Daven was having such a great time in his bath last night, that I thought I would share the pictures with you. Splish Splash Splish Splash…he couldn’t get enough splashing. So cute!

I hope everyone has a great weekend. Logan will be working, so Daven and I will just hang out and play play play! Hopefully he will enjoy his last few days of free, full motion. Depending on the weather, we might even make a trip to the park or zoo. That is always easy cheap entertainment.

I am racking my brain trying to think of something clever and fun to say, but today, I guess I am just boring. Sorry for disappointing you avid readers. I hope this one day of boringness doesn’t discourage you from coming back again. But hey, the pictures are cute. ;-)

Have a great weekend!

LOVE LOVE LOVE

Well it is official; I will be getting a new boss in a few months. The board voted this morning 3-2 for Dr. John Neibling. This comes as a surprise to most of us here at the College. Dr. Becky Rowley has been our Interim President here for 7 or 8 months now, and seemed to be doing a great job.

I just wanted to vent out a little of my frustration. I knew this was a possibility, but the thought of working for a man that I don’t know…well frankly makes me sick to my stomach. Granted, that is the “Thomas” in me that HATES CHANGE! I know that I can work for this man and I know that I will be great at what I do, but all that said…it still means change. I have adapted to Dr. Rowley’s leadership style, so I am confident that I can adapt to my new boss. I will just mumble and grumble under my breath as I am “adapting.” Okay, I will step down now.

Other news, we go back on Tuesday to get Daven’s brace on. I am dreading this because I know how uncomfortable I would be if I had to wear a device such as this 23 hours a day 7 days a week. I am hoping that he will at least get used to the brace eventually. It will be awkward for everyone at first I am sure; holding him, rocking him, changing diapers…etc. As always, I will be sure to take pictures of his new brace, however, he may not be smiling in the pictures. LOL

Here is a new picture I thought I would share. PapaT is pulling him in the new Red Wagon, so cute! He is always worth showing off. ;-)


LOVE LOVE LOVE

Auntie Autumn had a 5K run on Saturday at the College’s annual Prairiedoggapalooza (say that three times!), so PapaT, GranZ, Daven and I all went out to help support her. As always, she did AWESOME! She actually ended up beating her best time, WAY TO GO AUTUMN!

Thanks to Sarah (Autumn’s good friend and fellow CCC employee of mine), I have some great pictures of the event to share with you. Autumn crossing the finish line and Daven looking a bit drunk from all the excitement.

Autumn and I also went to an event here in Clovis with Monga and GranZ. They participated in a “Tea Party” in which tables were decorated and then voted on favorites. No their table did not win, but it was one of the best in the building! This event was fun, but VERY long. PapaT stayed at the house with Daven for an hour…maybe. Three hours later, Autumn and I rushed home to save him. Thank goodness for PapaT! Any other babysitter would have requested overtime pay. Whew, we owe you one dad. Daven will make it up to you in kisses! (Those to a grandparent are worth more than money.)

Other than that, our weekend was fairly quiet. Just the usual weekend chores (laundry, Wal-Mart run, mowing the yard, blah blah). Nothing too exciting worth mentioning.

Well, I hope you enjoy the pictures. Be sure and congratulate Autumn on her great run! We were all so proud of her. It was Daven’s good luck kiss!!

LOVE LOVE LOVE

Last night we got a call from a good friend saying that her father was killed in a car accident. He was 49. These kinds of phone calls late at night always make your stomach jump into your throat in fear that something terrible has happened to one of your own family members.

Over the past year we have seen lots of heartache, Logan’s cousin Brent Marshall who passed away from complications of brain surgery, and a very dear friend Chad James who was also killed in a car accident. They both died way before their time.

I just wanted to remind everyone that is reading to stop for a moment and reflect on your life. Does everyone you love, know you love them? If not, call them now and tell them. If they do, call them now and remind them.

Are you and God on speaking terms? If not, take a minute and talk with him. He longs for your conversations. When all else fails, crawl up in his lap and pour your heart out to him. He will listen when the world is too busy.

So, while you still have the chance, call and chat with whomever is on your heart at this very moment.

Thanks again for letting me talk. And while I still have the chance to say so…I LOVE YOU ALL SO VERY MUCH!

Hello to all. I want to start out by apologizing for the long delay in blog updates. I have been a bit under the weather for the past few days, okay, I have been VERY under the weather! I have gotten some sort of a stomach flu and it isn’t going away without a fight. Thankfully Logan and Autumn have been troopers in the house! Logan was bound through our vows, (ha! sucker) but Autumn…well she just managed out of the kindness of her heart. (Well, I guess she is sort of bound by blood too, but anywhoo) Need-less-to-say, the only things I have seen over the past few days is my bed and the bathroom. No signs of anyone else in the house getting it so please pray that everyone stays healthy! I wouldn't wish this on my worst enemy. So, enough of that.

Easter weekend, (other than the occasional barfing) was great. Daven, as I had predicted, was the most handsome little man in the place. Makes a momma proud. He had is argyle sweater on and his oxford shoes, oh I get chocked up just thinking how beautiful he is. Here is a picture just so you can see for yourself.

Saturday, he also got a much needed hair cut. Yes, it was a struggle, but was way overdue. Now he is looking so dapper and grown up!

As for the casting process that we have all been dreading for a week now…

Thankfully, PapaT, GranZ, Monga, and Auntie Autumn were all there to lend a hand. Logan couldn’t break away from work and I was still so weak from the flu that the extra hands were great help! Daven was such a big boy and did very well. The process was much faster than I was anticipating, which was wonderful! We were in and out within 45 minutes. Yes, Daven screamed the entire time, but at least it wasn’t for a full hour or more which I was anticipating. Autumn was a great historian for us and took great pictures so everyone could see what we experienced.

We go back on May 2 to have the brace put on. They come in lots of different designs (a sophisticated colored cast) so we picked the trucks and tractors for Daven. Macho enough we thought.

Well, I think this should catch most of you up on the latest. I will be back tomorrow with more.

LOVE LOVE LOVE

Hello to all that are reading. Glad to have you back and I hope to see you again. LOL

Well, we had Daven's 15 month check up yesterday. It went about as well as we expected. His pediatrician was pleased with his growth (18 lbs 2 oz and 31 inches long) and the progress of his development. We go back to see him for his 18 month check up. Whew!

As for his back, his spine is getting a bit worse. It is currently sitting at a 28 degree angle. They have recommended putting Daven into a brace. If you have been reading, you know that Logan had I had anticipated this. So, the process goes like this...

Next Tuesday we go back to Lubbock to cast him and get him fitted for the brace. The casting (haha) is going to be the hardest part of this process. We will have to hold Daven down (which he HATES) so the cast can dry, then flip him over so we can do the other side. So, we have already been warned that this will be an hour full of screaming and lots of tears. Shed by both mom and baby I am sure.

They will then take that cast and fit a brace to the cast. After about a week, the brace should be ready to put on. Daven will be required to stay in the brace 23 hours a day 7 days a week. Yes, I am confident he will hate me for putting him through all of this.

I just have to remember that he won't remember this. That is the only good part about doing this when Daven is so young. The estimated time frame for the brace is approximately a year. The prognosis we have been given is that 50% of these babies get better and 50% get substantially worse. So please be praying that Daven will be in the better half.

Need-less-to-say, it will be a long few months ahead, but we are lucky enough to have so much support around us that I know we will get through yet another obstacle of parent-hood. As soon as I see that little man smile and giggle at me, it makes everything all worth it.

So, I have rambled enough for one day. I will start up again tomorrow! ;-)

LOVE LOVE LOVE

Well, Daven has officially graduated out of Physical Therapy. It was a decision and suggestion made by Dr. Hepburn from our Denver trip. So we will be replacing the PT time slot with Speech Therapy. One of the biggest suggestions made from the Denver team was to get Daven into some Speech Therapy so he can start on some solid foods. So with their request, we have dismissed Val (his current PT) and will be getting a Speech Therapist. I tell you this, simply because I see it as a big mile stone for Daven. We have been with Val for almost a year now and it will be nice to try something new.

However, I am not looking forward to our ST sessions. It is going to be an all out battle with Daven to start getting him used to different textures in his mouth. But it is something that we need to pursue for his growth and development. Hopefully, before we know it, he will be asking for steak and potatoes! At least that is what his dad is hoping for.

We go Monday to see the pediatric orthopedic in Lubbock. Logan and I are expecting to have Daven fitted for a brace. We have been feeling his back and are afraid it is getting worse, so we are hoping to go ahead and get Daven into a brace to start realigning his spine. Again, I am anticipating this will be a battle from Daven, but is something that Logan and I feel need to be done. If, however, we get good news from the XRay...we will be thrilled not to go through the bracing process. I will be sure and keep everyone updated on this.

We will also be seeing his pediatrician for his 15 month check up and yes...this means his 15 month shots! Ouch! Logan and I hate the shot appointments. One of the hardest things a parent has to go through.

Well, I have said enough for the day. We love you all and miss you so very much!

LOVE LOVE LOVE

Well, like I said earlier...Daven LOVED cousin Tia! He just wanted to hold her hand and hug her. It was so very cute! Here they are just looking at each other and hold each others hand. Aren't they sweet?!

You can tell by Daven's face, he was just fascinated by Tia and couldn't get enough of her. In the picture, Tia seems to be a bit annoyed by Daven but he just wants to play with her. Almost as if he was saying, "Can I be your friend?" HA!

He is also loves his cousin Luke. He is always so gentle when touching him. He is also very empathetic with Luke. Every time he cries, Daven cries out too. It could be hurting his ears, but I like to think that he has empathy for baby Luke. ;-)

Anyhow, I just wanted to share the picture with you.

Se lave to Spring Break. It was nice while it lasted.

It was a nice quiet break and is hard to get back into a routine, but I guess it had to happen sooner or later. We had a nice safe trip to Denver. We were so lucky to be a part of something so great. The research team that we met there were truly amazing. They know the "ins and outs" of Williams Syndrome and have a passion for these children. Which is more than we have seen so far. It was so nice meet a doctor and not have to explain what WS is. It was like an "AH HA!" moment for me. So nice to hear that someone else actually knows about Daven and is anxious to hear everything we had to say.

During the feed back session the doctors told us that Daven is falling in the 7 to 9 month age group. They were pleased with his growth and development so far. They want us to start working on speech. Their suggestions and hints were exactly what Logan and I were looking for. The picture shows Dr. Susan Hepburn working with Daven during one of the sessions.

While we were there, we also got to see Alowetta, Jody, Tia and Kristen. It was so great to see them. Daven LOVES his Cousin Tia! He just wanted to touch her and hug her. They both just loved each other. So precious!

I will give you more updates as the week goes on. I have said enough for today. We love you all so very much!