What is happening?

Ok, everyone. First off, I would like to wish everyone a Happy Holiday! We have had alot going on here at the Leahy Household.

I went to the Boston Bruins game the other night with my brother and SIL. Her brother works for the Garden and we got up on the Jumbo tron. Just like JD, however, I was too busy eating a hotdog and drinking an "adult" beverage to take a picture like Doug did. Funny story, I was dropping Anne off at school yesterday and a woman I don't know stops me and says "did you go the Bruins game the other night....were you eating a hot dog..." yikes. It was a great time and they won 8-5!!!!

In other news, we got a ton of snow here on the south shore. Anne LOVES the snow, JD not so much, he was good with a 10 minute trip outside and that was that. He prefers to stay inside and keep warm...I put some pics of the two of them outside and one of Doug, the kids, and Cayman (our boxer).

The other picture of JD is with his very best friends, Jack and Jack. Oh my god...he loves these boys!!! I can't get through a day without him asking me to go to their house for a playdate. I thought this picture summed it all up...he loves them!!!

I wish everyone a safe, healthy, holiday season and look forward to "chatting" with all my blog friends in 2009!!!! Happy Holidays everyone!

Christmas Survey

I copied from Jamie's post...I thought it looked fun : )

Christmas Survey

Okay, here's what you're supposed to do, and try not to be a SCROOGE!!!
Just copy this entire post and paste into a new post/e-mail that you can send with the changes in answers so that they apply to you. Then send this to a whole bunch of people you know, INCLUDING the person that sent it to you......Tis the Season to be NICE!

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Wrapped, definetly...

2. Real tree or Artificial? REAL this year, but next year FAKE

3. When do you put up the tree? Usually the 1st weekend in December.

4. When do you take the tree down? As soon as possible, usually the weekend after Xmas

5. Do you like eggnog? Not at all...:(

6. Favorite gift received as a child? My Annie Doll and my red wagon...oh good times.

7. Hardest person to buy for? My brother, and sister. Kids are easy...

8. Easiest person to buy for? JD and Anne, they like everything!!!

9. Do you have a nativity scene? No

10.Do you send cards or email cards? a little of both this year!

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? oh I don't think I have had one :)

12. Favorite Holiday Movie? Frosty the Snowman

13. When do you start shopping for Holidays? This year? ugh, the last possible minute, I am still shopping and thinking of ideas.

14. Ever recycled a Holiday present? hmmm, uh yeah, most definetly :)

15. Favorite thing to eat at Holiday? Homemade cookies and hot cocoa

16. Lights on the tree? yes, colored ones this year, by request of JD and Anne.

17. Favorite Holiday song? Transiberian Orchestra. (sp?)

18. Travel at Holidays or stay home? We stay home for Christmas and not sure what we are doing Xmas eve yet.

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer's? Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen and of course RUDOLPH (Jamie was correct, so I am sticking to it)

20. Angel on the tree top or a star? We actually have a large dog bone...he he. DOn't ask

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Christmas Morning

22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? People who insist of buying gifts just to buy...Christmas should not be so retailized (is that a word?)

23. Favorite ornament? My personalized ones from my Dad each year...I love em!

24. Favorite for Holiday dinner? Ham and some munchies.

25. What do you want for Christmas this year? an electric blanket.

Merry Christmas!!!

A family Christmas

We had a great weekend. We went to Sturbridge MA to see my Dad's side of the family. All his brothers and his favorite Sister. I think someone said there was 35 of us that showed up!! Not bad. Some of the cousins were missing (they don't live near here) and Uncle Tommy made a quick visit...it was good to see him. Aunt Diane if you are reading, I hope you are well, and remember a smile a day keeps the doctors away!!!

It was good laughs, good fun, and we are hoping for a reunion of sorts for ALL of us. Geez, what place can hold 50 or more of us...we will find it. "we are the Scannells, the mighty, mighty Scannells...etc. (a little song we made up when we were kids...thanks Andrea for reminding me of how "cool" we are...)

I attached some pictures of the family. Enjoy. My kids did not attend, it would have been to crazy and I would not have been able to catch up like I did with everyone.

Also, thanks to Aunt Patty and Shawna for "Sid" the Elf on the Shelf!!! What a great little concept. JD and Anne were fascinated by the elf changing spots the other night...thanks for sending him all the way up from GA!!!

Off to take a rest, I had a long night with Annie last night, she is not feeling well and no one got any sleep :(

Family Day

Today was family day at Anne's school. We were lucky enough to have both grandfathers come to it!! Thank you to Pops and Grandpa!!!

The kids sang two songs and then we made gingerbread houses!!! Yummy!! Anne didn't have any idea who was coming to Family Day. This morning, I said "I will see you at Family Day" and her response "oh, just you?" He he, I kept a secret all day...

You should have seen her face when both grandfathers were there!! How exciting!!! Everyone had a fun time decorating (ah hem, eating) the candy to stick on the houses...

Tomorrow JD gets to make a similar house with his speech teacher...he is going to love it.

All is good!!!

Jon did awesome! We arrived at the hospital at 6:20 and he played until about 7:40am. The Surgery was scheduled at 8am and he was in the OR at 7:57 and out at 8:15....

Everything went very well. His ears were filled with fluid (not infected), he drained the fluid and added the tubes. All went very well. Jon (JD) got out of recovery at 8:45 and we were headed home at 9:30....

Phew! Another thing to cross off our list...so far so good.

Each night we ask the kids their "favorite part of the day" and "not so favorite part of the day"....

JD responses:
My favorite part of the day was playing at the hospital with my Dad. (my thoughts were "hey I was there too, remember me, I gave birth to you....LOL)

My not so favorite part was "not eating my peanut butter crackers after surgery" (Mommy made the mistake of bringing his favorite peanut butter crackers, and they wouldn't let him eat them because of allergies...I felt so bad for everyone involved)

On a side note, I had the kids pictures done this weekend. I will have to scan to share with you all. They came out great!!!!!

Tubes, tubes, tubes

I forgot to post but JD will be sporting 2 new tubes tomorrow AM. It should be an easy procedure (he had the last one in July 07)

I have to be at the hospital at 6:30am, surgery is at 8am.

I will update when I get back :)

Need some advice...or help...

(these pics are from 2007, look how little the kids are..)
Ok, the story goes like this. Doug and I took JD to Dupont Hospital to see Dr. Bober, and Dr. Mackenzie in March 2007. I was feeling guilty that Anne was not going with us so I purchased her a betta fighting fish. Yes, folks, I did. Another living breathing animal/human to feed, clean and take care of. What was I thinking?

Well, Nemo (the greatest fish in the world) is now not doing so well. Our first experience with Death. Now, I own a daycare, I talk to parents on how to deal with this all the time. Cats, dogs, even grandparents, friends, etc. So different at your own house, the questions are flying from Annie. What is heaven like? Do only cats and fish go there? Can he bring a picture of us to remember? Will he like it there? Can he visit us?

Nemo is sitting on the bottom of his very clean tank today...(Anne wanted to clean it up so he was in cleaner water) and not looking so well. I am tempted to go to the store and "replace" him...Am I a terrible mom? Should I pretend to take him to the "vet" and come home with a new one...I am perplexed....

So close to Christmas and she is devestated...and guess what she wants for Christmas? That is right folks, A HAMSTER....no way...I am not going there....

Any advice?

Facebook

Ok, who else is addicted to Facebook? I find myself looking on that site way too much....ugh! Is there an intervention? LOL

How many of you LP families are on there? I posted a video on there, but still can't here...what is up with that?

Oh well, I digress, off to check my FB page!!!

dum dum dum da dum.....

The line from my title is from JD's favorite part of the Celtics Game minus the phrase "DEFENSE"!

We have good news!!!! We went to the ENT doctor and JD needs to replace his ear tubes, no big deal...>BUT no ADENOIDs removal.....a year ago, he had adenoids that were too big to breath and now he had an airway to his throat!!!!!! Thank god we didn't do surgery.... I can't tell you how happy I am...Go JD!!!

Just a little update on my little man, he is doing great with his speech 1/2 hour week for articulation and is just a great kid...dare I say...you know, now that I have jinxed this,...I am not even going to say...

Happy Thanksgiving everyone, we all can be thankful for the incredibly great kids that we have been blessed with...Happy Turkey Day!!!!!

Celtics Game!!!

JD went to his first NBA game (the Boston Celtics)last week with Daddy!! Doug said they had such a great time! My SIL's brother works at the Boston Garden so he made sure to get JD and Doug up on the Jumbo tron several times, I attached a picture of Doug taking a picture of them on the screen...he was waiting for them to be up there!(I think like 4 times!). One of the pictures of him on the big screen he was doing "peace out"...crazy kid...everyone was cheering!!!

My Uncle was at the game and told my Dad he saw them on the Jumbo Tron! A waitress at our favorite restaurant saw them too! JD is famous (ok, Doug too!) The ate M&M's, and a hot dog!!! JD was cheering for both sides, I guess every time someone got a basket, he would just cheer!!!

Doug bought them matching Celtics hats and JD was sporting his really cool Celtics sweatsuit (thanks Auntie Debi). So all in all, he had a blast and Doug really wants to take him again!!!!

Random thoughts

Just a couple of pictures from the last couple of weeks or so. I don't think I should post the pictures I took with JD and his friends at LPA...I didn't get permission. :( I did post a couple of random photos. My dog Cayman, who dresses as Batman each year, my brother, sister and I...and JD as a pirate...

We had a fun weekend, we took the kids to the park in our neighborhood and played hide and seek. Kids are so funny, there really is no place to hide yet they "found" poles to stand behind and slides to sit under...it was too funny.

On Saturday night, Doug and I went to my FIL's retirement party...it was a great time and Jack seemed to have a blast.

Tonight JD is going to his first official NBA basketball game with Daddy. The Boston Celtics!!!! Hopefully, he will enjoy the game and won't think it is too loud!!! I will have Doug take lots of pics of the night...

LPA Regional and misc stuff!

Happy Halloween everyone! I just wanted to post about our happenings. We attended District One's Regional Meeting. It was alot of fun. JD met a friend for the first time since going to 6 of them now!!! He and Owen played for 2 hours in the kid room and then we danced and had a great time. JD was telling all the girls to play with him...I attached a picture of his friends. It was a good time. I enjoy meeting new LP's and getting valuable information at the parents meetings. Tonight is Halloween and JD is a pirate and Anne is a cheerleader!!! I will post some pics soon.

Tag: I am it!!

I have been tagged by Kim, Here goes:

10 Years Ago I
1) started my first "real" job after college....admin assistant, wait wasn't my degree in teaching...LOL
2) Met my husband at work, total computer geek, ah hem, phone guy...
3) bought my first house by myself...woo hoo! still here!
4) was having a blast hanging with friends, future husband etc.
5) I went to the gym almost all the time (to impress soon to be hubby...)

Things on tomorrow's to-do list

1) Try not to sign on to facebook, (why is it so addictive?)
2) watch 10 kids in my daycare including a 9 week old baby...so cute...
3)Figure out how to get to the Wine and cheese party LPA District 1 is having....
4) Take Anne to school
5) Go to Roche Brothers and fascinate Amy how thrifty I am....

Things I would do if I were a millionaire

1) Pay off my mortgage
2) PUt money aside for the kids for whatever they need it for.
3) Give some money to family to help everyone be happy
4) Take my family on a kick A** trip to the caribbean...
5) Remodel my house so I can have a great kitchen....

5 Places I have lived

1) Marshfield
2) Marshfield
3) Marshfield
4) Columbia South Carolina
5) No worries Kim, I only have 2...REALLY pathetic

5 jobs I have had

1) Paper carrier
2) Bakery Girl
3) Hallmark cashier, um, gift store girl
4) Nanny
5) daycare Provider/Preschool teacher

Hmmmm, I tag my sister Debi (who never blogs), Sarah, Jaime and Aunt Mary on Facebook...hee hee...gotcha!

Great news everyone!!!!!

The best words you can hear from your most favorite Neurosurgeon/....

NO SHUNT OR DECOMPRESSION SURGERY AT THIS TIME


I can't believe it...well yes I can, JD, JON, Jonathan, has done so many good things in the past year that I should not have been worried...but come on, he has achondroplasia...there is so much to worry about. Plus, I worry about everything, I think the worst, then when good stuff happens it seems so much better...not a trait I hope my children pick up.LOL

I am happy to report, that through my neurotic (is that a word?) medical behaviors, we are in the clear til next May or June (depending on an opening for an appointment) with Dr. H. He is the greatest, I trust him completely...

So, tonight I sit and laugh and play with my two great kids and hope that we have many happy times ahead...

God yesterday was tough, I was so scared and now I think "why"...but I know why, I don't want my son to be in this situation, but hey he is, and if you saw him lying on the bed to enter the MRI...you would be so proud, he turned to daddy and said "can I get a blue and red race car when I am done?" I cried my head off, if that is even normal to say, but I did. The anethesialogist (why can't I spell that?) just said to me "take a minute and kiss your son, we have time...."...ugh...what a tough day...but now SOOO WORTH IT.... no brain surgery..I can't even tell you how happy we are...

Good night to everyone and thanks for the prayers, they truly worked!! :)

Medical SMedical

JD had an MRI yesterday. What a grueling process on Tuesday trying to find a doctor in the anthesia department....I spent 4 hours at the hospital and found the most amazing doctor (pedi anthesialogist (sp)). He took time out of his surgery to speak with me and JD....great stuff.

I was a nervous wreck yesterday, I could not really think straight. I knew what was going to happen. JD couldn't eat for what seemed liked days (just 14 hours) and he did REALLY REALLY WELL. He even said to Doug and I "I will just eat 2 bites and be done..."

With all the precautions for having a breathing tube (intubation, LMA) he ended up just using a mask...and breathing on his own!!!! Yeah JD.

Now I await the results. Dr. H is supposed to call me today and let me know, I hope to God that is ok.

I will post when I know more : ) Save a prayer for JD if you can that he will not need a shunt or decompression surgery......I will be a nervous wreck again....

Rain Rain Go Away!

The Northeast has been hit with some heavy rains this weekend! Ick, makes for some cabin fever!!!

We used our time wisely. Yesterday I went shopping with JD for an anniversary present for Doug. Our anniversary is today (6 years!) and the traditional gifts were chocolate, iron and wood. Well, last year it was wood too and I bought Doug a Japanese Maple Tree. How romantic right? The tree is tiny and is in our yard, but it is fun to care for and now it is a memory of our anniversary!!! So, I couldn't think of anything fun for iron, chocolate or wood...I ended up buying a fire pit made of iron!!! Doug has been dying for a fire pit and I thought he would love it...I was right! Score for Jill.

For our anniversary, we got our new favorite babysitter Madison to come over so we could go for a very delicious dinner last night. Have I mentioned how much the kids love Madison (she is my cousin and is 13) but oh boy, I love the fact that she plays with the kids the whole time. She even made a huge sign with JD and Anne that said "Happy Anniversary" and hung it on the wall in the kitchen!!!She is the best!!! Thanks Madison for a great night out!

We went bowling today. It was JD's first time actually bowling(he has been several times), he did great. This time he was even "big" enough to finally fit in the shoes!!! Oh boy, watch out they are slippery. He did very well. No strikes but lots of fun. I will attach pics when I download them on my other computer.

This post has turned into a potpourri of information. Sorry for the rambles...I get ahead of myself sometimes. I thought I had nothing to say and then BAM as I type I can think of 12 things to share....for instance,

JD and Anne had Open House at the Elementary School. They are in the same classroom, JD just sits in the back with the speech teacher. Everyone was so excited to show us around...Mrs. Lester thinks JD should come to school 2 days a week, because she said he is the smartest 3 year old she has worked with in a long time!!! Yeah JD! We are still keeping him home though...he is in my preschool 5 days a week and doing just great. Anne was so proud to show us her classroom and all the artwork she has done so far this year. She loves school so much!!!!

I am off to finish laundry...I will post some pics soon!

First Day of School

Wow! JD, uh, I mean JON did great for his first day!!! He was rearing to go just by putting on his shirt!!! Bye Mom, is all I heard all morning!!!

His teacher Mrs. L came to get him, and he walked with her down the hall in the elementary school ALL BY HIMSELF. I really never thought he wouldn't, but I tell ya, it was nice to have him so willing to go with her. Leaving on the other hand he was an emotional mess. I don't want to go home, I want to stay at "tool"<--- why he is going to speech, LOL.

All in all, he loved it and can't wait for next week!!! Enjoy his pictures!

Off to school!!!

Anne started her first day of PreK last week! Same teachers, same kids as last year so it was a breeze to drop her off with all her buddies!!!She goes to the intergrated program at the Elementary School. I actually went there when I was a kid (the school not the PreK). She loves it. It is 4 days a week for 2 hours and 45 minutes. She can see her friends in the Kindergarten which is so cool!!!

On another note, JD is going to the same school!!! If you remember correctly, he was tested for speech back in June and passed with flying colors, but the teacher approached me the other day and asked if they could do some "articulation" speech classes with him for 1/2 hour a week. She feels it will be a great way for the elementary school to get "ready" for him (oh boy are they going to need to get ready LOL) So, he will go on Thursdays for 1/2 hour by himself with the speech pathologist and hopefully he will not rule the classroom. He is so excited to be in the classroom like "annie"...I will fill you in oh how he does on Thursday.

Funny story about my little man, he is a talker (really he doesn't stop talking EVER) so everyday in my daycare/preschool, he talks all through lunch and always misses the book and puzzle time after lunch because of his constant chatter. So, the woman the works with me says to him

Miss Sandy: Jonathan, do you know why you always miss book and puzzle time?
JOnathan: Why MIss Sandy?
Miss sandy: Because you are talking too much while you are eating....
Jonathan: Then stop talking to me.

I almost fell over with laughter, it was really funny. Typical JD..who now occasionally wants to be called "J-O-N" and he will spell it for you. So, JD, JON or Jonathan we wish you luck at your big kid school on Thursday, and more luck to the teacher LOL

Good news all around!!!

We had such a good day today! JD had his first dentist appointment and all looks really good, no cavities and he even opened wide for the dentist. Anne was great with her appointment too, no cavities for these kids. (hopefully they have my good teeth, and my OCD about brushing)

We had JD's 3 year check up today as well. The medical center we go to is so far behind in appts! JD grew an inch in a year!!!! I couldn't believe it. I think all the other times, they measured on the table but today JD was standing up against the wall. So, he is 30.25 inches tall (76 3/4cm)and 29 lbs, a little on the chunky side...so we might have to cut down his enormous breakfast down to something smaller. I am sure it is closer to 1/2 to 3/4 of an inch, but hey it was fun, JD was really excited to mark his height down on the chart for the DR.

In other exciting news, the DR asked JD to draw a circle, which he did great, and then he drew a triangle, the DR said "nice triangle Jonathan" and Jonathan replied, "that's not a triangle, it is a camping tent...." he was shocked. JD has an answer for everything. I have to admit, I was pretty damn proud of the kid. He knocked the socks off everyone in the office. They must have given him 20 stickers...spoiled???? He loved it.

I have to admit, I really liked having a very positive DR experience!!!! Since our last one was about his possible Shunt...I will take these well checks any time!!!

How to comment?

Someone recently asked me how to comment on the blog. If you look down at the bottom of this text you will notice a box that says 2 comments or however many comments are listed, click on the hyperlink and you will get a dialogue box on "commenting". Fill in your comment and hit send!!!

FYI: I enjoy reading your comments, so come on family members say hello!!! Jump on the blogging bandwagon!!!! ha ha.

Vacation at Point very wet Sebago

We had a great time in Maine at Point Sebago this summer, however, Mr Sun did not cooperate at ALL with us. We had 6 days of complete rain, oh wait, one day we did make it to the beach and the sun was shining for 20 minutes then the skies opened up and we got soaked. I have never been so wet without swimming!

In true vacation fashion we stayed busy, I think busier than usual because it was raining and we didn't want to sit around the "camping" house. JD learned to be quite the fisherman and was pretty darn excited when Daddy caught a sun fish!!! He can cast his line like crazy. Anne did some fishing too, but she was more interested in touching the worms (she says the word like we are from Jersey). Some of our other fun events were going on a Pirate ship for a dance show, making Tye Dye Shirts, seeing two plays that the camp staff puts on. Anne loved the music to Alice in Wonderland.

My claim to fame is I won a t-shirt at Point Sebago!!!!! All my family members know that if you go to Sebago, you work at every competion to get one so you can rub it in to everyone else how great you are (LOL) I got one! Doug did you? just jokes. I know you know I am the 08 champ!!! I won a Tshirt for a little act I did on stage for my friend getting "shot" and I had to react with emotion to his falling....the crowd had to cheer for the best "couple" and we won by a landslide!!!! It was alot of fun!

Vacation was great, geez, it seems so long ago, that I forget what else we did. We are going back to Maine (different place) this weekend to try out some kayaking and of course, JD and Anne want to fish.

In other news, JD had his ENT appointment the other day, his right ear tube fell out and they took it out of his ear (right in front of me, amazing) and put it in a treasure chest and gave it to JD (eeewww). So, his left ear tube is pushing out and we should expect it to be fully out in the next 6-8 weeks. He is concerned about the size of JD's adenoids but will not perform the surgery because JD's neurosurgeon has not fully cleared him for intubation...so we are moving up his MRI to check on the foramen magnum status and hopefully he will be cleared to get the surgery soon. Dr. C did confer with a Dr. Tunkel in baltimore and they are all on the same page. JD doesn't really snore (only if he has a cold) so right now there is no super rush...but obviously we need to get them out, just waiting kills me.

Another day in the life of a LP parent!!!

Anne starts school in 2 weeks. She is going to the intergrated Pre-K program at the local elementary school, she went last year too. She will have almost all the same kids in her class and same teachers. She cannot wait to see everyone again!!!

So, I attached some pictures of various happenings from our trip and what nots from the past weeks so Enjoy!!!

Rambling on about this and that....

Hello, geez, a week has gone by and I haven't blogged : ) and no one said anything. :)

Lots are happening here at our Bungalow. We started going to a dance on Friday nights with the kids in the beach parking lot. This really nice guy sets up his DJ stuff and plays all kinds of kid related music! The adults make a circle and the kids just dance away til the sun goes down. What a way to spend a nice night on the beach. Anne has taking a-liking to Miley Cyrus and Neil Diamond's "Sweet Caroline", JD is into just watching his buddies dance to "you got to move it"...good times.

JD dancing with Daddy


In other news, we caught our first crab on the boat. Well, yes,we got a crab trap (ew, for all that know me well) and we set the trap down into the water with only the best bait in town (ritz crackers, JD told us they would work) and after 3 quick tries in the water and one really long one (If I remember correctly, like an hour and 1/2) we caught our first crab...ew ew ew, but Anne and JD loved it. Again, I disgress into how fun it is to be a kid.



On other notes, we did some rounds of Doctors appointments yesterday that left me feeling a bit sad and happy at the same point. JD's ortho appointment went well, his kyphosis is down to 31 degrees and his wedging of L1 vertebrae is down to 28 and looking fabulous!!! The brace works. The doctor even used the term "you can give him some breaks"!! What I never give the kid breaks...he wears it all waking hours, ok, if you want to be technical not on the boat, too hard with the lifejacket and all....but a REAL break...YIPPPPIEEE! I love this part of our day. I was hoping for the brace to come off all together, but I should be thankful that the brace can be "breaked" here and there. The kids were so good for such a long 6 hours at the hospital, thank god Nanny came and had a limbo cane!!




So, off to other news. The neurosurgeon......notice the dots...I hated it here. JD's head is bigger than it should be all of a sudden he is off 1cm, now to AH parents, that doesn't seem alot but to us LP parents, 1 cm??? I thought immediately, measure again Dr. H. He did and got the same measurement....ugh again. He asked a bunch of questions...does he vomit? no. Headaches? no. Fatigue? no. Digression of movement? certainly not the kid doesn't stop playing sports!!! (thank god) Speech issues? again, he is half me, the kid doesn't keep quiet....so all in all, the doctor went back and forth, hmmmm CT scan, another MRI....SHUNT? what did he just say Shunt? Not my boy. Could this just be a random spot in his life? Should we wait a few months to see? Geez, I am rambling now aren't I? Are you still reading this? yikes. So, he decides along with me (my Mom was with me entertaining the kids) to wait 6 months and we will perform his 2nd MRI to see what is happening with his fluid and his foramen magnum. Scary stuff if you ask me. I really don't like all this talk of a shunt, it scares me to death and quite honestly, when I think of it, it makes me sad :) No pity though, I just want JD to be happy and if putting a shunt in his brain does that well, I will try to be strong and do it. Ugh. Doug and I have decided to get some more opinions from maybe Baltimore at Johns Hopkins. I am calling them tomorrow when I can say Shunt without being sad. JD is JD, happy as a clam for now, he is really smart (if I don't say so myself) and I will keep my head up for him and enjoy him being this way. Dr. H said that if he stays this way and doesn't get bigger, then we might not have to shunt him. God, I hope that is the case. Is it a bad trait to think the worst? Then if they say no shunt, I will think it is even better!!! Ok, so let's hope he stays the same or smaller (does that happen?)

Oh boy, this goes down as one of my rambling posts. That is what these are for right?

I forgot to mention for an extra special treat, we took the kids (Nanny and I) to the Boston Commons for a swan ride! We read the book "Make Way for Ducklings" and the kids were on the hunt for Mr and Mrs Mallard. We found them!!! It was a really nice day at the park and just the put the mind at ease kind of place to go after crazy hospital junk...Thanks Mom for coming! The kids took some silly pictures sitting on the ducks, but they are hilarious so I posted them. See kids are fun!







We are off to a week's vacation with the kids! I cannot wait. I need the rest and time to think. All is good. Both of my kids are healthy and super happy so, what more can I ask for?I will add pictures of our trip when we return. Happy Week!

What is happening these days....

I am on a roll now....blog readers!!! JD and Anne had cousin Emilee stay over last night and they had a blast. They all slept in sleeping bags in JD's room. Surprisingly, they were asleep by 9:30ish!!! Funny, I didn't take a picture of the sleep over party, in fear that I would wake them up...he he.



We took a mini vacation to Connecticut a few weeks ago to my cousins' graduation party. I haven't seen my relatives in so long! It was great to see everyone and catch up! I put a picture of just a couple of my cousins and some of their kids, amazing if we really all got together to see how many there was of us. (Shout out to Aunt Diane and Aunt Mary...thanks for reading! and of course, Debi and Paul, faithful blog stalkers! Just jokes) So, I have attached some fun pics from the day. We spent the night in a hotel in Connecticut to make a mini vay kay for the kids so we could swim and hang out. It worked out super good and the kids even brought sleeping bags and camped out under a work table in the hotel room, (so much for beds!) the fun of being a kid. They loved it.

Happy Birthday JD!

Well, it is official, my little man is 3!!! We had a lot of fun for his party. Nine of his buddies came to the party. I made a bean bag toss, had little boat races and played in the yard. JD got so much stuff, remote control everything! We set up the bubble machine and the kids always have a blast running through the bubbles.

I hope this year brings JD, health and happiness. We are off his nebulizers and we have appointments at the end of July to find out if he can come off Singulair too. We are doing the usual full day of appointments in Boston. I thought since I have the day off, I might take the kids to the Boston Commons for the famous Swan boats, and the Make Way for Ducklings statues. It should be fun, hopefully we will be brace free!!! I will probably cry all day if they say to take it off forever! The poor kid wears it 10 hours a day even in the heat and NEVER complains. Cross your fingers for us!

Here are some more pictures from Auntie Debi...who by the way gave JD the coolest Spiderman fishing pole, he was on the boat last night fishing for over an hour!!!! Thanks Auntie Debi! I love the one real close up with him sticking out his tongue...he he, he was really exhausted at this point.