Baby steps

I could probably write a novel today I'm so behind in updating our blog.  I'll try not to write quite that much.

I'll start with our incredibly fun trip last weekend.  We went to Indianapolis with my parents.  We went to the zoo, the Children's Museum walked around the city, ate (a lot!) and just had fun.  We even swam, which Aiden wasn't in the mood for and Noah and Reese loved.  The first night was a little rocky.  It took twice as long to get there because of a truck fire.  That totally threw the boys off and they didn't go to bed until 11:00.  The second night the fire alarm went off at 2:00 am and briefly at 3:00 and 4:00 am.  Thank you person who was cooking after a night of drinking.  Luckily the boys slept well despite it.  Other highlights include losing Aiden, who opened the door, which was propped open, and took off in the hallway and Reese learning how to open the door.  He was just tall enough to reach the handle and could pull it down and then pull just hard enough to get it to a point where he could swing it open and crawl out.  They are learning too fast! We also had a chance to go out just the 2 of us.  The whole trip was wonderful.  We really didn't want to come home.

The next exciting (and scary) thing in our house are the first steps.  Reese will take 1 step.  He is not our risk taker, which surprises me, and doesn't want to do more than a step.  Noah took a step last night and then the next time 4 steps.  He pretty much runs instead of walking.  It's so funny to watch his feet move so fast.  Aiden has absolutely no interest in walking.  You can find him climbing on everything all day long.  He can almost get himself up onto the couch.  Stay tuned for the first broken bone or cracked open head.  I'm sure it's just around the corner.

Finally, today is a day of incredible significance in our house.  It's a day of celebration and remembrance of a year ago.  Do you know what it is?  One year ago today I held Reese in my arms and stared at his lifeless face.  He was completely limp with a peaceful smile on his face.  I thought this would be the day we would have to remember losing our child.  I am so thankful that that is not what we remember today.  Today we remember a miracle.  We remember the way 2 police officers quickly jumped into action and discovered the problem.  We remember the way he was rushed by a police escort to the hospital.  We remember the peace we felt when we were transferred back to University of Chicago.  We especially remember the kindness of the surgeon who added Reese onto an already packed day so that our little boy wouldn't have to wait to eat any longer.  It is certain to be a day filled with emotion.  It really started to hit me last night.  This day could be so different.  How do we ever thank those 2 men who were able to think so fast and get him breathing?  We've thought for a year and have come up with nothing.  There is no appropriate way to thank someone for saving your child.  I wrote a letter to them to express our thanks and hope that they understand how special they are to us.  I am so thankful that the Lord saw fit to let us keep our child.  Our crazy, often naughty, little peanut Reese is alive and well.  Say a prayer of thanks today that we're celebrating and not mourning. I know I will.