tmcknit

Comic Relief

We all watched Zach fight for his sweet little life.  Zach was in three hospitals in a very short period of time, the last of which being Riley Hospital in Indianapolis, where he was airlifted about twelve hours after he was born.

There was nothing fun or funny in the first week or two.  At some point, we found a ray of light and below are some pictures of happy moments from then up until now, in no particular order.

This is Corey peeking over the wall while Zach was in the NICU at Riley……….

This is Keith and Justin doing push-ups in the waiting room at Riley……….

This is the most handsome little baby boy, Zach, at home………………

Zach having tummy time on his star blanket………I’m not sure what his daddy stood on to take this pic (CORRECTION:  Danielle says that’s just how tall my son is – he wasn’t standing on anything – he IS a tall drink of water), but I dig it………….

Zach wearing glasses, at home………………

Danielle wanted to hold Zach but Corey didn’t want to share…………..

………….so he allowed her to kiss him………..how freaking sweet………….

Zach at Riley…………put me back…………it’s too bright in here…….

Corey and Danielle, aka Lady and the Tramp, when Danielle’s Mom took them out to dinner for Danielle’s birthday while Zach was at Riley………

Mark and Corey goofing with statues at Riley………………..

Mark enjoying some private time with Ronald McDonald at the McDonald’s restaurant in Riley Hospital…………

LIFE IS GRAND!!!!  I love my family!!!!

Gay Pride Cake

Danielle made Keith a gay pride cake for his birthday.  How freaking sweet is she?  Check out how much time and effort she put into this cake.

And……………here’s Molly……………representin’………..under the gay pride flag in Keith’s office.

Baby box!!!

This picture is Corey and Danielle on Easter, opening Corey’s baby box.  I saved some of his shoes, his books, a file folders full of things from preschool and school, a calendar from the year he was born, the first outfit he wore (he wore it home from the hospital), his favorite pajamas and bathrobe when he was a boy, some of the little crafty things he made – just lots of the special things from when he was little.

Here is Zach wearing the outfit that Corey wore home from the hospital nearly twenty-five years ago.  So sweet.

I dig this!

This is a sticker that my son (and many many many more Americans) put on their census envelope.

I dig the message – I don’t dig that it has to be this way.

My Dad, the farmer

These are pics of my dad at work – he’ll be seventy-seven in July and yes, he still works part-time on a farm.  The first pic is him in the field…………

…………..and this pic is him on the farm, compacting the pile in the bunker – scares the heck out of me but he loves it.  I went up with him one time several years ago and he took great joy in scaring the crap out of me.  I was screaming – he was laughing.

Baby love

I love this picture!!!  Me, Justin and Keith feeling Zach moving.  What a special time for this family and what a joy to have Zach.

Keith runs a 5k

On April 17, 2010, Keith ran the Purdue University Cancer Center Challenge 5K.  This was his first 5K – next he will run a half marathon and probably then a marathon.  Go Keith!!!  His goal was to finish in the top 100.  He was #95 out of 1,330 runners/walkers.  Goal met!  His time was 22:51.  This is Keith – per usual with the smile – on the way to the run…….

This is Keith before the run…….

………..and this is Keith crossing the finish line!!!

This is the banner Keith signed.  All of the runners sign the banner and it will hang at next year’s run.

Mark, Justin and I went to the run to cheer Keith on.  I cried when the run started (surprise!).  We were all so proud of him.  He’s now training for the half marathon, which is in October.

I’m here!!!!!

I’m here world!! Here’s how I started my journey. I scared everybody by deciding I wanted out early. Here are the doctors trying to save me at Saint Anthony Memorial Hospital in Michigan City.

Here’s a picture of Mommy and Daddy after I was born. Look how happy they are to have me.

From there, I was taken by ambulance to Memorial Hospital in South Bend because they have a really nice NICU. Mommy and Daddy missed me so they got to talk to me on Skype.

Memorial Hospital decided I needed a really good cardiologist, so they sent me on my first helicopter ride. I wasn’t even one day old and I got to ride in a helicopter. The helicopter took me to Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis.

Look at all this crap they have me hooked up to. I’m still cute as a button though.

Daddy was so sad. He was worried about me and was missing Mommy because she was still in Michigan City. He wanted to be in both places at once.

They let Mommy out of the Michigan City Hospital so she could come see me and Daddy. Isn’t she a pretty Mommy? See that blanket I’m laying on – the blue one? Mommy made that for me – it’s the first blanket she ever crocheted.

This is my little hand saying HELLO WORLD!

I know Uncle Keith already posted a picture of us as a family, but here you go again – this is Daddy, Mommy and ME!!!

Hey – guess what? I didn’t open my eyes for a few days but look…………I am opening them for Mommy and Daddy now.

Mommy and Daddy – I love you!!!

Oops!!

Oops!! Mark dropped one of his locksmith kits. It’s my job to sort it for him again. He’s worth the effort.

Gorgeous!

These pics are from a gorgeous day when I took a walk – just a little snow and a big beautiful sky.