Enough already!!!

I know it's February, and I know that I grew up in New England, so I know about winter weather, but seriously!!!! Who knew that living in Kansas we would be in the middle of a winter wonderland for 2 months!!! I have done enough shoveling for 2 winters! Hopefully, what this means is next winter while Bryan is gone we won't have snow like this and I won't have to shovel all by myself! A girl can dream....

Ah ha..

Having your own children makes you appreciate everything that your parents have done for you. It also makes you call them at least once a week for things that you did as a child... I love you Mom and Dad!!!

It's been that long, really???

OK, so it's been a really long time! Where does the time go?? I have no idea, when did Rory get to be a real little girl (or a big girl, if you ask her!) of 4 1/2....Kindergarten is just around the corner!! Brendan is such a little boy now, he is everywhere and almost ready to take those first steps!! I have no idea where the first year of Jack's life went..it really feels like we just got him home. He is such a happy little guy, even when he is getting taught the ropes by his big brother in the not so most loving way!! Bryan and I are so lucky to have such 3 wonderfully happy kids who make us smile everyday..we are blessed!

Another day of testing...

Earlier this week we had to bring Brendan into Childrens Mercy Hospital to have some kidney tests done. It was an all day affair for our little guy, but in his usual Brendan way, he was charming and funny! The funniest story of the day was when he was getting prepped for his first test. He had to be strapped down to a backboard like device, but he had his hands free. Bryan and I were standing up by his head talking to him and playing with him. To keep him as calm as we could, we gave him a pacifier, and in the hospital they have a container of sugar water, which we refer to as "baby crack" which is what the nurses in NICU called it.

So there is Brendan getting ready for the test to start and I start dipping his pacifer in the "baby crack" and he takes is and sucks on it for a minute, and then without hesitation, he took the pacifer out, handed it to me for more. He kept doing this with a huge smile on his face....too funny!

It's only been 6 months....has anything really happend??

OK, so it's been a ridiculously long time since I have posted anything, and I can tell that you have all been left hanging....I don't even know if anyone even checks this site anymore, but just in case you do, this is for you!

Well, I guess I start where I left off! In June Bryan graduated from CGSC (or as we call it, Major School). He had already been accepted into the SAMS program here at Fort Leavenworth, so that meant that we could actually stay where we were...no moving....or so we thought! When Bryan was a student at CGSC we lived on the second floor of an older 8-plex home on post. We really liked it, but then along came Jack, and lugging 2 kids up and down 24 stairs (who's counting?) several times became waring, especially since neither one of them was getting any smaller! We had the opportunity to move to a one store home, but the catch was that we had to do it all ourselves, and we had 4 days to do it. All I can say is, thank God for family!! My brother and sister in law, Michael and Madelynn, took charge of the kids and kept them entertained and happy while we made the endless car trips back and forth! Kevin and Denny, Bryan's father, were also very helpful to say the least!

So we are in our new home and loving it!!

Rory started swim lessons this summer, and she is a regular fish! Brendan has become a lot more mobile...he is everywhere!!! We are still working on pulling up and walking, so that is frustrating, but it is coming along. He is a very stubborn child (imagine that!) so we know he will do it, he is just on his own timetable! Jack, what can we say about Jack! Jack is loving being a little brother, but he wants into all the fun that Rory and Brendan are having! I can't believe that he is already 8 months old...I have no idea where the time has gone!

Bryan had shoulder surgery at the end of September and thankfully Ann & Dave were able to come out and help me with the kids as Bryan is recovering. His surgery went well, now he just has to remember that it doesn't heal overnight!

We are getting ready for our second Down Syndrome Walk in 2 weeks! We are so thrilled that so many of our family members are able to be with us for this walk!

Well, that is the very short version of what has been going on, and I'll try to do better!

One Year Ago

I remember that a year ago at this time Bryan and I were sitting in a waiting room at Santa Rosa Hospital in San Antonio. It is amazing that 365 days ago we put our sons life into other people's hands, and we had to let go and let God take over. I remember kissing Brendan, telling him how much I loved him, then watched them roll him through a set of double doors and out of my sight.

It's hard to believe that it's been a year, it's hard to believe that he has had major heart surgery, and it's hard to believe that he is doing so well! He is our miracle child. He is crawling, and about to be pulling himself up. He has a smile that makes you smile. He loves unconditionally, and he makes us and everyone who knows our family, appreciate everyday, and every milestone in life, no matter how small.

Homeward Bound!

February 3 was freedom day!! We were finally able to bring Jack home! We are now a family of 5 under one roof. There is never a dull, or quiet moment!