Monday, May 25, 2009

A Weekend Away in Florida

Last weekend Drew and I took a trip to Pensacola, Florida - without Lindy and Will! We went for a wedding and we had a wonderful time. Even if it rained pretty much the entire time we were there. It was definitely not sunny Florida. We enjoyed the rehearsal dinner Friday night, a Carolina style pig pickin'. Saturday we got to sleep in and then we explored Pensacola a little bit. We visited the Pensacola Naval Air Station Museum for a little bit. They had so many planes, helicopters, etc in one building. It was pretty cool. Then we rode out to Perdido Key beach and had lunch. Because it was raining we didn't go out on the actual beach but we saw it. The wedding was beautiful - Drew officiated it and the reception was really nice. We flew home Sunday and got to see the kids after they woke up from their nap. They seemed excited to see us! A trip away is always nice once in awhile. Everyone needs some good mental health days once in awhile! And now it's back to reality this week - back to lots more rain here too.

The only people we knew at the wedding, besides the bride and groom, was a family from our church. We enjoyed hanging out with them all weekend.

Victoria, Elam, me, Drew, and Maggie (check out my hair. The FL humidity and my hair did not get along!)

The Naval Air Station museum

See Drew waving?


The happy couple - Drew and Vaughan
Louise and Loy (from our church)
The Summey clan
Drew and I on the bay

Thursday, May 21, 2009

First Haircut!

We have had a fun week. Last Friday night we went to the Relay for Life. Of course it rained the whole time but we still had a good time. It was a very light rain and it was warm outside. Our team had big tents that the kids stayed under the majority of the time.




Saturday we had our friends Katie, Micah, and Claire come visit us. Drew and Kris (Katie's husband) were off having boys day with their friends. We hung out with the kids and had a good time. Claire is 7 months old and already pulling up to her feet! Watch out! Will had a lot of fun playing with Micah.

On Tuesday Lindy had physical therapy. We picked up her custom made braces. It was an interesting visit because I had to take Will with me. Every other time I have taken him he has been content to sit in the stroller and watch. Not on Tuesday though! We picked up her braces but we haven't used them too much. The long on is TOO long. They are remaking it about an inch shorter. The short one was rubbing her pretty badly and so we took it back today and they were going to add some padding to it. The long one is going to take some getting used to. She has to learn how to crawl in it and pull up in it. I have to learn to put it on and look at it. As soon as she is stable we plan to cut it down to a low one like the right side. It'll stink to have to wear these braces so much during the summer time.

Tuesday afternoon we had our deaf and hard of hearing teacher here for a visit. Lindy actually responded really well to her six sounds. That is the first time in awhile!

Wednesday morning we had our Governor Morehead teacher here for a visit. This time I remembered she was coming. Lindy did really well with some new puzzles she brought.

Today was the excitement of the week. Lindy got her first haircut! I kept trying to delay cutting it but it finally had to be done. If she would just leave the bow in it then I wouldn't have cut it. But she won't leave a bow alone. A lady in our church gave her her first real hair cut. Technically she got her first hair cut when she was about 2 months old. When she had her reservoir put in while she was in the NICU they shaved a patch of her hair and gave it to me. But that's not a real hair cut so I'm not counting it! Lindy did great. She sat up on the counter and did so well. She was so cute in her little cape! She didn't cut that much off but she sure does look different! So cute and so much better than hair down in her eyes.

Will has just been chilling this week. It's so odd to walk in the living room and find him sitting up on the couch. The back of the couch used to be our safe zone. We kept the laptop and some books and magazines up there. Not anymore! Today I found him on the couch flipping though a magazine! We have had a lot of fun scaring him this week. He loves it when you scare him. I'll yell 'boo' and he'll jump a mile and then laugh so hard. It's so funny! He also loves the dishwasher. I've started locking it to try and keep him out. He just walks over, flips the lever, and opens it whenever he wants.

Hope everyone has a great weekend. Drew and I are going on a little trip! Stay tuned!




These kids were excited about going to walk for the Relay for Life.
Girls versus Boys (Lindy, Claire, Will, and Micah)
Lindy and her buddy Claire and their matching hairstyles!
Lindy's new braces -currently under construction though.
Will chilling on the couch.
Lindy getting her haircut!

Talking to Anita!
Lindy and Anita
Much better! No more hair in her eyes.
Sweet Will


Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Kansas City, MO March of Dimes walk

On May 3, 2009, my sister, nieces, and a couple friends joined up and walked in the Kansas City, MO March for Babies walk. They were the KC Million Dollar Babies team. Their team raised $475 for the March of Dimes. $475 towards making sure all babies are one day born healthy. My sister and nieces walked in honor of Lindy and Will and in memory of Adam. My crafty sister made t-shirts again for her and Hayley. She is way busier than I am and she still had time to make cool shirts! We thank them for walking for us and raising money for the March of Dimes. We love you guys so much!

Amy, Hayley, and Rylee
Adam's poster along their walk.

My sweet nieces, Hayley and RyleeThe KC Million Dollar Babies team (Amanda, Jenny, Sydney, Hayley, Rylee, and Amy).

Thursday, May 14, 2009

Happy Mother's Day and Happy Anniversary!

We have had a good time celebrating this week. Of course Sunday was Mother's Day. Drew made me breakfast Sunday morning. French toast and bacon, my favorite. We had church and naps and then GrandBob and Suzette came by for a visit. I had a nice day with my family.

Monday, the 11th was our 7th wedding anniversary. Time sure flies by fast. It's almost unbelievable that it's been 7 years. We were able to go out to dinner and a movie to celebrate, thanks to Janice. We had a very enjoyable evening. We saw one movie last year, so this very well might be our only movie this year!

The rest of the week has flown by. Lindy had physical therapy on Tuesday morning. Our therapist is amazed by Lindy's work ethic. She works her hard for an hour and she smiles the whole time! She is impressed that she has learned to pull herself up to standing and she is really cruising. Her ankles have been tight the last couple sessions and our therapist said we might have to get her checked out by a neurologist. She said it will not stop her from walking but we don't want it to stop her from running and jumping. It is something we are keeping a close watch on.

Our only other appointment was today with our hearing teacher. We did our usual sessions and it went well. We tried getting the kids to dance to music and neither one would dance! It must have been too early in the morning to feel the rhythm.

Will has continued to work on his climbing skills this week. Along with climbing, he has been falling. He waits until we walk out of the room to climb up on the coffee table or couch and then busts when trying to get off. Thankfully there have been no serious injuries. Will has enjoyed going outside to play, playing in the tent, and reading lots of books this week.

Tuesday night we went and got a gallon of freshly picked strawberries from Mabe's Farms. We have thoroughly enjoyed them this week - everyone except Lindy. It is possibly the one food she doesn't like! Will LOVES them!

We have a fun weekend planned, hope you do too!

Mother's Day



Suzette reading to the kids.
Now it's GrandBob's turn!




Will loves the strawberries.
Lindy......not so much!
Babies in blue (yes they are still my babies!)

"Lindy, check this out!"
Playing with their new friend - Mr. Demon Deacon. He sings the Wake Forest fight song and they love it.
Fun in the tent

Saturday, May 9, 2009

Appointments, Ears and Climbing

It's been a busy week at our house. We had some kind of appointment everyday but Tuesday.

Monday morning Lindy had an appointment with neurosurgery just to check on her VP shunt. Thankfully she has had NO problems with it. Her head circumference did go up to the next percentile in the growth chart, but she hasn't been measured in 6 months. They are not worried and assume it's normal growth. We will go back in 6 months for another check-up. If everything is fine we will hopefully go to yearly appointments (although that is what they told us 6 months ago.) We made our appointment on the same day and same time as our friends Cheryl and Noah. We did the same 6 months ago too. Noah was in the NICU with us and has a shunt as well. We went out to lunch at the same spot we went 6 months ago and they sat us at the same table as well. We got the same waitress and she actually remembered us. We really enjoyed catching up. Lindy was in rare form, entertaining half the restaurant. She's a funny girl, or as the lady at the next table said, "She's a ham!"

I got Lindy home and in bed for her nap and basically loaded Will up and went back to town to take Will to the pediatrician. After fighting his cold for about 3 weeks we figured it was time to check it out. It was the coughing at night that was the last straw. I figured we would go in and they would say it was just a cold or allergies, but he actually had an ear infection in his right ear. When Will is teething he plays with his ear and during this 3 week cold he had a molar come through. I assumed any ear playing was due to that. He wasn't acting like he felt horrible but I am glad I took him in. He got his first antibiotic since coming home from the NICU and he loves his "bubble gum." After 4-5 days of it, I think he definitely feels better. Right after he got the cold he stopped drinking his milk well. Finally the last couple days he has gone back to his regular, good milk-drinking self.

Wednesday morning someone knocked on the door and to my surprise it was our Governor Morehead vision teacher. I totally missed that appointment in my calendar. Thankfully we were home and had no where to be. I had just finished dressing Lindy and I quickly got Will ready. We had a good meeting. Leslie brought out the coolest puzzles for Lindy. They are wooden one piece puzzles with large knobs on them. They are perfect for her. She let us keep two this week and Lindy is really getting the hang of them.

Thursday we had our hearing therapy with Chris. It was a normal therapy session with her. Actually Lindy showed off a bit for her. Chris was impressed. She showed how she can sign more, milk, and ball. She can do some hand movements to Twinkle, Twinkle, and knows where her ears, belly, feet, and toes are. The other big thing was we held out two of her learn to listen toys and we asked her to choose between them. She has never really been able to do it. She did awesome with it on Thursday. If we had the baby and duck out and I would ask Lindy to give the duck a hug, she would grab the duck and give it a hug. She repeatedly picked the correct object when we asked her to give it a hug or give it a kiss, or make it walk, etc. She doesn't understand if you just ask her where the duck is or tell her to get the car. But she showed us she definitely knows what they are! Chris was impressed that she knows the actual word for each object instead of just the sound it makes.

On Friday Lindy had a hearing test done. She has been worrying us a little bit by not responding to the six sounds we do in the beginning of every hearing therapy appointment. Our audiologist checked her ear drums and they were moving and not congested. She checked the hearing aides and they were all set correctly. Then we put her in the hearing booth with her hearing aides on, something they haven't ever done. She did really well with all sounds except the 's' sound. She didn't respond well to it. They were able to adjust her hearing aides and turn up the volume on just this 's' sound. One interesting thing that happened was that she was apparently afraid of the light up, tail-wagging dog that moves whenever Lindy turns in response to a sound. I've never really even known if she has seen the dog because it is probably 3 feet away. I always bring a small light-up toy as well that I hold up when she turns in response to sounds. This time she cried every time they activated the dog! On one hand I felt bad for her but on the other I was excited that she had seen the dog! We also tried to dim the lights in the room and she didn't like that either. Who knows!

Today we enjoyed a wonderful day outside playing around. We went and got two hanging baskets and some tomato plants. Tonight Lindy and I went to her first Mother-Daughter banquet at church. She sat pretty well in her booster seat while I ate dinner but then she turned into a wild child. There was a magician's show as the entertainment and I spent that last hour wrestling with her during the show. She didn't want to sit still at all. She wore me out. She did win a flower as a door prize though. I think we'll both sleep well tonight!

I got Mr. Will some forks (well really they are more like sporks) this week and he has been feeding himself dinner each night. He is doing really well and seems so much happier to be in control. We've been eating outside on our porch a lot so he loves that as well. He surprised us tonight! I was in the kitchen and Drew was walking out of the living room. He turned around and found Will up on top of the coffee table!! I walked in and busted out laughing. I know it was the wrong thing to do but it was so funny to see! This was the first time he'd figured out he could do that. I resisted taking a picture because I don't really want to reinforce his coffee table climbing skills! The climbing was going to happen sooner or later, but it definitely surprised us to see that!

I will end this marathon post I've written. I'm exhausted just thinking back about last week. Or maybe it was wrangling Lindy all night that has made me exhausted! Either way, here are some pictures and I'm headed to bed!
Lindy and her boyfriend Noah
Don't tell her Daddy that she is already kissing boys!
More experimenting with Lindy feeding herself yogurt.
Will also learned to climb inside the laundry basket this week.

Will and his toolbox.
OMG - they are gorgeous!

My new favorite picture of Will.
More pictures with pretty flowers in our yard.


Lindy and I before the Mother-Daughter banquet. (So what if she wore this dress twice this week!)