Carter and his new Friend!

Today was Maggie Day! (Occupational Therapy Day)

Maggie day was a little different today we had a guest here. Jaclyn is a college student at Plymouth State in her second year of Early Childhood Development. Jaclyn's interest really took off when she was helping take care of her little sister in Wisconsin. Her sister had a very complicated syndrome that required lots of attention and hard work and most of all LOVE. Jaclyn spent a lot of time helping out with her sister and found a love for helping others who needed it. Her sister spent her last week of life on a Make A Wish cruise with Jaclyn and other family memebers and was a very happy little girl! This little girl made such an impact on Jaclyn's life she has since been helping others everywhere. Over this past summer Jaclyn worked at a camp for Challenged Adults and Teens. Most of the people Jaclyn worked with at the camp were non verbal and very neurologically challenged. She spent her entire summer at this camp giving up her own freedom. She left for the camp every Sunday night and was there for an entire week and then did it again each week only seeing her family and friends on the weekends. Talk about dedication!! Jaclyn has a special gift when it comes to working with others. Her mother explained to me that most of the campers formed very stong bonds with Jaclyn and preferred her over some of the other instructors. I worked with Jaclyn's mom at the Attorneys office and after talking about Jaclyn's special gift and her aspirations I invited her to sit in on one of Carter's Occupational Therapy appointments so she could see everything first hand.

Of course Carter exceeded in his tasks today with Maggie and made it a great visit. We did some play while standing at the coffee table. We did some weight shifting from leg to leg and hip to hip. Jaclyn was totally amazed at how much Carter does and how well he does it. He took a couple independent steps from the couch to the coffee table which is a sign that he is getting close to walking right out of his walker and walking independently. Maggie said that she knows he will be out of the walker in no time.

At the end of therapy I took Carter's leg off and he amazed Jaclyn all over again with the things he does without his prosthetic leg.

I wish Carter was old enough to know how much of an impact he makes on others!

Carter Walking at the Mall of NH

He's getting stronger and stronger!

Carter walked the entire Mall of NH with his walker. People were stopping and watching and smiling and telling him what a good job he was doing. He would stop and look at people and smile and make sure they were watching him - yes that's my HAM- he even would stop at pretty girls and watch them walk away - yes Daddy's Boy-!!!!!! Chase was encouraging him to follow and when he got tired he would stop and sit at a bench. 1st we walked to the choo choo trains, then we walked to the carosel, Finish Line to see Emily, to the playarea - then we POOPED OUT!!! He walked so much today and played so hard that Mike and I were both in shock and exhausted from following him everywhere!

The best part of the Mall was the projector. In front of StrideRite there is a projector on the ceiling that projects a game on the floor and the kids have to stomp on the game to play. Chase has always loved this part of the mall and Carter always has sat in his stroller or crawled on the game. He always seemed a little frustrated that he could not STOMP on the games with his brother. Well tonight Carter got to STOMP!!!! Carter Stood up holding one hand with Mike and he STOMPED like crazy giggling and laughing hysterically. Which of course made Chase laugh and giggle hysterically which obiously drew a croud and you see the pattern here....HAMS!
A couple of times Carter fell on his bum and without grabbing Mike he tried to stand up all by himself, he got up on both feet, stuck his bum out and kind of balanced for about 10 seconds maybe 15 seconds then plopped back on his bum. When Mike helped him get up he barely used Mikes assistance at all. We are just so stinking proud of our little man!!!!!

So A Little Parenting Humor I Made up in My Head.....(yes it is late and Im tired)

Dinner at the Mall $24
Trains at the Mall $4
Horseys at the Mall $3.50
Quiet Ride Home PRICELESS

Sleepy Sleepy
G'night

More on to pee or not to pee!!!!!

Well we got a call from Chase's Doctor and she has scheduled some tests in light of his recent UTI. I know this may sound odd but any boy at his age (3) that gets a UTI automatically has a renal ultrasound and a test called a UCVG.

The UCVG is as follows:

"Voiding cystourethrogram (VCUG)—In a VCUG, a catheter inserted in the urethra is used to fill the bladder with the contrast medium. The x-ray machine then captures a video of the contrast medium during urination. This procedure allows the doctor to see things such as whether urine is backing up into the ureters when it should be traveling the other way, down through the urethra, or whether urine outflow through the urethra is blocked. VCUG is often used with children who have recurrent infections to determine whether a defect in the urinary tract is causing the infections. It can also show blockages from an enlarged prostate in men or abnormal bladder position in women."

Since Chase is 3 they will be sedating him for this. Again, I know this sounds severe for just one UTI but the doctors assure us that they do this all the time in this same scenario. We trust our doctors so we will have the 2 tests done. Im sure the results will be normal. Still a little nerve wracking. I have gotten used to my Carter having things done to him but Chase has never had to go through anything like this.

I wish Carter could vocalize more because I think he would have some good advice for his big brother!! ;)

On a side note, today Chase stuck up for his brother for the 1st time and I wasn't sure if I was proud of scared!?!?! We were at a Mc Donald's Play Place and they were at the top of the tunnel slide and a bigger boy was crowding Carter a bit and Chase put his hand up and said firmly "Give him some space"!!!

Holy Cow Knock me Down!

Honestly, proud because Chase was being protective of his little man BUT scared that it could escalate as they get older. Honestly, we have already talked about this many times and so many other parents in support groups talk about the very same thing. I guess the fear of the unknown creeped in on me a bit today. I just pushed it down with the PRIDE and left it at that!!!!

The Meads

It is very rare when we go out that we have a Family picture with all 4 of us in it. Just so happens about a week ago we went to Salisbury Beach with the kids and Mary and got this family photo. Of course, it is of our Bums!

ALL ABOARD THE HOBO RAILROAD

The Conductor yelled "All aboard" and Chase's mouth gasped and his hand covered it in shock that the Conductor really says "All Aboard". I thought he was gonna faint. It had to be the cutest thing he has ever done. His eyes were HUGE at the sight of the Hobo Railroad at Weirs Beach. He could barely contain himself.



Friday we went with Auntie Mary to the Hobo Railroad in Weirs Beach. We went on a 2 hour ride along the water. We had lunch on the train and the boys got matching backpacks and choo choo trains. The ride was great and it wasn't that hot on the train. Phew!!!! The boys had an absolute blast and I think the adults did too....

I dont think I have ever seen Chase in such AWWW! What a wonderful way to end the summer!



After the train ride we made our way to the arcade. The kids are becoming ski ball experts. Last week we went to Salisbury Beach where they acquired the love for ski ball. Once we couldn't take the heat in the arcade we made our way to the water slides.

Yep I said it, The WATER SLIDES.

We buy the tickets and get the life jackets for the kids and get everyone changed just to find out Carter is too small even with an adult. So Mike and Chase go down once. Chase was petrified. Then Mary and I went down and we decided to call it quits and go to the beach. Poor Carter was so hot and he just wanted to go in the water. It was like a tease to stand there and watch everyone getting wet and having fun!

So we packed up and headed across the street and went right in the water. It was a little cold but it felt good after being on the go all day in the humidity. Carter was totally diggin the water and kicking his legs like there was no tomorrow. We played in the water for about 45 minutes. On the way out we bumped into Karen and Jenn and all their girls. How funny is that. We were at the same beach and didn't realize it til we were leaving.

Overall it was an amazing day and on the way home the boys crashed. The next day we were all exhausted and took a great afternoon nap.

What a Fun Family Time ~ I can not wait to scrapbook the pictures.



Mom Loves her Boys!!!!!!

To Pee or Not to Pee......

In a Cup, That is the question...

Yesterday Chase woke up saying his Pee Pee hurt. Uh - Oh guess what this means, Doctors visit! Now seriously do you think a 3 year old boy is going to let the doctor ~ or anyone else for that matter ~ touch his Owwie Pee Pee??? I dont think so!!!

So I bowed out and let Daddy handle this one. I felt this was a job for "Super-Daddy". It could either go bad or seriously bad....

I should open my mouth at this point and insert my foot - Chase did Great! He came running out of the dr's office covered in stickers and stamps.

"Mommy I peed in a cup" he yelled for all to hear.

Maybe "Super-Daddy" has a new duty!! What is his secret??? Im sure I will never know.

Carter Walking in Target

This is pretty self explanatory but I will embellish a bit... Once Carter and Chase realized people where watching us walk through Target with the Camera and Carter walking in his walker - They Totally Hammed it up! Next time I will have to say "Action", they are just too darn cute for their own good.

Thanks Lynn (PT) for bringing us so much joy!!!!!

Carter Gets A Walker

Lynn is Carter's Physical Therapist through Easter Seals. When she came out today and brought a walker that she spoke to us about last week. We have several walkers made by Fisher Price but he has to lean forward to walk, forcing him to walk on his tip toes and put his weight forward onto the walker. The walker that Lynn brought goes behind him and the handles come up almost beside him - forcing him to stand up almost straight and walk on his entire foot not just his tip toes. We were absolutely amazed at how he responded to this walker. He seems to love the freedom it gives him and he seems to have a much more stable walking pattern. Turning the walker is a bit more difficult than the Fisher Price ones but he has almost figured out what he needs to do to turn the walker at the same time turning his body and his feet without falling. I must say he has done exceptionally well with this. He uses his but to push the walker back then he puts pressure with both arms to turn the walker as he turns his body and feet with it. He is not always successful but I think he is determined to master it.

The look on his face of pure happiness and pride is just amazing.

Chase is even helping him by getting the walker for him or showing him how to use it. It is rather cute to see Chase taking care of his little brother.

Charmingfare Farm August 2007