeling of self and independence that is so rare and so necessary in a mother. You see, the child I'm going to give her has his own world. She has to make him live in her world, and that's not going to be easy."
"But, Lord, I don't think that she even believes in you."
God smiles, "No matter. I can fix that. This one is perfect. She has just enough selfishness."
The angel gasps, "Selfishness? Is that a virtue?"
God nods, "If she can't separate herself from the child occasionally, she'll never survive. Yes, here is a woman whom I will bless with a child less than perfect. She doesn't realize it yet, but she is to be envied. She will never take for granted a spoken word. She will never consider a step ordinary. When her child says Momma for the first time, she will be present at a miracle and know it! When she describes a tree or a sunset to her blind child, she will see it as few people ever see my creations."
"I will permit her to see clearly the things I see...ignorance, cruelty, prejudice...and allow her to rise above them. She will never be alone. I will be at her side every minute of every day of her life, because she is doing my work as surely as she is here by my side."
"And what about her patron saint?" asks the angel, pen poised in midair.
God smiles, "A mirror will suffice."
Good News!
Annabel weighs 6 pounds and 7 ounces! Yay! Dr. Z was very pleased with her weight gain and total growth and development. We don't have to see the doc again until Annabel is six months old. She got her second round of shots today and of course she didn't like that one bit! She cried in the office and a little on the way home. Now she's just resting and taking it easy. Take a look at the big band-aid on her (now) chunky thigh! Way to go, Annabel!
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Little BIG girl!
Annabel holds on to her binky like a big girl now! Sometimes she pushes it out on accident...but sometimes she manages to put it back in, too!
We have some exciting events coming up: tomorrow we see the pediatrician and on Sunday we celebrate Annabel's four month birthday! We will update the blog after the appointment tomorrow, so check back in tomorrow afternoon to find out how much the little stinker weighs now!
We have some exciting events coming up: tomorrow we see the pediatrician and on Sunday we celebrate Annabel's four month birthday! We will update the blog after the appointment tomorrow, so check back in tomorrow afternoon to find out how much the little stinker weighs now!
Monday, August 17, 2009
Beautiful Baby Girl!
Nurse Kerri comes by to change Annabel's feeding tube every Monday. The few minutes between the old tube and the new tube insertion are so precious..I just love looking at her sweet face without that tube and sticky tape everywhere!
Isn't she lovely? She's just too beautiful, I can't stand it. Do I sound like a proud momma or what?
Isn't she lovely? She's just too beautiful, I can't stand it. Do I sound like a proud momma or what?
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Annabel with her uncles and cousins
Clockwise: cousin Gabriel, cousin Junior, Uncle Armando, Daddy, Mommy, Tio Luis, cousin Xavier, cousin Marissa, sweet AnnabelMonday, August 10, 2009
Friday, August 7, 2009
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Smile and the whole world smiles with you
It's been 3 months and 1 week since Annabel arrived and everyday we are amazed with her strength and her abilities.
Her tightly clenched fists are starting to relax more and she's discovered that she enjoys gripping objects and clawing mommy and daddy.
She rolls onto her side with ease and recognizes and grabs her binky.
She lifts up her head in attempt to look at us when she's lying on our chests.
And the most wonderful thing that I witness her doing more and more everyday is smiling. She has the most beautiful smile I have ever seen.
All Carrie and I have wanted to do is provide her with love and comfort and we're doing that. Now we know that we are capable of providing her joy, as well, and that is very rewarding.
The doctors are taking notice that Annabel is not a quitter. Yesterday she visited her cardiologist, and since there is no evidence of any improvement of her VSD, they are now discussing surgery with us. The thought of open heart surgery is frightening, but if the surgeon and cardiologist agree that correcting her VSD will improve her quality of life and reduce future risks of pulmonary vascular disease, then we have to consider that option.
Next appointment is in 6 weeks....until then we continue to take things one day at a time.
Keep smiling, Annabel.
JV
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