This is huge. This is really really huge. Big. Ginormous. My son sat by himself for almost a full minute, maybe more. I can't begin to tell you how exciting and big and wonderful this is. I still get a little sad sometimes that he can't do "normal" baby things...it's a small reminder of how tough it's been for him...and us. And here he is. Being a big boy. Sitting up for the first prolonged period of time, by himself. This is big. This is very very big. And beautiful and amazing. Wow. Wow. #deanV #tinmanstrong #milestones

This has me in tears. My son will be a year old and this sweet family is still learning how to breathe after their loss. HLHS takes lives. CHDs are rough. But our kids are tougher. They are fighters. They are strong. And it is beautiful. #deanV #tinmanstrong #forJaylee

HLHS Heart. Underdeveloped left side, little to no mitral value. Purple is oxygen rich and oxygen poor blood mixing together. #artistmama #artwork #series #important #chd #hlhs #tinmanstrong

Checking O2 levels tonight and he decided he didn't want to any more. He was looking quite dusky...enough to make me want to check. Sitting right 82, which is great, right where he needs to be!#deanV #tinmanstrong #chd #hlhs #oxygensatsperfect

This little guy had a great day with Grammy and Grumpy and two of his great grandmothers. He came home and promptly threw up his entire feed...literally ounces and ounces of formula. He deserved some extra snuggles after that poor little guy... #deanV #tinmanstrong #tubie #gtubebaby

Blood draws wear this little guy down. HLHS is livable and I'm thankful it is, but it's a hard life too. #hlhs #chd #fighter #tinmanstrong #deanV

Doctor Ellie checking baby brothers heart. #tinmanstrong #ellieray #deanV

If you have never held your child down while they put a tourniquet on him while trying to get his blood, you do not know what I am going through. If you have never woken up your sleeping child to inject him with a medication that is saving his life and hurting him at the same time, you do not know what we are going through. If you do not question every cry, hold your breathe to see how long it lasts, you do not know what we are going through. If you have never fed your child an ounce of formula and prayed it would stay down, crying when he Vomits it all back up, you do not know what we are going through. If you have never questions weather or not you did he right thing by opting for heart surgery, you do not know what we are going through. I wish people stopped acting like they knew what this was like. Unless you have done it, you do not know. You do not.