It was exactly a year ago this past week that we found out about Cash’s CHD. I remember that day like it was yesterday and every little detail and emotion I felt. I remember feeling such fear and being able to do nothing but cry. After leaving my appointment that day I spend many days and nights researching and learning more and more about what we would face when the boys arrived. I wanted to make sure I understood to the best of my ability what to expect, what would happen, and all of the possibilities we could encounter. We began sharing with friends and close family the information we had learned and we tried to educate and prepare our loved ones prior to the boys’ arrival. We met with fetal/pediatric cardiology and they helped to monitor Cash and prepare us for the journey of having a “heart baby”. 

As I shared earlier this month, February is heart month. I remember in elementary school we always did jump rope for heart during the month of February to raise money for the American Heart Association. Little did I know the month of February would have a much larger meaning and impact to me as a parent. My hope was that covid would be a bit better by the time February rolled around. I was hoping to do a little fun run/fundraiser in honor of Cash and donate to the Children’s Heart Foundation. I’m going to keep my fingers crossed that maybe we can start that tradition next year. 

Back to our nine month update—y’all these two are ALL personality! They have the biggest, happiest, and most contagious personalities ever! I’ve never met babies that smile and laugh quite like my little guys. They both literally light up the room with their sweet little smiles!  Both boys are LOUD. They have absolutely found their voices. They squeal and talk all the time. They are starting to really interact with each other a lot more these days. I melt into a puddle when they are super sweet to each other and acknowledge that the other one exists. 

Cash had really come to be a different little person in the last month. He’s happy and giggling so much more than he ever has. In the past few weeks he’s hit huge milestones that we are super proud of him for. I always have to remind myself that he is a little bit behind Grayson just due to his extended hospital stay. He has almost mastered sitting up on his own. He doing SO much better with eating baby food with a spoon. He’s still not super interested in rolling over or crawling which could be because of his helmet or his previous g-tube. We are hoping to get in to PT/OT to work on that soon. He’s mastering the walker a little more every day. He’s getting around downstairs a little better and he is so proud. He weighs about 16.5lbs and is 26inches long. He’s not a very big guy but boy has he come so far. 

Grayson is moving and grooving. He is getting into everything and cannot be trusted alone for even a minute. He has 100% mastered crawling and sitting up without falling over. He’s started to pull up on things to stand and boy is he proud of himself. I’m afraid I see him trying to walk in the near future and I am NOT ready for that at all. “Busy” is how I would describe Grayson on a calm day. That boys is WILD! He has started growling and it is the funniest thing ever. 9 times out of 10 if you growl at him he will growl back. He is such a good eater. I’m convinced he would eat until he exploded. He is a quick little guy. He had mastered the walker and zooms around the house. All light weight rugs are a think of the past. He’s not much bigger than Cash. He weighs a little over 17lbs and is 27inches long. 

I’ve started thinking about their first birthday party already and it gives me all the feels. How are they almost 1!? Super glad I have the best party planners/mom and dad to help me plan a fun celebration for these two precious boys!