for Papa and Grandpa H

My small fall garden! Are you jealous?

when we first planted the tomatoes (there are two big boys and a roma if I remember correctly!)


a couple weeks ago


Today - there are lots of blossoms now! I need to put the tomato cages on, they kind of got away from me!


A "pre-existing pepper"! It was planted by the family who lived here before us. They are little peppers that start green and turn purplish-black. I don't know if they are a jalapeno variety or not, but they are nice and spicy and good in a big pot of pinto beans!


the pretty morning glories that Richard bought for me

They are blue with purple around the edges.

The Beebee and Bubba Show

We call Andy "Bubba", he calls Evie "Beebee"

Evie got to pick a toy from the treasure box at school today. She shared it with Andy when she got home.

Back to school 2010!

Emily's first day of 8th grade! She is not excited about school or getting up early, but she is looking forward to seeing her friends and starting volleyball.






Evie's first day of kindergarten! She was so excited that she had trouble sleeping last night.









Andy needed his picture taken, too!






Andy is pretty upset that we left Evie at school and came home without her, and then Emily wasn't even home when we got back (she walked to the bus stop after we left!) He kept pointing at Evie's carseat and yelling "Beebee! Beeeee-beeeee!", and when we got inside at home he had to check everywhere for Emily! He is feeling a bit lonely without his sisters today.

Today

Today is the 4th anniversary of the day we met Evie! Happy Evie Day!

Today we attended the Spina Bifida Clinic at the local children's hospital. Andy saw the neurologist, urologist, orthopedist, orthotist, dietician, physical therapist, social worker, and two RNs. The verdict? Everything looks good, and Andy is "surprisingly normal" for a kid with spina bifida. This is great news! We will go back in six months for a follow up.

Results

The doctor's office called with the results of all the testing done on Friday. Everything looks good! We are now confirmed to have an appointment with the Spina Bifida clinic on August 10 (all the testing has to be done beforehand).

Home from testing.

We are home from the children's hospital. Andy had an ultrasound of his bladder and kidneys (the tech wasn't allowed to tell me any results, but I saw him type in "left kidney" and "right kidney", so I am assuming that Bubba has both kidneys! Good news!) The ultrasound tech was great and Andy did well but tried to push buttons on the machine!

He also had an xray to check for scoliosis, this went well but he was wiggly so the xray tech had to call for help, so he could hold him while someone else pushed the buttons.

Then they did the urodynamics. He had a cath inserted, then they filled his bladder with contrast dye and took lots of xrays while his bladder was filling, when it was filled, then more xrays while his bladder was emptying. Bubba was very upset that he had to potty without a diaper or a potty chair. He kept trying to hold his urine, which I think is a good sign, that he has some control there. He cried a lot during this procedure. This tech told me that they weren't allowed to tell me any results (that doctor will call our doctor who will call me...) BUT he did say that he could tell me that Bubba's lungs work VERY WELL! Several other people in the hallways also told me this...

We are glad to be home. We had lots of rain today due to ex-hurricane Alex, and the drive took a lot longer than it should have.

More tests

Andy and I heading to the hospital tomorrow for more tests. On the schedule: xrays to check for congenital scoliosis, ultrasound of bladder and kidneys, and urodynamics testing to check bladder function. These are more baseline tests needed before we go to the spina bifida clinic next month.

I don't have any instructions other than to make sure he drinks a lot beforehand. Milk isn't allowed, but clear liquids are.