Wow, I cannot believe it has been a year since I sat down to write about our life with Hudson, Hayden and Hayley. I feel so bad for not doing this sooner, because now I feel like I almost forgot some very important things that should have been written down. Well I guess it’s true what people say, “No news is good news”. As I look to the last time that I wrote anything in our blog was back in February 2011 and was getting excited about planning Hudsons first birthday. Oh wow how much has happened since that time – where do I beging really. For starters I must say that we have been blessed this year tremendously with good health for Hudson mainly, we have had appointmets at hospital for check ups and such, but we haven’t been admitted once, so that in itself is a great, amazing blessing to be home all this time with our little man and enjoying how much our 3 kids have grown in the past few months. So if I had to come up with an excuse as to why I haven’t been able to keep up with more recent post, I have to say that life has been busy because we have been out and about enjoying it as much as we can. Sadly enough the times we have been able to keep up with our blog is when we have been in hospital sitting by Hudsons hospital bed, but since we are no longer hospital bound, we can hardly sit down. 😉 Ok well we can, but it’s only to chill-out after a long day running around taking kids to school or activities and so on.
I think I will go back to talking about planning Hudsons 1st birthday or what I can remember of that time at least. I have to say that there was lots of planning involved for his 1st birthday. Both Chris and I decided we wanted to invite as many people as we knew to this amazing milestone in Hudson’s life – so that is what we did. I was busy for months planning on party activities and party favours and what the food will be, so everyday I would work on a little something. It was very exciting to plan this event for me. A friend of ours that also has a little boy with HLHS, sent us what she did for party favours for her sons birthday and I just had to copy part of it, because it was really cool idea! I started making little chocolate hearts with two colors, one side of heart was turquoise and other size was brown. I have to say for not ever doing this before, they turned out pretty good! I choose those two colors because that’s what colour the boys room is. I also happen to find some tin containers shaped like a heart which I put some hard candy in, a turquoise and brown ribbon and voila they look very cute. I definately had fun making them along with 100 mini cupcakes. So Chris and I decided that Hudson really didn’t need to get a million presents, so we decided to turn it into a fundraiser for BC Children’s Heart Center and our friends helped us raise around $500 which was very nice and we also had a chance to see so many people that we hadn’t seen in so long since that year had been kind of crazy rollercoaster ride. I think that things started to really look up for Hudsons health soon after he turned one, by this time he had his G-tube in place for almost 3months (he got it when he was only 9 months old). At first I can’t say I really liked it because it seemed like he threw up a lot more than before he had it. But now it’s a lot better having because it’s a good backup for us if he doesn’t take food by mouth when he’s feeling a little under the weather or we just want to keep his food and liquid intake as best we can. We definitely agree that proper nutrition for Hudson is crucial, or at least the right amount of calories per day is a must to keep him healthy and be able to fight colds and such a lot better, just like any other kid his age.
Well, I always do this, I say I am never going to forget something and now I am really struggling to remember things, why I do this to myself I don’t know URGHH!!
Ok, I was thinking of a few things that happened after Hudsons birthday in April of 2010 or possibly just before. One was that we were asked to attend the Children’s Heart Network Wine Gala and to share Hudsons video/story with everyone that was there, which included many of the doctors and nurses that have personally cared for Hudson. Honestly, it was so awesome to have had this amazing opportunity to share Hudsons life to those who have cared for him while in hospital. They rarely get to see the little ones or the families journey! The videos Chris has put together are amazing really, they truly capture Hudsons 1st year and the struggles that have occurred during that time. We had so many people come up to us afterwards, some we knew and some we had just met, and thanked us for sharing his amazing life story so far and that they appreciate knowing what a family goes through with a child with such a condition, being in hospital so much and having two other kids to attend to as well. Even when Hudson wasn’t yet born, I remember saying and thinking, God has amazing plans for this little person inside of me and he sure does, I can’t wait to see all the amazing things God will do with Hudson, his life and everyone that’s around him.
Fast forward to September of 2010, we were also asked if we would be able to speak to a group of Hospital ICU staff about what it’s like to care for a child with HLHS and honestly, I was soooo nervous about it, but at the same time I really wanted to do this, I really wanted to be able to share with people what it’s like to care for a child with this type of congenital heart defect, both the struggles and the joys. Even though we had struggles with Hudson, they are outweighed by the joy of having him around and with us, he is such a special little man, with an extraordinary personality and a sharp mind of his own and yes that is truly a blessing. After suffering 3 cardiac arrests in one week, going through two open heart surgeries and 3 caths before he was even 4 months old, it’s completely amazing and yet his mind is so beautifully brilliant if I could say that, his mind wasn’t affected by all that trauma it’s miraculous. So that is why telling his story is something that both Chris and I like doing and if it helps other families that are struggling with similar challenges with their child we want to help in anyway we can. So again a great opportunity we had for that and the staff really appreciated how true and honest we were about things.
Also around September of 2010 was when Hudson decided he was going to surprise us and start walking! He had been furniture walking for quite sometime and by this time he was about 17.5 months old and finally… he did it! Still cautious but he finally did it and was walking all around the house, more so than the bum scooting he typically did. Honestly, I didn’t think he would walk that soon, I know it seems late compared to other kids but it really isn’t that late. Hayden walked at 15 months and Hayley was 14 months, so all the kids have been late walkers. I was very excited to once again see another great milestone!
A lot of other events happened in September of 2010. It was a busy month! My big boy Hayden started full day kindergarten and Hayley started preschool 2 days a week and all of a sudden I feel like my kids have just grown up so fast in a blink of an eye. I have one kid that is in full day school WOW!! Really??? Yeah I know. Somebody told me that once they start full day school, that’s it, the years just fly by and that makes me kind of sad. I am thoroughly enjoying my kids at this age.
Hayden just turned 5 yrs old December 23, 2010, Hayley is 3.5 years old and Hudson is 20 months. I can understand why some people keep having more kids, it’s nice having little people in the house but I am done with three that’s for sure. As much as I truly love having kids, three is quite enough for this old Mamma. I feel like I have aged more than what’s happened in the past 5 years, especially in the last 2! I can’t say my kids are super easy because I would be lying big time, they are challenging, they are smart, stubborn little stinkers, but life is just so much better with them in it.
I have to say that even though we had a bit of sickness strike the house this last Christmas of 2010, I enjoyed watching the munckins on Christmas Day and all 3 of them opening presents and their stockings and how excited they were about everything, it was pretty awesome. Thankfully Hudson and myself never got sick like Chris, Hayden and Hayley. Well, I am not allowed to get sick that’s a given and Hudson… well neither is he, so we still remain untouched by that ugly virus that kept Chris in bed with a fever for 1 week YIKES!! And the other two kids, just a short fever and a bit of coughing. Daddy is the weakling around here HA!!! He says he takes the fall for the family… RIIIIIIGHT, DADDY.
With a couple days before Chris had to go back to work, we decided to do a few things. We took the kids to ride the Christmas Train in Stanley Park. It was raining quite a bit so we only took the trainride and then stopped by Tim Horton’s for a hot chocolate after. Chris was still quite ill but managed to make it out. On New Year’s Eve, we took the kids to the annual Church Christmas skate. Hayden, Hayley and Hudson all enjoyed being pushed around on the ice. It’s been a while since Chris or I had been skating! After coming home, we all stayed up until after midnight with my parents and my sister to ring in the new year. We were surprised the kids made it and they were getting a little nutty. For me, it’s always nice to start the new year with the people you love.
On New Year’s Day, we took the kids snow tubing up a local ski mountain called Hemlock. We had a blast doing so and everyone tried including Hudson! He was nervous but he loved flying down in daddy’s lap and so did Hayden going down on his own. Hayley was a bit scared but I so loved it myself, it was a much needed fun time to have with the family. After a few hours, the kids were already planning to come back but on the way back home, they were knocked out.
So… that’s where life stands for the Torrens clan!
Hayden is now a 5 year old (“finally” he say’s) and in full day kindergarten at the Maple Ridge Christian School. He plays soccer on Saturday’s and also attends Sparks program on Wednesday evenings at our church which he thoroughly enjoys and is devastated if he ever has to miss it. Hopefully, if we can fit it in somehow we will start swimming lessons again. He’s such a smart little boy, he’s the youngest in his class, but certainly a bright kid. He really loves puzzles and Lego and still has the love for trains and making tracks. We are now entering the stage of ATTITUDE(!!!) which is very frustrating to say the least, but at the same time he can be the sweetest kid. He can be pretty shy sometimes and I think out of the 3 kids Hayden is probably going to be my quiet, shy type or… maybe he’ll surprise us.
Hayley turned 3 yrs old on Aug 23rd 2010 which was another fun birthday to plan and she was very excited to finally turn 3 years old, she feels bigger and older, she wants to grow up sooo fast and I just want her to stay my little princess forever!!! She enjoys telling everyone she is 3. She started twice a week preschool at the same school as Hayden and very much enjoys it. She is such a social bug that has made a lot of new friends. She is also in a program named Cubbies at the church on Wednesday nights which she enjoys very much. It’s nice that I can take both to the same location for both school and their Wednesday night programs. Hopefully we can start gymnastics, dance class and possibly swimming. We have to eliminate at least one activity because it’s getting crazy busy!
Hudson, well he is full on walking and has become quite the little dancer. Dancing is in his blood, anytime he hears some sort of music, he starts to move. He is quite the character, a true class clown for sure, he enjoy making us all laugh by making his silly faces. He is so cute and I think he knows it and is very confident about it. He absolutely loves the movie Cars and anything to do with CARS!!! Such a little man he’s becoming. He amazes me everyday with his precious life and everything he has overcome and has achieved this far. He has now caught up to his age level with physical abilities and mentally, he’s always been there. He’s so smart and cheeky, I am so proud of him. He has improved a great deal with his feeding, he eats more solids everyday, and loves to try everything, even though he may not eat it, he will try it. His taste in food is pretty cool, he loves things like smoked salmon, tomatoes with lemon and salt, bacon flavoured crackers, cream corn and peas. Those are some of his favourties. There have been times where we thought OK, we can probably pull out the G-tube, but he regresses and somedays he doesn’t want his bottles at all, so kind of a struggle, but we are making progress with eating for sure.
I am so grateful for all my three amazing kids, they are the center of our lives and it’s what makes me want to get up every morning, well I am forced to get up because they don’t sleep in HA! HA!! But in all reality, they are AWESOME!!! And a true BLESSING!!! I am forever grateful to God for giving me the honour of being their Mommy.
Chris and I, well we still struggle trying to get out just the two of us and having some quality time., so something we will work on this year I hope. Chris is still the VP of Engeneering for his company and I am still at home with the kids, hoping to get back into shape this year and same with Chris.
All in all, last year was great in regards to health and at this point we have no plans on being admitted to hospital with Hudson at all, well maybe a visit for a cath sometime in the Spring.
Let us know you stopped by!
BTW: If you haven’t seen Hudson dancing, see Chris’s Facebook video of him!
Great post Gabby, such an amazing journey you have gone through and you are truly one of the strongest women I know. And a great mom too! Hudson is truly a special little guy! 🙂