On Thanksgiving Day, Patrick was flown by air ambulance to Primary Children's Hospital. He finally got to meet some of his extended family. Two weeks later, he got to come home with us - just in time for his first Christmas.

These next months brought lots of firsts: First haircut, first laughs, first outpatient surgery, first trip to Seattle, first re-hospitalization, first solid foods, and more.

When we started out, we didn't imagine that the last few months of Patrick's first year would be so focused on his intestines. Mid-September, he had a surgery to take his ostomy down, connecting his small and large intestine for the first time. Because the large intestine had never been used, it was very narrow and didn't work well. Meanwhile, his overworked small intestine turned out not to be very strong any more. The result was a much longer than expected hospital stay, and then a new focus in his care at home. Nonetheless, he did come home and we were all thrilled he was here.

Since Patrick was sick most of his first summer, this summer was filled with firsts! First vacation. First trip to the beach. First time the doctors have been worried about him being overweight, instead of underweight. And very, very little time in the hospital.