Success

Blake is done. No problems. Everything went very smoothly and without any surprises. Thanks for all of your prayers.

A Day of Firsts

One day before Blake's eight-month birthday, he had two major firsts.

#1 First Tooth (bottom left)

#2 Sitting Independently (sat up on his own for over 10 minutes on three separate occasions)

What a big day!

Now for tomorrow - boy surgery! I know it's no big deal and thousands of them happen every day, but because of Blake's "advanced" age he will have to be put under general anesthesia, and that makes me nervous.  Please keep him in your thoughts and prayers Monday.

The Joy of Christmas

Our Christmas was crazy, fun, and wonderful.  We had one celebration with eight people and 4 dogs in one house, and another with 11 people and 2 dogs - crazy I tell you.

The photos do better to describe than any words can...

Rock Superstar!

Blake went to the cardiologist today (12/22) to get his 3rd of 5 RSV shots (at $4000 a piece, it sure makes you thankful for insurance), and as always he was a rockstar. They were all so impressed with how great he looks and how big he is. And I had them check his oxygen saturations and they were an amazing 90%!  He always continues to outperform expectations. We are truly blessed this Christmas!

He Sits!

A new time record today - 30 whole seconds!

Silly Kids - Silly Pictures

Um, It's Snowing!

Seriously?

I feel like I'm living in some alternate universe.  It was 80 degrees at lunch today, and now it's snowing.  Way beyond my  realm of comprehension.

In the Christmas Spirit

This weekend, we attempted to get our house ready for Christmas.  Mason was suppossed to help me decorate the tree, but she was much more interested in playing with the lights, breaking the ornaments (3 is the current broken-to-date count), and dancing to the Christmas music.  So it mostly turned in to Mason helping me unpack the ornaments while I put them on the tree, and Blake and Bryan watched football.  Anyway, our stockings are hung and the tree is up, so we're all in the spirit of the season now.  

Heightened Awareness

Blake got his first cold, just in time for the Thanksgiving holiday.  A runny nose, and a nasty cough had us all worried.  I was terrified he had gotten RSV (despite having two $3000 RSV vaccination shots so far this year), so we took him to the urgent care associated with his pediatrician, and the on call doctor got really nervous about Blake's condition.  Because she was unfamiliar with his particular heart defect, she wanted us to check in to Dell Children's Hospital (DCH) for tests and observation although his RSV test had come back negative.  We had to reason with her that the worst place to try and rest and recover is at a hospital and promise that if we saw him going downhill we would go to DCH ER immediately.  After bringing him home and treating him with typical cold treatment (humidifier, rest, fluids, saline nasal spray), he started improving.  He's doing great now, and just has a little cough that he's getting over.  

It's funny how blithely I will write off Mason's cold, but the minute Blake got a cold it was a national crisis.  It makes you remember to step back and get some perspective.

Tomorrow will be an interesting day.  Because of the emergent situation with Blake's heart when he was born, they were unable to circumcise him.  In fact, we had to wait until at least 6 weeks after his second surgery until we could ever consider it.  So, we go to meet with a general pediatric surgeon tomorrow to talk about Blake's little procedure.  It breaks my heart to think about it, so I think Bryan's going to have to drive the conversation.

Thanksgiving (UT vs. A&M) Game

Tiffany & Mitzie

Bill & Bryan

Bryan & Tiffany

Cupcake!

A treat for a great potty training week!

Big Week

No more diapers!

Happy boy at the doctor

It's been a big week for the little Galligans (that's the kids, not Bryan and I).  Mason is officially not a baby anymore - she has gone a whole week (well two weekends, and three week days at school) without any potty accidents.  She's really learning quickly.  

Blake had a cardiologist appointment today, and he is doing fantastic.  His oxygen saturations were around 84 (normal for kids with his repair should be between 75-85), and he is growing like a weed - 17 1/2 lbs. and 25 1/2 inches (that's almost 2.5 lbs. and 1/4 inch in a month).  His right ventricle function has improved since his surgery.  When we were released from Texas Children's they classified his right function as "moderately depressed."  The right function is now classified as "mildly depressed."  Dr. Shapiro reassures us that this is nothing to stress about because the right ventricle function is very hard to measure (especially when there is no left ventricle function to compare it to); he says the fact that he is gaining weight and developing so well, he is obviously getting enough blood to the places he needs it.  He says it is nothing to stress about, and very well may be Blake's normal function.  In fact, the doctor thinks he is doing so well he graduated Blake from coming once a month to coming once every three months.  It's a huge step.  I think I'm ready for it (cardiologist appointments are really long and stressful), but I will miss the constant reassurance that everything is going well.

All in all, things couldn't be going better.  Both of the kids are really fun and have really distinct personalities.  Mason has really started interacting and playing with Blake; I think she likes the immediate gratification of his smiles and giggles.  And Blake is really interacting with us; he giggles all the time, and he is starting to sit up (if even for a couple of seconds before toppling over), and loves nothing more than to stand up and bounce.  This Thanksgiving we feel extremely blessed for our beautiful, happy, and healthy family.

This Foot is Delicious!

Fun in the Stroller

Such a Cheese Ball

Halloween!

Growing So Fast

much more interested in baby pumpkins

seriously thinking Mom is crazy

I thought the younger one would want to mimic the older one, not vice versa

look how good he's doing on is belly

fun in the park

helping (not really) Dad carve the pumpkin

I know it is so cliche, but seriously these kids grow up too fast. It's hard for me to believe Blake is 6 months old, and Mason is a full-fledged toddler! We've had a busy couple of weeks. Blake started taking solid food regularly, and so far he's mastered cereal, sweet potatoes, squash, and apple sauce. He really seems to be enjoying it (but, he is a Galligan, what did I expect?). He's starting to be so social, and he has really come a long way in his upper body strength since we've been able to start tummy time again.

Mason has taken on the beloved habit of asking, "Why?" I honestly thought I would be one of those parents that answered the question tirelessly in hopes of educating her growing mind, but I have to admit on the 6th one, I usually break down and say, "Because that's just the way it is." Maybe in another life I will have all the patience I strive for. She is is also making huge strides in potty training (all you non-parents, this is the part to skip), over the weekend she went a whole day with only one accident, and she seems to really embrace that big girls use the potty since Blake (who is "too little" according to Mason) uses diapers.

Mason continues to be a social butterfly, melting the hearts of everyone she meets. Stacey Shagory is one of her new friends, she asked for 'Taci" to read her books and put her to bed. Everyday she asks if she can call Dave (her godfather) and she like to draw pictures of Dave and "Aunt Caros". She's getting a lot of quality grandparent time as well, last weekend she spent with her Mimi and Paw Paw, and this weekend her Nonni is coming to visit. Spoiling has been in tow with each visit.

Halloween is this week. Blake is going as Curious George, and Mason is going as "the man in the yellow hat," Curious George's friend. I promise to post pictures of the big day.

He rolls!

Last night Blake rolled from his tummy to his back and is so close to turning from back to front. And, he continues to be a giggling goof ball.

Great News & A First

Having lunch with my Poppi

Waiting to see Dr. Shapiro - I was so good

BFFs at their first musical

Today was a great visit with Blake's cardiologist.  He was so impressed with how well Blake looks and even more with how he is developing.  Here's the lowdown...his oxygen saturations were ranging between 85-92 (wow!), he is 14 lbs. 12 oz., and 25 1/4 inches long.  He is starting to sit up really well (tripod pose & assisted), and he rolls over to one side and moves himself around in a circle.  He is also trying to hold his own bottle.  Now that he's 5 weeks out from his surgery, we can start pushing him to spend more time on his belly, which is his next big hurdle, in order to build upper body strength.

This weekend was Mason's first musical.  Natalie and I took Georgia and Mason to go see Seussical the Musical at the historic Paramount theatre.  The girls were entranced, and were so good.  They sat still for an hour (of a 75 minute performance).  So much fun to have a girls only event!

Finally, New Photos