A new blog....

We have decided to do another blog. We will still update "Katie's Story" whenever things pertinent to her healthcare/CDH occur, but we want to be able to share things about Michael and the rest of our family. We want Katie's blog to remain true to our experience with CDH. Please feel free to come on over and follow our family happenings on:
http://colefamilymoments.blogspot.com/

Katie's Story----"Birth to Birthday"

This is a video/slide show we made to show at Katie's Birthday party. Enjoy this year in review.

Katie's Official 1 yr old Stats

Katie's Official 1 yr stats:
19 pounds, 10 ounces (25th percentile)
29 inches long (50th percentile)
46.25 head circumference (75th percentile)

She is walking...make that running...everywhere she goes. She can climb stairs, and t r i e s to climb onto anything she can reach including chairs, end tables, our ottoman, and Michael's toys. She loves to dance (no music required)

Words she can use:
Daddy (her favorite word!)
Momma (only heard when she is hurt)
Bruh (brother)
Nanna
PaPa
Gat (cat)
Hi!
Hey da (hey there)
Bye
umm (yum)

Other communication:
Waves bye
Gives kisses
Makes "funny face"
Raises hands for "Praise the Lord!"
Hands over ears for Peek-a-Boo (??)
Plays "where's Katie?" (all the time!!!)
Signs for more, and no more

She is eating most all pureed table foods now, and is transitioning to whole milk in a bottle. She hates a sippy cup and will fling them across the room! She may end up going straight to a regular cup because she loves to try to drink out of them (messy!) and walk around holding an empty one and pretending to drink. Also, she definitely has a sweet tooth!

Speaking of teeth, she has 6; 4 on top and 2 on the bottom.

Random facts:
favorite toy--anything Michael is playing with or anything that has previously been taken away :)
dislikes--having socks on, baby gates, grass

WE ARE SO PROUD OF HER!!!

Katie is ONE year old!

What a year it has been! We thank the Almighty for His immeasurable blessings over the past 365 days. It seems strange that something can seem so painfully recent, yet eons ago. One year ago today we stood by the bedside of our second child, but first daughter, and held hands as we prayed for her survival. To see to her small and frail body invaded by so many machines, tubes, and hoses and face the terrible uncertainty of ANY future for her was terribly trying on our hearts and souls.

In the time since her birth, we have watched our darling endure ventilators, surgery, narcotics withdrawal, feeding aversions, reflux, physical therapy, and a lengthy recovery. Not only did Katie survive but she is thriving!

No longer is she plagued with medications or regular treatments of any kind. Rather, she has learned to walk and nearly run! She has learned to eat almost anything we place in front of her! She has replaced those unmistakable facial expressions of pain and discomfort with an almost constant smile! Likewise her cries and whimpers have been replaced with angelic laughter and girly giggles.

Presently little Katie is fighting an Upper Respiratory infection, but is doing quite well! We have her official Birthday Party planned for a later date due to scheduling conflicts, however we could not let this special day pass without some type of celebration, so Beth picked up a small cake and we had the grandparents over.

Enjoy the pictures of our precious Katie as she learns what to do with her own piece of cake!

Katie Walking 4/1/10 at OneTrueMedia.com

Katie is on the move! She has decided that crawling is old news and she wants to walk everywhere. Now nothing is safe for Michael, he cannot get away! Speaking of Michael, he did not even start walking until he was 14 months old, so she started 3.5 months ahead of him. Maybe it is because of all of the "physical therapy" that Michael provides her :) We are so proud!!

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com