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I know it's been awhile since I updated everyone on Julie's progress with her new lungs! (I apologize, as I'm sure you were all probably wondering. We have been so busy with camping trips, family and the 4th holiday!)

(Darby snuggling with Julie's good luck UCLA rally monkey!)

On Friday June 26th, Julie left UCLA Medical Center and headed for home, breathing on her own with NO oxygen. She passed the swallow test earlier that week and was able to start eating soft foods. We have visited her a few times since she has been home, but for the most part she just isn't feeling good and not up to visitors. Her lungs are working PERFECTLY. She has had a few other minor issues, like thrush (a rash/irritation) in her mouth and throat that make it very difficult for her to eat and drink. She actually went back into the hospital for 2 nights this last week to get some IV fluids, but is home again now. Eating isn't easy, but she is such a trooper. She moves around the house on her own - free from the oxygen tubes that used to follow her wherever she went. There are lots of medications Julie has to keep up on now, I think the pill taking alone exhausts her. But she is able to rest MUCH better at home without the interruptions of a hospital - and we all know how key that is to the healing process!

Darby has been able to see her Grandma Julie a few times since she has been home. It has been so nice since she was unable to visit her at the hospital. We want to get in as many visits as we can now since after Darby gets her 1 year shots she wont be able to visit for 6 weeks! I think seeing Darby helps to lift Julie's spirits.

Her recovery has been difficult and she still has a ways to go. We all love her SO much and are just anxious for her to start feeling better so she can enjoy her new lungs!

Slideshow Update!

So I finally got around to updating the slide show of Darby's monthly pictures on the pink chair!

Darby is growing way too fast and into everything. She is standing and balancing on her own! She has taken 2 steps (not holding onto anyone or anything) but hasn't started walking yet - unless she is holding onto her walker toy! When she walks with her walker, she says "weeeee weeee" like she is swinging. She also points to the swing outside and says "weeeee weeee". She does the baby sign for "all done" and says "num num" when she is hungry and wants to eat! (We have always said "num num" for food to her, I don't know why but obviously she picked up on it!) During the day she is always asking for her "papa" and pointing to the backyard. She also points things out to us and says "see?"

I can't believe in just a few weeks she will be 1 and make the step into toddler-hood!

Here is the updated slide show!

I can't live without ...

... these ingenious sippy cup (or snack trap) straps! You can hook them to the highchair, car seat, stroller or wherever else you can figure out! I came across them at Walgreens of all places and couldn't pass them up. I am so glad I spent the 6 bucks (for a pack of 2 straps) they have been more then useful.


They are long enough so that Darby can still throw back her juice like she does -

... and when she gets in her silly "uh oh" throwing mode, the sippy or snack cup is only going to go SO far! It doesn't hit the floor so there's no getting dirty, and she can pretty much pull it back up herself.



I never expected to come across such a find at a drug store. This was definitely a diamond in the ruff!

I'm sure I could even figure out a way to make these simple straps myself, maybe I should! Whoever had this idea is one smart person!

Eric's 1st Fathers Day & Julie Update

After Eric gave me such a fun day on Mothers Day, I knew I had to plan something extra special for him too. We had a busy weekend with family (my sister and brother in law are in town) and of course we celebrated with both of our Dads too. On Sunday Darby and I took Eric out on his special Fathers Day outing!

First Darby gave her Papa his 1st Fathers Day gift! An Angels tshirt that says DAD 1 on the back! He loved it! (He also got a new beach cruiser a few weeks earlier that was his gift too!)

Then we went to Pollywog Park in Manhattan Beach so that Eric could do one of his favorite things - play a round of disc golf! Darby and I enjoyed walking around the park watching him play and enjoying the beauuuutiful weather!



After the park we drove down to the Manhattan Beach Pier and had lunch (and of course a beer) at the Manhattan Beach Brewing Company. We had a great time, and of course Darby enjoyed being with her Papa. She just loves him so much!

On Sunday morning while D took her morning nap at my parents house in Redondo, Eric and I went over to UCLA Medical Center to visit Julie. Eric had also spent the afternoon on Saturday with her. She is able to talk if she applies pressure with her hand to the spot where the trach tube was. Hopefully she passes her next swallow test, failing 2 has been tough. It was great getting to see her looking happy. She is really doing awesome and looks great.

I can't live without ...

Like I said before, I am all about anything that makes life easier. Thus, I am a fan of the "Snack Trap" or "Snack Catcher"! The particular ones I've bought for Darby are made by Munchkin, but there are other brands out there that are pretty much the same.


With these snack cups, Darby can easily reach in and grab her snack, with out being able to dump it all out at once! Also, she pulls out just what she eats so there's no mess (but I'm sure it's possible!?) and whatever is still in the cup can easily be saved for later!



I usually bring one filled up with a snack for Darby whenever I need to run errands. It's easy for her to hold on to (she usually holds one of the handles, although she isn't in the pictures!) and best of all it's self-serve so I have both my hands free!

Today ...

... I was that mother in the store with the child SCREAMING at the top of their lungs. Darby has been teething pretty bad lately. She has 2 bottom teeth, and it looks like she is getting a few more on the bottom. Any day now. I just wish they would pop through so my poor baby can get some relief and a good nights sleep (and me too). At least when she is screaming in public I can comment she is teething. I'm sure it's only a matter of time before it's because she is being naughty!

... Darby is 11 months old! I realize I still haven't posted a 10 month post, but I'm sure you all understand this month has been a bit crazy for us! I will post months 10 and 11 together soon!

... I talked to Darby's Pediatrician about transitioning from breast milk to whole milk. I am going to mainly pump (even though I hate it! So time consuming!) and give her bottles of breast milk/whole milk combined. Today after lunch she had breast milk mixed with half an ounce of whole milk. I will do that for a few days, then switch to 1 ounce, and gradually increase till its all whole milk! The only time Darby really nurses for comfort is in the middle of the night (but not every night). That may be challenging with the weaning, but I am confident she will do fine. I have loved nursing Darby. It has created lots of special moments and has been very beneficial for her!!

... My Mother in Law is doing GREAT! The trach tube has been removed, she is no longer on any oxygen and is starting to talk again. Eric even talked to her on the phone this morning! We are so happy for her. She may even be able to come home in a week or so! Amazing! Thanks again for all the prayers!

Julie Update & Fun with Cousin Miles!

As Julie's recovery from the double lung transplant continues, she is taking lots of baby steps in the right direction! We were able to visit with her a few times this last week, and she is really looking great. Yesterday when we arrived at the hospital, we could see her walking around through the windows in the doors to the ICU! We joined her for the last half of her last lap around her section of the ICU, and she did great. She still has the the trach tube in, so she is still unable to talk, but communicates by either writing in her book or mouthing words/sentences. Hopefully the trach tube will be out sometime this week, but really it's hard to predict. It just all depends on how things look each day. She is on a feeding tube for now, but once the trach tube comes out they will do a swallow test to make sure everything works ok - then she will be able to eat some soft foods. She did write us a note while we were there telling us how she can't wait to be able to DRINK again. I can't imagine not being able to take a sip of water when I wanted! Poor thing!

Last week they did a procedure to remove a small piece of her lungs so it could be biopsied for rejection. While we where there the Dr. came in to share the results. He said there was slight rejection, but nothing he is worried about. They will start Julie on some additional meds to help with that and said slight rejection like that can be normal for this stage after a lung transplant.

Like I've said before, there are always some setbacks but that is just par for the course. All in all she is doing GREAT and we are all just SO proud of her.

Last week my 7 year old nephew Miles came to visit for a few weeks. He is staying with my Mom and Dad in Redondo, but of course I will get to see him quite a few times while he is here! On Thursday he came over to meet Darby for the first time and to play for awhile. They had a great time playing together. It is so cute to see Miles interact with her, you can definitely tell he has smaller siblings at home. He is so good with her and loves to kiss her cheeks!! (who doesn't!?)



On Monday and Tuesday mornings we are taking Miles and Darby to Disneyland! It will be the first Disney adventure for Miles and as you can imagine, he is just SO excited.

My sister and Andrew are coming to visit in a week and we also have a family camping trip planned while they are all here! Miles can't wait to go in the trailer, he thinks it looks so neat. It should be really fun. I love when my sister and Andrew visit (we don't get to see them as much as we'd like, I wish they lived closer!) and having Miles here too just makes it all extra special!