Sonja had her first taste of rice cereal yesterday. Most of it ended up on her NY Mets bib, but she sure was excited about it. She kept pulling my hands toward her and gnawing on the spoon! Having her so interested in food keeps us hopeful that someday soon she will be off the feeding tube.
Boy is she constipated though...not that she ate enough rice to make a difference. The poor thing turns purple trying to push! I know, I know. That's about the last thing you want to read about Sonja, but hey, we don't ever talk much about anything other than eating and pooping in a house with a baby, a toddler, and a huge dog!!!
I'll post the pictures and video of Sonja eating as soon as I can.
Oh, and Anya's saying "dammit" now. It's very difficult not to react to a soon-to-be 3 year-old whispering "dammit" under her breath as she's trying to open the difficult lid to her Play-Doh. I almost pee'd in my pants trying to hold in my laughter. When she looked up and found me crying, she asked "What's wrong, Mommy?" This is what makes parenting so enjoyable!
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Thursday, March 5, 2009
And We Ride!!!
We have set up a team for the Courage Classic 2009 bike ride!!! This 3-day ride at the end of July is a major fundraiser for The Children's Hospital in Denver, CO...the place we lived for the first month of Sonja's life. We've just assembled the team online so we're busy writing Sonja's story, posting pictures, and getting everyone individually set up. Check out http://www.couragetours.com/, click on "Ride", click on "Find a team" and type in "Copper Mountain" (our temporary team name until we pick a new one). You'll see our team fundraising goal of $10,000, be able to see each rider's individual pages, and track our progress. Our friends have been fabulous...they've really helped convince us to do this and they've agreed to support us by either riding on the team of donating individually. I think we've got five riders already signed up!!! It's thrilling to see so much continued support from everyone, and I think that this ride will be very moving. It brings thousands of riders to the rocky mountain trails, roads, and highways...many of whom have been past patients, patients' families and friends, and just plain supporters of this amazing hospital. Please, if you can, please help us reach our fundraising goals. You all know why we're doing this. You all know how incredible a place The Children's Hospital was and is for us. We are able to celebrate each day with Sonja because of the wonderful people that work there. Help us give back what we can. Stay tuned... Story about former patients and riders who raise money and bike 157 miles for The Children's Hospital. | |
| © 2009 YouTube, LLC | |
And we RIDE!!!
We have set up a team for the Courage Classic 2009 bike ride!!! This 3-day ride at the end of July is a major fundraiser for The Children's Hospital in Denver, CO...the place we lived for the first month of Sonja's life. We've just assembled the team online so we're busy writing Sonja's story, posting pictures, and getting everyone individually set up. Check out http://www.couragetours.com/sonjasmom - that's my rider page. You can also click on Copper Mountain - Sonja's Soldiers to view our team fundraising efforts and all the team members (15 so far!). Our team goal is $10,000 and we're already above $3,000!
It's thrilling to see so much continued support from everyone, and I think that this ride will be very moving. It brings thousands of riders to the rocky mountain trails, roads, and highways...many of whom have been past patients, patients' families and friends, and just plain supporters of this amazing hospital.
Please, if you can, please help us reach our fundraising goals. You all know why we're doing this. You all know how incredible a place The Children's Hospital was and is for us. We are able to celebrate each day with Sonja because of the wonderful people that work there. Help us give back what we can.
Stay tuned...
It's thrilling to see so much continued support from everyone, and I think that this ride will be very moving. It brings thousands of riders to the rocky mountain trails, roads, and highways...many of whom have been past patients, patients' families and friends, and just plain supporters of this amazing hospital.
Please, if you can, please help us reach our fundraising goals. You all know why we're doing this. You all know how incredible a place The Children's Hospital was and is for us. We are able to celebrate each day with Sonja because of the wonderful people that work there. Help us give back what we can.
Stay tuned...
Saturday, February 28, 2009
It's March? Already?
Tomorrow is March 1. St. Patrick's Day, March Madness, warmer winter days, daylight savings. I can't believe we've already gone through January and February. Gosh, how time is flying.
Things are a little crazy in our household right now. I'm trying to start getting back to work, which has been quite a challenge as we had to let our first nanny go...just didn't work out. It's taken a while for us to find a new one, but I think we're almost there. I plan on going back to work about 3 days/week for now. I'll start with that and see how I/we all do. Right now I have no idea how we're going to work it all out, but we always seem to find a way.
Sonja is doing really well. She had an aorta-plasty back in January. The docs found a narrowing in her heart again that they decided to do the catheter procedure. So far, so good. It seems to have worked, at least in the short term. We were just at the cardiologists last week and they are really pleased with her progress. No more cardiac visits for 3 months! She's gained a ton of weight...10 lbs 8 oz! She's on the growth charts! She's starting to get those Michelin Man rolls on her arms and legs. Chipmunk cheeks. And no, she hasn't lost that hair!
Developmentally, she's about a month behind, but the therapists all say that's probably due to the fact she spent her 1st month in a hospital bed. So really, she's right on track. She's progressing the way she should be. She's doing great on her belly. She's starting to pull her knees to her chest. She puts everything she can get her hands on into her mouth. And her smile melts everyones' hearts!
And as for Anya, well what can I say. She's the light of my life. I can't believe sometimes that she's only going to be 3. She acts so much older. She has us in stitches every day. Her new loves are playing dress-up and "cooking" us breakfast and coffee. She says "I love you as high as my hands can reach!" And oh...SHE SKIS!!! Our little ski bunny. She absolutely loves it. She's Daddy's pride & joy. Her birthday is coming up on April 18th so I think we'll plan a pool party at the rec center.
Brian is doing great. He's still loving his job. It's very challenging, but in a really good, productive way. Somehow he's finding a way to get out on the mountain a couple times/week. He's also been doing a lot of skate skiing to stay in shape (I've been chasing after kids to keep my figure!)
I was able to see my folks for a couple weeks down in Tucson. It was my maiden voyage flying with Sonja and went without a hitch. It was my first big item on my "try to be normal to-do list". A few extra challenges, but it felt good to be able to do it. Sonja and I got outside for some exercise almost every day. And having dinner cooked for me every night was heaven!!!
I only have a little time today, so just wanted to post everyone on some of the particulars. I'll try to be in touch soon! Take care,
Amy
Things are a little crazy in our household right now. I'm trying to start getting back to work, which has been quite a challenge as we had to let our first nanny go...just didn't work out. It's taken a while for us to find a new one, but I think we're almost there. I plan on going back to work about 3 days/week for now. I'll start with that and see how I/we all do. Right now I have no idea how we're going to work it all out, but we always seem to find a way.
Sonja is doing really well. She had an aorta-plasty back in January. The docs found a narrowing in her heart again that they decided to do the catheter procedure. So far, so good. It seems to have worked, at least in the short term. We were just at the cardiologists last week and they are really pleased with her progress. No more cardiac visits for 3 months! She's gained a ton of weight...10 lbs 8 oz! She's on the growth charts! She's starting to get those Michelin Man rolls on her arms and legs. Chipmunk cheeks. And no, she hasn't lost that hair!
Developmentally, she's about a month behind, but the therapists all say that's probably due to the fact she spent her 1st month in a hospital bed. So really, she's right on track. She's progressing the way she should be. She's doing great on her belly. She's starting to pull her knees to her chest. She puts everything she can get her hands on into her mouth. And her smile melts everyones' hearts!
And as for Anya, well what can I say. She's the light of my life. I can't believe sometimes that she's only going to be 3. She acts so much older. She has us in stitches every day. Her new loves are playing dress-up and "cooking" us breakfast and coffee. She says "I love you as high as my hands can reach!" And oh...SHE SKIS!!! Our little ski bunny. She absolutely loves it. She's Daddy's pride & joy. Her birthday is coming up on April 18th so I think we'll plan a pool party at the rec center.
Brian is doing great. He's still loving his job. It's very challenging, but in a really good, productive way. Somehow he's finding a way to get out on the mountain a couple times/week. He's also been doing a lot of skate skiing to stay in shape (I've been chasing after kids to keep my figure!)
I was able to see my folks for a couple weeks down in Tucson. It was my maiden voyage flying with Sonja and went without a hitch. It was my first big item on my "try to be normal to-do list". A few extra challenges, but it felt good to be able to do it. Sonja and I got outside for some exercise almost every day. And having dinner cooked for me every night was heaven!!!
I only have a little time today, so just wanted to post everyone on some of the particulars. I'll try to be in touch soon! Take care,
Amy
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Happy New Year, Everyone
Happy 2009, all. 2008 certainly was a year, wasn't it? In the Waldes' lives: I got pregnant (on our own!) and turned 30; Brian got a great new job with the Town of Breckenridge; I was promoted to Director of Finance at TKC; Anya celebrated her 2nd birthday; Brian and I celebrated our 5th wedding anniversary; we had a GREAT trip with the Mikulas' to Sayulita, Mexico; and we were blessed with the birth of our 2nd daugher, Sonja.
What an exciting election year as well! Go, Obama!!! This was the first election that we can remember really being grossly invested in. I watched more political "talk-shows" than I ever thought I was capable of. I am so filled with hope and anticipation for this president. He certainly has a big walk to walk, and I hope he can do it. At the very least I can say that my daughters' futures are a bit safer and protected with this incoming administration. Maybe not monetarily (but maybe so), but I got really worried when crazy Palin thought she was going to jump into office and think she was going to help overturn Roe v. Wade. Ugh. CRAZY!
What else...well, of course 2008 is also a year we'd like to put behind us, with everything we've gone through these past 2 months. I never in a million years thought that we'd be "those people" with the sick or disabled kid. Well, now we are, and we're adjusting. It's hard. It's not fun. I wish so badly some days that we could have just had a "normal" baby, but this is our new normal. I keep telling myself that this is the only thing we'll know in the future, therefore it is our normal. It's hard to get past the unknown, though. I'd say that's the hardest part of all of this, is that there's still so much out there in Sonja's future (and ours) that we don't know. But then again, I'm a control freak who likes to have everything laid out in front of me so I can plan. That's just not in the cards for me this time. We'll roll with the punches...all of them; and we'll keep going through our "normal".
2008 was a year in which we truly realized how blessed we are. We have the most amazing family and friends. I don't know what we'd do without them. Our parents and sisters, our friends in Summit County and across the country and world. They are all amazing people. We are surrounded by their love, without which we would never have survived the heartache we endured this year. Thank you, and we love you all back.
Here's what we're looking forward to in 2009: more birthdays (Anya's 3rd, Sonja's 1st), anniversaries, fewer doctors appointments, maybe a vacation or two, Easter, 4th of July, Thanksgiving and Christmas (with palm trees?!). Skiing with Brian and Anya, the smell of spring, warm summer days and the changing aspen leaves in fall. The Dillon farmer's market. Our annual bike trip to Crested Butte. Margaritas at the tiki bar ('cause I can indulge again!!!) and a hot toddy at the ski lodge. Building snow-people families. Seeing family. Going to somo lake. So much to look forward to!
So here's to a happy (ier), healthier, prosperous 2009, everyone.
What an exciting election year as well! Go, Obama!!! This was the first election that we can remember really being grossly invested in. I watched more political "talk-shows" than I ever thought I was capable of. I am so filled with hope and anticipation for this president. He certainly has a big walk to walk, and I hope he can do it. At the very least I can say that my daughters' futures are a bit safer and protected with this incoming administration. Maybe not monetarily (but maybe so), but I got really worried when crazy Palin thought she was going to jump into office and think she was going to help overturn Roe v. Wade. Ugh. CRAZY!
What else...well, of course 2008 is also a year we'd like to put behind us, with everything we've gone through these past 2 months. I never in a million years thought that we'd be "those people" with the sick or disabled kid. Well, now we are, and we're adjusting. It's hard. It's not fun. I wish so badly some days that we could have just had a "normal" baby, but this is our new normal. I keep telling myself that this is the only thing we'll know in the future, therefore it is our normal. It's hard to get past the unknown, though. I'd say that's the hardest part of all of this, is that there's still so much out there in Sonja's future (and ours) that we don't know. But then again, I'm a control freak who likes to have everything laid out in front of me so I can plan. That's just not in the cards for me this time. We'll roll with the punches...all of them; and we'll keep going through our "normal".
2008 was a year in which we truly realized how blessed we are. We have the most amazing family and friends. I don't know what we'd do without them. Our parents and sisters, our friends in Summit County and across the country and world. They are all amazing people. We are surrounded by their love, without which we would never have survived the heartache we endured this year. Thank you, and we love you all back.
Here's what we're looking forward to in 2009: more birthdays (Anya's 3rd, Sonja's 1st), anniversaries, fewer doctors appointments, maybe a vacation or two, Easter, 4th of July, Thanksgiving and Christmas (with palm trees?!). Skiing with Brian and Anya, the smell of spring, warm summer days and the changing aspen leaves in fall. The Dillon farmer's market. Our annual bike trip to Crested Butte. Margaritas at the tiki bar ('cause I can indulge again!!!) and a hot toddy at the ski lodge. Building snow-people families. Seeing family. Going to somo lake. So much to look forward to!
So here's to a happy (ier), healthier, prosperous 2009, everyone.
Friday, December 26, 2008
Christmas 2008
I've been staring at a blank screen for some time now, not knowing where to begin. Most of you know what we've been through the past (almost) 2 months. But to recap, Sonja was born on 11/9, diagnosis of DiGeorge Syndrome with multiple heart defects, open heart surgery on 11/18, and finally home on 12/9 - her 1-month b-day. What a ride it's been.
But most importantly, we were all home on Christmas day. It was perfect. Brian and I made the decision to spoil Anya absolutely rotten. She deserves it with what she's been through. What a day it was for her. We tracked Santa online through Norad's website - gotta love the 21st century. Left cookies and milk for Santa, and carrots for Rudolph. All were consumed by the morning, of course. Anya woke up at 6 a.m. - just after I had finished the 4:30 a.m. Sonja feeding. I was devastated...until she came into our room and just wanted to snuggle together. Miraculously, we all fell back asleep until about 9 when we turned on NPR's airing of David Sedaris' Santaland Diaries. If you've never heard it, PLEASE find it online somewhere. It's been our Xmas tradition to listen to it every year for the past 5 or so years, and it never becomes less funny.
We grabbed the video camera then and caught Anya's reaction to the presents left by Santa under the tree. Again, perfection. We started with the stockings, followed by some small gifts, followed by the grande finale - THE gift from Santa Claus. The only thing Anya asked for from Santa - a Fire Engine. However, Santa not only came through with the engine, but the entire fireHOUSE, complete with fire people, a garage, bunk beds, hoses, a pole for sliding down, a trampoline, shooting water. Oh, what joy to see her playing all day long with it. And almost 2 days later, it hasn't lost its novelty. I'm sure by next Christmas, this firehouse will be a long lost memory, but for now it's such a pleasure seeing my daughter engage in such creative imaginary play. She is amazing.
So the gifts of the year:
Anya - the firehouse
Sonja - the Baby Einstein play gym
Brian - might be the Zombie Survival Guide from Ram & Jean
Amy - my beloved Frye Veronica Slouch boots - I'm sleeping with them at night and wearing them even in my pj's. Beautiful creations.
A belated Merry Christmas to all of you, my friends and family. I'm sorry we've been quite out of touch lately, but now more than ever I can actually say without much guilt that we have a good excuse!
With love,
Amy, Brian, Anya, Sonja, and Maddie
Thursday, October 30, 2008
My Little Punkin'
It's just too fun. It's like reliving my youth through my daughter. I haven't carved a pumpkin in years! I can't remember the last time I went trick-or-treating! I can still remember the words to "Five Little Pumpkins" and am now reading it nightly to Anya. It's so much fun. As adults, we forget how important it is and how good it feels to tune in to our young selves. It was a time full of smiles, laughter, and wonder. Wouldn't it be great to go back there? (I'm hoping for lots of Twix & 3Musketeers tomorrow night!)
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