Just a little walk down memory lane...

It was one year ago that Alexis was finally able to come home for the first time after a 67-day stay in the newborn ICU.

What a difference a year makes!

Back in Action

I almost forgot how cute my kids were. I was spending so much time with my face buried in the computer, harvesting my farmville crops and decorating my yoville condo, arranging my tiki resort, that the boys had to start wearing their old underwear inside out and they were on their third straight week of fishsticks. So before anyone found out and called child protective services, I cut myself off. Well, I cut myself off of blogs and games anyway. So now I remember how cute my kids are. We've even got clean clothes again and alternate our fishsticks with frozen nuggets. Quite the chef, I am.

So we're still alive and tickin' in the Hoosier State. We had a couple of weeks where we weren't tickin' oh so well. Strep throat hit, and hit us hard. Twice. 8 rounds of antibiotics in our household within 3 weeks. Alexis never got tested for strep, but was put on antibiotics for a sinus infection and then an ear infection. Just a hint, if you ever get strep: make sure to replace your toothbrushes.

The minute Blake requested a nap, I knew we were in trouble.

Here's what else you missed:

The boys are both out of school for the summer. Nicholas is officially a first grader and Blake is all registered to start Kindergarten in the fall. While we are waiting for Paula's pool to be ready for us (hint, hint Paula!) and waiting for summer camps to start, Alexis has been loving the extra attention from her boys.

I've been trying to get the kids outside as much as possible. This Indiana weather is crazy. It seems like we went straight from a bitter winter to a hot and humid summer. What happened to spring???

We've managed to get out a couple of times for a front yard picnic and a little time on the slip and slide and in the sprinklers.

Nicholas is playing baseball this summer. Unfortunately, of the 7 scheduled games, we've played 2. Three have been rained out, one time the other team forgot to show up, and then one game we had strep. (Don't forget: new toothbrushes!) Nicholas has enjoyed it anyway.

Go Padres!! Go #13!!

Here's Nick, (from his first game back in April, and it was a bitter cold morning!) ready for the pitch...

Hmmm...the coach approaches the batter...

Do you see where he's pointing?? The coach may have some high expectations.

But he hit it. Maybe not quite where the coach was hoping, but it's a fair ball...

And he makes it to first.

Alexis is doing great. She's totally off formula and on whole milk. She was exactly 18 lbs at her one year check up and had a weight check this week to make sure she's putting on enough weight with whole milk. Despite the fact that in one month's time she's had both a sinus infection and an ear infection (and possibly even strep), she was up to 18 lbs, 11 oz. Dr. Miller was thrilled! She's eating baby foods great, but I get frustrated with the slow progress in chewing and using a straw. So I've made an executive decision to give up the straw for now. The OT had wanted to skip the sippy cup stage since it takes a bit up arm muscle to lift up a sippy cup to drink from it, but I see how she lifts up toys over her head and flings them across the room (she ought to be able to pitch to Nicholas by the end of the summer), so I think she can handle a sippy cup. We'll see how it goes.

At one session, the OT broke out some wrist weights. They are a quarter pound each and she didn't seem to have any problems functioning with them on.

Also this summer we signed up for the library's summer reading program. Alexis loves it when Nick reads to her.

And most recently, Alexis and I shared an very exciting event...every girls rite of passage. We went out to buy her first pair of shoes.

Nothing glamorous. PT had suggested shoes with ankle support, rubber soles, and laces. Her size: size 1, for ages 6 weeks to 3 months. Seriously. Unfortunately, we have to go back and try again because she curls her toes up so much that we need to try a sandal so we can see what her feet are doing. And her feet are wide enough, that we might try size 2 instead. This is all in an effort for her to bear weight. At least with sandals, maybe we can get something a bit more fashionable...maybe something in a stilleto.

And finally, something funny. Last night the folks were here, as were my aunt and uncle for a cook out. After dinner, we took them down to the family room so they could participate in the Wii experience. Nicholas was in heaven! We were highly amused when we realized that any time we cheered, Alexis would join right in. (The video is a bit embarrassing because you hear my loud mouth yelling out, but it's all in the attempt to get Lexi to holler out as well.)

We may have a future cheerleader here.