Happy One Month Birthday

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It is official: at 2:12 p.m. today Marshall turned one month old.

We celebrated a little early with a mid-morning brunch today. 

Many thanks to Grandma Penny & Grandma Martha for their combined efforts in cooking up a pancake feast for 11!

And many more thanks to everyone whose kind words, efforts, & deeds helped us get this far…

Three cheers for our little miracle 🙂

First Saturday

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While sipping coffee and watching the wild boys be, I realized that this is this first Saturday since Marshall was born that we have all been home together (with the exception of a name calling, pacifier throwing, newly promoted, sleepy headed grump.)

This family of six thing is pretty powerful stuff even if I am significantly outmanned ;-).

Happy Saturday!

One Week Home

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We have been home one week!!!!!
And Marshall is thriving!  His weight is up.  His appetite is huge.  He’s output totally grosses his dad out 😉 (but it is awesome having an extra set of hands on diaper duty.)

We just had our first hometown cardiologist appt this a.m. Marshall’s “heart looks good” and “echo looks great.”  Annnnnd there is no more chylous effusion. 

During the next appointment in three weeks, the doctor will allow discussion for ditching some of the 5 different medicines 7 times per day.

Caring for Marshall is a lot.  In addition to the other wild boys, nursing (yeah!), diaper changes, LAUNDRY (how could one 6 pound miracle create so much?!?), dishes,  cooking, school runs, wrestling practices, and a battle against boogers (all of the boys including Michael except Marshall have that nasty upper respiratory yeck) life is just chaotic.

Things at times are insane. 

Often just chaos.

But it is happy chaos.

I’m sooo thankful.

I’m also hoping we don’t go back to Boston before round 2. Right now it is watchful waiting and a while lot of deep breaths.

Fundraiser Update

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I set the bar high for what I hope will become the Marshall Sepello Foundation with a goal amount of $30,000.

I haven’t yet worked out the details.  At this point, I’m leaning toward a relief fund for families as they deal with the medical & travel costs, scholarship program, and some sort of way to promote/extend music to kids.

And we are thankful beyond words that we are $2,000 closer to our goal.

I will keep you posted every step of the process.

And, my goodness, THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP!!! 

“How do I describe what he is going through?”

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Marshall’s great aunt Cindy spent the afternoon with us yesterday.

What a joy just to sit on the couch and chat with her just the three of us (Marshall, her, & me).  It has been YEARS since we have been able to do that without the interruption (and audience) of the wild boys.

As I was overhearing behind the scenes details of the Boston trip (the ones I’m saving for a future book), she posed the question of how to address all Marshall has been through and all that he will face.

“Is it a condition? Is it an illness?” She posed.

I gladly gave her my perspective: “Doctors and nurses treat him like he is his condition.  I refuse to see him that way.   He is an ordinary boy with an extraordinary heart. It is that simple.”

I went on to project that perhaps he is superiorly evolved ;-).  That his unique anatomy is there for a reason we may never understand. 

And how I don’t let what could happen affect now.

He is here.
He is beautiful.
He is ok.
And though it might not always be that way, all we have to do is love him with our whole hearts.