Eight Months!

I'm a day late, but what's new? Harry turned 8 months yesterday! Has it really been eight months? Anyway, I haven't done a monthly update (or any update) in awhile, so I figured I'd better let you know what is up with my butterball!

Harry has three almost four teeth. Two on bottom and one and another about to finish popping through any day now. He loves to eat! The list of things that he does not like is much shorter than what he does like. He does not like butter beans. Yeah, that is all that I've noticed he will not eat. He eats meat, tons of veggies, some fruits, bread/pasta/rice, and he had some cookie the other day-thanks to Alice!

Harry is still nursing a lot. Mostly at night. He nurses maybe four or five times during the day and several times while sleeping. Or at least I'm sleeping. That is one wonderful benefit of co-sleeping. He also likes to bite. He has little shark teeth on the bottom and it hurts so much more than it did when Alice would bite. Of course, he is like her because it is oh so funny to make me say no, ow, or ouch!

We are so close to crawling. He has been getting up on his hands and knees and rocking for the past week or two. He can move himself backwards, but only manages to do face plants forwards. Harry is sitting up so well. It only took FOREVER! The other day he sat up from a crawling position. It is nice to have a "baby". Alice was walking steadily by this age. Just goes to show how different babies are!

I weighed him the other day. Unofficially, he is almost 21 pounds. I also weighed Alice and she was 26.5 pounds. No wonder my back hurts when I hold him!

Harry is still just the happiest, most content little man. He is rarely without a smile. Even in the throes of teething, he is a pretty pleasant baby!

And now to see how cute (and BIG) he is getting...

An Angel Got His Wings

I'm terribly saddened to tell you that two year old Tyler Burdick got his wings yesterday. I have been struggling with this, and wrote the following early this morning...

I want to thank You, God, for the blessing and miracle that was Tyler. I've never met this little boy or his mother, but I feel like a little part of me has died. My heart aches. I cannot begin to imagine how his parents feel. As a mother, this really is tortuous. It is my worst nightmare. I realize you are never too young to die. That the triumph is much greater than the tragedy. Tyler is at peace and healed. He is on his greater and ultimate journey, as Jesus promised.

Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” Matthew 19:14

On behalf of his parents, I want to thank You for allowing all three of them those last hours. What a blessing and a miracle. The beautiful symbolism of the circle of life--from Your hands to Stephanie's, and from Stephanie's back to Yours.

I know many people are wondering "Why Tyler?" God, I know your intention for Tyler's life. He has brought so many people together. He has brought many people to You and strengthened their faith, myself included. He has helped me become a better parent in many ways. I have more patience. I hug, kiss, and tell my children that I love them more. He was such a fighter, hero, and inspiration.

I'm now praying for Stephanie, Dan, Dawson, and Gabriel. Please comfort them and lift up their hearts. Give Stephanie and Dan guidance to help Dawson, and eventually Gabriel, understand.

"A child that loses a parent is an orphan. A man that loses his wife is a widower. A woman that loses her husband is a widow. There is no name for a parent that loses a child, as there is no word to describe the pain." -Author Unknown
***
I am standing upon the seashore. A ship at my side spreads his white sails to the morning breeze and starts for the blue ocean. He is an object of beauty and strength. I stand and watch him until at length he hangs like a speck of white cloud just where the sea and sky come to mingle with each other.

Then someone at my side says: "There, he is gone!"

"Gone where?"

Gone from my sight. That is all. He is just as large in mast and hull and spar as he was when he left my side and he is just as able to bear the load of living freight to his destined port.

His diminished size is in me, not in him. And just at the moment when someone at my side says: "There, he is gone!" There are other eyes watching him coming, and other voices ready to take up the glad shout: "Here he comes!"
***
Tyler, may you rest in peace, sweet boy. This is not goodbye. This is a see you soon. "Lord, at last let Thine angels come"


If you feel compelled to donate to this family (Dan lost his job while being with Tyler--so they could use help with the funeral, medical bills, mortgage/utilities/food, etc) please visit their CaringBridge site. Their email address is listed (gpxchick@hotmail.com) and donations can be made through Paypal (make sure to mark as gift, otherwise fees are involved). Their home address is also listed there. I believe a bank account has also been set up, but I need to double check on that. Please check out their site and read about Tyler's last hours. It is really quite beautiful and heartbreaking.

Also, for you parents that have lost a baby or child, can you recommend any support groups? I'm sure Stephanie and Dan could use any support they can get.

Prayers Needed Internets

A lady from Harry's birth club, has a two and a half year old boy, Tyler. He has been fighting leukemia since he was four months old. He is about a month and a half past a bone marrow transplant. His baby brother, Gabriel, was his donor with his cord blood. Tyler's leukemia is considered cured, as his ANC count keeps going up.

The problem is the toll all of the chemotherapy has had on his little body. His liver and kidneys are blocked. His veins are leaking fluid. The lining of his lungs are filled with fluid. He has been on a ventilator for at least four weeks, along with dialysis, and many other medicines and support systems. He is currently on max blood pressure medicine.

Yesterday morning, he was alert for awhile and kept trying to talk to his parents. Last night, his blood pressure dropped to 50/30. He made it through the night, and his blood pressure is currently 36/22. They have to remove the current dialysis current today, and if Tyler's blood pressure and he are stable enough, they will put a new circuit in. I'm praying he can pull through all of that.

To add insult to injury, Tyler's father was fired from his job a few weeks ago. Apparently he had exhausted his PTO and FMLA, but was unaware (understandable given everything going on) and the company let him go. Not only was he the sole provider, but also the insurance carrier. Now they are faced with the realities of a mortgage, medical bills, and probably a funeral. If any of you would like to donate to this family, you can do so at

www.caringbridge.org/visit/tylerburdick

You can also read Tyler's whole story there and leave a note for Tyler and family.

I have been praying constantly for this little guy. I have spent a lot of time crying too. Having two healthy children, I am extremely grateful and blessed.

Please keep Tyler, his parents Stephanie and Dan, and his brothers Dawson (4) and Gabriel (7 months) in your thoughts and prayers.