Family of 3

Dee Howell had 2 more pictures we still hadn't seen that she sent this week.... we love them. This week Hank has been a little fussy again going to drop off another diaper today for the doctor to test, hopefully we will get this under wraps soon, it breaks my heart to see him so uncomfortable. When he feels good he is the best baby in the world, he sleeps AWESOME (he would sleep through the night if we let him... we accidentally let him sleep a little longer than the doctor wanted us to a few times... oops but it felt so good at the same time I have to admit). He will lay in his bed for an hour while I get ready for the day and just kick his little legs and talk looking at his mobile (I watch him from the video monitor of course). He also loves his activity mat and his swing. He is just learning to like the bouncer, and he enjoys laying in his boppy and watching t.v.

Derric of course loves this one of his future aggie!

Mr. Adorable

Took these last week, and haven't gotten a chance to post. This was his fussiest day yet, he was having bad gas pains, his poor tummy was hurting so bad. By the end of the day I forced the nurse to give him something.. the Mylicon and Gripe Water was not doing the trick. They had me bring a food journal in of my diet a few days later along with a dirty diaper so they could test it. He ended up having a bloody stool, not to the naked eye, but that basically meant it was something I was eating.... The top 3 things the doctor said causes this is Wheat, Dairy, and Citrus (like tomato). So I eliminating all 3 and he is literally a different baby. It is a very hard adjustment but totally worth it.

Hank is constantly rubbing that sweet head with one hand and the ear with his other.
It is so sweet.

He loves to be on his changing table not so much for the diaper change but he loves to look at the lights in his room, something about the distance from this angle.

I couldn't help but post this... poor baby, I was still trying to take his picture. He is saying
"Mom, enough already I am gonna scream my head off if you don't stop taking my picture.. now swaddle me and hold me tight, I need a nap."

Sweet Baby Jacob

My sweet friend Nikki and her Husband Peter brought a beautiful baby boy into the world this week. Nikki was 33 weeks when her water broke, but the baby was already over 4 lbs, Praise God. She delivered Baby Jacob on January 21, around 4:00 he weighed 4 lbs, and 4 oz. and was breathing on his own. Please pray for strength for them during this time as Baby Jacob is in the NICU. I know first hand how hard it is not to leave the hospital with my baby. Nikki and Peter are doing great and are loving on that sweet boy every chance they can. Pray for Baby Jacob to grow big and strong and for him to get to be in his parents arms at home very soon.

Love you guys!

Nikki and her precious little bump!

Proud Daddy

Nikki and Baby Jacob in the NICU

(best nurses ever)

Sweet Baby Jacob

I made this for Baby Jacob's door at the hospital.

The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy!

Psalm 126:3

More Dee Howell Photography

My sweet friend Dee came and took more pictures of Hank since he was released. She also did our Christmas picture of Hank in the NICU. She did awesome, we are so happy with them. Check out her website here.

Hank's Photo Shoot

So since our sweet friend Dee Howell couldn't do too much with Hank in the NICU, we had her come back out to the house to get some more pictures of Hank. Here are the 3 she has sent me so far. Her back has been hurting very badly so please pray for her she finds out this week if she will need surgery or not! Poor Dee!

We had Derric, Me, Dee, and Noni helping with the photo shoot. Hank really was a good sport while we changed him all around!




Vote your favorite in the comments.... More to come soon.

These are a few of Hank's Favorite Things.....

Of course Hank's very favorite thing right now is his mommy (maybe because he relates me to a Big Mac), but who's counting those details....



Hank loves Bath Time, at first when you lay him in the bath you think he's gonna cry because it takes his breath away but then you lay that fish on him that is so warm and he is in heaven!




Hank loves to swing, he looks at the little elephant mobile and just checks out our Christmas lights, yes I said Christmas tree...so what I kept them up because he loves them, at this rate I might just make it a Valentine Tree with lots of hearts I can see it now take out the green throw in a little pink, I could work it, haha!


Hank is really liking his activity mat. He is learning to kick and hit the little animals and he even holds on to the little guys.


Oh yes, his paci... I think this might be my favorite too because sometimes it makes him stop crying! Helps me keep my sanity we should rename it "the make your baby stop crying thing"



Tummy time is something we are working on, the doctors told us it was very important to make an effort to introduce tummy time because most babies are on their back most of the time due to SIDS, research is now showing that babies are crawling later in life because they aren't on their tummies as much as they used to be.

Happy 1 Month Birthday Hank

Happy Birthday to Hank, Happy Birthday to Hank,
Happy Birthday Sweeeeet Hank, Happy Birthday to Hank!

On the 8th was Hank's one month birthday! I got crafty with this little cake. I bought a 6" cake pan and mixed in a little food coloring and went to town stacking this baby! It was fun. I decorated it myself to, (guess I was a little sleep deprived when I did the icing) haha!

I can't wait to celebrate his next birthday yes that's right, his two month birthday, I even bought a birthdya bip today at Carter's Outlet for it! Levi our mini schnauzer had a birthday December 15th when we were in the hospital but we were so overwhelmed 2 days before Hank's surgery we plum forgot. Pico our boxer had a birthday on January 7th and I planned on making them some homemade dogbones but... after Hank's cake I was just too tired. Here's the recipe for the best dog biscuits ever. I still have all the stuff to make them I will try tomorrow!

The Best Doggone Dog Treats Ever

3/4 c. hot water
1/3 c. butter
1/2 c. powdered milk
3 c. whole wheat flour
1/2 tsp. salt
2 tsp. sugar
1 egg, beaten
Cinnamon as desired.

Pour hot water over butter. Stir in powdered milk, salt, sugar and egg. Add flour, 1/2 cup at a time; mixing well after each addition. Knead 4-5 minutes. Add more flour if necessary to make stiff. Roll 1/2 inch thick, cut with favorite cookie cutter. Put on greased sheet. Bake 30 minutes at 325 degrees.

p.s. I was told when you treat your dogs like kids they totally get demoted when you actually have real human kids, well.... I guess they were right! Sorry Pico and Levi we still love you!!

It's My Heart Family Walk for Hank

SIGN UP HERE

Derric and I were given a tote bag provided by "It's My Heart" with lots of goodies when we met with our social worker Kristel at the hospital. In this bag we were given a disposable camera, tissues, snacks, information about congential heart defects, and more. In our story we were lucky to only have them donate this goodie bag, but they also donate face masks for kids with low immune systems, legacy boxes for children's families who pass away, and so much more.



"It’s My Heart" provides strength and support for those affected by Heart Defects. Vision - It’s My Heart exists to provide support to and advocating for those affected by Acquired and Congenital Heart Defects. Through awareness, resources and education, It’s My Heart creates alliances and networks among families, groups, hospitals, and the community. Visit their website for more information: http://www.itsmyheart.org/



When Dr. Douglas met with us after Hank's surgery was a sucess he told us that Transposition of the Great Arteries in the 1960's had a very high fatality rate. That in the past 40 years there has been a ton of research that has made this defect treatable. It's My Heart is an organization that provides funding for research so that many other hearts can be saved like Hank's!


On the It's My Heart website they offer lots of stories for the different heart defects, to help other families cope during this time.... here is Brennan's Story he had TGA just like Hank.

Derric and I have decided to give back by joining a Walk for It's My Heart February 20th at Allen Parkway in Houston . The cost is only 25.00 we wanted to invite anyone else to join us in honor of Hank. If you are interested leave a comment so we can see how many we will have, it might be best to add a team if we have several people interested. We think this will be a very small way that we can give back for the time being, I plan on getting very involved with this organization in the future.

Want to make a general donation in Hank's Honor but can't make the walk?
Click Here

Out and About

Hank has become Mommy's great little shopper. He takes a bottle on the go (since Lord knows I have a freezer full from the hospital). He loves to sleep in his little stroller, and it's like magic when he hits the carrier, he's out like a light!

The doctor said he is allowed to go shopping, to restaurants, and to places that aren't very crowded but he can't go to places that are crowded and germy like grocery stores, or church and to stay out of doctor office waiting areas! He said don't let any stranger touch the baby, I pretty much keep him out of sight at the stores, completely covered by the stroller umbrella and the carrier umbrella totally up. I look like Michael Jackson's family minus the glove and air masks. It looks like this....



Okay health update:
We went to meet with the surgeons on Monday and they said he looked awesome they took out a few stitches and he didn't even cry! They weighed him and he had gained so we were happy! They said he was doing outstanding and that at this point we shouldn't ever see them again. It was bitter sweet. We love Nurse Beth and Dr. Douglas they saved Hank's life. But we are glad that he is healthy enough that we shouldn't ever have to see them again. With the arterial switch Hank had it's a super BIG surgery but after they recover from it, they said he shouldn't ever have any other problems. We are SO BLESSED.

We also went back to see Dr. Edarlin at STEP Pediatrics in The Woodlands this week for his second check up, but this time just for a weight check. Last week he was 7.2 on the scale at his office so he wanted him to come back in a week... so we did and he had gained 8 ounces! He is now back to his birth weight WAY TO GO HANK!!! He's such a big boy!

Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; he is the faithful God,
keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations
of those who love him and keep his commands.
Deuteronomy 7:9

Sleepy New Year

Happy New Year 2010

We didn't make it til midnight this year. Hank and I cuddled up on the couch and
Derric came and kissed us at midnight while we were sleeping!
Maybe Derric and I will go on a hot date next year, ummm maybe!

We have so much to be thankful for in 2009. We have been blessed in so many ways, I am so excited to watch Hank grow, and learn so many things this next year.
What a great way to start off the new year for this we are eternally grateful.

The Harughty's.... all 5 of us!

We have officially done our Christmas with all of our families. We have had a wonderful Christmas. Derric and I even got a date night tonight, we went and saw It's Complicated.... . It was really good. Hank stayed home with Gramms, he slept most the time but woke up for about 40 minutes before we got home and got a bath and bottle. I have to admit I checked my phone every five minutes during the movie... I couldn't help it!

We have been fed this week by a small group from Montgonery from Woodsedge! They were very moved by our story and really wanted to help us with meals. Derric and I are going to go share our testimony with them after we have our dvd made from this long journey! Thanks Vicki for your giving heart.

Gig Em' Hank

Here are a couple pictures from Derric and Hank's first Texas A&M football game on TV!