DS Clinic and Cincinnati Zoo

Today we visited the DS Clinic at Cincy Children's. Emmy was looked at by a ST and OT. They watched her nurse to make sure she wasn't having any feeding issues and were happy that she was so vocal (despite her hearing issues). Then, two MDs that specialize in DS patients met with us. Everyone seems really impressed with her health and progress up to this point. We plan to visit the clinic every 6 months so they can see how she is progressing.

After we were done at the clinic, we met my parents and the kids at the zoo (across the street from the hospital). It was a hot day, but everyone had fun. We had a good time seeing all of the animals. Emmy slept through most of it, but Jacob and Ellie loved running from one site to the next. By the end of the day, everyone was worn out and Ellie screamed 1/4 of the way home because she wanted out of her car seat. We all took baths and went to bed early for some much needed rest (okay...I stayed up to watch the last episode of Gilmore Girls, but I went to bed after that!).

Jacob in his safari hat

Ellie enjoys cotton candy after lunch

Emmy in her stroller

Overnight at Mimi and Papaw's!

While Nathan and I got ready to go to the Down Syndrome Clinic in Cincinnati, the kids spent the night with Mom and Dad. It was Ellie's first night away from home, but she did fine. They had lots of fun playing video games, eating waffles and poptarts for breakfast, and then we met them at the zoo on Tuesday.

Sweet dreams, Jacob!

Good night, sleep tight Ellie!

Freckles curls up next to Jacob.

New Garage Door and Back Porch

Nathan and his dad were very busy this week.

On Thursday they put in a new garage door and on Friday they put in a new back porch.

Both look great and we appreciate all of their hard work.

Nathan works on the new garage door.

Watching Daddy tear out the old porch.

Nathan & Kevin put in the new porch.

What a cutie in her new hat!

Jake & Ellie enjoy their pool.

Pardon the mess in the background. I was cleaning off all their outdoor toys from the garage. =)

Happy Mother's Day

Today was Mother's Day and boy, was it busy! We had church in the morning, went to lunch with Katie, and then spent the rest of the afternoon preparing food for dinner. Nathan's family and mine came over for a Mother's Day brunch (yes, I know it wasn't between breakfast and lunch, but we served brunch foods..maybe I should coin the phrase "linner" instead =). It was a lot of fun to have family over to visit and the food turned out great.

Emmy turned 11 weeks on Wed. and had her appt. with the ENT on Thursday. Even though she passed two hearing tests with her right ear, she has developed some sort of congestion in it. The dr. couldn't find fluid in either one of her ears, so tubes aren't an option. She gets fitted for hearing aids on Thursday, 5/17. I hate that she has to wear them, but can't wait to see how she reacts when she can "really" hear my voice. This must be the week for dr.'s appts. as we are traveling to the Down syndrome Clinic at Cincinnati Children's on Tuesday, 5/15. The appt. will take several hours, so Mom and Dad are taking Jacob and Ellie to the Cincy Zoo (across the street from the hospital), and then we'll meet them there when we are done.

Here are a few cute pics. from this week.

Emmy (a.k.a. Mini-Jake) at 11 weeks

Emmaline smiles at her big brother

10 Weeks Old!

Emmaline is 10 weeks old today. She is pushing up on her arms and smiles all the time now. She starts physical therapy next Tuesday and will meet with the PT once a month for now because so far she has no delays.

Emmy has discovered her hands in the past 2 weeks and is starting to suck on them. Last night I even caught her sucking her thumb. I was hoping she would take a pacifier because that habit is easier to break, but now it looks like she'll be a thumb-sucker like her big sis. Oh well, maybe we'll get lucky and she'll quit on her own when she gets a little bigger. Or maybe we'll have to bribe her with getting her ears pierced like my parents did with me when I still sucked my fingers in kindergarten.

Water Fun!

Yesterday was really hot out (almost 90 degrees!). Mom was watching Jacob and Ellie while Nathan and I ran some errands and she decided to let the kids cool off in the driveway. They had a blast and were totally soaked by the time they were done.

Ellie waits to fill her bucket

Jacob dunks his sister in his bucket

Emmaline's Baby Dedication

Emmaline was dedicated at church on Sunday. It was a great service, although it made me cry (big surprise, I know!). We had lots of family and our neighbors, Clay and Julie, come to pray with us. It is wonderful to have so many people praying that Nathan and I will be Godly parents and make the right choices for our children. Afterwards, we went to Marion's Piazza to celebrate the special day.

Me and My angel, Emmaline

Ellie, Mom, Katie, Jacob, Emmy, and Dad

Grandpa John, Ginger, Emmy, Granddaddy, Mema, and Kevin