How we measure a year....

In blue eyes...

and drooling contests

in special moments when Grandma and Kaitlyn get to see each other for the first time since they have both become survivors!

in victory scars

in friends

(Lily and Katie last December)

and the girls again at this years Buddy Walk

in smiles

in special moments with Great Grandma

in more smiles

(oh I love this beautiful girl)

and holiday's

and vacations

in LOVE

and kitty cats

in birthday's

and rubber ducks

and butterfly princesses

and most of all successful heart surgeries, and a healthy, spunky little 15 month old who continues to amaze me with her determination and unconditional love!

The last year has been amazing. One year ago today little Kaitlyn at only 14 weeks old underwent open heart surgery to repair a congenital heart defect (Complete AVSD). It was the hardest day of our lives. I am so thankful for the steady hands of her surgeon and all the amazing people that were put in our path during our stay down there.

God is good!

As I reflect back my emotions surprise me. I think I have shed more tears in the last two weeks then I did last year. I watch the video and can not believe that was our life...

Kaitlyn is my heart, my hero!

If you can't see the video click here.

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Finally...

......a picture update!

My 15 month old beauty Halloween weekend! What a difference a year makes!

I'm probably the last blogger on the planet to post Halloween pictures, but my life is CRAZY!

Ty is finally sleeping at night and I must confess I've been choosing sleep over computer time! Back in mid October I got really sick with strep throat which abruptly ended my 31 for 21 challenge. I honestly had great intentions and applaud everyone who achieved it!

The four munchkins...the Vampire, Kitty, Biker, and Puppy!

Love this picture!

Pretty Kitty

Creepy!

Aunt Jenna and her favorite baby girl!

Our handsome biker dude!

And the super cuddly puppy!

Awwwww!

At least one of them would touch the inside of a pumpkin this year! Progress!

The babes and I at Bryce's class party. It was a lot of work even with Daddy there!

Brady the Vampire at his school party!

I loved her outfit that day! Girls are so FUN!

Well tomorrows' a big day.

November 17th is the one year anniversary of Katie's heart surgery!

And my big boy turns 6!

I am so thankful we will be out celebrating his birthday tomorrow as a family and not in a hospital!

Look for Kaitlyn's heart video tomorrow!

I'm So Thankful...

I am so in love Ty. I cannot believe he is 3 months old already! Tomorrow he will be 3 months 13 days old. Tomorrow he will be the exact age Kaitlyn was one year ago when we sent her into heart surgery. Kaitlyn's heart surgery is behind us and in all honesty it really isn't something I had been thinking of often. But these past weeks I have been constantly reminded of last Fall. This year everyone is healthy, everything is normal, we enjoyed Halloween, school parties, playing in the leaves and soon we will all be home together for Thanksgiving! This year we were able to celebrate Brady's 6th birthday and enjoyed every minute.

Last year at this time H1N1 tore through our house. The fear of Kaitlyn getting sick when she was so "heart"sick already was absolutely terrifying. Last year Kaitlyn and I stayed home on Halloween. She was so sick. I missed Bryce's family Fall party because I was at the hospital with Kaitlyn getting chest X-rays. We were given a surgery date only 1 1/2 weeks before hand. The date for surgery would be November 17. Brady's 5th birthday. We quickly through together a party for him. Kaitlyn went to her Grandma's to avoid germs and a few days later we were at the University of Michigan, we missed Brady's actual birthday. For the first time ever our 2 boys were without us and our baby was fighting for her life. Not to mention my Mom was diagnosed with aggressive cancer that same week.

(Sigh) I can't believe that was my life. Things are GREAT right now. So this Thanksgiving I am the most thankful for the health of my family. Kaitlyn had an amazing heart repair and my Mom is in remission.

Thank God!

Below are pictures of the youngest Ross.

Happy 3 Months Big Boy!!!

Laughing Out Loud....

Take a peak at the video below. It isn't about Kaitlyn or Down syndrome. It is a hilarious video of my best friends husband. They are such an awesome couple! They are two of the most amazing, generous, God loving people on the planet. And Lucas is hysterical. They have a busy life, two beautiful girls, and are very active with the youth ministry within their church. I think we could all learn something from them, from Lucas. Despite their hectic life he finds time to have fun!

The Smith Family

To show you what a fun couple they are here was their Halloween costumes this year!

Little Red & The Big Bad Wolf

Enjoy!

(you have to pause my music at the bottom before pushing play)

If the video won't play click here to go straight to the video on You Tube.

The video was made for their youth program at church!