One man's trash...

The kids and I were driving around doing errands this morning and we passed a garage sale that looked interesting. They had lots of neat Barbie items. I told the girls they could get a Barbie house -its great - it folds up and takes up no space.

Then Sully found the Barbie van. If you know Sully, you know that he LOVES cars, trucks, vans...anything with wheels pretty much.

I tried to put it back, he SCREAMED, I tried to put it down to pay for it, he SCREAMED. He had to hold it while I attempted to put him in his car seat. He might sleep with the thing!

We are having a fun afternoon with our new treasures!

Jill

There are some friends who you can go years and not see them, and then when you do, its like no time has passed.
That is Jill. She makes me laugh harder than most people I know.

We went to college together and have stayed in touch thanks to email but with her living in Arizona we dont get to see each much. In fact the last time was when Lauren was about 8 months old.

Jill was crazy enough to endure the torture of RAGBRI and then stopped in for a short visit. It wasn't long enough though and now I'm spending my time trying to figure out how I can go to Arizona for a vacation and a real visit.

BIG BIG NEWS!!!!

I was getting ready this morning and Lauren came running up the stairs sobbing. Mommy!!! I have a loose tooth!

She was so scared by it! I explained that losing a tooth is a good thing. When I took a look inside her mouth I was suprised. Not only is the tooth VERY loose. But the big tooth is already in! How did we not notice this? We had to call Daddy and both grandmas. They were all equally excited! :)

Now I know I need to get a grip, big time! But really, I cried. She is growing up before my eyes, a little each day. I want her to be 2. Forever.

The lost is found!

Last night during a WILD thunderstorm Jordan and I heard a loud noise at the same time as a huge clack of thunder. I thought it was something funny going on with our baby monitor due to the storm.
But this is what we discoverd this morning...



The stupid cat knocked the hermit crab cage down and we lost Skittles!!!

But then tonight we found him! Behind the piano - I cant show you a picture of how we found him because it is WAY too dusty behind our piano! :) But we are happy to have him back!

Five kids...

Jordan and I got to babysit for all the kids last night. Quite the experience!


Sully pusing Alexa in the stroller...


Alexa pushing Sully in the stroller...


Alexa is so soft and little!


Lauren likes to cuddle her too!

Wrestle Mania

For some reason Avery and Aaron turn every gathering into wrestle time. This time Sullivan decided he was going to take out Alexa too.

The tent

Campout

Aaron and Alexa are spending 5 days at grandmas house while their mom and dad are in Mexico. We promised Aaron that we would do a camp out while he was here. We kept our promise on Saturday night. The kids had a total blast. I think it will be a night that they will always remember - smores, wrestling, the tent and staying up till almost midnight!

Smores pictures:







Aaron could have roasted marshmallows the entire night.

Uncle Jeff visits

Jeff and family came in for a short visit last night.


Cousin Ryan and Avery.

>
Lauren and Cousin Christina


Please Come Play With Me!


Aunt Amy reading to the girls.


Just cute.

Pool day

Melanie and I finally got the kids together for a pool day at her house and of course - it wasnt really all that warm! Also, Avery was in a BAD mood and when she is in a bad mood everyone feels it.
But we still had some fun :)

Book Lover

Lately Avery has become a book lover just like her sister. Lauren loved books from birth - cannot get enough. Kind of like her mommy!
For the longest time Avery liked to chew on books, throw books and rip books.
But lately she always has a book in her hand, asking me to read it to her or 'reading' it herself.
Nothing makes me happier!

Brave

He's getting braver! Sullivan is trying to take some steps! They arent the most graceful things I have ever seen but he is attempting and that is huge.
And his cruising is getting braver - he will reach out and walk things that are a little further away than he normally will.
He has spent a lot of time walking behind a baby doll stroller that we borrowed from Grandma Cindy today.

I am so proud of him!

He also said 'thank you' to me for the first time today. In the past week his vocabulary has really started to take off!

What a great day.

My downfalls...

My two largest downfalls are that I get anxious over things I cannot change and that I am impatient. Not a good combination.

After finding out that there is nothing 'wrong' with Sullivan, my patience was through. My mind is screaming, "Get up and walk then!"
We took Sully to our chiropractor, and good friend, yesterday. He said Sully was an inch off in his legs and that his bottom vertebrae were turned, especially the last three. So he worked on him and we are going back next week. After watching Sully he feels that he is REALLY close to walking.

I asked him how he felt about us getting braces for Sully and he said that with braces his concern is always that a child will learn to depend on them and not on their own stregnth. That Sully wouldnt be learning to use his own muscles to walk. He sees them as a last resort. After some thinking and praying on that we have decided to give Sully a month before doing the braces.

We agree that Sullivan is close to walking and I think that a lot of the problem now is actually in his head! He doesnt know he can do it and since he is so fast at crawling and climbing, he sees no reason to try. I dont want to do more harm then good by putting him in braces every waking second at this point.

Of course I am second guessing myself, but I think this is the right choice for now. And we will reevaluate in a month.

I dont think my mind has turned off of Sully in the past 6 weeks. My mind is tired! :) But when I think of what some parents go through - with serious problems surrounding their children...I am humbled. I know how blessed I am. And really, I am trying to be patient. Just walk already kid!

Ice cream and Corn

Sully is enjoying all the best parts of summer; ice cream cones and corn on the cob!

A few more from the naughtiness fiasco

In a jewelry box


My Makeup!


Holding her sister's coveted stuffed animals.


And the one to beat them all - holding her sister's blankie!

Mr. Mature

This weekend Jordan got a little carried away with a water fight and as usual when he gets carried away I asked him why he always seems to take things just past the point of disaster? Why cant he learn to stop while it is still fun and before people are mad or crying? I may have told him to grow up...I know, that was not being a very good wife, but seriously he had gone too far! :)
Well to retaliate against me he took Avery inside while I didnt know it and let her at some of the things she is not allowed to get at and then took pictures of it all. The two of them had a great time. Like I said, Mr. Mature. He takes our most impressionable child, the one who does NOT need to be taught to do these things, or given ANY ideas and encourages the naughtiness!
Here is the proof...


Here she is standing on the counter getting into a cupboard she always wants to play in.


Holding a decorative plate. Did I mention breakable?


Holding a decorative figurine.


Again, breakable.


Yep, breakable.

My beautiful baby boy...

Miracles both big and small...

When I first told my friend Bridgette about Sully's potential problems she said Becky, this is just a miracle waiting to happen.
I clung to that.

Today we had two miracles. First for the little one, Sully woke up completely over the flu. He never got the diareha that the dr. said would surely follow the vomitting. He was happy as a lark this morning and starving.

Now for the big miracle. Our day in IC was long. Sully saw a physical therapist, speech therapist and the neurologist. We were there for 3 hours and Sully had only a 40 min. nap in the car on the way there. Physical therapy gave us a prescription for braces for Sully to wear in his shoes, around his ankles. They feel like we have, that his ankles are the problem - they are SO flexible and give him not stability when he walks or even stands.
The speech therapist thought Sully was right where he should be and that as soon as he gets the walking thing down, his speech will take off.

We had been told that the neurologist we were scheduled to see was 'brilliant'. We were so encouraged by that. And after the appointment we completely agree. She did a great job of explaining everything to us and was so open to all our questions and concerns. Sully went through quite a bit of a physical exam that was either very painful or was just uncomfortable and considering he had little nap all day - caused him to scream bloody murder throughout the entire thing.

But after they consulted each other for awhile they came back with some of the most beautiful words I have ever heard..."Sullivan is going to be fine." Fine. I love that word.
She sees no need for further testing. She agrees with PT that the problem is low muscle tone in his lower legs and very flexible ankles.
We have a ways to go with Sully. We know he isnt going to just magically walk now. He has some work to do and it wont be easy. But he is FINE! Again, I love fine.

Thank you for all your prayers for us and Sully through this process. I have felt God's hands on us throughout and I am so thankful tonight. We have an awesome God who loves to perform miracles for us. How can I keep from singing?

Thank you again for your prayers and encouragement.

ack!

Stacie called me shortly after 3. Sully threw up and he was really upset. So we came home. He has thrown up a few more times and has a temp.
I need three healthy children for Thursday's trip to Iowa City...one to go to the appointment and two to stay home with grandma. Please pray for a fast recovery and for no one else to get sick!

Golf

We went golfing as an entire family for the first time ever tonight - kind of hard to believe actually.
The kids had a lot of fun. Pushing the double stroller through the golf course is NOT my idea of fun.

Lauren did really well. Its sad, but I think she is seriously better than I am.






Lauren wanted to see if Jordan was taller than the corn...he is not.


Avery got tired....