A MUPPET BIRTHDAY!

Today Jonah turns 11!

Hard to believe.

Texted with his birth mom this morning.  She loves him so much.

Many memories for her and us.

Jonah is such a treasure and gift to all.

I feel so privileged I get to watch and help this special little boy grow up!

Decided to go back to his 1 year birthday for my trip down memory lane today.  So adorable!

And now for photos from today.  Jonah asked for a Muppet birthday so that is what we gave him!

He also brought buttered toast for his birthday treat at school.  This might be a yearly tradition...

9-11 REMEMBERED 20 YEARS LATER

 For me.  For my kids.  May we never forget.  

Click HERE for article about Flight 93 heroes

HOPING FOR MORE IMPROVEMENT

 

Jonah's 3 month urology follow-up appointment did not go as we hoped.  Jonah's kidney is about the same size it was at the 4-23-21 ultrasound in the ER. Meaning still too big 😔 

Today's ultrasound of the bladder showed Jonah is still not voiding as efficiently as he should.  

Some new techniques to try and get him to pee more.  Return in 3 months for another ultrasound.

Trying to think positive- at least things didn't get worse...

NOT ANY EASIER

 

 We thought maybe the third time bringing one of our kids to college would be easier.

It wasn’t, it was just as hard😕

We are really going to miss this girl…

A LIFE WELL-LIVED

 

I came across the following obituary yesterday.  I do not know this person or family, but because the individual had Down syndrome it caught my attention.  

This is a beautiful life story of this amazing woman and her family.  

It seems she loved many and many loved her.  She enjoyed life and those around her enjoyed life with her.  

She leaves a legacy of love, happiness, and  the gift of blessing others during her time here on earth.  

I'm sure the family will miss her dearly, and I am sure they are grateful for every moment they got to spend with this incredible individual.  

EVERY LIFE IS PRECIOUS!

https://www.sheboyganpress.com/obituaries/wis331682

NO MORE DORA THE EXPLORER

Way back in Fall 2015, Stephen bought my brother's Ford Explorer.  Since Stephen didn't have his license yet, Abigail got to drive it for the first few months. 

The kids nicknamed her "Dora the Explorer."  

The above photo is the kids on the first day of school in 2015.  

When Lydia got her driver's license, she bought Dora from Stephen.  The legacy continued....

 

But the photo above is from yesterday when we all said our goodbyes to faithful Dora.  

Her last drive will be to the junk yard.  

Funny how our dog Tucker is still facing backwards for the photo...

This is why Dora's time has come to an end.  She is almost rusting through on the bottom plus her brakes are almost non-existent.  Since the spring, Lydia has only been able to drive her around town, nothing over 25 mph.

Yesterday's family photo with Dora the Explorer

End of that adventure.  

New adventures start this week: 

Abigail headed back Sunday to Minnesota for her job, Stephen returns to school in Minnesota on Wednesday, Ben and Jonah start middle school on Wednesday, and we bring Lydia for her 1st year at UW LaCrosse on Friday.  

Oh where did all the years go...?

MORE CRAZY THAN LAZY!

 

Coming home from our all-family 4 night camping trip, we had a week to regroup, and then Andrew and I took the little boys on a 3 night camping trip.  Then from there sending Stephen off on a 8 day trip to Colorado with college friends, starting to get Lydia ready to bring to college, continuing to work with the boys on their bike-riding skills, preparing for another 4 night camping trip this week, and just all around trying to do as many summer things as we can before school starts for the boys on 9-1.  

All this activity means we are definitely having a more crazy (but fun) than lazy end to our summer! 

Peninsula State Park- Beautiful and so much to do!

Boys biked with us for 5.5 miles.  They did great! 

Best bonding experience with Ben.  He's been very cuddly and sweet to me since our 2 hour bike ride together...hmmm?

1st time mini-golfing for the boys.  Ben was super-competitive, aka cheating the whole way thru.    

Jonah was very distracted by all the sights and sounds.

Kid in a candy store- for the 1st time in his life.  Ben thought he was in heaven!

Jonah, not the candy lover, appreciated the stuffed animals and toys also for sale in the shop.

This week, Ben after a busy day of physical and speech therapy appointments,  

takes a snooze on the way home.  

How he can sleep sitting like a pretzel is beyond me!