Wisconsin Dells

We had been talking for a couple months about wanting to go up to Wisconsin Dells for a little family getaway.  We especially wanted to make a trip up there once our friends Dave, Jenni & Erin moved by Minneapolis from Colorado because that would be a nice four hour middle point for us all to meet.  Wow that was so much better of a drive than the 20+ hours to get to Colorado to see them!  We decided very last minute to drive up there after we saw how good Laila was doing eating and since she isn’t tied down to her pump during the day anymore.

We had been to the Dells one other time but it was several years ago.  I consulted my good friend Karen who is a definite bargain shopper because they had just gone up there and I knew that she would know the best, cheapest place to stay.  We ended up at a hotel called The Wilderness and it was PERFECT!  Thanks Karen!!  We had a three bedroom suite with a full kitchen and 2.5 baths for $250/night including eight passes to three different indoor water parks!  It was so great for the kids to be able to have their own room and it was especially nice to have the full kitchen because Dave was able to make me his world famous steak (well, world famous to me… my favorite!!).  The days were planned out perfectly because when it would be time to go back for lunch the kids would get a little bit of rest time and then be ready to go again for the afternoon.

I just want to take a minute and tell you how special my friends Dave & Jenni are.  We have not lived in the same state for several years but yet we are as close as ever.  They have been such a huge encouragement through our huge life transition over the past couple of months even though meeting them at the Dells was the first time they were even able to meet Laila.  They have always cared so much about our kids and when Laila came along they loved her just as much even though they had never met.  Jenni was so excited to be able to help me and even tried her hand at feeding Laila which was pretty brave since we were still in the beginning stages of that whole process.  They had also talked with their little girl Erin about Laila a lot and she was very excited to get to meet her.  Right away she told Laila she loved her :)

Anyway, we all had a GREAT time and got to have lots of fun with all the kids.  Emma was of course a water bug as usual, going down every slide possible over and over again.  Jackson was a little scared of the slides at first but by the end we even had him going down the Hurricane (which he’s technically just shy of being tall enough for but they let him anyway).

Our two year olds holding hands :)

Pajama party on the murphy bed!

Erin meeting Laila

We played Red Light Green Light in the long hallway that leads to the water park.

She was so excited to play in the water.

Little kid slide but the only one we could get a picture of her on.  Most were enclosed.

I was a little excited too ;)

The girls swinging together

Emma LOVED the wave pool.  I would pull her way out to where the biggest ones were breaking.  It was SO FUN!

Laila liked getting splashed in the wave pool

Taking a break watching the new Toy Story 3 DVD I bought to surprise the kids for the car ride.

Laila’s first water slide

Jack was all tuckered out :)

A special thanks to Dave & Jenni also for all the pictures.  I can’t believe I forgot my camera!!!

The Miracles of Laila

We had an amazing appointment at Riley Children’s Hospital a few weeks ago.  Laila was having a swallow study done to see how should would be able to handle swallowing various textures and consistencies of food to possibly be able to start eating by mouth again.  This test was being completely covered in prayer so I’m not sure why I was surprised when I witnessed a miracle right before my very eyes.

Laila and I had been working very hard over the past couple of months (both of us in tears and frustrated with each other SEVERAL times) to try to get her used to having a spoon in her mouth and working on brushing her tongue out of her mouth and getting it to relax and chewing from one side to the other.  All things that so many of us take for granted to be able to automatically do.  Our speech therapist was optimistic for us going into this study but of course I was nervous and hesitant.  My momma bear instinct was coming out and even thinking of letting someone else try to feed her who didn’t know my “tricks” was nerve wrecking. 

Miracle #1 – We arrived and when I told them I needed to coach whoever was going to feed her they told me I would be the one doing it!

Miracle #2 – She opened her mouth for the spoon, closed it around it and swallowed.  Every time.

Miracle #3 – When offered a straw (one of the first times ever) she drank through it just like she had always been doing it.

I cried.  I’m sure the ladies in there thought I was nuts but honestly I don’t think it could have gone any better than it had.  She still isn’t able to drink thin liquid so we have to use thickener in her drinks but in the smallest amount

Ready for Miracle #4???

Miracle #4 – The nutritionst was able to pop in to see us at her doctor’s appointment (which she said she wouldn’t be able to do).  After looking over the swallow study results, she said Laila could start eating three meals a day and only get her formula through the tube at night when she is sleeping!!  Absolutely amazing!  She has to get pedialyte through her tube a few hours during the day to keep up her fluid intake and we get that in during her nap time mostly.

How amazing is all that?!?  My mom was with me for the day and she was such a big help keeping Laila busy while I got all this straightened out with the doctors.  It was neat to be able to share that with her.  It also has been so neat sharing this whole experience with her because she is so encouraging to me about my skills to take care of Laila.  She just encourages me and helps rather than trying to take charge (which is I’m sure what her maternal instinct is :)

So, since I made a list for the doctor to brag about the things Laila has accomplished over the past few months, I figured I’d share them on here too :)

WORDS:

hi, bye, dad, mom, Emma. Ahna, dog. juice, up, down, in, out, on, off (been working on opposites with the DT), five, amen, ni night, more, bath. eyes. giraffe, ball, uh oh, nah, nope, no, yeah, yes, banana, papa, pop, book, apple, April, hat, gramma, nana, light, baby

ACTIVITIES:

sing (her part is “up above” during twinkle twinkle), color, paint, point to eyes & nose, sit up alone for a few seconds at a time, take deliberate steps when held up, clap, fold her hands to pray, splash in the bath, hold her head up, point with one finger, suck her thumb, wave, hug, “blow” kisses, tease, answer yes or no to a question, follow commands like raise arms, cough, laugh, wave, hug, give open hand high five.  And of course EAT!

We still have a long way to go on the eating and some days are better than others but according to her weight checks that I’m doing, she seems to be keeping steady with what she’s doing so far.

MMMM, milkshake!!!

Sometimes we get a little messy but that’s OK :)

Loving on her baby

 

Baby came with to the swallow study and ate her food like a big girl too :)

We took this picture for our PT intern that was leaving so she could see how far Laila came in the 12 weeks she worked with her.

Here is a video of Laila eating when we got home from Riley that night.

Halloween 2010

We had lots of fun this year for Halloween.  We kind of have a tradition now to go to the nursing home to see Grandma Hamstra, head to the neighborhood by our church to trick or treat, make a visit to the rest of the great-grandmas along the way and then head to the elementary school for the costumes parade put on by the Lion’s Club. 

Emma chose to wear her Mulan costume out of her dress up clothes.  It was so CRAZY to see her with black hair!!

Jackson chose to be Wolverine out of his dress up clothes.  (Yep, it was a cheap Halloween for us!!)

We made Laila’s costume into a hot air balloon so that it would be something where she could stay in her wheelchair.  She loved it (despite her look in this picture)

  

Here’s all three of my crazy kids at the nursing home.

 

 

Chicago for a Day

So sometimes I forget how lucky we are to live so close to such a great city!  We were invited to go with our amazing friends the Petersons to Chicago for the day a few weeks ago to celebrate Kamryn’s birthday.  We went back and forth about if we would or not and then finally decided to just do it and I’m so glad we did!

Our first stop was at the American Girl store.  Kamryn picked out Julie for her birthday and since Emma already has a doll we decided to let her get Kit’s ears pierced (what will they think of next for these crazy dolls!).  We aren’t much for spending a bunch of money there (we leave that to the Grandmas!) but I figure $12 wasn’t too bad to get the ears pierced and it comes with a couple pairs to be able to change them.  Laila had lots of fun watching all the people and the girls playing with their dolls.  In fact, Ahna let Laila hold her bitty baby since she has the twins so all the girls had a doll to hold.  Guess what our new obsession is…… yep, baby dolls! 

I love my Peterson girls.  Not sure what I’d do without them!

Next on our list was a little something for the boys.  We decided it would be fun to walk down to the Lego store to let the boys check it out.  On the way we stopped for some Chicago dogs :)

Our kids minus two (Nolen & Laila).  We’re quite the bunch :)

The boys were excited to check out all the stuff at the Lego store.  I definitely think there will be a trip to Legoland in our near future.  It was so neat to see the huge things they have made out of Legos.  Jackson got to get two little kits to build which came in handy when we were waiting on dinner later that night.

We parted ways with the Petersons and headed down to let the kids check out the river before heading back toward our car.

We had already decided that we were going to eat at Giordano’s for some Chicago style deep dish pizza before heading home.  There was a long wait but it was definitely worth it!

MMMMMMMMMMMMM!

While we were waiting for our pizza I took pictures of my three beautiful children.  They were so good all day and very patient through all the walking, shopping and eating.  Check these cuties out!  How blessed am I?!?

Children’s Museum

So, we’re starting to get bogged down a little with all of these trips to and from Riley’s and now Shriner’s in Chicago too so last week we decided to make the best of the fact that we were in the lovely city of Indianapolis!

The Children’s Museum in Indy gives a free year membership to foster families with a current license so we headed on over there after Laila’s check up with her urologist.  It’s super fun and we can’t wait to go back because there’s so much to do and we only had the afternoon because our nurse Sharon was with us and needed to get back.  ps – how fun is it for her to “work” while we go to the museum?!? but I’m definitely thankful she was with!

Playing Ice Cream Shop

All Aboard!!

This ceiling is so cool!  Made of blown glass!

My fashion model

Penguin slide!

Funny Penguin

Nope, I’m not too big ;)

Watch out for the Polar Bear!!!

Jackson in a cave

Very cool Barbie display in the girt shop.  Emma wanted to buy one but they were SO expensive!

Laila picking flowers

Coloring is fun!

Water Play

Black light sisters

Our membership also includes rides on the carousel!

Laila was in awe of all the lights up on the ceiling.

 

It was a super fun day.  Can’t wait to bring Jack with us next time!

An Eight Year Old???

I’m still pondering the fact that I now have an eight year old!!!  How did this happen?  Who let her get so grown up?  I think I’m going to file a complaint….with….. well I guess no one.

Seriously though, what an amazing daughter I have.  She has been such a light to me over the past few months when I needed it the most.  She loves God with everything she has and always turns to prayer when there’s something anyone needs.  God definitely teaches us through our children!

This year I finally broke down and got her a Nintendo DSi.  I’ve never, ever been a fan of video games.  I feel like pointless hours are lost and I see so many kids who don’t know how to function in normal society without having their faces burried in an electronic device.  But, she’s been asking for a couple of years and so I figured with the right rules and mind set it can actually be very helpful.  We set limitations on the fact that she is only allowed to have educational games and that we have a time limit that she allowed to play it.  I know, I’m no fun but she’ll thank me one day right??  There are some pretty fun educational games out there and honestly  I have found myself a little addicted to Brain Age and Book Worm!  I figure DS with educational games beats no DS at al right?  Anyway, she was very excited about it and very happy with how her birthday turned out. 

Here is a picture of her with the cake.  Let me just say before anyone else can, yes I know that when you look at the cake it looks a bit like an inappropriate part of the female anatomy but it is actually the number 8!!

Thank you God for giving me this special girl.  Keep her safe and close to you for not only 8 more years but for 80 more years!!