San Francisco Zoo

The kids and I were sick for a few weeks. We had planned a weekend trip to San Francisco but we had to cancel it. Owen missed his preschool graduation because he was so sick. After we all recovered, we decided to finally take our trip to San Francisco. We took bart and the muni to get to the zoo from our hotel. The kids had a great time! 

Here they are at the entrance to the zoo!

It was a pretty cold day. At home it was 100degrees but in San Francisco it was windy and in the 60s. We were glad to get away from the heat. 

The boys looked through the zoo map while we waited in line to get in. We were also able to see some zebras and giraffes. 

Being groundhogs!

Stopping periodically to feed Owen :) Owen is taking another look at the map to see what's up next. 

Isaiah is making a plan on which path we should take.

There was a family farm area where the kids got to pet some animals and even brush the goats. The kids loved it!

Owen in front of the tigers

Isaiah eating his first dip-n-dots. He loved them. Although Owen loves ice cream, he does not love dip-n-dots! Lol

We had such a great time at the zoo :)

Prematurity and Reflection

Owen was a preemie.

Most people in our life know that. Even those that befriended us after he was home from the hospital. Not because we told them but because the effects of Owen's prematurity are seen. 

Seen right under his shirt

Seen every two hours when I take out a bag of syringes and formula and proceed to hook him up and feed him

Seen in his bedroom where we house a cabinet full of breathing equipment and extra feeding tubes

Seen beside his bed where a pole holding a feeding pump and an IV pump live

Seen in our second bathroom where we have a whole wall dedicated to his IV supplies and an extra refrigerator for all his meds

Seen in our cars where we keep boxes of  emergency supplies in case we are on the road when something happens

There are many more places it's seen

Owen lives a life surrounded daily by the effects of prematurity. Although, we don't really think about prematurity much. 

Owen is a happy 4 year old boy. He knows a life different than most other 4 year olds but he is happy. Most 4 year olds don't know the things he knows. It breaks my heart that he has to know what he knows, but he is happy. He has been through more in his short 4 years of life than most adults have even seen in all their years of life, but he is happy. 

The road given to us is not a road I wish for anyone but it is a road I will gladly take for this precious gift from God. 

I took some time looking through NICU pictures of Owen yesterday. Those 8 months seemed like an eternity when we were going through it. Now, those 8 months are just the beginning of his story.  The last 4 years have been hard but I am excited to see what God accomplishes through Owens amazing story

  

  

  

Memory Monday - Day 6

On day 6 I was able to hold Owen, from inside the isolette, for the first time. The nurses had to change his bedding and asked if I wanted to hold him up. It was so scary and wonderful all at the same time. He was so tiny and fragile.



Walking Boys!

So, I officially have two walking boys now! Owen started walking on July 25, 2011 as I said in an earlier post. He was just taking a few little steps back then. Now he is walking all over the place! I have a video and will post it below!

What do you think?