Did You Know...? Zachary

Did you know that Zachary is one month post-Fontan (surgery) today? Did you know that he is becoming the little daredevil, and that he has a spicy attitude and quite the toddler temper? Did you know that just in the past couple of weeks, he started calling me "Mama," and he does it all the time, in the sweetest little voice, and knows just what buttons to push to melt my heart? Did you know he gives real kisses now, puckering up and smacking his lips like a little casanova! Did you know I can't let him run around in just a diaper, because he will take it off! Did you know he will point out the window as we're driving: "Tat-O, tat-O!" (tractor), and squeal "Deee!" (Deere) if those tractors happen to be green? Did you know he loves to go toilet diving, and loves even more to unspool all the toilet paper off its roll? Did you know that Zachary will crawl and climb up anything, and that several times a day I have to remove him from sitting or standing on our kitchen table? Did you know... do you have any idea how blessed we are to have him with us today?

And did you know... that an old friend of mine has traveled from Wichita to the U of M in Ann Arbor to await the birth and surgery of her firstborn? My old roommate's best friend recently learned that her baby has HLHS and will need a series of surgeries similar to Zachary's. When I spoke with her last week, the feelings and anxiety in her voice seemed awfully familiar. I remember how scared and confused Steve and I felt two years ago when we learned of Zachary's heart condition. Now that his planned surgeries are behind him, we can take that deep sigh of relief and move on with a more "normal" family life. But yet we move forward with a new perspective, and I still hold my breath when I hear of families just starting down this road.

Please keep Baby S., his mom, and dad in your prayers during the coming weeks.

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