Random stuff...

OK, no pix for this post, just wanted to write a couple of things.

Alot of you know that AJ is on his first trip in the C-17 right now...Josh and I have been having a hard time of it, and I was a little worried that Josh wouldn't settle and would go on waking up in the middle of the night screaming and wanting Daddy and being super clingy. However, probably in response to prayers, he's now doing better. We got to "talk" to AJ on AIM the other day, and then tonight we kept him up horribly late talking to us on the phone. I'm so much happier and more peaceful after getting to hear his voice and just talk like normal people...and I feel like a total wimp. How are we going to do 4 months, when 4 days is such a horrible ordeal? But Josh went to bed and stayed there for the first time since AJ left after praying with Daddy on the phone, and being sung to by him. It was so nice to see Josh relax after talking to Daddy, too...hopefully we can talk again tomorrow and maybe AJ will be home early...I hope so!!

Anyway, just thought I'd update those who were worried for us...and those of you who weren't, too!

Also, on another totally random note, (not so random for me, since I'm sitting here enjoying it) I found the BEST sherbet EVER!! It's Publix brand (a grocery chain here in SC, for those who don't know) and it's a combo of Marula, Red Blush Orange, and CActus Pear...I don't even know what most of those are, but it's AMAZING!! OK, just thought I'd share...sharing time is over now!

Why do the cousins in our family always try to "out-drama" each other?

I mean, first Josh is born in a whole other country, then Sophia had her special moment by torturing her mother, and Josiah was born the morning of Hurricane Ike. Now it's Sam's turn, I guess.

We had an ultrasound today (GREAT pics!), but not great news. The right atrium of his heart is enlarged. This may or may not be an issue...we ended up going to the Pediatric Cardio clinic at MUSC today after our other appt. to get a second opinion, and their official statement was: "Um, we don't know." Basically they ruled out the really bad stuff they'd be able to see right now (aka, faulty valve, leaking vein/artery into that atrium) and his heart is functioning fine and seems to have all the right pieces...just that one chamber is enlarged. So it may be nothing to worry about, but they want to see how it's doing in a couple of months to see how it develops as he grows and matures. Please pray there's nothing wrong with our sweet little Sam!

Anyway, I'll put up the pix now...they're really good, and it's exciting to see how much he looks like Josh! And very cute expressions/body language!




I can't hear you!
This one looks most like Josh, I think.
146 beats per minute

OK, I can actually tell where the nose/lips are on here this time! He's changed a lot in just a month!


I can't tell if he's looking for something, or if he's just worried...
Scratching his head...deep in thought...
I'm hiding, you can't see me!
Anyway, I'll post more info as we get it, but right now the drs. don't seem horribly worried, just a little mystified, so we're trying not to worry, either. We trust God with our boys' lives and development, so it's a little easier to find peace than if we only listened to doctors! (No offense meant to doctors, just some of the ones we've talked to seem to be all doom and gloom...not the one at the cardio clinic, thank goodness, I don't think I could have handled it today!)

Rolly Pollies

On Friday midday AJ and I took Josh to Rolly Pollies, his little play gym place. He has a class there once a week, but they also have open gym times during the week, where they have the equipment open for kids to play on without the teacher leading it. I thought it would be a fun activity for Josh and AJ to do together before this trip.

Now, a little background, for those who don't know, here's some history on Josh and this place. He loves to climb and run, but has been terrified of the foam pit, jump track(like a long trampoline), and bouncy castle/slide. We've been working hard on jumping on the jump track, since that's something they do every week pretty much. We finally got him to do "No more monkeys jumping on the bed" last Monday in class a little, and so yesterday we finally got him to get up and jump starting with that, and then just on his own. He also liked chasing the ball on it! This is major progress, since before this he would run away screaming from it!! Yay Josh! Anyway, that's why there are so many pix of him on the jump track. We also took a video, but unfortunately, pregnant butterfingers here (aka, me) managed to delete it while attempting to watch it. So no video...hopefully we'll get another one someday...


Josh liked the activity on Monday which involved rings hanging on the climbing wall and you had to walk on the low balance beam and collect them...he liked to pretend he was driving the car and the ring was the steering wheel. So here he is trying to recreate it...unfortunately, no beam and this hoop was much bigger!
They have rings and a rope swing over the foam pit. AJ tried to get Josh to do it with him, but Josh was TERRIFIED, so he held on to my neck for dear life while his Daddy showed him how fun it was!
Josh on the jump track with the ball
"No, Dad, I really don't want to do this, ok?"
Josh does like the balance beam ok...as long as we're holding on really tight. He's usually ok on the lower ones, but scared on the high one...that's ok with me!
Josh and Daddy in the ring with a ball...Josh loves to climb in and out of these things!
After shoving Josh into the bouncy castle after AJ, we managed to get him down the slide...he likes the slide, but is really really scared of the actual bouncy castle.
AJ on the rope swing into the foam pit
They also have this roller coaster thing...it's a track with a little car on it, and you push off the top of it, and coast down...this is Josh's absolute favorite thing in the gym. He can push the car to the top of the track and then push off the top all by himself!

Desert Flightsuit

Here's some pictures of us the day AJ left...yesterday, I guess...seems longer than that. Anyway, I snapped a few b/c we don't have any of him in his desert uniform yet, so here ya go. The ones of him and Josh are precious!

Here's the random pix part of the last post...

So these pictures uploaded backwards. Just so you know. Shouldn't really make a lot of difference, though.

Josh, doing a little light reading after breakfast...note the title...



Sydney finally got to where she would get close to the dog...they were investigating each other.



Josh and Sydney picked up all his stuffed animals and threw them in the packnplay. Then they wanted to get in on top of them...of course, then they wanted right back out...
Silly Sydney!
Two little monkeys, jumpin' on the bed...
Eating pizza and fruit for dinner...or in Sydney's case, second dinner!
Playing toys together
When I went to check on Josh before going to bed the other night, this is what I found...note the book on the bed. It wasn't there when I tucked him in...he really loves his Big Book of Trucks that Aunt Beth gave him!!! He wants to take it everywhere and reads it almost everyday!
Neat eater...
Not neat eater!
Caleb's birthday party...they had cupcakes...notice the difference in the way these two boys are eating!! Caleb wanted to stay neat and clean...he's mostly around girls, and his mom is fairly neat, I think. Then there's Josh...Caleb was a little upset at the mess Josh was making.
Eating lunch at the party
Josh and Sydney not smiling at the camera...the goodies they found in the yard scavenger hunt.
Josh and Sydney with their hats and jungle animals
picking up all the animals to put in his hat.
Sydney looking for animals
Look how many I found, Dad!
They had this safari animal hunt in the yard...once Josh figured out what he was supposed to be doing, he did fairly well!
Cutest safari boy ever!
See my zebra?
Josh actually still plays with these animals all the time...he likes to put them in the packing tape ring, and cover them up with a washcloth to go "nite-nite". So cute!