Monday, August 16, 2010

Happy 6 months our little hero


You are 6 months old today our sweet little fighter! Oh Bodie, we are so proud of you. 10 months ago, our world was forever changed when we heard the words "your child has a severe congenital heart defect." We spent 4 months crying, worrying, pleading with God to give us a miracle. And 6 months ago, he did. He gave us you. Our little warrior. 6 months ago, he brought you into the world, blue, quiet and pretty unhappy to be out of your mommy. Not that we can blame you. It's as if you knew what you were up against and didn't want any part of it. Again, not that we can blame you.

You have taught us so much about strength, determination and the gift that life is during the past 6 months. 6 months ago, we could never have guessed that our path would be this tumultuous, this difficult, this frightening, this fraught with heart stopping moments. BUT, we also could never have guessed it would bring such joy, such beauty, such gratefulness and love. You are a WARRIOR. You are such a STRONG little man. And most amazing of all, amidst everything, and against all odds, you are FULL OF JOY. You remind us every day of God's blessings...of the miracle of life. We could not be prouder of you, of your sweet radiant disposition and your lion's strength and will to fight. Today, we celebrate you, sweet boy.

Of the 181 days we've been blessed to have you here on earth with us, you have spent 95 of them in an Intensive Care Unit, 36 of them in a step-down unit and 50 of them here at home with us. You've cost our insurance company upwards of 3/4 of a million dollars (not to mention the other half a million that the hospital absorbed). You've had 2 open-heart surgeries, 2 cardiac catheterizations and more pokes, prods, lines placed and needle sticks than we can even count. We've almost lost you 4 times and each of those 4 times will haunt my memories forever.

But you? You don't care. Somehow, you don't even realize that life has dealt you a bad hand. To look at you, you'd never know all that you have been through. You are just like any other 6 month old. Silly, sweet and so stinking smiley. You hear your mommy or daddy's voice and turn and immediately start smiling. You seek out your sister from across the room and your entire face lights up. You are beyond ticklish and LOVE it when mommy tickles your tummy. You blow raspberries with wild abandon. You eat us out of house and home just trying to put fat rolls on your cute little thighs (and you're almost there). You are amazing. You are our miracle. And we couldn't possibly be prouder of you and more grateful to God for the last 6 months. We are so privileged to call you our son.

Fight on our sweet little hero.

We love you,
Mommy and Daddy

13 comments:

  1. Happy 6 Months Bodie!

    Beautiful post...he is amazing.

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  2. I have goosebumps. Happy 6 Months Bodie!

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  3. Awww happy 6 months Bodie! You are such a strong little fighter and such an inspiration.

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  4. Amy, you made me cry this morning. I hope you will turn your blog posts into a book for Bodie. He needs to know all of this when he grows up.

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  5. I don't think you missed a single word or thought. Very well put :)

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  6. I LOVE this. I share so many of the same feelings Amy! Happy 6 month birthday Bodie and Congrats on all you've come through.

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  7. Paula Mae (Hayes) TaulbeeAugust 16, 2010 at 8:59 AM

    Happy 6 months Bodie! We are praying for you and are so encouraged as we see our Lord working in your little body! We'll keep holding you up in prayer, and you keep fighting hard, little one! God is faithful and worthy of all praise!

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  8. Happy Birthday, My Love. Indeed you are a miracle... our miracle. I love you. God bless you, your incredible parents and lovely sister. Kisses, my Bodie: Nairi and family

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  9. Hi Amy, Dusk, Sierra and Bodie,
    We are SO pleased to hear this great 6 month report! We just returned from Florida, visiting relatives, and I keep thinking and praying for you all. Just as Bodie is turning 6 months old, our newest (5th) grandchild, Julia' and Steve's daughter Camela Carolyn, is turning one year old (Aug. 17). We are going to get her and her siblings' (Hailey, 5, and Stephen, 3 yrs. old) portraits taken at Penney's today. I bought a 7' x 8' tent for them all to play in and we'll have a cake, maybe a "caterpillar cake" made out of a line of cupcakes on edge, all different colors, tomorrow. Bonnie and Shaun are traveling back from Idaho today with Dylan, 5, and Brianna, 1, and Shaun's sister Carrie and her 4 month old son Cole. They have relatives there. Keep in touch. Love you all, Carolyn and Pete Thom

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  10. Amazing to think you're all living this incredible journey. You've all got to have fight in you. He is an incredible miracle, we praise God for him! Love, Erin

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  11. Lots of love to Bodie and the family. We are so glad that God has blessed you with his precious life. Happy 6 months! Love, Bonnie & Kerrs

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  12. agree with all. goosebumps, tears, smiles...amy, you so perfectly capture with words every emotion. i hope you know what an encouragement your blog has been to so many people. i really am in awe of you. your children and husband are so blessed to have you. and you mr. bodie...god has used you to touch so many lives. to help us count our blessings, remember how real and intimate prayer is, you bring perspective to our "hard" days (they pale in comparison to all you've been through), and all you've overcome as "bodie the warrior" has inspired the lives of so many.
    love to all the bennetts. praise god for the first 6 months.
    -katy barnes

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  13. So many others have said it before, but Bodie you have touched more lives in your first 6 months than you will ever realize. Never before did I believe the power of prayer could do so many wonderful things ( of course with the aid of so many fantastic doctors, nurses and hospital staff.. and of course with the strength of your parents ) -- you are a true fighter. Thank you for being such an inspiration to us all. Happy 6 Months, little man!

    Thoughts and Prayers with your family always :) <3

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