Exciting News and Other Stuff

I found out on Friday afternoon that I was chosen to be an advocate representing Michigan at the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association's Congressional Lobby Day 2009 in Washington, D.C. I will be going to DC to share how stroke affected my life twice; once with my dad and once, of course, with Nolan. I could not be more humbled and thrilled to represent Michigan, my family and stroke survivors. I will get the opportunity to meet with lawmakers and raise awareness about fetal stroke. I was also awarded a scholarship to cover my expenses. I was one of eight chosen from the state. I will also be responsible for any media coverage and returning to my state to follow up with legislators to help push priority items through. Please pray that the lawmakers' ears are open to what I am going to share with them and that it can make a difference in someone's life.

Well, we tried the pictures in the tuxedo again...bust. I don't know what his issue is, I just wish I could capture his adorable little self in that tuxedo just once! It would melt your heart.

We basically have the bathroom on lockdown because Nolan is obsessed with the toilet. Hopefully, that too will pass or at least summer will come soon so he can get his water fix in the pool.

Nolan is finally feeling better, but continues to eat like a wild animal and go to bed early to catch up from his illness. He must be going through a growth spurt, too.

I took him sledding yesterday...bust. He screamed at the top of his lungs the minute I put his snowsuit on and continued screaming the entire time on the sled. I ended up having to carry his 30-pound behind all the way home. Next year, we'll give it another try.

My sister came over this weekend and we got to go shopping on Friday and Saturday and scrapbooking Saturday night. It was a great weekend. Nolan and Daddy stayed home and played. I forgot how much I enjoy scrapbooking and reminiscing.

Bite My Tongue

No, Nolan is not done being sick. He had an ear infection earlier this month, then had an allergic reaction to the antibiotics. And, he just had another visit to the ER for another bad virus. Poor baby. This time, he had to have an IV. I think that this is the worst he has ever been. It's been stressful on everyone. I got to the point where I just started throwing everything away. I don't have time to clean everything. I think he might be feeling better.

Today was his celebratory photo shoot to mark his walking debut. I hate to say it, but it was a bust. We bought him an adorable tuxedo and he was fine until he walked into the studio. I don't think that we got a single shot of him looking at the camera. We are going to take him to Penney's this weekend to see if we can get any shots. He looks just precious in his tuxedo. So handsome! I think that the photographer was sick of listening to him scream and cry. Oh well...

Nolan was on a roll when we got home. I heard water splashing and found him swirling my car keys in the toilet singing Row, Row, Row Your Boat. He loved it, I thought I was going to puke. So, on top of everything else, I had to clean up him and the bathroom. While I was doing that, he had an accident in the living room and got it everywhere. Then, I had to clean that up. It's never too early to start drinking, right? Thank goodness, he was ready to go to bed on time.

These past two months have been challenging for us to say the least. We are making it day by day. We are still looking forward to when we can take a weekend and get away. We'll see...hopefully soon. Above all, it has been a time to reflect on what is most important to us in our life and the things that have gone wrong are trivial.

I don't have the energy to put photos on here, but I have posted them on flickr. Go to the top right here and you will see them.

Back to Normal...Whatever that Is

I think that Nolan is finally done being sick. It occupied all of January 2009. He went to therapy, the sitters and then came home and we eye patched and played...just like normal. I miss our normal schedule. I decided that he needs to eat better. He ate a big bowl of peas tonight with his dinner. He loved them. He laid them out individually in a line on his tray and said a letter of the alphabet with each one he laid out. It was precious.

He has really been singing his songs lately. He loves ABCs, Row, Row, Row Your Boat, Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star, Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes, Five Little Monkeys, If You're Happy and You Know It, London Bridge and tonight I caught him singing This Old Man. Because he knows tunes so well, what I have been doing to help him with his letter sounds is sing an entire song saying that sound and he will start repeating the sound. It has helped to initiate more sounds. He's been saying ma-ma more which is a hard sound for him. He is starting to learn more words, too. Language for him takes concentrated effort, but he's picking it up quite nicely. He's been asking to go, "night, night." What kid does that? I get so excited when he learns something new. It's fun for me and him. He is using his signs more and if he doesn't say the word, we are requiring signs to get what he wants.

Nolan has been walking like crazy for the past two days. He can walk from room to room without assistance and without falling. However, he is picking in the drawers now. I found my calculator hidden in his room. He loves to push the grocery cart that Grandma Pietchak bought him for Christmas except he will only allow certain things in the basket, namely his blanket and his baseball bat. Gosh, he is so funny. He was pushing his cart so fast down the hallway, he fell to his knees. The cart was still moving and he was still hanging on so it dragged him on his knees a little. He started laughing so hard I thought he was going to stop breathing. He hasn't figured out how to do it again.

I can't wait to see what he has for me tomorrow...