Jaxson's belated birthday post!

Jaxson's birthday was the Saturday we were driving down to California, so I missed his birthday post. Thats ok because we are going to do it today!
This last year started off rocky, like most years do for him. The end of January brought 12 days in the PICU with a respiratory virus. We went days without seeing his beautiful eyes, and we wondered if this would be the virus that his lungs wouldn't be able to recover from. Of course he did, because he is the most amazing little boy I know!


We also lost a lot of dear friends this year. All right around the same time. One, sweet baby Carter, I had the pleasure of kissing his sweet face before he earned his angel wings! Our dear Carly, and Ben, also earned their angel wings. And of course our beautiful Kristen, after battling leukemia almost her whole life. I had the honor of attending her funeral!

Despite growing respiratory problems and high pulmonary pressures, we enjoyed every day. And played in the sun as much as possible!


The adoption of baby Arina consumed life. We committed to her in April, and in August, finally had our dossier submitted. While we waited for our SDA date, Jax crashed and burned big time!
He was ambulanced from our peds office to the PICU with heart failure and respiratory failure. He required IV heart meds to keep his heart pumping effectively and keep his blood pressure stable. Thats when they finally started him on PH meds, and the ventilator at night for home. It was a scary thing to have happen when we knew we'd be traveling out of the country soon!

But after getting the vent at home, his health greatly improved. The vent was just what his little lungs needed to function properly, and he was our happy boy once again!

We went out of the country in September, and Auntie Boo took on all of Jax crazy daily cares!
Of course he had to keep her on his toes as well, plugging his trach, causing him to stop breathing, landing him another ambulance ride. Thank goodness auntie Boo was there, and his girlfriend Kayla, her daughter, was there to comfort him! We also discovered Jax crush on Kayla this year. I'm not kidding, he smiles and goes ga ga like I've never seen before. When she talks to him, he melts, its the most amazing thing to watch!
Sorry for the poor quality, these are cell phone pics!


Jax got his baby sister the first of November! A baby sister that shares not only his extra chromosome, but the same beautiful almond eyes, and same sweet disposition!



Mickey Mouse, his favorite character, was the highlight of Jax birthday week. Happy belated 5th birthday to my amazing, miracle boy!!

On Jax birthday we stopped to see grandma on our way to Cali. They all look so lovely because we had been in the car forever, in jammies, without showers!

Arina had her first time in a hotel room,

and her first trip to Disneyland! Of course we had to get her a first visit pin to wear proudly!

Mary Poppins and Burt were the first characters we saw, leaving first aid to drop off a tank. Arina's first picture with characters! She loved Mary!

She also loved all the rides. She never cried, and was looking around wildly at all the bright colors and pictures!

She also thought the tram was pretty dang cool!

I was amazed at all the beautiful Christmas decorations. Tomorrow I'll post pics of those. I embarrassed my poor kids, freaking out about the Christmas tree, and all the beautiful lights!
Sorry boys!

I just discovered that another dear friend was lost while we were away. Our sweet friend Jonas lost his battle to SMA last week. I'm so angry that I wasn't here to attend his funeral. I used to work at the childrens hospital with his amazing daddy. I can't imagine their pain, and their sweet new baby girl has the same disorder that her big brother did. Please go to their blog and leave a comment for his grieving parents!