Wednesday, November 11, 2009

HAPPY 1st BIRTHDAY!

Has it really been a year already? It some ways this past year seems like an eternity but in others it seems just like yesterday.

Braden enjoying some baked beans and a hotdog. The white shirts were probably not a good idea!
Reed loves to pile food in his mouth like he has to hurry before Braden takes it from him. Neither one of them are clean eaters at all! I hope that they stay good eaters like they are now. They will eat just about anything you put in front of them except for potatoes and peaches!
Braden loves to crawl everywhere...he gets faster each day that passes. Braden is such a happy little boy and I absolutely love his laugh. He loves for you to chase him and he will stop every few feet and turn around and grin at you then giggle and keep on crawling. He has this little grin that spells "I am a little mischevious" but I love every bit of it!
Braden does not even know what an encouragement he has been for his "little brother" this past year. He was always so good to be drug back and forth to Vanderbilt almost every day for the first three months of his life to go visit his brother. Braden is by far his brother's best physical therapist...he pushes his brother like no one else can and Reed watches every move he makes. I am so thankful that God blessed us with Braden and I cannot wait to watch B and R's relationship grow each day.
Oh sweet little Reed...how far that you have come this past year. When I look back at pictures with where his journey started, I am amazed at how God has brought him this far. I cannot look at pictures from his first two months of life without being totally humbeled and amazed at how God worked through this little guy at such a young age and taught us so much. I never truly knew what it meant to completely put my faith and trust in God until we were told that Reed had a heart defect then needed to wait for a heart transplant. Who would have ever thought that we would be thankful that our son's heart was so bad that he would need a transplant.
Reed is such a sweet boy who has about the sweetest smile. He is definitely a little fighter and has battled through more than most of us have our whole lives. I am so thankful that he is so young that he will not remember any of this...hopefully!

The boys getting their birthday cakes. Ryan was the reason for the KU jerseys in the background. Family of four soon to be five in April! B couldn't even look up at the camera because he was so concerned with eating his cake! Braden's first year in picturesReed's first year in picturesI couldn't believe that they kept their hats onBraden and Reed were clapping for their own birthdays!

16 comments:

Melissa said...

What a year!!! Happy Birthday, Reed and Braden!! We love you!!
Melissa

Love Being A Nonny said...

Love the cakes and their PRECIOUS outfits!

Karen Risley said...

Happy Birthday Reed and Braden! Love the "cake" pictures.

Missy said...

Happy Birthday!!! May the years to come be full with many more smiles!

Dad said...

Braden & Reed,

Happy Birthday "big boys"!

You mean more to me than anything. I would do anything for you. Each day I look forward to waking up knowing that I am your daddy and you are my sons. I wanted a son more than anything, and there was no better news to learn that we were having the two of you. I've said it before and I will say it again, the words I Love You are not enough. My feelings for the two of you are unexplainable. But as much as I love you, God loves you more. I know you will grow up to Love & Serve him.

You both are the Joy of my life and I love you so much!

Dad

Candie Bowen said...

Happy Birthday sweet boys! They are precious!

Jan Cromer said...

Happy, Happy Birthday, Reed and Braden!!! God bless you both--and your Mom and Dad (and your new brother/sister-to-be).

Michael and Hannah said...

Wow, Braden did some serious damage on that cake!! Love it! Happy Birthday, boys! Are you going to find out the gender of #3??

carol said...

HAPPY HAPPY 1st BIRTHDAY BOYS. Talk about fun you two are such a joy to love and watch... To everyone that missed the party you did miss something. I laughed so hard when they were eating the cake, I almost wet my britches. Hey I'm old. Everything Keeley said and more. GOD IS SO GOOOOOD. AND PRAYERS NO MATTER HOW SMALL OR HOW BIG WILL BE ANSWERED...if someone would have ever told me that one of my grandsons would be in a life threating position. I probably would not have believed them. But once you go thru something like this you feel real human and real humble. If you think their is not a God then go to a childrens ward and see the faces of the parents and drs and nurses and you will know better. Everyone who had anything to do with this joyful day of my beautiful grandsons turning one(1) today thank you from the bottom of my heart. They had lots of love and care in the beginning and they have such an extended family and friends who act like their family with so much love,the village will defintely help them become good men. Luv to all and thank you from this grandma and grandpa.

emily said...

oh...how sweet! happy birthday big boys!

Dana said...

Happy Birthday to the sweetest little boys!!! You all have been through so much and look how happy and loved those two little ones are!! Can't wait to see what the next little one will be!!
Love to all,
Jerry, Dana, Wesley, John & Kendall

Natalie said...

Aww! I'm so sad I missed there party. It looks like they had a good time and enjoyed the cake. Easton didn't even notice his hat being on either because he was all about digging into that cake!
I love that they were clapping for there party. They are sweet sweet boys!

Anonymous said...

Ryan: Just a quick comment on your prayer Sunday...it was very tender and sweet and powerful! I couldn't help but think how far you guys have come in a year! All praise & glory go to our heavenly Father. You & Keeley have been richly blessed and we are blessed to know you! Susan Pauley

Natalie Church said...

Happy Birthday, Reed and Braden!! We had fun at the party.
Before you know it your baby brother or sister will arrive! Happy Birthday to you, too Kee.
Natalie

The Blanchard Family said...

My name is Casi and I have checked in on your blog a couple of times since I found it in July. I found out mid July that one of the twins I was carrying had HLHS. I was due in December, but ended up delivering my twins at 27 wks. Aden just came home from the NICU last week after being there for 2 months and Ava returned to heaven after a 2 hour visit here with us. She was so special and precious and just too tiny to be operated on at only 1 lb 11 oz. I just want to tell you I think you are amazing for all that you have gone through and I feel a bond to you. My email is casiblanchard@yahoo.com if you would like to chat.

Anonymous said...

Hi. My name is Katie Columbia and I found your blog from someone else's (don't remember whose right now). We have a 5-year-old son, Isaiah, that has HLHS and has had the 3 stage surgeries. His Fontan was last July and it didn't go well so they had to reverse him back to the Glenn. That's where he is still at. We will have to try the Fontan again or list him for a transplant when he starts to decline.

We started a non-profit organization called God's Special Little Hearts to help others who had a child with a CHD. We live in Sparta, KY. Every year in February, we host a CHD Awareness Walk to raise money for CHD research that local Children's Hospitals are doing and for the organization. I noticed in one of our updates that you are originally from Kentucky and was wondering if your family would like to join us for the Walk in 2010? We will be having it on Saturday, February 20th from Noon-6 p.m. at the Owenton First Baptist Church in Owenton, KY. It is approximately 30 min north of Frankfort. A % of our funds from 2009 and 2010 was/is being donated to UK Children's Hospital Cardiology Division.

If you think you'd be interested in joining us, please e-mail me at godsspecialhearts@hotmail.com. You can also get more info on our website www.GodsSpecialHearts.org

I'm so glad that both boys are doing well and will be praying Reed continues to get good news with his heart.

Katie Columbia, Chairperson
God's Special Little Hearts, Inc.
carepage:IsaiahColumbia (HLHS,DORV,Post Glenn twice after failed Fontan-July'08)
www.GodsSpecialHearts.org