4th of July

Yesterday we drove to LA to spend some time with Brad's Uncle Joel and family.  Nana and Grampapa came along also, so that worked out great because each kid got some grandparent time in their car (they  have an extra car seat in there).  We had a great time and the kids especially enjoyed the trip.  We were just getting into Bakersfield, on the way home, when the fireworks shows started.  Calvin was in our car and we were telling him where to look to see the fireworks...he saw them and was overjoyed (I'm not underestimating the emotion) at the pretty colors in the sky.  It was the highlight of his night.  He kept exclaiming with joy, "I see them, I see the fireworks!"  At one point he said, "the plop, plop, plop in the sky".  On our street he got to see some of our neighbor's fireworks and he was so excited.  And then just for fun we went and sat on our back patio to watch more fireworks being set off.  Mia, on the other hand, was not very excited about the fireworks...even possibly, slightly hesitant to like them.  But once we were home and talking about it...seeing that it was ok, she warmed up to it.  She definitely was not enthusiastic, like Calvin, but at least she wasn't scared of them.  Asher didn't really have an opinion...we'll give him another year to figure it out. 

Happy Five Months Asher!

Where has the time gone?  Asher is becoming more alert and more mobile these days.  In addition to being able to roll both ways, he can now push with his back legs to move himself forward to get places and things.  He has much more interest in the toys that are around him and he can get to them and grab them really easily.  He is also beginning to show interest in the food that we are eating, but I'm not quite ready for him to start solids yet...my plan is to wait until he's at least 6 months before we venture down that road.  Here is our handsome little man.

Father's Day

For Father's Day, Brad and his dad went rafting down the Kern River.  They had a fun time on their excursion.  I've been meaning to put a few photos up, here they are...

Asher's Heart

Today I took Asher in for an echo of his heart.  At our last two pediatrician appointments his doctor has heard a murmur and said it was time to get it checked out.  There is a pediatric heart clinic in Bakersfield, so it was nice not to have to drive to LA for this!

Ends up that Asher has a small ASD (Atrial Septal Defect), it is a very tiny hole between the top two chambers of his heart, 3mm to be precise.  It is a very common occurrence and 20% of the population has or had this (at least that's what the doctor quoted).  It still has a chance to go away on its own, but since it is there they will continue to follow him.  He will be seen in another 6 months and then at 2 years, 4 years and 7 years.  At any of those visits, if it is no longer there, then he won't need to be seen again.

I asked if they ever fix them, he said only if there is a problem with clotting or uncontrolled migraines.  And it sounds like that wouldn't happen unless he was older.  And he said it was a very minor surgery to fix, they go in through a vein or artery (I forget which) and apply a tiny patch to the hole.  It's considered an outpatient procedure.

So, all in all, it sounds very minor.  Something that could easily still close on its own.  Praising God for great news and a healthy baby boy!

Summer

We've been enjoying our summer around here.  Mia's therapies are scaled back and this week was our last MARE session until the fall.  Next week Mia will be going to VBS at our church and I'm super excited for her.  I am sure she will have a blast.  It will give Calvin, Asher and I some Mommy and sons time at home.  I will have to think of some different than usual things for us to do.

This past week the stomach flu went through our house again.  I for sure thought that getting it so much last year would completely have made us immune to it, but no...not completely.  Thankfully only I seemed to be the hardest hit one and the kids have recovered quickly. 

I was appreciating my 6 hour stretches with Asher up until about 3 weeks ago...now we are back to frequent night wakings, but I know that this will soon pass.  So I keep trying to have a positive attitude because really in the whole scheme of things, this is very minor.