Erin Got Her Button Out!!

Today was a big day for our family (and friends) because Erin got her button out! She's hasn't used it since September. We kept in in through the winter just incase we needed it. She was scheduled to have it removed a few weeks ago, but caught a bad cold so we postponed it until today. When asked about her button, Erin would tell you "Connor, button, all-gone, big girl". What that means was that Dr Connors was taking her button out and because she was a big girl. And she was correct!
She did awesome with the surgery. We got there at 8:00 am and didn't go back until 10:00. There was a great playroom for us to enjoy while we waited. Erin was happy that Mickey was on the TV. I was able to go into the OR with Erin while they
put her to sleep. She did fine and was out in less than a minute. The whole surgery took about 45 minutes. Dr. Connors removed her button and sewed up her abdominal wall, stomach and skin so that she wouldn't have any leaking. All of the stitches are internal and the site looks really good.
The longest part was waiting for her to wake up. We had a visit from one of our favorite nurses Renee who was working today. She stayed with us until Erin was discharged and then we want up to the NICU to see our other 4 primary nurses. It was the first time that they were all working on the same day. I wish we works have gotten a picture with them, but we didn't. It was wonderful to see everyone e and they were all so proud of Erin.
We came home and Erin slept for a few hours. When she woke up she had to go outside to see the flowers daddy had planted. Then she wanted to play, go for a

Walk, help me fill the bird feeder and play some more. She finally went in for some pizza (even though they said to give her soft foods- she was begging and hungry so I gave in). She acted as if she hasn't had surgery at all today. She is truly amazing! We are so proud of Erin and how far she has come.
It was almost 2 years ago to the day that we put the G-tube in. It was a difficult decision and one we didn't make quickly. We/she struggled with bottle feedings, oxygen setting and oral aversion. Here we are two years(and 1 year of feeding therapy) later. You'd never know that she had so many struggles just to eat like a normal baby. And today she begged for pizza, pretzels, yogurt and water all a few hours after surgery. We are so thankful for all of your prayers, support and kind words. They mean so much to us!






Will spent the day with Grandma Melanie. They went to the flower shop and bought flowers. Will insisted that she needed some "lellow" ones. He had to say good- bye to everything as they left the store. They went to grandma's house to drop off the flowers. He had to watch a show in his rocking chair , ate the top piece of bread from a peanut butter sandwich and announced "night-nights" while running to his pack and play. He tried to turn on the music box and climb into bed only to realize he didn't have his blankie. So he ran back through the house (stopped for a drink of water) and was ready to go "home". Upon arriving home, he had to play outside (hide and go seek in the bushes) for an hour and then came in for lunch and night-nights. My mom said that he asked where "mama" "daddy"
"Air-ren" were when he first woke up. He had a very fun day and loved being the only child for a half a day!

The Things They Say

While getting into the tub Erin comments that the water is "nice and warm."

Upon finishing dinner Erin looks at me and says "now what?" I say now what should we do and she says "Play. Books" so we played and read some books.

As they play with toys one will call "trade" and they'll trade toys. It usually happens when we are pushing toys outside.

Will loves to watch "beball" with his dada

Erin wants "brown pretzels" for a snack. 

Erin is asking "Whose that?" About anything she doesn't know. 

Grandpa Bill is called "Grandpa Billt" by Erin. 

Will wants to play bskitball" all of the time. 

We bought a container of Brio and Thomas train tracks at a garage sale today. When we got home, Will ran in to the house and started putting them together. Then he got the baby stroller and tried to push it on the track. He looked at me and said "too big." He was correct, the stroller was too big for the train tracks. 

Will always wants to hold the "top" (corner with the tags) of his blanker. "Find top" is heard when he gets his blankie. 

Just a Few Pictures

A Visit With Aunt Krysten

On our way home from spending Thanksgiving in Milwaukee we stopped in Chicago to see my sister. She loves within walking distance to the Lincoln Park Zoo. It is an awesome zoo and its free! We grabbed some lunch first and then walked to the zoo. It's been years since I've been to a big zoo and I didn't realize what I've been missing out on. We saw a lot of beautiful animals in neat habitats. The kids loved all of it. I loved the big polar bear exhibit. We'll have to go back next year and stay the night so we can see the zoo lights. The zoo is decorated with Christmas lights. And again it's all free!! It's a must do if you're headed to Chicago!

Bath Time!

The kids LOVE to take a bath! They will play in there for hours (well not really, but you get the point). It's an easy time fore to capture pictures of them playing, swimming and having fun. They blow bubbles, swim, shoot baskets, play with all of the ducks (Will likes to line them all up), and pour the bowls of water over their heads (and out of the tub too).

Will and Erin Sayings

"Catch it" While chasing after a robin in our yard and holding their arms out. I thought that they were going to catch it because the poor bird want flying very far.

"Come" as they take our hand or turn around and open their fists to make the come here motion.

"Erin's turn" "Mama's turn" "Will's turn" "Daddy's turn" all said by Erin

"There it is!" Said by both in the cutest voice

"Mickey On" as they grab the remote, point it at the TV and start pushing the button. (I think they watch too much Mickey. Mickey is the only show that they will watch).

Will, what does a dog say? "Dog, dog, dog"
Will, what does Santa say? "Go, go, go."
Will what does a monkey say? "No, no, no monkey" which is in reference to the song and book No Monkeys Jumping on the Bed.

While looking outside when it was snowing, "snow dada!" Will says with the most amazed voice. He was right because Mark has a snow maker and was busy making snow in December. We were the only house in Grand Rapids that had snow for Christmas. But now it's mid-April and still snowing. Daddy needs to turn off his snow maker!

"Sparkly shoes" Erin says about the only shoes she wears.

"Get it!" Says both kids.

Erin can I rock you (while you watch another episode of Mickey) "self."

Erin calls herself 'air-ren' and Will calls himself 'brother' or 'ill'.

When Erin calls Will's name it's in a different pitch voice and she has a slight annoyance in her voice. Something like "Wiiiiillllll..." I hope that's not how I sound when I say his name.

This story is from Grandpa Paul (who came to babysit last Thursday). "Forgot to tell both of you about a cute thing that happened yesterday. Sometime during the morning I noticed Erin had her finger around her nose and asked what she was doing to which she replied 'boogers'. A few seconds later she raised her hand in victory and exclaimed 'got it'." She will usually follow it up with "take it" which always generates a few looks when we are out in public.

Counting by Erin goes like this: "1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 12" Will says all random numbers

When writing Will spells his name "i-l-l" while making lines on the paper.

Mark' Weight Loss

Mark has been working really hard to loose weight. He has lost 37.4 lbs since January. He won $150 in his works weight loss challenge. Mark has been at the gym by 5:30 am and has changed his diet. He used to eat fast food for lunch, drink a lot of regular pop and eat snacks after 7:30 pm. He's changed his ways and it shows. I am so proud of him for all of his hard work. He's a great role model for the kids and me.