Deja Family

Tuesday, February 10, 2015

Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Month

So as I sit here thinking about our heart journey, which I haven't caught all the way up on here, I wrote down a few thoughts and feelings that came to me and I wanted to share them.

I never knew how hard this heart journey was going to be. When doctors explain it all to you they make it sound so simple and even though they explain some of the risks it never felt real. Yes, I know that soon after birth he would need to be moved to the children's hospital. Yes, I understood that they were going to cut open my baby chest and sternum in order to reach his heart. Yes, I knew they would need to stop his heart in order to repair it, but do we associate the feelings and images that brings?

For me the answer was no, not at first. I think that even though I knew months before his birth that this would all take place I was still in shock and dazed when the time actually came. You can't know or understand what it is like to watch them take your baby away hooked up to tubes and wires while you're still in bed recovering from child birth.

You don't realize the feeling of over whelming sadness you will get seeing other parents take their babies home while you have to leave yours at the hospital hooked to machines. I never knew it would be so hard to watch my baby go without food for weeks while awaiting surgery wanting nothing more then to hold him, feed him and take him home. I never imaged how much fear and doubt I could feel every time his stats dropped, heart rate changed or tests came back with low numbers.

And then the day finally arrives. The day you have to hand over your sweet innocent baby to the hands of someone you have only meet once or twice. Trusting that what they are about to do will make things better, will give my baby a better chance at life. And then you wait, pray and worry and then you wait some more.

Through this all it never really hit me what was really happening. Not until it was over and you finally get to see them. If you thought you were in shock before I can tell you it is nothing like that moment. So if you were to ask me what it was like going through this journey so far I still don't have the words to explain it, but I do know that I am thankful for everyday I get to spend with my sweet, amazing, strong, brave little boy.

May 26, 2010

13 days old

April 12, 2013

2 years old

Sunday, August 31, 2014

Pick a pumpkin, any pumpkin

This year we went to the pumpkin patch with some of our really good friends.

The McMillan's and The Cottrell's

It was a beautiful day with warm weather and blue skies. There is always so much to do there. A petting zoo, bikes, a jump house, slides, swings, mazes, games, pumpkin launches, pit of corn, rides and even a zip line. Of course after you hit all those things then you can take a wagon ride out to the pumpkin patch to pick a pumpkin. And no trip is complete without stopping in for their amazing apple cider donuts and pop corn.

We stopped on our way out for a few picture in front of the huge pumpkin pyramid.

Okay, so I don't think we actually picked any pumpkins but we did have lots of fun!

Getting ready for Halloween

I love Halloween! I think I like it even more then Christmas. I'm not sure why though. I love seeing the kids dressed up in their costumes. I love the excitement on their faces. I love decorating and making things spooky. I love going to haunted houses and corn mazes. I love carving pumpkins. I love it all!!!

So this year I wanted something new to put on my front door and since I had a little bit of extra time while the 3 older kids are at school I decided to make this fun wreath.

What do you think??

Can't get enough

This kids can't get enough of their sister! It is wonderful and makes my heart swell to see how much they love her. It's always a fight when it comes to who turn it is to hold her and for how long. I guess if they are going to fight about something that would be one of the better ones.

Abriella looks so much like Aniela it's crazy!

Friday, August 29, 2014

Abriella Lee Deja

At my baby check this week they noticed that she didn't seem to be growing any more so they think it would be better to induce me a week early to get her out. So I will be going in on September 25th to have our sweet baby girl. This is me 3 days before delivery.

It's baby time. This time around I am not dilated at all so before they can even break my water they had to give me a drug to ripen (soften) my cervix. At this point I was maybe a 1/2cm. Not very promising. So we wait..... and wait...........and wait. Finally it had done it's job and they can start the Pitocin and and break my water. Still we wait...... and wait..... and walk and walk and walk. It feels like it is taking forever and I just want to be done. We had to be in by 7:00 that morning and around 10:00 pm she still wasn't there.

At this point the contractions were getting really bad but I didn't want any drugs. I feel so much better afterward with out the drugs that I wanted to do it naturally. Finally it was time and at 11:01 pm On September 25, 2013 she was born. Abriella Lee Deja 6lbs 7oz (the same as Areya) 19 inches long.

Damian's dad was here and stayed home with the kids so that my mom and Damian could be at the hospital with me. Here he is holding his 6th grandchild.

Areya was so so so excited to hold her baby sister.

Aniela was too.

Taevin was just excited to be with mommy again.

My mom holding her 9th grandchild.

Abriella had jaundice and had to stay an extra day under the lights before coming home. They wanted to discharge me and send me home but I just couldn't leave another one of my babies at the hospital. I was able to talk them into letting me stay the extra night. I was discharged but since I was nursing and needed to feed her every 2 hours they gave me a room.

Still Yellow but going home.

I guess the yellow outfit doesn't help much either.

Areya 10th Birthday

Happy 10th Birthday Areya!!!

September 23, 2013

Wow, can she really be 10 already!?! Where did the time go?

Areya is my social butterfly who loves talking and being with friends. She loves swimming and playing mind craft on her I-pad. Areya loves popcorn and movie night and spending time together as a family. She is helpful and is going to be a great big sister to the baby. Areya is super excited for her to come and to get to held her. We love you very much and are so happy that you are part of our family!!!

Picture fun

One night after showers before bed the kids were hanging out in our room and being silly so I pulled out the camera and took a few pictures. It was really fun and they turned out pretty cute.