The Great Binky Debate

Binkies. You either swear them off or swear by them. Evie made it easy.. She never liked taking a binky. We never had to stress about weening her off because it was never something she was interested in. Jack is a completely different story. 

Nothing gives me more anxiety than what other people think about Jack still using a binky. Some have made off hand comments about that thing still hanging out of his mouth. Why does he still have it? Why does he need it during the day? Why don't you just make it available at bedtime only? I get it people.. Maybe it's getting to a point where I should start weening him off. But you look at his binky and see a crutch.. A hunk of plastic that needs to be phased out. I see something much different.

Flash back to almost exactly a year ago. Jack had his first open heart surgery at 4 months old. My precious baby boy... Ripped open, machines pumping his heart, keeping him alive.. To mend his little heart. After surgery, for days, I could not pick up my son to comfort him. At a time where all he wanted-- no, NEEDED, to feel comfort and that everything would be ok all I could do was stand by his bed and watch him suffer in pain. Until 4 months, Jack didn't take a binky. After heart surgery, it was a source of comfort.. Comfort I could not give him.

I know it's silly, but I think the binky means more to me than it does to most mothers. I owe the binky more than most. So no, I'm not really ready to just toss it aside just yet. Neither is Jack.. And I'm totally ok with it. 

See You in October

Jacks cardiology appointment on Friday went amazingly well. 

We loaded the kids in the car bright and early and headed into town. 

Evie was very excited by the promise of a giant fruit cup upon arrival.

The kids loved playing with the magnetic boat, sand table while we waited.. And waited.. 

Finally it was time for a weigh in and height check. His weight has been pretty much stuck at 18 pounds for months now so that wasn't a surprise, but he has been growing height wise so Dr. T said he's not worried.. So we aren't either..

Next up on the agenda was an EKG. Jack was less than thrilled about the stickers and having to leave them on.

Next was the echo.. Easily my least favorite part of the day. He just screamed and cried the entire time.. I literally had to wrap myself around him so the tech could get some pictures.. It was pretty brutal.

Evie was a little freaked out by it. At one point she curled up on my legs as Jack screamed.. But she dug deep and comforted her brother with gentle pats and a couple "it's ok Jack Jack"s

Once we finally met with the cardiologist it was smooth sailing. They were happy with how he and everything inside looked. He still has a leaky valve but it looks about the same. He said they will probably be able to repair it during his next surgery, the Fontan, because it's not worth opening him up now just for that. So with all that being said, we were told to come back in 6 months! Which is exactly what we wanted to hear. 

So see you in October, BCH!! 

Mystery Jack Cheerleader Strikes Again!

I came home from work and food shopping today to THIS! 

This incredibly kind, generous mystery Jack cheerleader sent us a superman card before.. No name, no address. And now they've done it again! 

I don't know who you are.. I feel like I should know that lowercase "a" but I cannot for the life of me figure it out! It's driving me (lovingly) bananas!!! I implore you to let me know who you are.. I won't post it here, I won't tell a soul.. I just want to be able to thank you!! Your kindness is overwhelming.

10 Days..

In 10 days we are heading to BCH for a cardiology appointment. It's been a whopping 6 months, the longest stretch of time, since we've been to the heart center. Jack is doing so amazing and I feel like it's going to go well.. But there's always that nasty little knot in the pit of my stomach making me say "but what if it doesn't?"

Jeremy put it perfectly on Easter Sunday. Best case scenario they say he is perfect, see you in 6 months. It's when they want to see him more frequently that you know they are thinking ahead and my head and heart sink at the thought of it: surgery.

Keep us in your thoughts and send Jack some good vibes! We're ready to just get it over with! 

Meeting the Easter bunny with big sis Evie

Looking handsome on Easter Sunday

Enjoying some ice cream cake... And brushing his teeth in between bites! 

This Jedi is going to use the force to ace this cardiology appointment!

Overwhelming

In a world where it can be hard to find the good.. The kind.. The generous.. We have seen more of it than we could have ever imagined being possible.

The Dally Cup was such a surreal and amazing day. We cannot thank the Belmont Police and Fire departments for all of their hard work in organizing the event.. As well as everyone who donated goods to be raffled, friends and family who attended and everyone who participated in any capacity. I can't even explain how touching it was to see so much love and support for Jack in one day. It's really indescribable. 

The response to the fundraising site has been amazing! So many friends, family and perfect strangers have been BEYOND generous and donated money to helping Jack. 

The only word that can really describe The Dally Cup experience and the response to the youcaring.com page is this-- overwhelming. I'm Jack's mother, and I love him so much it almost physically hurts! But to see others loving him and showing so much support is just amazing. 

Jack at The Dally Cup 

Take the pillows advice! 

Until It Happens to You

When Jack went in for his first surgery in May, a lot of people suggested setting up a fundraising website to raise money to help pay for the medical bills. Both Jeremy and I were against the idea. I've seen people post on Facebook about Gofundme pages trying to raise money for sick kids with cancer, funeral costs and everything in between and EVERYTIME I saw one I would think that will never be me. I will never be in a situation like that. So we politely declined and did it all on our own. The bills poured in, late notices, threats to be sent to collections.. The whole nine yards. It took us months to square it all away, get on payment plans and make the monthly payments. We JUST finished paying off all of last years bills.. Just in time for this years to start piling up. The stress of having to worry about Jack's health is more than we can handle.. Paying for his care just about put us over the edge. 

We are not ones to take handouts. We are a hard working family and have everything we do because we've worked for it all. Jack was born with a congenital heart defect. We didn't buy things we couldn't afford, we don't throw money around, we don't go on big trips.. We live a humble little life. With mounting medical bills, we essentially have to put life on hold.. So we don't have to compromise the quality of Jack's care. 

After this past year, I've come to a realization. Accepting help on Jack's behalf doesn't make my family a charity case. And accepting help from people who love Jack and are willing and wanting to help doesn't make us weak as parents and caregivers. By swallowing our pride, we are simply allowing amazing, generous people support Jack (and us) in the most amazing way. Jack will get the care he needs and deserves.. And we can worry about the important stuff. 

So we have accepted help and are amazed and overwhelmed by all of the support we've recieved. I want to thank my sister, Lynne, for offering to set up a fundraising site for us and putting all the love and work into making it amazing! And thank you to everyone who has already donated to Little Jack's Big Heart Fund! To say I'm amazed would be an understatement... I am moved to tears by the unbelievable generosity and kind words for each and everyone of you. How do you thank people like you? I hope someday I can find a way to really show you how much my family and I appreciate what you've done. 

https://www.youcaring.com/jack-mousseau-515830

I also want to thank my brother in law, Ben for nominating Jack to be honored at the Dally Cup tomorrow!! We are so excited to be a part of it and are so grateful to you and the Belmont Police Department and the Belmont Fire Department!! Can't wait for that puck drop!! 

https://www.facebook.com/events/1698068877072713/

I don't know how to explain how it feels being in this position. It isn't easy to accept help.. It feels really awkward, we just want to take care of our baby like any other hard working, honest parent would. But I guess until it happens to you, you just don't know. 

Jack didn't ask for any of this.. He deserves a happy, healthy life.

The 7th Annual Dally Cup

Thanks to being nominated by my brother in law, Sargent Ben Mailhot of the Belmont Police Department, Jack is being honored at the 7th Annual Dally Cup in Belmont! Next Sunday, the Belmont police department and the Belmont fire department will face off in a hockey game to benefit Jack. Jeremy, Evie, myself and of course our man Jack will be there cheering everyone on. Information for this event are as followed:

Sunday February 28th 2016 at 1PM

Skip Viglirolo Skating Rink

301 Concord Ave

Belmont, MA 02478

The following is a link to the Facebook event page:

https://www.facebook.com/events/1698068877072713/

We are so honored and humbled to be honored at this fantastic event. Thank you to Ben and all of his colleagues for making this happen.. We can't wait for next Sunday!! 

Can we go to the Dally Cup now mom???