Not sure when spring sprung, but summer's here!

Lola's really been enjoying the nice weather lately. We've had her outside lots - either on a blanket out front, in her red lawnchair, or sitting on the porch in her feeding chair. She loves to see what the kids are up to, and feel the sunshine on her face. She doesn't like the wind though, so when that kicks up we head back inside.

Grama's here! She arrived late Wednesday night (actually, Thursday morning because her brutal flight had several issues). Liam was so excited to see her when he woke up the next day. Lola had a big grin on her face as soon as she saw her. So our goal today is to get Grama comfortable using Lola's g-tube, etc. because she's the "nanny" for the next two weeks while Leni is in the Phillipines. I'm hoping she gets the hang of it quickly!!

Lola's been using her right hand more and more lately. When she's sitting up, she'll rest her weight on it and use it to prop her up when she's tired. She's also trying to do more with both arms while sitting up - she'll start to change positions, wiggle her bum to move places, etc. She still really hates to be on her stomach, so crawling isn't going to happen anytime soon. I think she may skip this step this time around. She's dying to be able to get places though - and she gets very frustrated. She has days where she cries. A lot. All. Day. Long. And then she can have days where she's a smiley little punkin for hours on end. I'm sure she's just trying to figure things out.

Liam has a tan already, and has started his summertime running around with the neighbour kids. Yesterday was all about bug collecting, Pokemon, Bakugan, water balloons, and freezies. That's my boy! He's still doing the countdown to going to Sarnia. He's happy to have Grama here and tries to sneak into her bed every night.

Okay, I should go. Lola is "stuck".

Lola's been in a better mood this week (except for last night!) and they really noticed this new trend at therapy on Tuesday. I got to go this week, so it was nice to see what they've been up to. They also filled me in on their plans, exercises, etc. I sat her down on the mat, she said, "Hi" to one of the girls and then with a big smile on her face, started playing with toys. She was very interactive, which was so great to see. In true Lola form, she threw a pretty big tantrum whenever they tried to get her to do something she didn't want to do. Hope those rooms are sound-proofed. Then she fell asleep sitting up! What a kid. Next time we go, they're going to try her out in a standing frame (at my request). I think she'll do really well with it. When we stand her up, she can take quite a bit of her weight on her own - very strong girl.

Liam's been doing really well at baseball with Daddy. Yesterday as Steve was leaving, I saw him put something into his pocket - I said, "Is that the mini-broom for camping?" Apparently Steve needed it for brushing off home plate. Hilarious. Just like the big league. Liam's driving us insane with Pokemon cards lately. He's also very much looking forward to going to Sarnia in the summer. He asks "how much longer" about 5 times a day.

I should get going - we're painting the entire theatre floor in neon squares today (for Hairspray - goes up next week!) so that should be fun.

Lola loved hanging out with Tiki and fell asleep just like this:

Here he is - the original Baseball Kid. Move over Sandlot. This was one of his cooler poses.

Hi-Way 9 is the name of his team - and his coach is Coach Vern. Isn't that the coolest coach name?

Liam's Mother's Day Present:

My Mom

My Mom's name is Gillian
My Mom is 37 years old (heehee)
My Mom's favorite colour is Pink and Purple
My Mom's favorite food is meat.
My Mom's job is I Don't Know.
She works at The Mall (this one kills me).
My Mom loves to see me ride my bike.
My Mom does not like cleaning the toilet, and she hates live fish.
My Mom's eyes are green.
My Mom's hair is brown.
My Mom's favorite thing to do is go outside and look at the pond.

(Liam brought this home from school).

Lola had a pretty good week. Well, it was uneventful after Monday, at any rate. She spent the rest of the week freaking us out by lovingly playing with her g-tube/reaching into her shirt to play with it, etc. ARGH! She laughed everytime she was busted too. What a kid. She had a few random crying sessions this week too, and definitely found her pterodactyl voice again. This kid is LOUD. I'm thinking she's just reaching the point where she's frustrated by her inability to do certain things. It can't be fun. She is exercising her independence in many ways these days - lots of protesting if she doesn't want to do something, etc. Now she's decided that sitting up is lame - so as soon as you put her in that position, she launches herself straight backwards as hard as she can. Lucky for her, she has a comfy crashmat. Oh, and usually she's smiling as she does this too.

We've backed off on a lot of the feeding as the therapists figure it was just stressing her out. Popsicle season is around the corner - I'll get her liking food again. Therapy this week was a bit of a bust - Lola remembered that the place they re-did her g-tube is also the place where she has physio - so it must not be a nice place. sigh. So two hours of driving in the middle of the workday for nothing. We'll try again next week and hope for better results.

Lola starts music therapy this week. Every Wednesday at 5:30, a music therapist will come to the house! How exciting! Liam will be so happy too as her therapy is his therapy. (Hey, we're paying for it - no fair if I can't sneak in a second kid to participate).

Liam started baseball this week. After the initial shock of having to wear a "cup" wore off, he had a good time. He had two hits and got to run the bases. He plays baseball 3 times per week, swims twice a week, and has gymnastics once a week. We've got to keep him busy somehow or he'll drive us around the bend.

Yesterday I brought home live lobsters as a Mother's Day treat for us. Al, one of the teachers at school, had them flown in and we got in on the action. Liam played with them for awhile, and thought he'd scare Lola - she just grabbed the claw (with an elastic on it) and laughed. As if she's going to be freaked out by a lobster - this is Lola we're talking about. While Steve and I ran out to get the fixins for dinner, apparently Liam took one of the lobsters down the block to show all our neighbours. Like he knocked on their doors and showed them. What a kid.

Today, Liam and Steve are at Moose Mountain doing some trail maintenance. I'm sure he'll get lots accomplished with Liam and Riley in tow. It sure is quiet around here......

Tomorrow, we're having Uncle Sean and Leafy over for a bbq. We're going to try out the new deck and firepit. Can't wait! Speaking of which, I should get started on the potato salad.

Happy Mother's Day to my MOM! We're so thankful for all the help and support you gave us this year while we were struggling through this difficult time. The kids loved having you guys around. It was a huge adjustment for you, I'm sure - having to do all that you did for Lola at the hospital. But you handled it like a pro. Love you, Mom - wish I could celebrate the day with you tomorrow, but you'll be with me in my heart.

Mondays suck!

So this morning started off like any other work day. I was up and ready to go, just as Lola started to wake up. I went in to see her, and she gave me a big grin. When I went to get her out of her bed, her jammie shirt was up and I noticed her g-tube was gone. I freaked out and ran around gathering my "supplies" to get it back in. The problem is, it likely got pulled out (bad Lola) in the wee hours of the morning. That little hole can close up in a matter of hours, and I missed my window. sigh. So we bolted into the Children's to see what they could do. The g-tube nurses are AMAZING ladies - truly amazing. So Karen went to work to fix this problem - she had to start with a tiny catheter and then work up to the size of Lola's current mcKey button. It was a brutal morning, with lots of crying on Lolly's part, but she did just fine. We brought her back home, button back in place, and she's been in a great mood all day.
So tonight's plan is to duct tape her into her jammies. Not really, but I'll rig something up so that she can't get at it again. Just when I thought things couldn't get anymore interesting.......
What will be more intriguing is seeing Lola's reaction when we're back at the hospital for physio tomorrow! Yikes!

Lola is still making great improvements on a weekly basis. Her newest trick is reaching out for toys, playing with toys, taking toys out of containers, etc. She has started to use her right hand, so we're hopeful she'll be making more purposeful movements with it soon. She's been very smiley lately - but she's also been really grouchy lately. If we can tip the balance so that the smiley overrides the grouchy, then it's a good day! Today Liam had a little friend over for a visit, and Lola was so excited. She kept looking at them playing and smiling. I can't wait for Lola to be able to play with her friends again.
We went on a big excursion today - to Home Depot. Lola rode around in the race car cart - and yelled her head off the whole time. Oh well - it was an outing at least! She hasn't been out of the house (except to go to doctors appointments and physio) since October - so she was about due. She was pretty crabby, but I don't think she liked the loudness of the cart or the chaos in the store. It was a pretty quick trip to say the least.
We met with the neurologist on Tuesday, and she had some fairly positive things to say (for once). I'm still pretty happy that we only see this woman every few months. So we will next see her in September, when Lola will have an EEG to determine if she's having any seizure activity. If she's in the clear, we will slowly begin weaning her seizure med. That would be scary, but great all at the same time.
We spent some time outside today and Lola loved being in the sunshine. She watched brother run around trying out all the outdoor toys that had been held hostage in the garage all winter. He had a blast. The backyard is going to be fun this summer.