Tuesday, January 1, 2008

Day 30 - Happy New Year



*******2008********

Tristan had another really good night, his apnea monitor did not go off at all and he slept very well, so did we, we feel very rested today!!!! After we got in bed I laid beside Tristan, snuggling up to him, rubbing his little head, praying and then reflecting back on this past year and all of the events we've been through as a family, as it has been very busy:

  • January - We drove here, to our new house which was only framed at the time, for Tanner and Trayc to do their own fireworks, because we thought it would be neat when we finally lived here to look back and say "we were here last year". We put our house, my childhood home of 40 yrs., up for sale.
  • March - We celebrated Tayden's 1st birthday. We were able to get pregnant on our own, without infertility medication.
  • April - We sold our house. We moved into my grandparents house.
  • July - We celebrated Tanner's 11th birthday. We found out we were having ANOTHER boy. We named our 3rd boy, Tristan Asher Hostetter.
  • August - We found out Tristan had T-18. We closed and moved into our new house.
  • September - I spent most of my days on the Internet researching T-18. Trayc and I celebrated our birthdays.
  • October - Trayc and I celebrated our 17th wedding anniversary. I met new Internet friends traveling this same T-18 road.
  • November - We prepared for Tristan's birth and went to numerous appts. with doctors and specialists. We gave our video testimony at our church. We celebrated Thanksgiving in our new home.
  • December - This was the month of miracles. We became a Family of 5 on December 3rd when Tristan was born at 12:42 pm, December 7th we brought Tristan home, we celebrated Christmas every day, December 23rd we dedicated Tristan to the Lord at our church, December 24th we celebrated Tristan's 1st Christmas Eve, December 25th we celebrated Tristan's 1st Christmas, December 31st we celebrated Tristan's 4-wk birthday and New Years Eve.

As all of this was going through my mind I started crying because I looked ahead to January 1st, 2009 and wondered what I would be reminiscing about on December 31, 2008. Will it be full of excitement, full of sadness and loss, or a balanced combination of each? Obviously the first thing I will remember is that our precious miracle baby boy was with us as we brought in the new year and he slept snuggled up beside me all night long. But then I thought how many more memories will we have the opportunity to make with him in this new year? Will he make it to Valentines Day in February? Easter in March? Tayden's 2nd birthday in March? Would Tristan surprise all the doctors and make it to Mother's Day in May? My heart was breaking because I long to have him here with us for every event in our family because he is a part of our family now, I love that HE makes us a Family of 5 and I don't want to go back to being a Family of 4 anymore. I have said so many times before that during my pregnancy and since Tristan was born that I only look at today but I let my mind go past that last night, after all I'm only human but more than that, I am a mother who loves her little boy so much and can't imagine my life without him and I still long for the "miracle" to happen. I don't know how long we will have Tristan but am so thankful for how many days the Lord has given us thus far. And, although this is not the road I would have chosen for our family, it has changed us forever and we will never be the same because of our precious baby boy, Tristan. For me, it has drawn me closer to the Lord. I was saved at the age of 9, been to church 3'xs a week since then, very involved in church activities but this has caused me to be more than just a "normal church goer". I now have a deeper and more intimate relationship with the Lord, I have the desire to daily search the scriptures learning more about the Christian walk, I have a huge desire to learn more about Heaven and a passion to help encourage other moms on this T-18 road. As I look back on 2007, I so clearly see how the Lord carried us every step of the way and know without a doubt, no matter how difficult this year may be, He will continue to carry us. This is how I ended my thoughts about the upcoming year: I am so thankful the Lord has allowed us to be Tristan's parents and very grateful for each day we have been given, we will continue to live in the moment and live only for today and although I do not know what this year holds for us, I do know this - this is our story, Tristan's story, this is the plan the Lord has for our family and we are to use this story to honor and glory the Lord for the rest of our lives and we are to ultimately point others to Jesus through Tristan's story.

The excitement for today? First, we are on DAY 30!!!!! Oh how the Lord is blessing us with so much more time than we ever imagined possible and second, tonight we bathed Tristan, it was definitely a family event as Tanner and Tayden helped and then we dressed all 3 boys in their matching "doggie" PJ's (Tanner bought them for Tristan yesterday - we couldn't believe they had them in his size) and took lots of pictures. Please pray for Tristan's continued strength and please pray for our family as we begin this new year, as we realize this might be the hardest year we've faced yet.


Happy New Year from our family to yours.....
Trayc, Yvette, Tanner, Tayden and Tristan Hostetter


21 comments:

anno said...

Such a happy thought for you all that darling little Tristan made it to 30 days. Praying for all of you and hoping that the Lord will uphold you as you travel this path together. I have only been following Tristan's story since just before he was born and I am marvelling at the way God works his purposes out.

Kim said...

Happy 30th birthday, Tristan! :)

Emily said...

Oh praise God. This is just the smile I needed to make this, my first day of the New Year complete. Praise you, Father. Tristan is the most gorgeous miracle baby boy I've ever seen. ;)

Brian and Catherine said...

I stumbled upon this blog after looking at a scrapbooking website and I check it first thing every morning. I'm so glad to see Tristan doing so well and think he is so lucky to have you for his parents.

Anonymous said...

"Let's pray hard" this is how my twins always start it.
We believe we all needed messengers
from God to wake up us in the christiany life we have been living, we also know that God have choosen you as part of His purpose, but we "still long for a "miracle" to happen." our pray towards these is the same as Gideon (Judges 6:39)
We will keep praying.
The Magana family
St. Augustine, Fl

Rebecca (Ramblings by Reba) said...

Happy New Year, Hostetter family.

We love you.

Laurie in Ca. said...

May this new year be full of joy as Tristan has entered it with you, making it your family of five. I am blessed to come here each day and see how he is thriving with all of the love being poured out on him. The more I follow this uncertain road with you and others, the more I realize that T-18 has no rules, boundaries or time frame. Each baby is so unique and woven by God. I continue to pray for your family to be blessed in this new year as your miracle continues to unfold. God is so good always.

Love, Laurie in Ca.

Kate said...

he is so tiny and handsome! happy 30th day, Tristan! praising God for you and your family and especially your newest baby boy.

So Blessed said...

Praising God with you...and praying that 2008 will be a blessed year for your family...
we don't have to look far to see all that we have to be thankful for and the Lord's goodness to us. His mercies never cease. Prayers continue to be lifted for your family.

Holly said...

Keep counting the days. Keep praying for more. You may be blessed with precious time. I am the mother of a child with trisomy 18 also. My Morgan is 10 1/2 YEARS old. He is the joy of my life. You just never know what will happen, or not happen. I pray that you are blessed, like I am, with the gift of sweet time.

If you are interested, check out Morgan's caring bridge site at www.caringbridge.org/visit/morganmccormick and I have baby pics posted at www.geocities.com/hmmmcormick

God bless,
Holly

Donna/Mom/Unci said...

Dearest Yvette: I love the pictures of 'our men'! Trayc looks so-o-o-o happy and content with his sons in his arms. His pride in them is very evident. He's just beaming. And I can just see you behind the camera bursting with the joy of seeing your FOUR guys looking so handsome. I can feel the love all the way up here (in TN). "Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift." ---II Corinthians 9:15. I miss ya'll so much. Please kiss the bottem of Tristan's beautiful little feet for me (that's where I got my sugar!) and (I'm so thankful for his weight gain!); please 'high-five' Tayden and get some 'sugar' from his sweet little neck; and please tell Tanner I miss playing checkers and Spider Solitare with him (and slip in a good hug for me); and tell all of them their Unci loves them all the way to Heaven and back!! You and Trayc can give each other a big 'bear hug' from me, too. Happy New Year in our Lord from Grandma and Me. I continue to be amazed at the growth in our Lord Jesus that you and Trayc are experiencing...such an example and a blessing for all of us, and a wonderful ministry to those on the T-18 Journey. Ya'll have placed your ALL in His hands and draw on His strength as you face this new year. "I trust in You, O Lord: I say, 'You are my God.' My times are in Your hands."---Psalm 31:14,15. We are so blessed to have you in our family, sweet daughter. I love you, Mom PS: May God richly bless your sweet family with more time and beautiful memories in this coming year.

Cathy said...

I am going to pray for many more chapters of this beautiful story! God is so GREAT and so WONDERFUL! I am so glad he is doing good and seems stable. I know you are tired, but I promise there will be time to sleep as he gets older. I slept with Annabel on my chest, just because I believed my heartbeat would remind hers to beat and that I could will her to breathe when she rested too long in between breaths! I am praying constantly for more baths and more matching jammies!
Cathy & Annabel

Anonymous said...

I love to see the pictures of Tristan!!!! I can picture him in my mind as I think of him throughout the day and pray for that little sweet body! He is an angel! You are all in my prayers!!!!!! Happy 30th Birthday little precious one! How truly blessed.

Much Love & Prayers for you!

Granna said...

I check on our baby every day. He has a Granna in Alabama that he does not know, but she prays for him and knows that he is in the hands of a good and just God who makes no mistakes.

Tamara said...

What a miracle and a blessing little Tristan is to us and so many. We continue to pray for you all daily and know that our God can do anything! You are all an inspiration to us and we thank you for allowing God to use you and to touch the lives of others. We love you and we continue to pray without ceasing. Dennis, Tamara and Hannah Blankinchip

Kim (marygracesummons.blogspot.com) said...

Yvette,
Praise God for Day 30! I love pictures of this precious miracle baby boy!! I pray for you daily and will continue to do so. You are your family are always in my thoughts and prayers!
With love,
Kim

Marianne said...

I found your blog through the Farley's through Mike Cope's. Your faith and trust in God's grace is truly inspirational. I am praying for you, Trayc, Tanner, Tayden and Tristan as you travel this journey. Thank you so much for sharing. What a blessing the blogs are giving us the opportunity to encourage people in their struggles all over the world. God bless the five of you!

Dee Dee said...

I hope Tristan is having a wonderful one-month birthday.

Marianne Elkins said...

Happy Birthday Tristan! We have been blessed through your sweet family. Thank you for sharing your journey with us. I pray you all feel the prayers we are lifting up for you daily. We serve a mighty God! I pray He continues to wrap His arms of love and comfort around you. May you continue to experience the peace that surpasses all understanding. May God bless you in this new year.

Anonymous said...

Best wishes to your family!!!! Happy New Year!!!!! www.caringbridge.org/visit/hannahtheriot

Karen said...

Praying for you all to enjoy the depths of each moment.