Summer...where did it go?!

We have had a busy summer. Lots going on in our household...Kate is walking, Mallory is crawling and Jack is climbing and jumping everything! To keep this house picked up would be a miracle...but I wouldn't have it any other way (except maybe if I had a maid service twice a week)! Here are some photos to sum up the wonderful times we had these past few months...


Jack spent hours playing and jumping in his pool on our deck...really surprised he didn't end up with any stitches from his daredevil tactics.


Kate is more of a lounger when it comes to pool time...my kind of girl! I'll take a different kind of bottle though...


Jack got a sprinkler game for his birthday and Tom had a good time running through it with all three kiddos.


Kate loves to pull out all, and I mean ALL of the contents in the cabinets...remember my talk of a messy house?..


Water tables are good for hours of entertainment!


Jack playing with his buddy Preston!


Mallory enjoying the lovely weather!


More to come.....FALL!!!!

All Work and No Play Makes Jack a Dull Boy....

Jack at 6 Months



Opening presents on his 3rd Birthday!


Well I am way behind in posting Jack's big birthday! On May 10th this wonderful boy turned 3! Amazing and incredible to think of the last three years as he has grown and become such a fun and compassionate kid. I started the tradition of writing a little note on my kids birthdays, so here it goes:

Jack,
Wow! 3 years have really flown by...how is it that you are already this little, super inquisitive little boy? You are a wonder and I can actually see you learning new things everyday, it's an amazing thing to witness! What a year you have had, and you have taken it in stride. I was worried about you and how you would adjust to having two little sisters to share the spotlight. No worries! You adjusted without any stumbles, it was as if you never realized there was a time without them. I love watching you play with Kate (although I may be wincing at your body slams) and showing her how to play with legos, climb stairs/furniture...you get such a kick out of her following you, I love it! I get to see a softer side when you interact with Mallory. You encourage her and get so excited when she accomplishes something new. "Hey MOM! Mallory is rolling over! Yah Mallory!!" You are such an amazing little boy! I think the most amazing thing about watching you over this last year is how your relationships are developing; with your sisters and your friends. Can't wait to see what next year will bring!
Thank you for improving my patience!
Love you,
Mommy

We had a wonderful weekend filled with activities. My brother Ryan and his family drove in from Ohio on Friday, May 13 (Ryan's birthday) and we all, sans kids, went out to celebrate Ryan and Sean's (May 10) birthdays. Saturday was a day of BBQ/Friends/Family at Julie's house and Sunday was Jack's big Jump Party at Monkey Bizness. Jack has been talking about this party for about a month. We had a great turn out and I believe everyone had a blast! I think I am still recovering!

Here are some pictures from the party day. I took about a hundred photos and was unable to get one of Jack standing still...there is a super cute photo of Ms. Ellen Lund, she needs to teach Jack how to pose!

525,600 Minutes

Well, we survived our first year as a family of five. I remember reading somewhere that your first year as a parent is definitely one of survival, and I remember thinking this was ridiculous at Jack's first birthday party. Sure there were major changes with Jack, least of which was the excessive lack of sleep but I feel Tom and I breezed through that first year. Who are these people that can't handle one little child?! Whoa...someone heard me and boy was I put in my place.
I have found myself responding to those who are amazed that the girls are already a year with one phrase..."it's been a LONG year." I do not mean for this to sound depressing or melancholic, it just simply is how I feel. We expanded our family from three to five, moved twice, three hospital stays since December, surgery and about five million Doctor appointments. So I feel entitled to feel a little relieved that we made it...intact.
This last year has truly been one of survival. It has had ups and downs, surprises around every bend. I have learned things about myself that I never knew before this year. I am sure these beautiful girls will continue to teach me about love and life and all of it's surprises.

I have a friend who writes letters on her kiddos birthday and I really like the sentiment. Cheesy?, For sure, but I am feeling particularly sentimental tonight...so here it goes:

Kate,
On the eve of your first birthday I am amazed and totally in love with you. You were so eager to come into our lives, five weeks early! You brighten my day, every day. As I was looking through old photos I came across ones with you and Mallory in the NICU, and I was amazed to realize that I had forgotton you came to us bruised and battered. You were born with a black eye and a large bruise across the bridge of your nose. You were so small (4lbs 7oz.) and to be perfectly honest you were the one we worried about the most. A full year later and you are so full of spunk! Your giggle is infectious and your smile so warming to the soul. I am delighted to be your mother and can't wait to see what you'll do next. Happy Birthday!
I love you beautiful girl!

Mallory,
On the eve of your first birthday I can say you have changed me for the better. You are so very special and wonderful. You have a soft nature that grabs the love of everyone you meet. You are so strong; stronger than anyone I have ever met. Life is going to hand you some curves and I want you to know that I will always be behind you, your biggest supporter. I feel truly blessed to have been chosen to be your mother. You have made me a better person, thank you.
I love you beautiful girl!

Wow...what will the next year bring us? I wish for health, love and happiness! I look forward to keeping you all up-to-date on our year to come.

Overwhelmed.

Overwhelmed is putting it lightly...lots to deal with, lots to catch up on, and lots of pictures to post. Below are 19 photos, and it was hard to keep it to less than 50! Life is slowing down a bit and I like it that way. For some reason blogspot is downloading my photos in draft form as computer language and not actual photos, so I apologize for the lack of description for each photo but I can't seem to find the patience right now to sort through the language. The pictures are not in order, again I apologize. So here you go:
















(the post below was written over the last couple of months, I have updated some)

Wow...well since last I signed in lots, and I mean L.O.T.S. have happened! Kate and Mallory are now 11 months old! How in the world did that happen?! Jack is learning about five hundred new things a day...currently he is insisting on calling Daddy "Tom". I get a huge kick out of it every time. Kate is crawling everywhere and has mastered getting up and cruising around..unfortunately she has not figured out how to get down by herself, so after being very proud of herself when she stands up the excitement is short lived as she starts whining to be helped down. Mallory is now rolling both ways and is really getting better at being a supported sitter. She has had a couple of stays at Children's Mercy. The long story short version is that she is a silent aspirator (two aspiration pneumonias in one month), has delayed gastric emptying, acid reflux, and urinary reflux...fun times. She has been a super trooper through all of the tests, needle sticks and overall sickness. After her last aspiration pneumonia we stopped offering her anything oral, all feeds are via a gastric tube. Amazingly enough, she doesn't seem to mind not having the oral feeds. I find that somewhat sad but know it would be worse if she screamed for a bottle.

We decided to get a GT/Fundo which is a port in her abdomen that we feed her through and the fundoplication is a surgery that will prevent her from refluxing and throwing up..a super bonus! Her stomach is still somewhat sore and I am hoping the healing is almost complete.

Well, I think I am done with the over-the-top catch up...hope you aren't too overwhelmed with the large amount of pictures and content..I will (I WILL!) not let it get this out of hand again!

Seussland

This year for Halloween we went with a theme for what everyone dressed up like. I figure there will be a time soon enough when everyone will want to really choose what they dress up as...and Tom and I will be unable to convince them otherwise. We had a really nice evening with an initial stop off at Grandma and Grandpa's house. Then onto the Leach's house to celebrate our 19th Anniversary with them. Julie and I were in grade school when we trick or treated at their house and Jane asked if anyone in our group babysat...the rest is history!

October

October has been a super busy month so far and it shows no signs of slowing down! We visited Johnson Farms Pumpkin Patch where Jack picked out everyone's pumpkins. He now likes to tell everyone he sees that his pumpkins are outside. We also went to Louisburg Cider Mill and enjoyed cider donuts and apples. Jack and Preston both enjoyed eating the apples and jumping around on the hay bales.


Kate asleep in her swing cuddling her doll.


Mallory looking super cute and super blue eyed!



Jack being watched carefully by Preston on the good form and proper way to enjoy an apple. Jack "painting" the house.


Picking out pumpkins.





For those of you that have not been informed of the goings on, Mallory's genetic tests showed a microdeletion of chromosome 10. The follow up appointment with genetics did not give us much new information but did give us the chance to discuss the implications of this chromosomal abnormality. This finding is a reason for her hearing loss, small growth pattern and her developmental delay. We are now scheduled for a full cardiac work-up (November 9) and renal ultrasound (November 9). During those appointments we will have some blood drawn to check her calcium levels and PTH (parathyroid hormone) to determine if she has any deficiencies. On December 15th we have an appointment with an immunologist. We will see what these appointments yield; most likely there will be some abnormalities found with these visits but we are going to do initial testing and determine if follow-up care is indicated.

We are working our way through the systems that have shown some abnormalities in other chromosome 10 deletion children, the severity of which is a broad spectrum. Right now it seems to be a wait and see kind of approach with her developmental delays. There will for sure be some. The literature that is available is miniscule at best and only shows a snapshot view of this disorder. We have no research that is longitudinal and therefore have an even smaller predictor for the future. Scary.

Mallory is talking lots and is moving all over...she seems to be just a bit behind Kate in her movements. She is a super happy girl and LOVES to be held and talked to. Thanks for all of the thoughts and prayers...we will keep you updated.

6 Months!

Two posts in one week! Amazing! Well we are officially at the 1/2 year mark with these pumpkins and I think have all adjusted pretty well. Went to the Pediatrician today for 6 month check-ups which included immunizations and flu shots. After a few tears the girls acted like nothing traumatic had occurred; they definitely take after their big brother who has always done amazingly well with Dr. visits and shots. Kate: 12lbs 2.8oz (<3%) 24.5inches (10%) and Mallory: 9lbs 15.8oz(<3%) 23.5inches (<3%)

Overall the appointment went well, just planning on fortifying the girls breastmilk/formula.

Here are some cute photos of Jack playing at the park, mowing the grass with Tom and overall just being cute.

The girls are getting to be so fun and interactive. On that note I have been putting them in their Johnny Jump-ups and they love to bounce around. Yesterday they each fell asleep in the jumpers, Kate in the morning and Mallory in the afternoon....they really are gorgeous, no bias here!