Happy Valentine's Day!

Valentine's day is one of those days that people think of as a "Hallmark holiday". Somehow, this year, Valentine's day has a whole new meaning at our house . . . it's Congenital Heart Disease awareness week! I know, a weird thing to celebrate, but it feels important to recognize the hellish year that we had and how far we have come. Isaac's surgery was only 7 months ago, yet feels like 7 years. Now things around are house are "normal" -- granted, "normal" has a new meaning but we are so fortunate to have two happy kids and today we can celebrate that. So, join us in celebrating CHD Awareness Week -- CHD is the most common birth defect, affecting 1:100 babies in the US.

To help promote CHD awareness, I got a proclamation from Governor Gregoire declaring this week CHD Awareness week in Washington. It'll be a fun page for Isaac's baby book.

I guess to celebrate where we are, we have to remember where we started. We took only a few pictures of Isaac after surgery - really just to show him someday. This is the tamest picture, but is the perfect example of how complicated his little room was that first week. It still gives me PTSD.

Copying a cute picture I found online. He just wants to eat the stethoscope though.

I couldn't find a shirt that says "My heart belongs to Seattle Children's"

And, of course, beautiful little Perrie who sailed through this year without a bump. She doesn't let anything faze her and we love her bright little personality.

Making some Valentines for her schoolmates. Another blog photo of the apron from Aunt Mary Ann -- it's a must for any and all projects these days. "Wait, let me go get my apron"