Halloween 2010

This is the first year that we've taken Kinnick and Carver out trick-or-treating.

This year, Kinnick and Carver were Thing 1 and Thing 2. Big brother Hayden went as the Cat-in-the-hat. Their costumes were perfect for the weather. It was a bit chilly, but not too bad.

Kinnick and Carver weren't thrilled with the blue wigs - even though I searched forever for the perfect blue wigs :o). They seemed much happier with the wigs off.

We only went to a few houses for fun. Kinnick even walked up to the houses with her pumpkin and tried to say trick-or-treat. It came out as "treat". We put a light in her pumpkin, so that she would want to carry the pumpkin (she liked the light).

Kinnick wasn't excited about the candy, at all. She won't even taste candy. The best part of trick-or-treating for Kinnick and Carver was getting to go outside for a walk. For me, it was eating the candy that Kinnick and Carver didn't want.

By the end of the evening, the kids were just exhausted.

Applejack Pumpkin Patch

Today was a beautiful day. The temperature was in the upper 70's. Nurse Marci and I spent all day at the Applejack Pumpkin Patch with my 3 little ones, Kinnick, Carver, and big brother Hayden. For $6/person each of us got our own pumpkin and all of the fun that we could squeeze in during our visit.

Nurse Marci is such a trooper. Here she is sitting in the back of the bus with the kids.

Kinnick and big brother Hayden...

Carver and big brother Hayden...

Kinnick tried out the tire swing.

Hayden absolutely LOVED the zip line. I can't tell you how many times he had to ride.

After a while, big brother Hayden perfected his landing. He did a pretty good job for a 5 year old.

Hayden crawled through the tires.

Everyone took turns on the big slide. This is a picture of Nurse Marci and Carver going down the big slide.

Kinnick enjoyed the smaller slide...until she fell on her bottom. She doesn't have much padding back there, so she wasn't very happy after the fall.

We took a wagon ride to the actual Pumpkin patch.

Kinnick taking a break on a Pumpkin.

Carver really liked the corn box. Kinnick wasn't quite as impressed.

The Applejack Pumpkin Patch had something for everyone. I only showed pictures of about 1/2 of what they have to do. They have lots of good food like funnel cakes, slushies, cheeseburgers, hot dogs, nachos, etc... They have animals, shooting sports, tricycle racing, duck racing, playground equipment, and I'm sure I've missed naming several things. The Applejack Pumpkin Patch will definitely be on our list again next year. We had a great time.

A visit from Grandpa Woolley

Grandpa Woolley came to visit this past weekend. It's always nice to see Grandpa Woolley. He's a great guest and we always hate to see him go. In just a few short days, he did so much for us. He treats us like the guests.

On Thursday, he scraped, primed, and painted the trim around the garage. Then he cooked fresh fish that he caught fishing in MI.

On Friday he made stuffed bell peppers and rice and he fixed a light switch that had a short in it. He also spent forever pushing Kinnick on her tricycle.

On Saturday, he squeezed in time to see Gage's Football game before hitting the road.

Oh, and then there were the endless piles of books that Kinnick talked him into reading.

Let's not forget to mention the abuse he took while playing with Hayden and the nurf guns, the time he spent with Carver, and the time he gave Gregory looking at trains.

Everyone enjoyed Grandpa Woolley's visit. We hope to see him again soon. Thanks for the good times, Bob Sr.

Skeleton Bones

Kinnick and Carver got the cutest PJ's for Halloween....

My little Skeleton Bones...

Busted wearing Dad's shoes....

Carver taking his Pony for a spin

I was able to capture Carver taking his Pony for a spin on the deck...

Carver is really making some good efforts in his Pony. Obviously he has a lot of work ahead of him, but I think he's off to a good start.

Another good note...

We met with Carver's ENT today, they are ready to re-implant his right Cochlear Implant. We go for a CT scan next Thursday. If all goes well, we will schedule his surgery! Maybe we'll have 2 ears by Christmas!

A new Pony for Carver

Last year, we got a size 1 pony through MRDD funding. A size 1 pony typically fits an age 3-6 year old. Carver was a little older then 2 1/2, so it made since at that time to get the size 1. We knew it would be too big for a short while, but figured that he would be able to use it within 6 months. Well, here we are a year later and he's still too small for the size 1 pony. He's grown, but all of the length has been in his torso - not his legs. So, he's still 2 inches too short for the size 1 pony.

I've been looking for a size 0 pony to borrow for quite some time, but haven't had any luck finding one. Finally, I was on Ebay and found one for sale. I was able to purchase a size 0 pony for $525. This is a great buy - these things cost around $3,000 new. So much for paying off the credit card :o). The size 0 pony came FedEx yesterday afternoon. I tore into it like a Christmas package. I was so excited to finally get something that would allow Carver to be mobile in an upright position.

Carver is still learning how to use the pony, but he has had a few good "runs" in it since we got it yesterday.

This picture shows how much work it is for Carver to coordinate the movements to walk in the pony AND hold his head up at the same time.

In this picture, he has discovered that he is moving the pony.

Here, it gets a little easier to move the pony.

And here, he decided to throw his hands in the air and run in the pony.

Beck's Farm - In search of Pumpkins

I was off work on Friday, so Nurse Marci, Kinnick, Carver and me all went to Beck's Farm in search of Pumpkins.

Kinnick didn't care for the hay, so anytime we sat her on the hay she got upset. For whatever reason, Carver was refusing to lift his head, so this is the best picture we could get together.

Kinnick checking out the pumpkins. So many to pick from.

This seat was much better then the hay.

Darn hay ruined another picture.

October 14th, 2010

Kinnick enjoyed some fun outside today while Carver was at his AVT appointment. She LOVES to play outside - it doesn't matter how cold or how hot it is outside. Right now, the weather is perfect. So, Kinnick got to spend some time practicing with her mobility device.

Here is a picture of Kinnick correcting her mobility device (pre-cane). She knows when she runs into the grass that she needs to move the mobility device.

Here she is all "Independent". Showing us how it is done. Amazing!

October 13th, 2010

Today, Carver received a new Tumble Forms chair - compliments of the Deaf/Blind Funding. This is such a cool chair. It comes in several pieces that allow you to put the chair in all sorts of positions.

This is a picture of Carver working on sitting with his PT.

Tonight, I was playing with the chair and created a cute little recliner. Carver sat really good in it for a few minutes. It was the perfect height for him. His feet hit the ground with his knees at a 90% angle. So cute! What a handsome little guy.

Out to eat - always entertaining

Today, we decided to go out for a bite to eat at one of my favorite restaurants (On the Border).

This is how the outing went....

Kinnick decided that she was finished coloring, so the blue crayon (flying through the air) lands in our chips.

Kinnick became bored with her menu, so she quickly pushed it off the table onto the floor.

FYI... for those of you that didn't know, you can request braille menus at restaurants. This helps keep the kids occupied - too bad we didn't request one today.

Carver, was a good little boy and enjoyed trying to see the crayola crayon colors.

October 7th, 2010

Kinnick loves her books. One of her books that she received from Seedling Braille Books via the "Book Angel Program" has animals and their sounds. She has learned to say all of the animal sounds in the book.

Here is a video of her saying all of the animal sounds. You really have to turn the volume up to hear her on the video. She's still pretty quiet.