Belated Anniversary Post

Lots to blog about.  Will start with a quick one while I'm writing the "real" post.  Back on August 31st, Tom and I had our 12th wedding anniversary.  While it's not a terribly long time, I feel like we've lived WAY more than just 12 years... we've been through some stuff, for sure.  So, I wanted to do something special for Tom.

For those of you that know me well, this won't come as a surprise, but I am a horrible gift-giver.  I have a very hard time thinking about details like that.  In order to make room for all things medical and educational regarding Harlie, I had to make some room in my brain, which meant losing some basic things.  So, in many ways, I really think I'm "dumber" than I used to be.  At least in the day to day, regular aspects of life.  But, it's the way it had to be.  And I figure that I've saved a life, so that makes it okay and well worth the sacrifice.

Anyway, this horrible gift giving applies to Tom, too.  So, he usually buys his own gifts.  There have been a few times that I really tried hard to surprise him, but it never works out.  He always ends up finding out about it - or he goes and buys the very thing I bought him in the days before his birthday or Christmas.

The most insulting part is that he is a great gift-giver to me.  He's so thoughtful and always gets me something I love.  So, I thought this year, I would do something special for him.  Something to show him how much he means to me, and to his family.  Something he wouldn't know anything about.  So, I put together a video for him.

I asked my niece, Kelly, to help me with it because I used to use One True Media and it was super easy.  Well, that company was bought or something and it was no longer in service.  So, I had to figure something else out.  She helped and while she was scanning in photos and starting the project for me, I selected some songs to use.  I wrote them down and one day Kelly came over and I showed her the list.

The list was in a notebook that I never use and it was in a box on the floor with all my other "to do" crap.  Tom rarely comes in my office and he never looks at the mounds of paperwork.

But, when I went to look at my list, this is what I saw...

Tom added the last song on the list.  Which meant that he saw my list.  Which meant that he probably figured out what I was doing.  As disappointed as I was, I couldn't help but laugh.  First of all, Get Down on it, by Kool & the Gang?  How random!  It's moments like these that tell me we are going to be just fine.

Anyway, here's the video...


12 Anniversary FINAL from Christy Holton on Vimeo.

More soon!
~Christy xo

Happy Anniversary!

Eight years ago today...

we were married.

It was a great day.  We had so much fun.

And we had the best wedding "cake" ever.  Krispy Kreme donuts!  (Tom's idea.)

Ahhh... little did we know what was in store for us.  How much we'd be tested.  Heck, we still don't know what lies ahead.  Or how much we'll still be tested.  All we can do is live each day the best we can and hope that we can continue like we have.  Still laughing.  Still loving.  Still arguing.  Still bickering.  Oh, oops - good stuff.  I'm supposed to be talking about the good stuff.

But, we all know that there's bad stuff, too.  And if you think there won't be bad stuff, well, then you'll be disappointed and maybe less likely to weather the storm.  I think as long as the good outweighs the bad, we'll be okay.

Here's us during our honeymoon...

And when Murphy came along...

And when Harlie showed up...

And then Cooper...

And just something for fun...

Happy Anniversary, Tom.  You're an awesome Husband, Father and Friend.  We are a happy family, and couldn't ask for anything more.

Love,
Christy

Our 7th Anniversary

Okay, so I've been a terrible blogger lately.

Monday, the 31st was our 7 year anniversary. Unfortunately, with Tom's surgery and just our life in general - another day of celebration did not get the attention it deserved. I have so many things I want to do. But, those things just don't make it to the top of the list these days. That's when I know that I'm over-committed. Yet I can't seem to take anything off my list. Everything is necessary! Well, anyway... I just wanted to share a comment from someone I truly admire. She posted this on Facebook:

You've defied the statistics as parents of a child with disabilities and you have much to be proud of. Happy Anniversary!

Thanks, Ann! From what I've heard, having a medically fragile child increases the chance of divorce dramatically. Marriage is hard. Now throw in a medically fragile child. So far, we have defied the statistics and I am proud. We'll just keep on truckin'.

Thanks,
Christy

5 Year Anniversary

Well, today was a very busy day. We took Murphy to his last day at his daycare. Even though I know he's going to be very happy at the new place, I felt kind of sad. Although I will not miss the drive, I'll tell you that.

Then we went to her helmet appointment. That went fine. Unfortunately I am paying for a mistake I made last week. She's supposed to wear her helmet 23 hours a day. Well, while she was in the hospital this last time, I put it on and just didn't take it off - for like 3 days! Once she got the n-j tube, we put the tube in the velcro strap to keep her from grabbing it. So, once we did that, I just didn't take it off. Well, when I finally did remove it, she had an abrasion over her left eye. Oops. So I had to leave it off to let that heal. Hopefully I can put it back on tomorrow.

After that, we went to her GI appointment. As is very common with my appointments with MCV/VCU docs, an intern comes in to chat first. They ask a gazillion questions and it takes forever. Then they go tell the doc and then the doc comes in and you have to repeat a bunch of it. Well, it made me so mad last time we went to see the GI doc. I have spent countless hours talking to every kind of doctor at every level. Quite frankly, I'm tired of it. So, when the intern came in to ask us politely if he could ask us some questions, I told him no.

I joked with Brandy that I should tell him I charge a fee to "train" new docs. But, I didn't. I told him that Harlie is just too complicated and I just don't have the energy today. Just come in with the doc and I'll tell you both at the same time. Once the doc came in, and we started talking about everything, I think the intern understood. I don't really have the time or energy to talk about the details of the GI appointment. I'll have to write that one later.

Then we went to see the pediatrician. That was okay I guess. Harlie is sick again, maybe its just a cold. But, unfortunately, she's back on O2 and she had to have it all last night, and all day today. It's a bummer. But hopefully it is just that she's sick and nothing more serious than that.

Well, tomorrow is our 5 year wedding anniversary. Hard to believe. Seems like it has flown by. We're not sure what we're going to do yet. I guess it's kinda hard to plan too much in advance.

Well, it is late, so I'm going to sign off now. Thank you again for thinking of us and for cheering us on.

Take care,
Christy