Monday, November 23, 2009

Pool Party!


The boys had a birthday party on Friday for one of their little girlfriends. The pool was warm and they both had a blast. Splashing, sliding, and swimming their hearts out alongside all of the neighborhood kiddos. Too bad summer is gone and the pool will be few and far between. Carson and Elias are natural born fish!




Two exhausted boys asleep at Gigi's house post-party.

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Fight For Preemies

November is Prematurity Awareness Month. The March of Dimes continues their campaign to prevent prematurity and set November 17th (today) as a day to Fight for Preemies. As everyone knows, prematurity has rocked our universe twice and left a lasting impact on our lives. Carson's arrival ten weeks premature at 30 weeks gestation was shocking as first time parents. We fought through the NICU, attended follow-up appointments, pushed early intervention, and researched like crazy people. As I was being admitted at 23 weeks with Elias we couldn't believe prematurity was going to impact our family once again. Twelve days later at 25 weeks Elias was pulled into this world in an emergency c-section septic from my chorioamniotis secondary to pPROM. Terrifying as it was to be in the NICU again, it was even more frightening to have experience in that strange world and fear going through it all with a micropreemie. Elias has always been a fighter like his brother but he has endured so much in his short 4 years. Prematurity is only one aspect of our children's lives but it has played a substantial role in their direction and experiences.


I found a career I cherish through the experiences prematurity gave me and now have the privilege to care for premature infants through the NICU. The ability to see both sides of the NICU rollercoster is often a blessing in my nursing but bittersweet. Prematurity needs a voice, awareness, understanding for us to combat the continuing rise of early births and their implications on life. Please stop by the March of Dimes and learn more about how you can help the fight.

Lost in Leaves


Friday, November 13, 2009

Down for the Count

This is what happens when an energetic first grader who has been running at full speed for the past two weeks attempts to go color at 7:45 in the evening.



One minute he is jabbering at light speed and skipping to the art supply shelves and then next he is sprawled out across the dining room floor. I guess when you're exhausted you can fall asleep anywhere in a few seconds! Carson didn't wake up when we carried him upstairs, changed him into pjs, or tucked him in. This morning he said that his head hurt so he just laid down when he got to the art bins. I better go clean the drool out of our carpet now.

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Thank You

Happy Veteran's Day! Thank you to every brave and honorable man and woman who has served this country and continues to serve this country. God bless America!

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Snake Feet

Elias finally received his blue snakeskin AFOs this week. They fit so much better and we are already able to see a difference in the tightness of his legs. He says that they are "snake feet". Chasing Carson around the house while wearing them has become one of his favorite pasttimes. I can only imagine what design Eli will pick out when he outgrows this pair of AFOs.