Goodbye 2008! It’s been a year full of ups and downs with many challenges along the way but overall I’d say it was a big success for Nora. In the past year our little baby has grown into a little girl. I can’t believe how much has happened this year. Just to name a few highlights of the year Nora….
- ate her first real foods besides Elecare and rice cereal
- got her g-tube button removed
- celebrated her 1st birthday
- went off TPN
- started walking…….and never slowed down, now she’s running! 🙂
- lost a lot of weight and went back on TPN 2 months later
- began consuming more calories my mouth than by TPN
- started talking…….a lot! 🙂
- turned into a butterfly
- reached 20lbs! (and is now up to 21lbs 7oz!)
- realized how fun it is to chase the ducks
- continued to show us what an strong and amazing little girl she is along with a very sweet and silly developing personality.
Nora’s second Christmas was very special. Her NeeNee, Mammie and Pappy came over Christmas morning to watch her open gifts. As she’s in the midst of opening presents a very special guest rings the door. Dr. Crooms! Wow…..we were so surprised, and I think we still are. Dr. Crooms is Nora’s surgeon who saved her life when she was just a few hours old. Soon after their first meeting Nora grabbed a hold of Dr. Crooms heart strings and never let go. Even though we only see him every few months they have a very special connection. Dr. Crooms is a very busy doctor with a lot of patients and we are so very honored that he took the time out of his Christmas day to visit with us and bring Nora a gift. There is no denying what a very special little miracle Nora is and I think Dr. Crooms’ reaction to her success is a affirmation to that. I think our expressions say it all. 🙂
On Christmas Eve Nora ate her first “real” green bean. She has tried baby food green beans before, which she immediately spit out and said “yuck!” But this time she said “yum!” and ate it up. Unfortunately her short bowel didn’t like it as much as her taste buds and it came out undigested the next day. But at least it stayed in her system for almost 24 hours and it didn’t give her diarrhea which usually happens when she eats something new that doesn’t digest. Even though the green bean didn’t digest I still see it as a step in the right direction since her system held on to it for a little while. (either way she looked darn cute eating it)
Before dinner Santa Nora took a ride in a two dog open wagon instead of a one horse open slay. The details were a little different but she still delivered a big package of joy!
Every little girl wants a pony for Christmas! Thank you NeeNee, Papaw Don, Aunt Jenn and Uncle Chad!
She was a little intimidated by her horsey at first and just wanted to pet and kiss him. But by Christmas evening she was ready for her first ride.
Giddy up!
We say goodbye to Christmas with a walk through the lights at Dorothy B. Oven park.
Click on the links below to see video clips of Nora’s Christmas lights adventure.
Christmas lights at Dorothy B. Oven
More Christmas lights at Dorothy B. Oven
MERRY CHRISTMAS! WE HOPE EVERYONE HAD A WONDERFUL HOLIDAY SEASON! THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR LOVE AND SUPPORT. LOVE IS THE BEST GIFT OF ALL.