Can we exhale yet?

"I love these apricots Mom! Can I have some more?"

Where has the week gone? It seems like I just unpacked the suitcases.....oh yeah....I just did! Actually, I haven't even put the suitcases away yet, but in my defense, in order to do that I have to pull off our mattress and box spring and gently place those large suitcases under the bed frame. I can't wait until we have a "little" bit more room.

On the bright side Lilymei has had a couple more "firsts" this week:

• She will no longer lay nicely when I am changing her diaper. She squirms like crazy!


• She will attempt to stand on her head like her loving brother Drew taught her to!


• She will show her "frown" or "smile" face on demand! Too cute if I do say so myself.


• She will "Patty Cake" all the hand motions over and over and she is learning "Itsy Bitsy Spider" now too.

and last of all but most exciting......

• Lily can stand alone and she took 5 steps all by herself!!! She is so proud of herself as are we. It won't be long now before she is running~I know....look out.

Tomorrow we are having a family photo taken. Poor Lily is suffering from her first cold (with us) and Drew has some sort of impetigo on his chin. I wonder if we can have all of our faults airbrushed out of the picture. Maybe I should reschedule but I just wanted to have it done on base and not have to drive "all the way down town" to have it done. We'll wing it and see what happens.

Oh, I forgot to mention that I took Lilymei to the pediatrician the day after we arrived home from Hawaii to have her spots looked at. Even though the spots were healing up nicely I just wanted another set of eyes to take a peek at them. Lilymei's doctor feels that she did indeed have a mild case of the chicken pox. At least she had them before Halloween. I would hate to think of how many more children would have been exposed had those spots come out 3 weeks later!

It's Been 2 Months!

Lilymei getting her first good look at her parents.  She really looks unsure doesn't she?

Two months later...Lilymei gives lots of smiles, kisses, and love!

Lilymei has a new hobby, "playing" the Wii.

Lily loves to watch the boys play video games and now she feels like she is participating too!

The past 2 months have been a whirlwind.  It seems like Lily has been with us forever; we can't remember what we did without her!  She brings so much laughter and joy to our home. Lilymei is showing her personality more and more every day.  She has been very vocal and LOUD the past couple of days. Lily can say a few more words:

• thank you
• I love you
• up
• uh-oh
• "woof"
• peek-a-boo
• baby
• bye-bye
• Drew
  

Lilymei can hold up one finger when we ask how old she is.  She also puts her hands above her head when we ask how big she is.  Lily tries to dress herself and she climbs up on her toddler bed when we ask her to so we can change her diaper.  She has walked up and down the hallway with her walker toy several times this past week and she has stood alone, unassisted, for a few seconds before plopping down on the floor.  

It looks like we will be leaving for Hawaii on October 8th (Guam time), arriving October 7th (Hawaii time).  On the 8th, Lilymei has her health and physical exam.  Her MRI is set for the next day, October 9th.  We will be meeting with the neurologist on October 14th.  It looks like Scott will be flying with me and Lilymei.  The boys will be staying on Guam with family friends. They have so much going on with their daily routines that they decided to pass on this trip.  I know...who can resist going to Hawaii??? 

Look at what Lilymei can do & Back to School for the Boys

Random photos...

Drew and Lilymei playing in the bedroom.

Drew and Lilymei at the base pool.

Lilymei and Nate, happy in the morning.

Lilymei has just blossomed in the last week. She is very comfortable with us and her surroundings. She is into everything! She's had so many "firsts" my calendar is full just trying to document them all. Some of her new "skills" from the past week include:

• blowing kisses (hand up to the mouth, not yet "throwing" them)


• turning off the light switches


• puckers and gives kisses when we ask


• feeding herself using a spoon or fork


• drinking from a cup (without a lid!)


• "real" crawling~ not just combat crawling


• took 3 steps with her walker toy


• puts her mouth in the pool and blows bubbles


• stands up in her crib


• makes "shh" sound with her finger to her lips


• gives high-five


• can use sign language for "more"


• can say "Mama", "Dada", "bubbles", and "Lily" AND


• climbs onto the couch.

"Look at what my brothers did to me! I'm propped up on the couch with 2 bean bags chairs, and lots of pillows and blankets!"

"Don't tickle me anymore! I can't breathe I'm laughing so hard!"

"Ok, this is crazy! I'm having so much fun!"

The boys and I started our home school year last Tuesday. So far, so good. Lilymei is getting herself all over the living room and dining room trying to see what the boys are doing. Even though they are getting work done they still want to stop what they are doing and play with Lilymei. Who can blame them? I know I'm not getting alot of my "chores" done either until she is asleep. She's just too much fun. She brings lots and lots of laughter to our home.

Medical note: We are waiting for Lilymei's MRI appt to be scheduled. We should be in Hawaii within the month. The CT scan results are just what we heard initially, definite hydrocephalus and chronic subdural bleeding. We are hoping the MRI will tell us definitively what we will need to do next for her care and well-being. Please keep her in your prayers.