Monday, March 08, 2010

In Like a Lion...


I kinda like March. For the most part, it's still cold and snowy and gray outside, but at least March holds the promise of spring. The sun was shining today and the temps have been above freezing all week. The snow is melting and I heard the birds chirping this morning when I woke up. Spring is coming and we are ready for it.

This March, however, is going to be very busy around our place. So much is happening at once. I have had an anxious feeling in my chest this week, always feeling like I must be forgetting something.

Last week we had my dad's birthday dinner on Saturday and John was gone Wed through Sat evenings last week to hang out listening to music at the Hamtramck Blowout. We got a babysitter on Friday night and I went with him.

This week is crazy. John and I are both working on Monday and Tuesday, then off for the rest of the week. On Wednesday we are taking Eden for an assessment at the Conductive Learning Center in Grand Rapids. We have applied and are hoping to be accepted into their summer camp in July. Very excited about this.

On Thursday we have a pre-op appointment for Holland, and another eye muscle surgery scheduled at the university hospital on March 16. In a nutshell...the new eye doctor suspects that the inside muscle on her left eye has slipped and that is why it is now turning out. This surgery will be more complicated than previous surgeries and will require that a second surgeon is present. They will also have to check the outside muscle to make sure that it hasn't gotten too tight. If it has it will need to be released as well. Sigh. I have talked to her previous eye doctor (who is on vacation in Mexico), and she also feels it is the right thing to do. I feel like getting another opinion will only serve to muddy the waters, so we are making the decision to go ahead with this surgery based on the information available to us with Holland's best interest at heart. But I'm not happy about it.

Thursday is also John's birthday, so we'll try to throw in a little fun too:)

Friday is PT, and a pre-IEP meeting at school for Eden. Kindergarten registration is this week, and the team is going to meet to make sure we have all of our bases covered before the official IEP meeting in May. We want to make sure we are prepared for kindergarten in September (gasp).

Saturday the 13th we are taking a mini-vacation to the beautiful city of Columbus, Ohio. We are staying at a hotel with a POOL(!) and going to see one of our favorite bands, They Might Be Giants perform their kids songs. Holland and Eden love TMBG, and quite honestly John and I do too! We are all very excited about the show, but Eden seems to be most excited about the hotel pool. Only downer...we have to sit separate at the show because Eden is only allowed one companion in the wheelchair accessible seating area. I called to voice my complaint, and was told to arrive early the day of the show. If there are seats still available in the accessible area we can sit together. I am trying not to get my panties in a bunch about this...but I can't help but think about things like, "what if I was a single parent?" I wouldn't be able to sit with my two kids? Or, "what if John and I only had Eden?" We wouldn't be able to sit together with our kid? I can understand that they don't have room for large groups of non-disabled people to sit in the accessible area. But a family of FOUR, at a KIDS show??? Sheesh.

We'll get home on Sunday night, take Monday to recuperate, and Tuesday is Holl's surgery.

Then...it's work on Wednesday (St. Patrick's Day), work-related conference in Lansing on Friday, a playdate with out-of-town friends the following week, a Tegan and Sara concert, an appointment to do our taxes, and John's turn to volunteer at preschool...all before the end of the month. On top of all that I have this sudden drive to start thinking about selling our house (likely for less than we bought it for...ugh), and have appointments to look at a few places in the next couple of weeks (more on that later).

Whew.

At least March will be out like a lamb. Right?

Friday, March 05, 2010

Flashback Friday



OMG I can't believe how flippin' cute they were!!! LOL

Sunday, February 28, 2010

First Dry Night!

Holland had her very first dry night on Thursday night!!!

I put the girls to bed on Wednesday, and in the process completely forget to put her pull-up on. She burst into my room at about 6:30am saying, "I have to go potty!" I got up with her, and as I went to help her pull down her pull-up I realized she wasn't wearing one. And she was DRY! We had a mini-celebration in the bathroom, then went into the bedroom to tell Daddy. She went back to bed and woke up again 3 hours later...still DRY! She got 8 marbles in her "Good Job Jar" and was just beaming with pride.

We tried again the next 2 nights and haven't been lucky again.

But at least I can finally see a light at the end of the tunnel.


Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Snow Much Fun

Holland got ready by herself!


Frostina

Champ



Coolest. Snow Fort. Ever.

Monday, February 15, 2010

Miss Susie

Just can't get enough!

Thursday, February 11, 2010

Answers and Details :-)

Thanks everyone! We are very excited with how well Eden is doing at bench sitting, and even getting her hands up a bit to play! She has come such a long way. I confess that there was a time when I thought she would never do this and she is proving me wrong. It makes me excited about what other accomplishments may be in her future.

The band at the bottom of the bench is helping her keep her feet on the floor. We discovered this just last week and it is working out awesome. Without it she tends to kick out her legs and it throws her balance off. The band gives just enough resistance to remind her to keep her legs down and she sits much more nicely.

Also exciting that she is REALLY close to being able to get herself into this position all on her own. She climbs onto the bench, straddles it and pushes up to sit, then works on getting one of her legs around.

Oh, and the other day she got up there to show Nana, and wanted to do a Ms. Susie hand clapping game. She was determined to clap her hands and actually did it for quite a few seconds without holding on at all!

She is such a superstar.

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Check This Out!


Notice anything super cool and exciting???

Monday, February 08, 2010

Bowling Bonanza!

We are looking forward to taking the girlies bowling this weekend for a great cause. Kelly's Kidz is holding their 2nd Annual Lucky Strike Challenge. We had a really fun time last year, even though Holland was sick in the hospital and couldn't go.

We got to spend time with some of our pals...


...and show off our mad bowling skill!


You should come! Just watch out for the paparazzi...