My Peanut is 7!!

May 15, 2006 was a LIFETIME ago for our family.  In fact that was the day that the Cunningham Family went from Sara and Chris the couple to parents.  What an adventure it has been!!  Couldn't be prouder and happier to have the titles of Mom and Dad!  Thanks Peanut for starring in this daily movie feature!  As you know, it is a work in progress.  Editing occurs everyday.  We appreciate you being the one to help us shape and hone our skills. 

But, why do you keep growing up?  7 candles on your cake, really???

Slumber Party---Yes, I was that brave!!!  All the girls were perfectly well-behaved!!  Thanks to the fellow mommas for raising delightful daughters!

 

 

Raygen is a giggle box!!!  And, a fighter when she is woken up in the middle of the night!!

Ashlyn can HULA!!!

 

Happy Birthday, William!!!

First birthdays are a BIG deal!  And, William Howard Cunningham celebrated his first birthday in the arms of Jesus rather than his Mommy, Daddy, Sissy, and Bubby.....which, means his birthday was a BIG DEAL and the REAL DEAL!!!  I am sure his cake was made of the best ingredients and even prettier than his Aunt Amanda could have made for him.  I just hope he was able to make a mess of it.

I am not gonna lie and say that this was easy to accept because it was not easy at all.  But, it was reassuring to know that my baby boy was able to celebrate with Jesus and family members that I have not even met.  We also were able to celebrate here on Earth as well.  As a friend declared, It was Will Day!!   Everyone wore their blue Will shirts--family and friends alike.  And, we celebrated for our little red-headed angel.  The family cruised in the Diamond T Fire truck.  If you live in Ottawa, we have been cruising all over town in honor of our baby boy.   Friends and family even cruised around town with us on Friday night.   Thank you to the cars that pulled over in respect of a fire engine with lights and sirens blaring.  But, Ottawa Fire Department has bigger, brighter, and newer engines than the 1952 truck.  But, none of OFD's trucks have the memories that ours has! 

William received some pretty cool gifts for his birthday.   William now has a star in his memory at the International Star Registry....William_Cunningham5.  William also received a family Zoo pass to the KC Zoo.  Well, he will get to visit it every time we go.  I am sure we will feel his presence when we walk through the Zoo to see all the creatures from near and far.  And, his family received some really pretty flowers, too!!

Life!

As most of you have noticed, I haven't blogged in a while.  Finding me time is hard to do....and, the problem of a computer that needs a new battery.  I never seem to have it in my room when I am ready to blog!!  But, just so you all know, The Cunningham 5 are going strong--4 here on Earth and 1 in Heaven!

Mackenzie is playing soccer....well, she's on the field.  Last week's games seemed to reveal that all of the kids on her team are playing for fun not to WIN!  Chris cringed a little at the lack of focus.  He's coaching T-ball, so we shall see what happens when he's the coach.  And, no, I did not sign him up, but he has been elected to serve!!!

I am totally the mom who cheated and took her own photo!!

 

 

Carson is goofy as ever living the life of a 3 1/2 year old!  He loves Apple Garden.  And, for any friends looking for great child care/preschool, Apple Garden is AMAZING!!!  We have always been blessed with loving homes for our children to go to day in and day out while we work.  But, we have never used a day care center until now.  And, we hit the jackpot!  It is like "Brittany's House" and "Holly's House" but with preschool.  Carson is loved every minute of everyday!!

And, sometimes, he gets a little worn out!!!

 

 

William is missing from our home but not from our thoughts and memories.  I am so glad that we talk about our precious angel all the time.  Our kids love and miss their brother as much as we do.  Here are a few pics from Easter.  Holidays are hard!!  I am not going to lie about it either.  I cry all the time but more on the holidays!!!

We received a concrete statue of a baby boy...he guards our door!!  And, in my holiday door pics, he will always be with Mackenzie and Carson.

Loving his brother!!  These moments are so special yet tear-jerking!!!

Chris and I trying to smile!!

 

 



 



Cunninghams....an update

It seems like I don't have much time for blogging anymore.  Actually, I have the time, but not always the energy.  It seems like so much has changed for our family the past year, yet so much is the same.  We still live the Crazy Life everyday.  But, we live a new crazy life. 

When people get married, they usually have a time called PK (pre-kids).  Chris and I had this time.  Then, it becomes P2 (pre-kid number 2).  We loved these years with Mackenzie.  But, then that era ended with the arrival of Carson.  So, then we began P3 (pre-kid number 3).  We had fun as a family of four but knew that this time was short as well.....three years.  Because, after all, birth control can and does work when it is supposed to work!!!  And, then we had William. 

So, we began AK3 (after-kid 3).  Our AK3 was/is not at all what we envisioned it to be.  But, it's our life.  We are trying to embrace the moments with Mackenzie and Carson here on Earth while aching daily for our baby boy!  And, I must say that I think we are doing an okay job.  The lesson of life goes on is hard.....but, it goes on, just a different and new way.  There's not a moment that goes by that Will doesn't cross our mind.  School, Work, Illness, Holidays, Sports, Church, etc.  So, here are some pics of our Crazy Life!!!

10 months ago.....

10 months ago was my baby boy's birthday.  And, it does not seem possible that 10 months have passed since William joined our family.  His birthday was an adventure of new sorts for Chris and I, the nurses in the delivery room, the doctor, and our families. Delivery was just the beginning of his adventure.  And, his adventure was short and compact yet ever so busy. 

Can many say that they completed as much as Will did in 4 1/2 short months?  He had 3 ambulance rides--1 in utero, 1 on his birthday, and 1 at 12 days of age....and, I have had only one in my life (and, William was there!!)  2 open heart surgeries, 2 attempted cardiac catheterizations, multiple (okay, multiple, multiple) feeding tubes.  Still not sure how one little finger could hook that tube and pull it out in no time flat.  William had 11 different cardiologists see him, 2 cardiac surgeons, so many NPs (his mommy kind of likes this one, she is a little partial to NPs), so many nurses watch and love him day in and day out.  2 amazing fundraisers, 3 newspaper articles, and a Firetruck ride to his final resting place.  And, after that final ride, William still managed to find his commercial debut.  He has spots on 2 different Children's Mercy Hospital commercials.  If you are ever at our house and one comes on, be prepared for the TV to pause, so we can have our moment with the beautiful red-headed baby boy.  The list of William's accomplishments in his 4 1/2 months goes on and on. 

But, his memory shines the brightest in our home.  We talk about William with Mackenzie and Carson all the time.  I never want their memories to fade.  I want them to know that he was a miracle and now works Miracles.  The love of a family never fails.  And, this is what seems to make the darkest days a little better.

Chris and I cry for our littlest man every day.  We ache to hold him.  But, we know that William is now holding us.  He watches over his mommy and daddy.  He helps his big sister and big brother every day.  Will still brings us to smile as we cry.  Happy 10 months, Baby Boy!!!

Heart Surgery....."That was EASY!!"

Giggles with Daddy!

True William!

Love!!

Today is Valentine's Day!  So, I thought I would reflect on it a little or a lot.  Who knows how long this will be.....Love is something that is in constant motion.  Meaning I never stop loving or being loved.  This past year, I learned so much about the love others have for my family and me.  And, I learned to love more than I dreamed I could. 

My parents have always shown me unconditional love.  And, what a lesson they taught me.  I learned that a mother's love goes without saying but when mommy says it...she means it with all of her heart.  And, a daddy's love is the same way.  So, I learned from the best of examples.  Thank you with all of my heart, Mom and Daddy!  I love you so much.  And, I value your love so much!!! 

First, learn to love a man who will be the father of your children, and allow him to love you in a way you never dreamed.  Chris---this is you!  I love you and you love me in return.  The list of reasons I love you is endless.  But, I love to laugh with you no matter what we are going through together.....we do it together!!  I love you!!!!!

When children are born, you love them instantly with all of your heart and soul.  Mackenzie is the first born in our home--and the first child, I was able to experience this unconditional mother's love.  And, then came Carson!  And, as a mom you worry about being able to share your love with another baby.  But, just as God loves us all, He also provides us with a way to love MORE!  And, this year, I have felt God's Love in my home! William was born this past year--and yet again, my mommy heart grew to love more.  What a blessing children are on Valentine's Day!  They remind us of TRUE LOVE!  And, they make me remember how much I truly LOVE their Daddy!  He's a great guy, and Mackenzie, Carson, and William are lucky to feel his love!  Just as I am! 

William was our miracle!  My heart and soul still sob everyday for William.  But, I am able to rejoice in knowing that my Father is loving him every minute of every day!  Trick or Treating in Heaven had to be an adventure--as Carson stated, William got lots of baby candy!  He got to spend Christmas in Heaven--a dream come true for all of us.  He gets to feel Jesus's love on Valentine's Day!  He will have a 1st Birthday in Heaven....and the list goes on.  The love of a mommy never ends.

Wear RED!!



www.chdfamilies.org


This a repeat post from last year.  But worth the read.

HEART DISEASE IS THE NUMBER ONE KILLER OF WOMEN

AND THE NUMBER THREE KILLER OF MEN!!!

CONGENITAL HEART DEFECTS AFFECT 1 in 100 babies born.  1 in 100 babies affected make it the NUMBER 1 birth defect for babies!!!  Congenital Heart Disease Awareness week is February 7th thru 14th.  So, in honor of William, I wanted to share a little about the impact of heart disease on everyone.  And, I wanted you all to be encouraged to WEAR RED!!!

William Howard Cunningham was that 1 in 100.  During his short little life, we have learned so much about congenital heart defects and the impact that they have on these babies (who grow into big kids and adults).  The impact of congenital heart defects is huge.  1 in 100 babies are affected and so are their families (immediate and extended), communities, healthcare providers, hospitals and their staffs.  The list could go on and on detailing who is affected by Congenital Heart Defects.

2 days after his second open heart surgery.

William's story has reached so many people, but he was just one baby with a broken heart.  Chris and I met so many others with the same story just a different defect and different outcome.  Each baby's story is different yet the same.  Babies born with heart defects endure numerous exams, many hospital stays, many surgeries or procedures.  And, so did our precious Will.

In the past, heart disease awareness was something that I thought about at work but never much at home.  However, this year, HEART DISEASE AWARENESS MONTH is A HUGE FOCUS in our home.  We are WEARING RED and telling our boy's story. 

We are also thinking about our family members who have been affected by heart disease from Chris's Grandpa Miller (or Great Papa Miller to Mackenzie and Carson) to Grandma Miller ( because a Stroke is a form of heart disease) to my Grandma PeeWee.  She was the picture of a time bomb waiting to go off (high blood pressure, high stress, 1 1/2 pack a day cigarette habit) when it did last February.  At the age of 84, she went from uncontrolled high blood pressure (not really uncontrolled if you ask her) to QUADRUPLE BYPASS.  And, then came cardiac rehab (that EXERCISE word) and she came out of it all shining brighter than ever and CIGARETTE free.

When Chris and I started talking about heart defects after William's diagnosis last May, I began to think about how many other babies I know or knew have had heart defects.  I thought of my friend Brooke who had a PDA closure as an infant and now is a mother of two little boys.  I thought of Kinlee, my friend Tera's daughter, who had a septal defect and is now a beautiful, sassy 13 year old.  I thought of Kennison, my friend Jamie's daughter, who has an arrythmia, but struggles daily to bring it to other's attention.  I think of the sweet girl whose heart races and no one knows most of the time.  I think of the procedure that she will likely need for the arrythmia to go away! I thought of the first baby I detected a murmur on in the ER who went have open heart surgery a week later and is now a wild 7 year old boy.  I thought of Jacob, my friend Stephanie's son, who also had TAPVR and is a growing 10 year old now.

And, I think of Harlie, a baby who I met in the PICU, whose defect is so very different from Will's but whose story of detection is eerily the same.  I think of Audrey, my cousin.  She and William were the two babies born in the Pierce family this year...and, they both had/have heart defects.  Audrey has a bicupsid aortic valve and a small septal defect.  My cousin, Sally (Audrey's mom) and I never dreamed to know or learn as much about pediatric cardiology as we have this year.  You see, we are both nurses, and have learned a few things about heart disease in adults but not pediatrics.  Pediatric Cardiology is new game for us.  But, we both embraced this time to learn to know what is best for our HEART KIDDOS!!!  I think of Kayden whose mom we met at Ronnie's House.  Kayden and Will were quite the pair for the PICU nurses.  Those boys were HIGH maintenance at times.  I think of Ella and her family, who I have never officially met.  I think of the Dwyer's who I know through Facebook and mutual friends.  I think of Ryder, whose parents we never officially met, and his long stay in the PICU.  And, now, we also think of the Congenital Heart Defect Families.  This is an amazing group of families who have the same story as us but with all different endings.  Check out their Facebook page Congenital Heart Defect Families or their website: www.chdfamilies.org

My boy tube free---only lasted a few minutes, but this is a reminder that Congenital Heart Defects aren't seen on the outside.  Unless, you get to catch a view of the cool scar on his chest!!

Another tube free pic!  Looks like a healthy baby, huh??

Please think of William this month.  But, also think of the other babies like him who are no longer with us on Earth.  Think of the babies here on Earth who are fighting the fight of their life each and everyday.  But, also think of how your life has been touched by heart disease.  And, WEAR RED this month to honor those affected by heart disease.

WEARING RED IN FEBRUARY---"THAT WAS EASY!"

The American Heart Association has so many facts that tell everyone why they should care about heart disease.  And, I recently (okay, just a few minutes ago) looked at their website...www.heart.org  Check it out---so much info in one place.