Long time no post...

It's been about three weeks since I lasted posted. It was right after baby A. died. To say it has been an unimaginable time is an understatement. Personally, I still can't seem to wrap my mind around it. Even though I held her after she died in the hospital and was at her wake and church service, I still can't believe it. It could be because I've never had the experience of a child I know dying. It just seems so wrong somehow.

My poor friend, A., who's baby it was, had her grandfather die the next day, so after burying her baby, she had to go bury her grandfather, out of town. She and her children have been out of town, staying with her parents ever since. Her husband went with them for the funeral, but has had to come back home to work. She should be coming home this weekend, that is when she will really need us (her church family) to come along side her. When things quiet down and she doesn't have the busyness of it all to distract her from the reality of it. Please keep them all in prayer, as well as my friend D., who found her. She continues to struggle.

We went down to our cottage for about 7 days after the funeral. I didn't have any internet access, so that is part of the reason I haven't blogged lately or checked my email. It was really nice to get away from everything, to have no errands, no therapies, no appointments, just to spend time with my hubby and four youngest children. My mother in law and sister in law and brother in law came up as well, they have a cottage too. It is always so nice to be able to spend time with them, they are wonderful people, I'm blessed!

We came back to our usual array of appointments and therapies and will be busy the remainder of the month. But then, July is a full month at the cottage, hooray! Our 10 days of camp meeting are during the time we are down, so it's such a great time for us! This will be Anah's first time at camp meeting. I'm not sure how much she will comprehend, but the love of God will be evident!

Anah is now signing: no, stop, more and brother. She is saying: Mom, Dad, PJ, Jonathan, stop, stop it and no. She is participating more during her therapy time and seems to enjoy the other children more. Her strength is definitely increasing, her endurance, her balance as well as her desire to play. She enjoys being outside playing on the swings or in the sand box. She is trying to ride a bike, can't quite coordinate the pedals yet, and can make herself go on the glider on the swing set. She is drawing more and enjoys talking, interactive, musical toys. She is smiling a lot, makes much better eye contact and enjoys participating in the family.

Jonathan got his glasses today. We got him a pair from Specs4Us, he looks so smart! He kept them on for 45mins. today, but then started to throw them. We are telling him no no and tapping his hand when he throws them, but it will take a while for him to get adjusted to them. He is walking all over; outside, on the lawn, up and down little inclines etc. His balance is so much better and his muscle tone in general has improved. He is making noises "talking" and has added "block" to his signing. He got his stitches out of his head and the wound has healed (after he reopened it a couple times). His therapists continue to be so impressed with his weekly progress, it is always so good to hear.

Next week Jonathan has a follow up audiology appt. (he's failed every hearing test so far), and his repeat evaluation at the Down Syndrome/Developmental Disability center at our hospital. Anah has her CSE meeting at school next week and then her first eye doctor appt. the following week. I don't think she has any visual difficulties, but then again, it's so difficult to tell, so I figured I'd better get it checked out.

This Friday and Saturday I have my "Women of Faith" convention. My best friend and I have gone the past two years and really look forward to it. This year Steven Curtis Chapman will be there, so it should be especially awesome! It's always such a blessing to go away for a couple of days with my friend and get refreshed with a bunch of other christian women. It's a nice break from the usual daily life. We stay overnight in a hotel on Friday and just relax. It's so nice so we don't have to drive back and forth 45mins. each way and we can keep in the "groove" for the two days. We are blessed to have two such wonderful husbands who encourage us to do this each year and take care of everything on the home front for the weekend, so that we don't have to worry while we are gone. It is a gift that they give us each year, very sweet of them.

I still don't know what I did with my camera cord, but once I find it, I'll post some pictures.