Final Preparation for Team Theo! This Saturday!

This Saturday is the big day for Team Theo! We'll take the National Kidney Foundation (NKF) Charlotte Kidney Walk by storm, and it should be a really fun time. Here are the details:

• If you haven't yet registered to walk with our team, please do so at www.walkwiththeo.com. This will make sure you're in the NKF system, and you'll get a free shirt!
• We'll plan to meet at 8:00 AM at Gateway Village in Uptown Charlotte
• We're providing donuts and mimosas (yum) for those who want to enjoy
• Opening ceremonies are at 8:30, and the walk will begin at 8:45
• After the walk, School of Rock will be performing, so stick around and enjoy!
• NKF is also offering a kidney screening, and they're hoping to get 100 people checked
• Don't expect a high intensity event. It should be a really fun morning

Thanks for being a part of our efforts to support NKF. Theo is excited to see you!

 

An Update on Theo and a Great Opportunity!

Natalie and I wanted to provide an update on Theo, and invite you to be a part of something happening in Charlotte in June (www.walkwiththeo.com).

First, the update:

On April 25, Dubya (Theo's certified pre-owned kidney) will celebrate his third anniversary in Theo's belly. I've taken some time over the past few days to reflect on the changes that Dubya has brought, and the progress that Theo has made, over the past 36 months.

To be sure, 18 month olds and 4 year olds tend to have little in common with one another. In Theo's case, I think these distinctions are amplified. Dubya brought Theo energy, an appetite, an ability to grow, and a zest for life that we had only dreamed of seeing at this point in his life. In fact, his swim and soccer coaches probably wish that we could tone down the energy level for his classes, as he (like his father did at the same age) seems unable to stop having fun long enough to pay attention to what they say.

Watching his little sister grow (Nora is now 2!) gave us a new perspective, as the thought of our beautiful girl going in for major surgery at 18 months was unfathomable. With Theo, we marched right on, knowing it was the best thing for him.

Theo showed Nora around the hospital. 

And just like that...

Theo turned 3, Nora is 8 months old, and 2014 is drawing to a close.  Life really does go so fast.

It feels like it has been a game-changing few months for us.  We've traveled a lot (to visit family in Punta Mita, Mexico; to spend time with great grandparents in Palm Beach, FL; to see cousins in D.C.; and to spend time with family and friends in Kiawah, SC), we've kept busy at home, and we've settled in more to life as a family of four.  The game-changers: Theo is now potty-trained, sleeping in a big boy bed, and taking all of his nutrition and medications by mouth.  What a HUGE difference that all makes!

August update

Too much time has elapsed since I posted an update.  I had planned to post immediately following Theo’s 1 year kidneyversary, but other items on my “to-do” list won out until now.  It’s amazing how little free time I have now between raising two kids, working, and all the other things we’re committed to.  So, please forgive me for the delay in providing you all with an update!  I’ll try to concisely recap the last 4 months:

·         Kidneyversary: Theo and his new kidney, Dubya, celebrated their one year Kidneyversary on April 25^th.  While we were sorry that we couldn’t spend it with Cool Aunt Whit, Dubya’s previous caretaker, we were honored to be surrounded by some of our closest friends and Theo’s biggest cheerleaders (including a couple of his NICU nurses and our genetic counselor) one year after transplant.  It’s incredible to think how much has changed in our lives since Theo got Dubya.  We’re hoping that this is the first of many kidneyversaries for Theo and Dubya.  

Theo with two of his NICU nurses and his former nanny at his Kidneyversary party

Welcome to the world, Nora!

The Foy family has grown by one since our last post!  On April 2nd, Nora Whitney Foy was born, causing our hearts to grow even more full with love as soon as we met her.  She's been home with us for two weeks now, and we all love being a family of four.

Life with a soon-to-be 2 year old

Smiles in the sand!

In just a few short weeks, Theo will turn two.  What a two years it has been!  You know how there are certain times in your life where you feel like SO MUCH life happened, that it couldn’t possibly have been only 2 years?  We feel that way.  Not only has Theo brought us immense joy, but we’ve been able to witness first hand, and in a big way, how big and good God really is.  So, we approach Theo’s birthday, which happens to fall on Thanksgiving this year, with overwhelming thanksgiving for the boy he is, the lessons we’ve learned, and all that God continues to do in him, through him, and through all of the people who have prayed for, cried for, and supported him (and us) along the way.

Milestones!

August turned out to be a splendid month.  After a successful and uneventful procedure to remove Theo's dialysis catheter, we are happy to share that Theo's labs have been stable, he is full of energy, and he has reached new milestones on the development front.

Some of the highlights from the past month, in picture form:

Theo took his first bath.  It's safe to say that he loves being in the water.