March 1, 2013..... ONE YEAR LATER
Edward: "Pooping."
Me: "You're pooping?"
Edward: "Yeah."
Me: "Okay bud."
Edward: "Bye-bye Mama."
Soooooooooooooo Edward is thriving, or at least he has been, until this week, when diarrhea took over and is destroying our lives... haha, jk, just ruining some of our routines. I took little man to the pediatrician and it looks as if Edward has the infamous GI bug going around, or Hand Foot and Mouth! Two, great, wonderful, NORMAL, toddler illnesses!!!!! We are NOT in the hospital. We are NOT on isolation. We are at home, hanging out, being icky sicky....I have to say..... changing a poopie diaper... not so bad.... changing an explosive diarrhea diaper... holy shit... no really, HOLY SHIT! We have dumped Eddie into the bath tub more often that usual this week, because it has been that bad. Otherwise, we are still having fun, being a boy, digging in the backyard, going on play dates, going to the playground, going to the library for story time (not at all our best moment), walking Winston around the block, testing Mommy to wits end, repeating everything he hears, playing with his toys using an incredible imagination, and sleeping though the night (most nights!).
Edward, you are an absolute inspiration to us every day to be a better person, a better mother, a better father, a better friend, sister, brother, neighbor, etc. The last 2 years have been, well, ridiculous! We have some terrible memories of tearful, fearful and rock bottom moments, but we have also had hilarious, stomach hurting, laugh until you cry happy tears moments, and because of this..... I guess..... we will keep you :)
You ARE the best thing that ever happened to us.
Love Always,
Mama and Daddy
(Or as you have recently named us "Kate" and "Johnson")
I made this video so last minute and so I apologize if some awesome pictures of friends and family were left out, or if the music is a little off. I know you people are like, "Enough already and your videos of your kid!" haha, but I couldn't resist. At least this video is only 7 minutes long. I can't believe the video I made for his 1st birthday was 14 minutes long, I mean, what was I thinking? Crazy Mom here!
I would like to thank everyone who has helped out and supported us throughout this year. Thank you for proudly wearing your Retinoblastoma shirt and spreading awareness about this rare cancer! Thank you to Nell Ryan for organizing the Notre Dame Game Watch for Eddie in the fall. Thank you Nicole Schuster and the BC field hockey girls for organizing several events for Edward. Thank you Emily Gimpel and the Junior Golf Clubs Cancer for having an amazing golf outing in August at Whitemarsh Valley Country Club. What a success! Thank you Jenny Franks for bringing Eddie into the Matthew Mullin Foundation's Ugly Sweater Party. We are honored to have been included in Matt's memory.
Thank you to everyone who attended these events, and others, for the little guy! Also, a huge thank you to our parents for their unwavering support. I would like to especially thank my Mom, Joan Schuster for driving us to Will's Eye for every single appointment, and waiting with me to hear the results from Dr. Shields. Thank you for being there for me. Thank you to our brothers and sisters, aunts and uncles who constantly check in on us and spoil Eddie like he is a king! Thank you to everyone who has sent cards, care packages, gifts, food, and money to help ease the difficulties of caring for a sick child. Thank you for great friends, friends who flew/drove long distances to Charlottesville just to visit with us, or nearby friends who have texted my husband behind my back to arrange for me to go out to dinner or to the movies with the girls. Each of you have left an imprint on our hearts.
