Well, we have been quite sick in the Campbell household lately.  And just when I thought we were all through, Cara started hacking once again this afternoon.  Thankfully it is just a terrible cold, and it has been contained to our heads and chests only...no stomach issues at all.  So anyway, we have been pretty much down and out for awhile.

I can't believe January is almost over.  In two weeks we will encounter that dreaded day....Feb. 10....sometimes I wish Feb. could just drop off the face of the calendar.  But something nice is happening that day...you could call it coincidence, or you could call it God helping us through (which is what I think it is)...Greg, Cara and I will be at Trinity for a little while, and then we are off to the jewelers.  Not for me, but for Evan.  A couple of weeks ago I got a call from the Heart Walk director.  They have a "Heart Ball" every February (I think it's for all of the companies who participate in the walk), and this year it will be held at the end of the month.  During the ball they have some items to auction off to help raise money.  This year, a jeweler in Shadyside wants to donate a pearl necklace to be auctioned off, but there is something very special about this necklace.  Each pearl will be selected by local people who have had heart disease touch their life.  And because we are so dedicated to raising CHD Awareness and participating in the Heart Walk, they chose us to pick out a pearl for our little guy.  The winner of this necklace will also get a copy of the stories of people the pearls represent.  So someone else will hear about our son.  And we are to choose our pearl on Feb. 10.  Something positive that will happen for us on the anniversary of the day Evan stopped feeling pain and went on to live in heaven with Jesus.

I can't stand the fact that Feb. 10 is two weeks away.  Today, two years ago, was one of the best days we had in the hospital.  It's the day Evan was extubated and was finally breathing on his own.  It was a day we could hold him after only being able to stand by his side for the 5 prior weeks.  It was a day that had us one step closer to going home, which we still did, but there were only 2 of us in the car.

I am so thankful that the directors of the walk care about us and our son so much.  I'm sure part of it is all of the money we've raised, but I have also gotten to know them over the last year and a half, and they really do care about us.  They didn't even know Feb. 10 was Evan's angelversary.  And they offered to have us come a different day if we wanted to, but again, I like the idea of doing something nice for Evan that day.  It may be emotional, but it will be nice too.

On another note, I haven't updated about my Care Bear in awhile either...she is still growing so fast and has the funniest personality!  In the last couple of weeks she finally gotten two teeth (on top of being sick; she was not a happy camper).  She is now eating graham crackers and other finger foods and loving every bite!  She is also moving forward, but I wouldn't call it crawling...she sort of lunges to where she wants to go.  She prefers to hold onto your fingers and walk around though she is very unsteady.  She has started to try to pull herself up in her crib too...she may skip the crawling altogether!

Cara is just such a joy...she warms my heart to be with her.  I am very blessed to be able to stay at home with her so much.  And taking her to work 3 days a week can be challenging, but it seems to be working out just fine.  She really loves to play peek-a-boo and has the cutest laugh...I can't resist playing with her while we're there!  As long as I get my work done I don't worry too much about it.  :-)  I just adore her and love her for being her. 

On that note, I need to feed my family.  It's way past dinner time!