Pumpkins, etc.

Pumpkin Patch!

We took Dizzy last Sunday, but it was a little difficult to enjoy because it was 95 degrees.

Pumpkins, glorious pumpkins!

Bubble time USA with Aunt Sue & girls.

Andrew is a trip on his rocking horse - sits as far back as he can & either kicks his feet up to relax as in this pic or rocks as hard as he can. Mommy prefers if it's on the rug because I'm just sure one of these days he's going to fly right off the back. Such a boy these days.

Also, FYI Andrew's eye surgery is scheduled for December 18th. Same deal as when he was supposed to have it done in February. His eyes have been consistent since then, so the MD & we feel comfortable going ahead with it.

Heart Walk!

Honor Roll

Dizzy & Mommy with his sign

Andrew's sign
All the kids had one this year along with some adults.

Andrew walking...

...all over...

Congential Heart Disease & Stroke!

(He walked on acquired heart disease too)
He seriously walked about 3 steps & then was done;

the rest of us did 3 miles (& then a mile to & from parking : )

We made it!

With our friends Jennifer & Lucas

(another CHD survivor) who did not want to take a picture!

Happy to be home! It was a bit much for Andrew even this year, but we are so happy that he was able to go be a part of his group. I think the Precious Little Hearts team raised over $7,000. Mommy & Dizzy did $300, thanks guys!

Ah the difference a year makes: Autumn 2008

Andrew

(with his 1st pumpkin from his Kalee)

Charley

Aaron

Kalee

(with the pumpkin she picked for Andrew)

Sebastian

Jenna & Caleb

Cody

21 months!

Andrew & Daddy have a great time playing & working on standing up & walking. Andrew has taken up to 3 step on his own, but is still hesitant & usually sits right down if he thinks we are trying to get him to do it. He's almost there though. Throughout the day I have him walk around the house instead of carrying him & he's really just holding my finger for security. As soon as he decides he's ready he'll be off & running.

Always loves a good book. Though he doesn't like for us to read them to him, he has his own opinion about how books are best enjoyed : )

Still doing great with the potty training. I thought it was funny how he just made himself comfortable. He even threw my cell phone in his just-used potty yesterday. Luckily I got it out & dried the parts & got them in a bowl of rice (absorb any extra moisture - it works) quickly enough to save the phone. Mischief!

Raising Awareness for CHD

Andrew was in our Brevard County Moms Like Me magazine this month in a piece to help raise awareness of Congenital Heart Defects & provide info for the upcoming American Heart Association's Heart Walk,

which we are planning on participating in.

If you want to read the article, here's the link

http://brevardcounty.momslikeme.com/members/JournalActions.aspx?g=495577&m=7316300

Also, if you are interested in supporting the Mommy & Dizzy team of champions here is the link to our Heart Walk page where you can make a donation.
https://www.kintera.org/faf/donorreg/donorpledge.asp?ievent=295044&supId=253974595&msource=boundlessfun

Thanks!!!

videos of Dizzy today

Daddy was cracking Dizzy up yesterday by crawling across the room & running into his toy, but when he got tired of doing it & laid down next to his audience Dizzy started pushing him up to get him to do it again. Now the whole routine is a game in & of itself. Good times. Andrew still isn't talking much, but definitely gets his point across & is doing a great job following simple commands, etc. He is actually eating about 12 oz a day by mouth consistently & is even trying new things like Cheerios. We are very excited about that. Weighs just about 24 lbs, which we are also stoked about. He's also doing a great job potty training, introduced it about 2 weeks ago & he is even starting to get our attention to let us know he needs to use it. Keeps his diaper dry overnight & at nap time, but we still have to physically help him to his little potty since he isn't walking & is a little too short : ) so sometimes we miss our opportunity if we're goofing off too much.

The weather has been beautiful this week. Still a little warm around 90, but just enough breeze to be able to go outside without being miserable. Andrew loves his little swing & it's always fun to make him giggle : ) Sorry its been so long since the last update, I was waiting for a local magazine, Moms Like Me, to come out for Sept because Andrew is in an article about CHD, but I haven't been able to get my hands on one yet, but I will post it as soon as I track one down.

20 months!

Just starting to fit into shoes again.

He outgrew size 3 around his birthday &

is having so much fun wearing shoes again.

Just looking cute

Daddy was eating a chocolate animal cracker
so Andrew munched on one too.
He is starting to eat better with meals as well.

This morning we tried his new potty chair for the first time.
When I brought it home after work Friday evening he had so much fun playing with it we were concerned that we wouldn't be able to get him to sit on it long enough to pee. But he showed us; when I sat him on it first thing this morning he smiled & peed after about 30 seconds. Then he sat there (watching a movie) until I finished taking pictures
& got him up to put a diaper on.
(Only a mom would feel the need to give
a full report on something like this : )

Our Little Couch Climber

Family Gathering

Andrew saying hi to Grandma Dawn, Angie & Ana

Hi Frankie

Visiting with Grandpa Richard

Meeting Steve's Mimi, his great-grandmother, for the first time.

A picture with Mimi

Mimi with her grand & great-grandchildren

(& me, Dizzy wasn't letting Mommy go (beyond ready for his nap))

4 generations

F-A-M-I-L-Y

Yesterday we went to Steve's Aunt Linda's house for a family gathering, Andrew's first time meeting his great-grandmother & a couple aunts & uncles & cousins. He was a little grumpy, but it was great to get a chance to be with family. It's been nice over the summer to exercise a little more freedom in being with family & friends. But, all good things must come to an end so as kids go back to school we have to raise security again. We ask parents of all kids that are around Andrew to be on guard for illnesses & let us know as soon as you find your child is sick or has been exposed. It's kind of a bummer, but in perspective, a small price to pay for our Precious Miracle. Of course, we recall all the ways God has kept Andrew thus far & are confident He will keep it up. Last night Andrew started with some low-grade fevers. The MDs said there are lots of viruses going around right now so we are keeping an eye on him & giving him Motrin as needed. We definitely appreciate prayers for this, that if he is sick it will be mild & his body will handle it well. Thank you all so much for loving our boy, we sure do!

Cute Little Fat Eye

This past Friday Andrew woke up with a fat eye, apparently due to a bug bite. He tends to have pretty bad reactions to mosquitoes & ants. I also think they are attracted to him because he gets them after about 30 seconds after going outside in the evenings. Anyways, He did look pretty cute.

He survived a check up with the pediatrician today. Had to get one shot, but they gave him a new book so it was a fair trade. He's my little come back king weighing in at 22lbs 13oz (10%), 32" tall (40%) and noggin circumference 47 1/2cm (50%).