October 05, 2009
October 02, 2009
A weekend of walking
This past weekend we participated in two walks. Saturday night we headed downtown for the Light the Night walk. My mother-in-law is a survivor of cancer. This is the third year she has participated in the walk and the 23rd year she has been cancer free! We also walked in memory of my Gramma, who died from complications from stomach cancer. It's really a beautiful walk-takes you right by Soldier Field and the Field Museum and down along the lake. You see hundreds of lit-up balloons bobbing against the backdrop of Chicago at night. Truly a beautiful sight. We were happy to be a part of it.
Sunday we took part in our first Walk and Roll for SB. We had a perfect day! The weather was beautiful, 75 and sunny, and our immediate family was there to support us. The walk was held on a farm, and the walk took us around the farm with some stops to pet the horses. We walked. We ate. Nate slept. We petted animals and rode on a tractor filled with hay. We picked out pumpkins and took a ton of pictures. The day was amazing.
This also marked our first efforts at raising money for the Spina Bifida Association of Illinois. When we started, we set our goal at $500, which I actually thought was high but I wanted to challenge ourselves. The donations that continued (and STILL continue) to pour in put our original goal to shame. Our family, friends and co-workers have been so generous in giving to help those living with SB that we have now raised over $2,000. No, that is not a typo. You do not need to adjust your screen. Because you are AMAZING and we are so grateful for you all! We truly feel that this walk was a huge success and it has motivated me more than ever to start getting involved in spreading the word about SB awareness. Through other blogs I discovered a mom who has a little girl with SB who makes bracelets about SB awareness. 25% of all proceeds go to various SB charities. I have one on the way. I also went out and purchased some materials today for another little project I am working on (stay tuned...) My big goal (I joke) is to get Ellen DeGeneres to be the celebrity spokesperson for SB awareness. Ha! I won't hold my breath on that one. By the way, does anyone happen to know Ellen? :) Enjoy the pictures from our walks!
Sunday we took part in our first Walk and Roll for SB. We had a perfect day! The weather was beautiful, 75 and sunny, and our immediate family was there to support us. The walk was held on a farm, and the walk took us around the farm with some stops to pet the horses. We walked. We ate. Nate slept. We petted animals and rode on a tractor filled with hay. We picked out pumpkins and took a ton of pictures. The day was amazing.
This also marked our first efforts at raising money for the Spina Bifida Association of Illinois. When we started, we set our goal at $500, which I actually thought was high but I wanted to challenge ourselves. The donations that continued (and STILL continue) to pour in put our original goal to shame. Our family, friends and co-workers have been so generous in giving to help those living with SB that we have now raised over $2,000. No, that is not a typo. You do not need to adjust your screen. Because you are AMAZING and we are so grateful for you all! We truly feel that this walk was a huge success and it has motivated me more than ever to start getting involved in spreading the word about SB awareness. Through other blogs I discovered a mom who has a little girl with SB who makes bracelets about SB awareness. 25% of all proceeds go to various SB charities. I have one on the way. I also went out and purchased some materials today for another little project I am working on (stay tuned...) My big goal (I joke) is to get Ellen DeGeneres to be the celebrity spokesperson for SB awareness. Ha! I won't hold my breath on that one. By the way, does anyone happen to know Ellen? :) Enjoy the pictures from our walks!
September 21, 2009
Variations
We have been working on signing with Nathan for awhile now. So far he can sign "more" and "please" with his own variations. At first I worried that this was a problem but our PT Toni assured us that all kids have their own variations. As long as they use the same sign appropriately, it's fine. Here he is signing "more please" during snack the other day. The "more" looks like clapping and the "please" is him bringing his hands to his chest. This makes sense, because when we ask him to "find his belly" he does the same thing and the sign for "please" is rubbing your belly. I'm not really sure why he won't bring his hands down to his actual belly, but that's for another day. Enjoy!
Not Me! Monday
It's back!
Are you feeling guilty for making a whole batch of chocolate fudge brownies that you know your husband wouldn't like just so you could eat them yourself? Embarassed that you found fruit rotting and molding in the back of the refridgerator? Hope no one noticed that your child wore the same outfit two days in a row? Well don't be! Not Me! Monday was born out of one woman's desire (MckMomma to be exact) to admit some of her imperfections and reveal a few moments she'd rather forget. I found it therapeutic to join in and do the same thing! Maybe you would, too!
This week I most certainly did not run the dishwasher numerous times, even though it was not full, just so I wouldn't have to wash bottles. Again. Nope, not me!
I also did not convince my husband that we absolutely needed a steam mop which cost $80. No, I didn't convince my husband we needed said mop just because I am too lazy, I mean busy, to get down on my hands and knees and do it the old fashioned way.
Over the past couple weeks I definately did not notice that a large pile of junk was accumulating at the bottom of the stairs. This pile of junk did not sit just downstairs of the front door where it was perfectly noticable (if not obvious) for all who entered to see. No, I would certainly have taken care of that before it got out of control with bags of food that needed to go to church, many, many pairs of shoes, a drying rack with clothes, a large package of toilet paper and other miscellaneous items strewn about. Nope, not me! I keep a tidy house at all times!
And finally, I did not use the chocolate milk my husband bought (because they were buy 1 get 1) as a substitute for regular milk just because we were out and I didn't get around to (or feel like) going to the store. Nope, not me!
I'd love to hear what you didn't do this week!
Are you feeling guilty for making a whole batch of chocolate fudge brownies that you know your husband wouldn't like just so you could eat them yourself? Embarassed that you found fruit rotting and molding in the back of the refridgerator? Hope no one noticed that your child wore the same outfit two days in a row? Well don't be! Not Me! Monday was born out of one woman's desire (MckMomma to be exact) to admit some of her imperfections and reveal a few moments she'd rather forget. I found it therapeutic to join in and do the same thing! Maybe you would, too!
This week I most certainly did not run the dishwasher numerous times, even though it was not full, just so I wouldn't have to wash bottles. Again. Nope, not me!
I also did not convince my husband that we absolutely needed a steam mop which cost $80. No, I didn't convince my husband we needed said mop just because I am too lazy, I mean busy, to get down on my hands and knees and do it the old fashioned way.
Over the past couple weeks I definately did not notice that a large pile of junk was accumulating at the bottom of the stairs. This pile of junk did not sit just downstairs of the front door where it was perfectly noticable (if not obvious) for all who entered to see. No, I would certainly have taken care of that before it got out of control with bags of food that needed to go to church, many, many pairs of shoes, a drying rack with clothes, a large package of toilet paper and other miscellaneous items strewn about. Nope, not me! I keep a tidy house at all times!
And finally, I did not use the chocolate milk my husband bought (because they were buy 1 get 1) as a substitute for regular milk just because we were out and I didn't get around to (or feel like) going to the store. Nope, not me!
I'd love to hear what you didn't do this week!
September 17, 2009
Happy stander
Army clawling. Check. Pushing up onto all fours. Check. Sitting unsupported. Check. He is working right down the list, and it seems that lately there is no stopping him! So we are moving on to bigger things, like working on standing. Nate can't bear weight in his legs...yet. We are hoping that is what the stander will teach him. It was so awesome to see him in an upright position for the first time! Our wonderful pool therapist, Nancy, was generous enough to let us borrow this stander until we can get our own. The goal is to have him stand in it for about an hour twice a day. Our PT, Toni, said that some kids don't tolerate it very well at first. And we all know how Nathan can be...tempermental, fussy, whiney and lazy. Yup, that's our boy. Ha! Take a look!
He looks like he is really upset about it, doesn't he? ;)
Today I took him in to get measured and casted for his AFOs (Ankle Foot Orthosis). They actually cast his legs to make the braces. The man who was doing the measuring and casting couldn't believe how calm and cool Nathan was...said he was the best patient of the day! Nate was very interested in the whole process...perhaps a little too interested since he was grabbing at tools and such. :) My goal was to take pictures of the entire process, but Nate ended up sitting on my lap while he was being casted while I flipped through a book with pattern options. From what I understand from other SB moms, picking out the pattern for the straps is a big deal. It's all about the pattern. I think I made a good choice...it wasn't in the book but they do custom stuff and were happy to oblidge. Guess you all will have to wait two weeks until they are ready to see! I bet the suspense will be unbearable!
He looks like he is really upset about it, doesn't he? ;)
Today I took him in to get measured and casted for his AFOs (Ankle Foot Orthosis). They actually cast his legs to make the braces. The man who was doing the measuring and casting couldn't believe how calm and cool Nathan was...said he was the best patient of the day! Nate was very interested in the whole process...perhaps a little too interested since he was grabbing at tools and such. :) My goal was to take pictures of the entire process, but Nate ended up sitting on my lap while he was being casted while I flipped through a book with pattern options. From what I understand from other SB moms, picking out the pattern for the straps is a big deal. It's all about the pattern. I think I made a good choice...it wasn't in the book but they do custom stuff and were happy to oblidge. Guess you all will have to wait two weeks until they are ready to see! I bet the suspense will be unbearable!
September 12, 2009
Little feet
Upon waking up from his nap, Nathan had put himself in a precarious position. You see, he had twisted and turned himself sideways in his crib.
And had gotten his little feet stuck in the crib railing! Isn't he adorable?
And had gotten his little feet stuck in the crib railing! Isn't he adorable?
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