Christmas Eve - Family Day

Our beautiful boy the morning of Christmas Eve

My parents receiving the gift from their seven children.

It was a doozie, we saved for two years to give them $ toward a vacation for two. We definitely surprised them!

Doing kids gifts at the Tagye home.

Michael & Andrew

Swiping Grandpa Fred's soda.

Amy & Tommy playing basketball with Dizzy.

We had so much fun at Machie & Papa's, it was hard to leave.
But we had ANOTHER family gathering at Vince & Sue's to get to.

Aunt Sue with the necklace & earrings Andrew gave her.

Jessica wins the surprised look of the day. We got her good : )

Savannah opening the lab coat we gave her (with her name on it).

This girl is one smart cookie & we love checking out her inventions.

Sierra with her new apron (that was made for her : )

I think I got it over the summer, just couldn't pass it up.

Andrew had even MORE gifts to open at Vince & Sue's

including this weeble tree fort, which is one of his favorites.

As you can see, Andrew was one tired boy by about 6pm.

Worn out by having such a fun day!

Andrew's Third Birthday!

First thing on birthday morning.

The past two years we got photos of Andrew before he even woke up on his birthday. This year I was awake before him (4:30am for some reason) but he was still up before there was enough light for a photo & I wasn't going to risk waking him up any earlier with the flash.

Shaving Cream Mountain
all ready for action

Andrew preparing for the maiden voyage.

He wasn't too crazy about it & mostly only went with Mommy.

A couple of his brave friends from school

It was too cute to see Andrew excited to have his friends over to his house.

I really tried to get Andrew excited about going down shaving cream mountain.

I know I have fun : )

The closest thing to snow we get in FL.

Sweet face

Andrew got lots of great presents!

After everybody went home & Andrew settled down, he got his presents from Daddy & Mommy. His new big boy monkey back pack.

A Share-A-Night for Orlando Ronald McDonald House

A goldfish snack container

(that he can play with however he wants, doesn't have to hold snacks, though he does usually eat goldfish)

And the very impressive Sponge Bob battery toothbrush.

One of his favorite games on the iPad is Sponge Bob tickler & when he opened the toothbrush he recognized Sponge Bob right away. He's getting used to putting the toothbrush to his mouth when it's on. All in all it was a great birthday! Thanks to everyone who could celebrate with us & the birthday wishes from those who weren't able.

Little People

Tough guys

Isaiah & Andrew

Beans & Rice

(because they are so different, but go together SO well : )

Sierra & Andrew

Lots of pictures from the Torch Relay

Mommy & Dizzy headed out to the Children's Miracle Network Torch Relay.

& he is!

Picture with Mommy's writing on the bus that traveled from city to city with the Torch Relay.

Aunt Becki's writing,

Aunt Christy,

Aunt Katie,

Aunt Molly

John. Heather & Brian RAN the Torch Relay's 5k in the morning (we did the afternoon walk). So, we took this picture the next morning after church : )

The walk group

Gina & Mikala

Josh, who bore the torch the entire 5k

Lexi taking her turn with the flag.

Hannah, with her writing on the bus,

Mikala with hers

Sharing Andrew's story.

Josh & Hannah were the only volunteers to carry the torch & flag.

Me, taking my turn with the flag & a turn pulling the cutest boys in the wagon.

Team Miracle Heart bringing up the rear.

We made it!

Our sweet boy with his metal.

What have you done for me lately?

Looking back at the blog a few weeks ago, I had to laugh at myself because there was a week when Andrew was a newborn that I tried to make the title to each day's post a song title or line with the day of the week in it. That was one of the good weeks, we loved when Andrew was stable enough that we actually go bored hanging around his hospital room.
After Andrew's cardiology appointment earlier this month (which went great) we headed over to visit the Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit (CVICU) at Arnold Palmer - which Steve refers to as Andrew's first home. Above is a picture I took because I wanted to point out what Children's Miracle Network (CMN) has done for us lately: a $1.2 million makeover of Andrew's first home! It was an exciting visit because many of the nurses & doctor that took care of Andrew were actually working that day. There is such a special place in our hearts for these people who fought right along side Andrew with everything they had, what more could a parent ask for? I almost teared up when Andrew leaned right over for the intensivist doctor to hold him. Sure he needed to be saved from all the women, but I still think they are bonded for life : )
So here's the lead in: I've mentioned before that we are participating in the CMN Torch Relay coming up November 13th. We're excited to support this organization because it is plain how this support directly benefits Miracle kids like our Andrew. At the event Andrew & I will be sharing his story right before the 5K kickoff. If you're local, we'd love to have you join our Miracle Heart team!!! (Follow the Torch Relay link to the left.) Sure the financial support is great, but I think the moral support means even more.

Heart Walk Pictures

Isaiah & Andrew getting ready for the Heart Walk.

Mommy & Andrew

Tribute wall...

Our beautiful boy in his survivor hat. Heart walk went very well; Orlando raised over 1 million this year. We could tell it was bigger & a AHA friend of ours said there was 1,000 more participants. I blame them for our tardiness : ) The Torch Relay is coming up in a couple weeks & now that we have a decently working computer maybe I'll get caught up with pictures before then. I PROMISE I'll try to update the blog more often. This boy keeps me busy!

Thankful for RSV?

Weird, right? Yesterday evening Andrew had a fever & was a little grumpy, but no other symptoms. Of course, when you're Andrew this means a trip to Arnold Palmer's ER to find the cause. This is because it is uncertain whether or not Andrew's spleen is functional. People without a functioning spleen are at risk for rapidly progressing infections that might start with no other symptom than fever. It was not a fun visit, though we are grateful for the great care our boy gets at APH. Took 4 tries to get a blood sample / IV line (just in case). Steve & I agree that was horrible & I'm pretty sure Andrew's subsiding anxiety about going to the doctor's will now be back full force. So we find ourselves in the interesting situation of being thankful the fever is explained by RSV, a virus that Andrew received monthly shots to prevent through the end of flu season after he turned 2. Something that posed such a risk for our baby has been literally taken in stride by our big boy. If you saw him now, your wouldn't even know he was sick. I remember praying so frequently over our baby that God would make a way for him to live & I smile now to think when our God goes for something, He goes all out : )