December 1st was such an amazing day as we celebrated Sophia's 2nd birthday. We can't believe she is already two! She has grown so much and she is a constant source of entertainment! We started her special day off by going to gymnastics class in the morning. Then we came home, had lunch, and she helped me bake her cake. After her nap she got to play with her cousin Ava and ate a taco dinner! We decided to make tacos since she requested cheese for dinner....this way we could incorporate some meat and veggies in the mix :) We had birthday cake for dessert then opened gifts. She had such a fabulous day and I really think she could tell it was a special day and that she was at the center of the celebration.
The next day, December 2nd, Joe left to go back to New Mexico since his medical leave was over. On December 3rd Tyler had another visit with his cardiologist and he had a quick echo. The echo was somewhat concerning since his right ventricle seemed to be working harder than when we got discharged from the hospital in November. Since it is his only ventricle, the doctors want to make sure that it is under the least amount of stress possible. In order to help his heart, his doctor prescribed Tyler a blood pressure medication and asked that we start the medication and see him again in two weeks.
We had very special visitors come to see us on December 7th...Mr. & Mrs. Wotton! I had not seen them in several years so I had the pleasure of introducing them to both Sophia and Tyler. We had so much fun catching up as well as reminiscing about all the fun times we have had in the past. It was so wonderful to spend time with such amazing friends! The morning of December 10th was busy since we said 'see you later' to the Wotton's and then headed out to the pediatrician's office. Sophia had her 2 year check up and I'm happy to report that she is a very healthy girl! Our only concern was that she had developed a rash so we were given a referral to an allergist to see if her skin issues were related to food allergies. The end of the visit was difficult since Sophia had a flu shot and Tyler had the rest of his 4 month immunizations. We all made it through the appointment although Grandma and Mommy were just as frazzled as the kids!
December 16th was such an exciting day since Evan came home from his 8 week training in Alabama AND Joe came back to Massachusetts on personal leave for the holidays! I was fortunate enough to be able to go pick him up at the airport since Grandma and Grandpa were gracious enough to watch Sophia & Tyler for me. On December 17th we had our follow up appointment with the cardiologist to see if Tyler's heart function had improved on the blood pressure medication. Unfortunately during the repeat echo his right ventricle function had appeared to be worse than it was two weeks prior. The worsened right ventricular function was very scary to us since Tyler's right ventricle function was supposed to improve after surgery. The cardiologist explained to us that sometimes children with HLHS will have transient times when their ventricle appears to be more dysfunctional than it actually is so we decided to just give him some time and get more images during a sedated echo after the holidays. Spoiler alert: we had the sedated Echo on January 2nd and his right ventricle looked much better....thank God!
On December 19th we took Sophia to an allergist to determine if her rash was due to some food allergy. Sophia had a skin test and it was determined that she did not have food allergies but that her rash was eczema. The following day, December 20th, Sophia spent her first night in a big girl bed! It was getting increasingly difficult to hoist her in and out of the crib and she would rock herself so violently in the crib that she would make loud banging noises at night. The transition went much more smoothly than I had anticipated so, needless to say, we are all very pleased! She has not yet tried to get out of the bed without permission but we shall see how long that lasts....
We had a great time over the holidays spending time with my extended family here on Cape Cod. On Christmas Eve we went to mass at 4:00 followed by a fantastic lasagna dinner at my Uncle Ted and Aunt Karen's house. Sophia enjoyed opening her pajamas from Nana and Papa that evening as well as leaving cookies and milk for Santa. On Christmas Day we spent all morning opening gifts! Sophia had so much fun opening her gifts and really had very little interest in the actual gifts themselves most of the time. Evan, Erin, and Ava came over in the afternoon to exchange gifts and have dinner with us. On December 29th most of the Lagasse family got together for a wonderful dinner at Eastward Ho in Chatham. The food was delicious and we all had a great time being together. After dessert we all came back to my parents house for a Yankee gift swap which is always exciting and fun! On December 31st we ended our year with a Chinese dinner at Evan, Erin, and Ava's house. We had such a great time with all three of them and we could not think of better people to be with on the last day of 2012.
Reflecting on all that we have experienced in 2012 I must admit that I have mixed emotions. Above all I am so happy that Tyler has become the newest member of our family. Since late February when we found out via prenatal ultrasound that Tyler had a heart condition we have been through a lot of highs and lows. We were overjoyed when he was born which was quickly followed by intense anxiety and stress when he had his first open heart surgery at 3 days old. We have enjoyed living in Colorado and Massachusetts this year but miss being a part of the Cannon AFB community....a place we have called 'home' for several years. Looking back at everything that has played out this year, I am amazed at what our family has endured. We have been able to make it through each day because of all the love and support we have received from our family and friends. Life has been tough but I can honestly say that I have never felt God more present in my day-to-day life. I thank each of you that has prayed for us...it has helped tremendously! There is no way we could have survived this year without your support and His mercy!
Our sweet 2 year old!
The balloons Nana & Papa sent
Sophia baking her birthday cake
This is how Joe plays with Sophia...give her his iPhone then take a nap ;)
I need to work on my frosting skills! Joe drew the baby for Sophia since she asks us to draw them ALL the time!
Taco birthday dinner!
Ava loved Sophia's birthday cake
Gift time!
Sophia loved her boots so much she wanted to put them on immediately!
Her new "Abby Dabby" doll!
Ava was ready for Sophia to go upstairs with her for bath time
Sophia and Ava checking out Sophia's new kitchen
Birthday story time with Daddy
Sophia loves brushing her teeth!
Matching snowman jammies!
Sophia playing with her new Minnie Mouse toy from the Grimes'
Tyler playing with Mrs. Wotton
Us girls!
Sophia helping me make chocolate chip cookies
Her first beater! It will be her first of many if she is anything like her Mommy ;)
The family with Mr. Wotton!
Now with Mrs. Wotton ;)
Sophia loves wearing her skirts
Ready for church wearing the hat and coat from her sweet cousin Olivia
Ava, Sophia, and Joe making a gingerbread house
The finished product
Sophia put her sunglasses on all by herself :)
Sophia after her skin test at the allergist
She loved her lollipop!
Sophia loves to dance!
Joe getting ready to move the crib out
She loves it!
Sophia and her friend Annie waiting to get their stamps after gymnastics class
Ava getting her stamps
Sophia getting her stamps
Tyler reading a book in his bumbo seat. Such a big boy!
Sophia playing with her water colors from Aunt Melissa
Sophia told me these books "fell" into her bed when I went to get her up in the morning...
Sophia is ready for Christmas Eve mass!
Silly Sophia
Sophia leaving cookies for Santa
Leaving a carrot for the reindeer
We asked her to leave the milk for Santa....
....so she poured it all over the cookies!!
So proud of herself!
Facetiming with Nana, Papa, Aunt Melissa, David, and Aunt Julie before opening gifts
Tyler opening a gift from Grandma
Gift exchange with Erin & Evan
Sophia playing with her new dress-up things from Auntie Erin, Uncle Evan, and Ava!
Sophia loves the tutu that our friend Laura made her!
Getting ready to leave for the Lagasse Family dinner
The whole family
Grandpa and his girls
Getting ready for the family photo
Pete, Uncle James, Aunt Betsy, and Annie
My Mom & Dad
Grandma & Grandpa with their Grandkids!
Our family :)
Yankee gift swap
Sophia entertaining everyone
Sophia anxiously waiting with Daddy to get on the carousel at the Cape Cod Mall
Joe handing over the National League of Lagasse Trophy to the new champion: Annie. Uncle James was so close to winning! (Not really ;)
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