look back on 2010

    Gosh I can't believe what we have experienced this year - it has been an emotional year when I reflect on Cody. Let me start in January...That's when my path was totally redirected! I got the news alone @ the NT ultrasound that my child could possibly have Down Syndrome. It was so heartbreaking to hear that my child was not healthy like I thought.  In February, an amniocentesis confirmed he does have Down Syndrome, and that we were going to have a boy! In time, after all the shocking news including a hole in the heart, God led me to realize we were special people and to put all trust in Him. In July I  had a C-section- Cody James Hintz! He was a trooper. He was in the NICU for eight days until we finally got to bring him home!
   A MAJOR thing that weighed on us was his heart surgery which occurred at the end of October at UCSF. That was so emotional for us and are so glad at the results! Cody has done remarkable since his surgery and healed wonderfully. So looking back, I feel incredibly blessed and feel such emotion at how much we had gone through this year. It's been stressful and challenging, but God has changed my heart as well as my son's! Both of my sons are so dear to me and I'm really looking forward to what He has in store for the upcoming year. God bless you in the New Year!!

Cody's development @ five months old

   It's been a month since I've posted an update about Cody  and he's now five months old! -so I want to update during this hectic Christmastime to share about his development! At Cody's last cardiologist appointment on Dec. 8, the cardiologist said he's doing so great that he doesn't need to continue his lasix medication anymore! Cody just started rolling all over and is very sociable. He is just the most loving little guy who loves stretching out his left arm and admiring his little hand! He has started physical therapy and  the infant teacher thought he had gotten a lot stronger since she had seen him before he started his first physical therapy session! I've been doing tummy time and different stretches w/ him that the therapist showed me.
   It's been such a blessing that Cody is doing all these exciting things and just blooming! I can't imagine my little guy or Jeremy not in my life - they are such gifts from God. They are the best Christmas presents in the world to be in my life. We are also in the midst of moving so I'm so stressed- I am sitting down right now wanting to STOP and realize that how grateful I am and for  some reason God thinks right now is the right time for us to move, thankfully after Cody's heart surgery and the reassurance that he's doing great- but I tell you I wish I didn't have to worry about packing right now, but God has his reason for everything! Merry Christmas to everyone! God bless!

A Place for Us lyrics

Now this is definitely a song that sums up my family of four!! Makes me think of Cody very much!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ua_r7u6__tY

Surgery and postsurgery thoughts

I have so many thoughts about Cody’s heart surgery, but one word to describe now would be "Blessed". I was emotional on the days leading up to my precious little boy’s surgery, but we knew his surgery was for the best for him, giving him a healthy life. Cody has given me insights on life- don’t take things for granted and life is precious.

He has amazed me and family and church family by coming home just five days after surgery! Cody is such a tough boy!  I feel changed too. Everything is just so precious to me- especially my two sons- and it makes me enjoy both of them more than ever! I am also more emotional than I used to be from Cody’s surgery! I had feelings of fear, but also trusted in God on the days leading up to the surgery.  After his big surgery, I felt relief and a real peace. God is good to us.

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22 days!

   I guess it's time for an update, huh! Well, I've reminded myself as I'm checking my email that Cody's BIG heart surgery is coming- 22 days from now!  This has been a huge stress on my husband and me. We know God is watching over our little angel but it's hard to explain that it's still scary! We definitely have put our faith in God, and I know God has a special journey for us during this challenging time. It hasn't been easy on us, but we know God has plans for our family and we just gotta hang in there!  We have a couple of places we can stay at in San Francisco- praise God for that! One is right around the corner from UCSF.
 On Cody's development, his head is getting stronger since I put his head on my chest and do the different ways to strengthen his head support. I'm so thankful that the teacher from the infant development program will come as often as we need her to. Cody and I are going to attend an infant massage class too. It's been so exciting to see Cody do things we didn't know he'd be able to do, such as kicking the ball on his play mat and reaching for the toys, and grabbing your necklace or shirt. Everyone who has met Cody knows he will touch your heart as well as his mommy's! He's our sweet precious boy - I love him so much!

thoughts on my angel

       Today I found out when Cody's heart surgery will be- October 28, 2010. I am scared, but after watching a video from the Philadelphia Hospital, it does comfort me. I know God will be watching over the surgeons and Cody, but it is surgery! It's heartbreaking to know he has to go through it but it will be to his benefit that he will be healthier and have a healthy life. 
      It's emotional to know your child has to go through something far more than I ever experienced. It's reassuring to have family and  friends to support us as we go through this  journey with Cody. In fact, Cody will be baptized next Sunday which will be such a wonderful day as he is welcomed into God's family.  Every day is a blessing to have him in our lives. I even see how he blesses Jeremy as he is affectionate and helps me by putting a blanket under his bassinet or bringing me the Boppy.  Please continue to pray for Cody and our family.

Nervous!

        I know I need to trust God, but my mind is on Cody's heart surgery in October. I'm nervous because he's so tiny- how can such a little baby have heart surgery? He has a condition called Tetrology of Fallot where he doesn't get enough oxygen going to the lungs. In fact, we are visiting UCSF medical center this upcoming week.  It is relieving to know that he won't have a blue spell afterwards, but to have your child to go through such a MAJOR thing is just scary! Please pray for my little guy, he's had no blue spells so far! I have definitely felt the prayers!

Cody James arrived!

I am writing this in my postpartum room and feeling so blessed by my new baby boy! Words cannot say how lucky I already feel- he's sweet, loving and precious. I am nervous about how he will do when we take him home from the nicu, but he's in very good care there. When God has a planfor us, don't doubt it because it ends up being far greater than we would ever know. I am crying tears of joy as I type this :--).

My little, sweet baby boy is here! I'm writing this from my postpartum room and i'm feeling so b

A New Day will Come

   Celine Dion - A New Day Has Come lyrics | LyricsMode.com This song is so what I feel right now- this is a 
beautiful song and I can't wait to meet my little boy this month!

My life will change in four weeks....but for the best! dedicated to Cody

        My son, Cody James, has been diagnosed with Down  Syndrome at about 12 weeks gestational age (by ultrasound). Around 16 weeks, the perinatologist also noticed a hole in his heart, which is a heart condition called  Tetrology of Fallot and will need heart surgery when he's around 3 to 4 months old. All of this sounds very overwhelming to parents, right? Surgery on a small precious baby?! It is scary!  It was such shocking and devastating to hear all this news while I should be so excited about our second child. ( We also have a 20 month old  son.)
But God is taking care of us and I have such faith in God that I know this is the journey and ride He wants my husband and I  to go on. With help from a loving, supportive family and church family, they will also help us with our special little guy. We still have much to learn even after learning by reading and watching books and videos about children with Down Syndrome, but what I do know is that I will love him so much!  I still feel unprepared, but I know God will lead us to do what's best for our son. I'm so blessed and he is going to bless us in more ways than we will know!