Thank you...

to everyone who remembered Nadia this past week. Aaron and I appreciate your phone calls, emails, texts, and cards. It is so sweet to see and hear her name, our love and appreciation goes beyond words.

St. Luke's sent a card as well. I would hate to be the one whose job it is to sign all those cards... the new poem on the left side, titled Angels Above, was included in the card. I know I've been a bit of a poetry junky lately in my postings. It's the easy way out. It's been a tough, tough year, and it's just easier to use other people's words than try to put yours into something that makes sense. So, thank you.

Lazy Days of Summer

Emily enjoyed splashing around in her pool this afternoon. She has figured out how to splash and kick in the tub. The two of us start swimming lessons on July 10th.


C'mon Mom, I really want to go up and down the stairs!

The Flu...

The good news is that is seems to be the 24 hour type and Emily is pretty much over her first flu encounter. The bad news is that my 24 hours started yesterday and Aaron's started this morning. And since no one wants a picture of that, there will be more photos when the Hughstons are off their deathbeds.

Angelversary

To my sister, from heaven.

I just wanted you to know.

That I'll be with you wherever you go.

I've gotten my wings and learned how to fly.

And I'll dry your tears whenever you cry.

Though I've went away and it seems we're apart.

You will forever be my soul and my heart.

The love that we shared will not go astray.

For deep in my heart it will always stay.

You held me close when I was filled with pain.

And your smile gave me sunshine when my life filled with rain.

You guided me when no one else could.

You protected me when no one else would.

We've shared so much that mere words can't express how knowing you has made me feel truly blessed.

So please dear sister, fret not for me, for now my soul is truly free.

So think of me often, as much as you can.

And I'll always be there to hold your hand.

I'll be your angel and guide you through life.

I'll give you comfort through torment and strife.

So thanks dear sister again and again, thank you always for being my sister and my friend.



by Reginald Bush

Our weekend

Friday was a stormy, rainy day. Emily was eying the pool she got for her birthday, but no such luck!
After Aaron got off work, we loaded up our RV and headed toward Boise to meet up with a friend and his family for dinner. Look who was there to greet us. :)

We got home late last night. Emily doing her kung fu kick in her sleep...

Is it just me, or does she look big?
Today has been anything but blissful. Emily has been vomiting. Not spit up, but projectile - nail you within two feet vomiting. Ugh, why don't these things ever happen during the doctor's 9-5 office hours? We didn't go to the ER, despite the fact that she hasn't kept anything down all morning. Talked to the triage nurse and we're giving Emily 2 teaspoons of pedialyte every five minutes. And I thought breathing treatments every three hours was time consuming! She's had some good naps and is now keeping the pedialyte down, so let's just hope this was a little bug she picked up and is getting over it.

Footprints

It was a year ago today that I got to hold Emily for the first time... it was such an ordeal - a team of nurses and a respiratory therapist to lift her little one pound body out of her giraffe safely into my arms. What a sweet time that was. I don't think I moved the entire hour since she seemed so fragile at the time.

Nadia was on the other side of the room. She was having to work a little harder and wasn't ready to be held yet. After I put Emily back (reluctantly) I emerged from behind the curtain to meet a surgeon who had been in to consult on Nadia. I'm not sure of his name, or his specialty, but I do remember key words like "quality of life" and "50%" It was the first time I remember bad news from the NICU. I remember asking Jessica, the nurse, if Nadia was dying... Aaron and I were able to spend that night on the floor of the NICU to be close to her in case something happened. And nothing did! Aaron and I were SO sure that would be the worst card we would be dealt...

I hated that surgeon... and I didn't say that about many in the NICU. To be fair, he did redeem himself weeks later as he was on call the night Emily had to have her open chest surgery and he did an awesome job on her. Her scar is hardly visible.

Unfortunately, that wasn't the worst card.


"These are my footprints,
so perfect and so small.
These tiny footprints
never touched the ground at all.
Not one tiny footprint,
for now I have wings.
These tiny footprints were meant
for other things.
You will hear my tiny footprints,
in the patter of the rain.
Gentle drops like angel's tears,
of joy and not from pain.
You will see my tiny footprints,
in each butterflies' lazy dance.
I'll let you know I'm with you,
if you just give me the chance.
You will see my tiny footprints,
in the rustle of the leaves.
I will whisper names into the wind,
and call each one that grieves.
Most of all, these tiny footprints,
are found on Mommy and Daddy's hearts.
'Cause even though I'm gone now,
We'll never truly part."
~Unknown

Look! No hands

Emily is starting to stand more and more on her own, although it's just a few seconds.


Cute expressions while snacking...

2 generations

Emily at one year


Me at one year


yep - it's the same dress

Today's Celebrations...

The Birthday Girl -

The presents -

The cake -


Nadia's balloon

















Nadia's Forget Me Nots (the 4 plants around the rim of the barrel)
















and the balloon release -

Celebrating Nadia's Life

She was so very, very special
And was so from the start
You held her in your arms
But mainly in your heart

And like a single drop of rain
That on still waters fall,
Her life did ripples make
And touched the lives of all.

She's gone to play with angels
In heaven up above
So keep your special memories
And treasure them with love

Although your darling daughter
Was with you just a while
She'll live on in your heart
With a sweet remembered smile

Father of an Angel

Don't cry for Me Daddy


Don't cry for me Daddy,
I'm right here.
Although you can't see me
I see your tears.
I visit you often,
I go to work with you each day,
And when it's time for you
to close your eyes ,
On your pillow is where I lay.
I hold your hand &
stroke your hair,
And whisper in your ear.
If you're sad today Daddy,
Remember, I am here.
God took me home.
This we know is true.
But you'll always be My Daddy
Even though I'm not with you.
We will never be apart, for every
every time you think of me,
Please know I'm in your Heart..........
~Author Unknown

Happy Father's Day

Walk with me daddy


Walk alongside me, daddy
and hold my little hand.
I have so many things to learn
that I don't yet understand.

Teach me things to keep me safe
from dangers every day.
Show me how to do my best
at home, at school, at play.

Every child needs a gentle hand
to guide them as they grow.
So walk alongside me, daddy -
We have a long way to go.

Author: Helen Bush

Happy Birthday Emily!

The Market

I took Emily to the grocery store for the first time yesterday. I know for most parents, they probably don't feel the need to document such an event. But for a former micro-preemie, a shopping cart is a parent's nightmare, as well as all the strangers that feel privileged enough to touch your child.



But Emily did great. She loved looking around, laughing at the helium balloons and pinatas that were up and down the aisles. Not to mention, charming the other customers with her big smile and bright eyes.

Movin' On Up!

Emily tackled climbing up the stairs yesterday. Her motivation? A pair of shoes, of course. I got a short video clip, but after she got up the first one I figured it was more important to keep her safe rather than catch any fall on video. She didn't though, and made it up the entire first set of stairs.



And, this photo is from the 15th. To me, it was Nadia saying hello. I think when you have an angel, you look for signs like this.
















Angel's Pennies

I found a penny today
Just laying on the ground.
But it's not just a penny
This little coin I've found.

Found pennies come from heaven
that's what my Grandpa told me.
He said Angels tossed them down
Oh, how I loved that story!

He said when an Angel misses you
They toss a penny down,
sometimes just to cheer you up
To make a smile out of your frown.

So don't pass by that penny
When you're feeling blue.
It may be a penny from heaven
That an Angel's tossed to you.

First Park Play Date!

We met some friends and their girls at the park today. Emily loved watching the kids run around and didn't mind the swing at all. It was a hot, sunny summer day (but it sounds like the last one for a few days) and we all had a great time.



Not the new kid on the block anymore!

Pahsimeroi Day Trip

On Sunday we made a day trip to the Pahsimeroi area, northeast of Hailey, to visit the ranch of a friend of Aaron's. Emily is such a great traveler.

Discovering flowers





Dog heaven, too!



On a side note, she speaks! Well, at least it sounds a lot like Mom-ma, so we have declared it as her first word. She said it first on Saturday, but I didn't have any witnesses, so I thought maybe I was trying to make something out of nothing. But she said it quite a few times yesterday, so it stands. Now, her homework for this week is Dad.

Snack Trap or hand trap?

Emily was sitting on the floor eating a snack, when I soon realized that she had dropped some on the floor and was trying to lick them up. By the time I grabbed the camera, she was off... with her hand still in the Snack Trap cup.

playtime is so exhausting


The weather has been nice enough that we've been able to go for lots of afternoon walks this past week.

Game Face

Emily's latest expression - her game face. She uses it when she concentrates, but it's also her mad face. But this is also an expression you can hear since she starts breathing quite nasally, like a bull ready to charge, as she squints her eyes and puckers her lips!

Story time with Dad this morning before he leaves for work.

Playtime Portraits

Emily spilled coffee during share time with dad, so she's without her pj top. I just couldn't resist putting the hat on that was sitting nearby.



Playing in her room as I was folding her laundry... She loves the mirror!