2 Years Old

Happy 2nd Birthday to our little Buddy!  He's finally discovered how great it is to eat.  Not just put food in his mouth and spit it back out, but actually chew and swallow!  Over the last few weeks, he's made so much progress. I'm working on keeping his meals balanced, which he actually eats better than a few of my kiddos.  Due to his dairy allergy, it gets a bit tricky, considering it is in so many foods that we eat.  (and of course, he wants whatever the others are eating).  So I do a lot of cooking with coconut milk and alternative, non dairy butters (sounds yummy, huh!?) and freeze the leftovers to give to him at later meals to make for easy prep.  He likes pancakes, coconut milk yogurt, salsa (eats straight salsa out of a bowl!), spaghetti sauce, chicken, salmon, sandwiches with almond butter or peanut butter, hummus, fruit pouches, fruit- apple slices, mandarin oranges, bananas, and so much more!   I honestly am still scared to "announce" that he is eating in fear that he's going to stop.  As of this past week, Cardiology cut out one of his four bolus feeds a day.  This is a huge step. Seriously, an incredible birthday gift!  I've found my stress level is drastically increased, though, since this happened.  It's such a different feeling that he HAS to eat.  I have to prove that he will gain weight (and sufficient weight).  He had a couple of days last week that he didn't do as great, and I secretively got so nervous.  He does best when I sit and give him little bites on the right side of his mouth (one bite at a time).  He wants to be like any other two year old and have a plate full or stuff his mouth with one bite quickly after another, but that is never effective and he can't handle chewing and swallowing properly and it all comes out.  Prayers for continued decreases in his boluses which is the plan as long as he continues this path!!
He loves using his walker to get around.  He wants to be outside all the time.  As soon as we get outside and in his walker, he beelines it to the path to his best buddy's house, even taking his walker off road a bit with no trouble at all! His other favorite spot is standing right in the middle of the big kids as they play ball.  His core is getting stronger by the day and I just know he will be walking on his own soon.  He's about taking a step on his own.
We started trying to teach him to hold up two fingers when asked how old are you.  He is getting closer.  It looks more like the VU symbol so the boys like that!
He uses sign language for a few words, but is learning the words as well.  He signs: more, please, go, eat.  He says elmo, mama, dada, pippaw, more, please, bo bo, bu bu, ball, dog, and is starting to make a few animal noises.  They are all modified but we love his little voice!
My favorite update is so special to me. The kids always talk about how Jesus is in their hearts and I just have always felt a peace in knowing that although Caleb has a half a heart, this boy has Jesus fulfilling his whole heart.  A couple of nights ago, as we were praying before bedtime, Bo looked over at Caleb and gleefully shouted, "look, Caleb's folding his hands to Jesus".  Although this may not seem huge for a typical two year old, Caleb is developmentally almost a one year old.  Without anyone asking him to imitate, he saw the boys and did it on his own and almost made an Amen sound.  All I can say is that I know his little relationship with Christ is so much more than we can even imagine!!  He continues to bless our lives so much each and every day.
It's impossible to not think often that two years ago from Thursday, we handed over our baby for his first open heart surgery.  The boys were playing with my phone in the car yesterday and changing the ringtones over & over.  They kept pushing one in particular and the second I heard it, brought chills down my spine, and honestly nausea.  It was the alarm I used to wake me throughout the night at the hospital.  Sounds such as this, certain smells, thoughts of friends' children in the hospital, bring all the reality rushing back.
Psalms 119:105 "Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path".  Just as a lamp helps us see what is right underfoot, we must trust God will take us through the next steps along our path.
We have a lot of doc appointments coming up soon.  I don't suspect anything radical, but would be great to just stay at the pace he's on and let his body grow, develop, & hit more milestones before next surgery.

Caleb's Favorite Things at Two Years Old:
Reading Books, especially his Elmo Look n Find
Sesame Street- Elmo
Mickey Mouse
Bathtime
Outside
Balls, Swinging
Watching his brother's play baseball
Going in his sister's room to say night night to a Mickey Mouse figurine
His therapists
Sliding at Therapy
Eating  (yippee!)
Blankie
playing in mommy's kitchen cabinets

How Old are you?

A chilly Sunrise Easter 2015

We were so proud of Jake, who celebrated his First Communion.  He is a great Christian example for his siblings.