Fun In The Tub

Need I say more?

These Boots Were Made For Walking...

John doesn't seem to mind his boots (braces) that much. However, it is hard for him to crawl and pull to stand in them because he can't bend his ankles and he gets red marks on the back of his thighs from the boots rubbing on him.........good thing he only has to wear them for 30 minutes a day (for right now!)

Anyhow, he looks as cute as ever in them (he looks cute in anything) and they really help him stand better.

Have I mentioned lately how proud I am of him?

Mommy can we please go swimming!

Break time....this is hard work!

Fun at Speech!

John did awesome at speech today! Surprisingly, he didn't mind the headphones (used for therapeutic listening) which he looked absolutely adorable in. We also discovered today that he likes chocolate!!!!!!!!!!! I brought a chocolate pudding in...........I am willing to try ANYTHING.........and he loved it. Well, he loved playing in it:)

*We drove home from Speech in just a diaper today:)

Bumps and Bruises....

.....make a sad Mommy:( I know I need to get used to it but he's my baby and I don't like to see him cry. Anyhow, he has a big ole bruise on his forehead, a scrape on the top of his nose, and one on the tip of his nose.........AND, he fell HARD today. He was standing at the couch and fell straight back on his back and head.....my poor little man!

And yet he still continues to smile.......AMAZING!

Other news:

• John's PT brought his ankle braces today. He'll wear them for 30 minutes every day and we'll increase the time gradually.


• March of Dimes called to ask if they could submit John's pictures (birth & current) for a contest..........MOD's national office is making a bus (I think it's a city bus) covered with micro preemie pictures and then they will tour the nation (hopefully they'll make it to AZ.) I'll let you know if his pictures are chosen!

Rewind

John's development has really taken off and we couldn't be more excited for him. So, I am going to rewind to last Thursday and start there.......

During PT on Thursday morning John did AWESOME with his sitting. We placed his toys on a tray in front of him and he was able to play with them while sitting all by himself (for a few seconds.)

I also expressed my concerns about his weak ankles and maybe getting some leg/ankle braces for him. His PT mentioned some sort of shoe that will keep his feet pointing out opposed to rolling in..........similar to putting your child's shoes on the wrong foot. She thinks that this might be all he needs. So, we are going to try them out.

What a big boy sitting all by himself!

On Friday, John played with bubbles during OT and absolutely loved it.....as you can tell by the picture:)

After OT we headed to ST where he did wonderfully.........for the first time, he closed his lips around a water bottle and took a sip:)

We then came back home to take a nap........which was not successful so around 2:00pm we left the house for our first play date with the twins, Kaden and Krysten!!!

The twins were so affectionate with John.........they would touch his face and give him kisses on the lips.......too cute!!! At one point, Krysten came over and held John's hand!

Thanks Angela for having us over!!!

We were exhausted after our busy day on Friday...........so exhausted that John went to bed at 5:30pm and didn't wake up until 6:30am the next morning.

Anyhow, he was very excited Saturday morning when he woke up because he got to play with his new toy that Daddy bought him:)

John and his Hummer!

After playing all day with Dad on Saturday, Grams and Grandpa picked John up for a sleepover so Mommy could have a girls night out with Michelle and Daddy could go to the baseball game.

Thanks Mom and Dad! Now, do you really have to leave for Washington next week..............for the REST of the summer. What are we going to do without you?

John and Grandpa being silly.......AND, having tons of fun!

We ended our weekend with a day at the ballpark and John's first D-backs game in a suite! I think he enjoyed it as much as we did:)

My 2 favorite boys!

John had a blast crawling all over the floor and the chairs. Yes, you heard that right, I let him crawl on the floor at the baseball game (only in the suite.) Of course he went right into the tub the minute we got home:)

So, needless to say we had a GREAT weekend and look forward to a GREAT week!

John in Action!

Grandpa caught John in action as he pulled himself to stand at their coffee table!

Doesn't he look like such a big boy?

Anyhow, we have had a great few days......John has really taken off. I'll update more later.........we are off to the D-backs game right now!!!

Then vs. Now

I just came across these pictures and had to show a comparison.

Then

Now

Notice how I am not holding him as high? You try holding 22 pounds of solid muscle over your head and then tell me how you feel:)

Father's Day 2006

Father's Day 2007


Next year's photo is going to be tricky.....we'll have to catch him as he runs by:)

The Fun Continues...

I was so excited about John standing that I neglected to talk about the rest of our weekend:) I do have to mention though...............I am still ALL SMILES about my little mans newest accomplishment. What can I say....he's AMAZING!!!

Anyhow, John and I (Daddy had to work) went to a BBQ at Grammy and Papa's on Saturday night. We had a great time visiting with out of town relatives and John enjoyed spending time with his cousin Ashley.

Here I come:)

Papa and his grandkids...........well, 2 out of 9:)

John and Grammy!

We have a lot going on the next two days....some fun and some not so fun!

Thursday...

• PT
• Blood work at PCH for allergies
• Surgeons office for a button change. We can do it ourselves but neither of us feel comfortable yet.........believe me, I'll be taking lots of notes tomorrow.

Friday...

• OT
• ST
• Playdate with the twins (Kaden & Krysten)

The Top 10 Reasons...

...Why I have the BEST Daddy in the world:

10. The night I was born, my Daddy stayed by my side ALL night long. My Mommy said that she woke up at 3:00am to pump and Daddy wasn't there.......so she called down to the NICU and sure enough, he was with me.

9. My Daddy never gave up on me even when the doctors said my chances of survival were slim.

8. My Daddy continuously told the doctors to do everything they needed to, to keep me alive........even though they told him I would have LOTS of disabilities. He told Mommy that he would always love me and be proud of me no matter what!

7. My Daddy spent 110 days and nights with me at the NICU.........even when he had to go back to work he would visit me in the morning, at lunch, and then come back with Mommy after shift change and stay until 11:00pm.

6. My Daddy took very good care of my Mommy when I was sick because she was so sad (and cried) all the time. Daddy reassured her every night that I would be home soon.

5. My Daddy works very hard so that my Mommy and I can have a great life and so that Mommy is able to stay home with me.

4. My Daddy will take the monitor at night even though he has to work the next morning...........because he knows Mommy is very tired and he wants her to get some rest.

3. My Daddy takes me to baseball games and gets me lots of autographed balls, bats, and jerseys.

2. My Daddy plays with me, reads to me, changes my dirty diapers, and helps me with my therapy.

AND, the #1 reason why I have the BEST Daddy in the world is because............he loves me unconditionally and is PROUD of me and PROUD to be my Daddy.......especially today when I met a HUGE milestone!!!!

Yep.........he pulled to stand all by himself today!!!!

So, this is how it happened..........Jamie and I were walking my Dad and Grandma out (we left John in the family room playing) to say good bye. We were outside maybe 1 minute and when we came back in I went to put some dishes in the sink. I looked over the couch and saw John's head...........I thought he was on his knees but for some reason he looked taller:) Anyhow, Jamie went around the couch to get him and low and behold.............HE WAS STANDING!!!!! And, he continued to do it ALL afternoon.

I still can't believe it. We are so proud and excited for him. He has more determination than anyone I know. Grams, you better wear your sneakers when you babysit from now on:)

Never give up, never stop trying, never say never!

Stephanie.........thanks for our onesie! Daddy loved it!

There's No Stopping Him Now

Going...

Going...

GONE!!!

And, No...........his father didn't dress him:) I am 100% to blame for the very dorky outfit.........a blue and white star onesie, green snowman PJ pants, and socks! Hey, it's all about comfort right? I promise though, I did not (and do not) take him out of the house looking like this:)

Extra, Extra, Read All About It......

That's my boy.........making headlines again! As you can see by the picture, John made the front (and back) page of the March of Dimes newsletter. It was definitely a nice surprise when we opened our mail on Wednesday:)

Not much to report on today...........no news is good news right?

We are very excited though.........Auntie Michelle (Mommy's very best friend) and Asia and Dakota just arrived in town from Scotland and will be here for the ENTIRE summer........lots of playdates are already planned.............definitely 2 a week at the minimum:)

Hmmmm...doesn't look like he is to fond of the popsicle!


Busy pounding away on his piano.......and very good at it I must say:)

What do you mean your kids don't play with syringes???

Breaking News!

Big news here.............John signed his FIRST word today!!!!! Hooray for John!!!

Grams was babysitting so Mommy could run errands all day......so she (and Kelly his ST) witnessed this HUGE milestone. Anyhow, they were at Speech this morning and after he was finished eating he leaned forward, grabbed Grams hands, and signed...........ALL DONE!!!!!

We have been working on this sign for awhile now and I couldn't be more excited or proud of him today. You go John.......keep proving all those doctors wrong:)

I am also very excited because Shannon had her baby today (on her due date)..........AND, it's a little GIRL!!!!

Playtime

Have I mentioned lately how much I love my little man? He is SO much fun and seems to be growing and developing more each day.

He crawls like a champ, pulls up (on his knees) on EVERYTHING, and plays and laughs with himself in the mirror. I now find myself picking up toys ALL over the house...........in every room, every hallway, and every bathroom...........and, I LOVE IT!

He is too stinkin cute. Don't you just want to grab that little tush?

Look at me Mommy!

Man, am I good looking or what?

Vroom, Vroom!

Signs of A Good Day.....

....DIRT! I always say, that a dirty kid equals a GREAT day and by the signs of it, I'd say John had at great day indeed!!!

John spent the day at Grams and Grandpa's........Mommy had an all day class and Daddy had to stay home with the electricians who were putting in ceiling fans in John's room and the office.

You can tell by the pictures that John had tons of fun.........but hey, who doesn't have fun with their Grandparent's?

Barium Swallow

We packed up and headed down to PCH around 8:00am this morning for our second modified barium swallow............AND, it was a semi-success!

John wasn't too thrilled to be there (do you blame him?)..........I promised him he wasn't going to get any heel sticks but, I don't think he believed me.

I think he was having NICU flashbacks:(

We waited, and waited, and waited for our turn......we didn't even get called back until around 10:00am.

So, while we were waiting I took John over to watch these two little girls (or so I thought) play. They looked to be about 7 and 4 years old..........one had a cute ponytail in her hair and the other had french braids. Very loudly (Jamie says I can't whisper) I said, "John look at the two girls playing!" They then turned to me and said, "He (the one with french braids) is a boy!" Oops........I just assumed he was a girl. That sure was the first time I've seen a toddler (boy) with french braids:) Come to find out, his name was John too!!!! I guess I really need to learn to whisper. Anyhow, it was finally our turn!

Mom, PLEASE no pictures.........I don't want anyone to see me wearing a dress!!!


Let's get this show on the road......bring on the barium!


All done.....and the verdict is.......

NO ASPIRATION!!!!

He didn't swallow a whole lot but what he did swallow, he didn't aspirate.