Green light.

Wow, it has been way too long since we updated.  (I think we say that every post that Zach is home.  Ha!)   Having Zachary in the hospital is a little like playing Red Light, Green Light.  When he is in the hospital - Red Light.  When he is home - Green Light. We are now catching up on our life since his return.  We are so thankful Zachary is now home.

Where to start?  We had an amazing turnout for Zachary's 1st birthday celebration.   We are so thankful for everyone who came and celebrated with us.  This event was not only a birthday party, but more importantly a celebration of what God has done thru Zachary.  We had friends from church, from previous employment and new friends we met at PCH.  It was a wonderful time.  We don't have exact numbers, but I can tell you that we went thru 9 Costco sized clamshells of strawberries that night!
  

Zachary has been doing great at home.  He's tolerating his feeds thru his NJ, breathing normally, and LOVING being home with his brothers.  I am so amazed at how God has answered our prayers and has healed Zachary this far.  We had a cardiology follow up on Monday and we (believe it or not) have a plan for the next few months.  Docs discontinued one of his heart meds (Aldactone) and stopped the Oxygen via nasal cannula.  We can also reintroduce his normal special formula this upcoming Wednesday!  After a couple days of his regular formula, we can then pull his NJ tube out the following Monday and feed thru his normal G-tube!!!  (Very slow steps but forward motion!!) That is HUGE progress!

We have an appt with his GI surgeon Feb 18th and we are hoping to schedule his GI reconstruction. This surgery will be fourth GI surgery, but second GI expected surgery.  At the upcoming surgery, the surgeon will create an anus, let it heal completely and then have Zachary return to PCH for the (hopefully) last GI surgery.  Zachary also has a lazy eye and has to have it surgically fixed.  We are going to try and have this corrected at the same GI surgery so he doesn't have to go under anesthesia more than he has to.

If we plan this right, we can be done with surgeries prior to August; the next chapter of our lives.

Micah is going to be 5 this spring.  We intentionally want him to start kindergarten in the fall of 2016 instead of this year.  We are starting to look at prekindergarten and then grade school.  There are many really good choices so we need to determine what will be best for him.  Yes, what a chapter to begin.

Family photo at Zacharys birthday party 

Let's eat cake! 

Going on our first walk as a WHOLE family!

Bye bye O2!