Doctors

After the fun of birthdays is over, we start the doctor appointments. We only had 3 this week: pediatrician, sleep disorder specialist, and the neurosurgeon. In the next couple of months we will complete our annual/biannual visits with the pediatric opthalmologist, endocrinologist, physiatrist, and a new one we added today neuropsychologist. I have definately found my gift in life. I can remember each of the doctors by name, what his/her practice is, when the next appointment is, when the last one was, and what we found out (or talked about) at each. I can somehow schedule new appointments without conflicting with the physical therapy, speech therapy, and occupational therapy ongoing appointments. Don't ask me how. I forget everything else. I can't tell you what we had for dinner last week, or get to an appointment we've been to 5 times without a google map, or even remember somebody's name that I see and talk to every week. I used to blame it on lack of sleep. Now that Corbin is sleeping, I don't know what to blame it on.
I love getting into a 4 year old's psyche. At the pediatricians, the doctor asked Brittan a series of questions to see how she is doing cognitively. Four year olds think everything is real, so when asked if Dora and Cinderella were real or pretend, they were of course real. My favorite answers, though, were to the questions "what is your favorite food" and "what is your favorite snack?" Her answers (I swear I didn't prop her on these), apples for food and oatmeal squares for snack. The doctor was impressed, I was trying not to laugh. If I had answered those for her I would have said she would say french fries and chocolate!

4 years old

July 17th 2004 - After I had assured Shaun he was ok to leave me and to go see the babies, I had time to wonder what good could come out of such a horrible day. The babies were here and I was only 24 weeks and 5 days along. The night before I had been told everything would be ok and I wondered what went wrong.

It took a couple of years to realize it, but everything did turn out ok. It was a very long hard road, but 4 years later I look at our kids and am so greatful they are with us. They are doing SO well! Last night we had cake and ice cream with friends and as I watched them play I couldn't help but feel overwhelmed with gratitude that they are doing so well. You can't even tell Brittan was a 24 week preemie, most of the time, and Corbin is progressing more and more each day. I remember one day in the NICU before one of Corbin's many surgeries we were talking to the neurosurgeon as he discussed his upcoming surgery and showing us Corbin's CT scan and showing us the damage that had been done. Seeing how unsure we were and just trying to absorb everything one day at a time he looked at me and said, "I am not a betting man, but I would bet on your son." I don't know if that surgeon really knew how much that comment would mean to me, but everytime Corbin passes a big milestone like walking I remember him giving me hope.

The kids had a wonderful birthday this year. There was a lot of water, friends, and cake and ice cream. We went to the beach on their birthday with some of their preschool friends. It had to rain of course, but they still had a blast. Friday night we had cake and ice cream with friends from church and school. Everybody had a lot of fun!!

I was crazy and actually tried making a cake for both of them. I really wanted to make a princess cake for Brittan, so that would mean I would have to make a cake for Corbin also. I actually think Corbin's turned out better, though.

Water Summer

I love summer in Minnesota. It doesn't stay hot the entire time. In one week it will be 79 degrees with a cool breeze and 91 degrees and way too humid. But the best part is all of the water. We are surrounded by lakes, and where there is a lake there is a beach. We also have a pool at our apartment, and we just found a new free water source (thank you Tatiana), a splash pad only 15 minutes away. We play in the water at least 5 days a week. Corbin loves it. Why can't summer last a longer?

We were playing in the pool one day and the sprinklers came on randomly. Brittan was of course scared, so I let her go in the house but Corbin wanted at the sprinklers. So I grabbed the camera and let him go. He just walked around laughing. This picture is what he does in the water. He gets his hand wet and then squishes the water in his hand to make a noise. Try it. It is not easy. He can do it with a few drop. I can't do it with all the water I can fit in my hand.

The heater in the pool broke, so the water wasn't quite warm enough. I pulled out their old pool and let them play. I think it's a little too small. Luckily Aunt Amanda is sending a bigger pool for their birthday!