Our weekend...

Over the weekend, Josh and I got a much needed break. Josh's parents took the kids over night so that Josh and I could go to the Cardinal's game on Saturday night. While we were waiting in line to enter the stadium, Josh got a call from one from one of his friends offering him tickets to Sunday's game. We took the offer and went to two games this weekend.

On Saturday, it was photo night, so fans were allowed onto the field and the players walked around the field so that the fans could take their photo. Josh and I didn't go onto the field because it was crazy crowded. We decided to stand behind the visitors dugout which worked out great. We were really close to the players and I got some good shots.

They were announcing that players would not be signing autographs and you were not allowed to take pictures with the players. Mr. Pujols had different ideas. He was pulling kids out left and right to have their picture taken. He was holding babies and high-fiving kids, it was really neat to watch. He is such a nice man. Mr. Pujols and his wife have a child with Down Syndrome, they have a foundation (Pujols Family Foundation) where they help family affected by Downs. He and his wife have done great things for special needs families. I think that he is an amazing person and a fantastic role model for kids.

(no zoom on the camera, we were this close to him)


On Saturday night we had bleacher seats. On Sunday we had seats behind first base, they were awesome seats!

Jessica, these next pictures are for you!!

Yadier Molina, the best catcher in baseball!!


Molina and Wainwright giving each other a pre-game smack on the rear-end.


Molina getting ready to get started...

Mr. Pujols warming up. Hello!

There was a fan at the game who was celebrating his birthday. He was sitting a few rows in front of us. He was interviewed by someone and put up on the big screen. He was celebrating his 104th birthday!!! After the next inning, Albert gave him a signed bat! Josh was super jealous, as were many other fans!!

And then there was this guy, a vendor. His catch phrase was "hot body, cold beer!!" LOL gotta love it!!

Josh and I had the best time together at the games. It was nice to enjoy one another's company.

Mini Golf

We played a round of mini golf over the weekend. The weather was too nice not to enjoy the outside. Caroline had a great time and Will did too. There is something wrong with my camera, all of my pictures are blurry. Urgh...not too happy about that.

Daddy helping a girl out...


Notice the ball is still on the tee...


Will enjoying the round...


Tiger trying to get it in the hole...


And me...


It was fun and Caroline was sad when the round was over.

Will Update

Will had his 3 year well baby exam the other day. It was with his new pediatrician, and it went very well. She spent a hour in the room with us asking questions and finding out what specialist we go and see. She was very thorough in her exam and I like that. They weighed him and got his height. He weighed 29 pounds and 33 inches. When the nurse came back in the room she said "William is in the 29th percentile for weight and the zero percentile for height". HOLD THE PHONE!!! He is on the "typical" chart for weight????? That has never happened before (except for his birth weight). I gave Will a high five! Not vomiting for 5 months has really paid off!


School is going well for Will. He seems to be enjoying it. I now pick him up in the "pick up lane" after school. He teacher walks him to the curb and puts him in his car seat and we are off! I cried the first three mornings putting him on the bus but this morning was different. This morning he went to the aide willingly and smiled and waved to me as they were putting him into his car seat! It made my heart feel better.


Hot off the Presses!




I just got back from picking Will up early from school. I got a call from the school nurse saying "there had been a minor incident". My heart fell to the floor and I kind of lost my breath for a minute. I asked what happened and she said that Will's cast had come part of the way off and she wasn't sure what she should do. I told her that I would come and get him. On my way to the school she phoned again stating that the cast was completely off now. So I called his orthopedist to get him in to get a new cast and they can't get him in until 1pm. I asked what I was to do in the meantime and the nurse said to not let him fall. I laughed out loud at her! That is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard, I can't do that! What am I supposed to do sit him in his highchair for 3 hours!?! Anyway, this office has been making me mad (the doctor I like, the staff is a different story). I believe that we will be looking for a new ortho!




I am not kidding, there is never a dull moment! Will will be sporting a new cast this afternoon.

Wordless Wednesday...It's been a rough few days

The First Day...

Will's first day of school was today. I had to wake him up, tube him breakfast, get him dressed and brush his teeth. He was all set. I was so nervous that he would have no idea what was going on so I kept telling him that the bus was going to come and take him to school and then I would come and pick him up. I know he didn't understand me but I kept saying it over and over to him.


The bus came to pick him up at 7:50am. I am not allowed to step foot on the bus for "liability reasons" so I had to hand him to the aide that was on the bus. That is when he started crying. That is when I started crying. He didn't understand what was going on and I felt really guilty for handing him over to strangers. I waved goodbye, signed I love you and blew him a kiss. And then stood there and cried as they buckled him into his car seat on the bus. If you look in the picture and see that sweet little hand pressed up against the window, that is Will waving goodbye to me. It broke my ever-loving heart.

And then the bus drove off.

And I cried for the next 45 minutes. It was very strange to not have any kids around for 3 hours. I picked him up from school at 11:45am. His teacher said that he did very well and didn't cry at all. They let him explore the classroom a lot today but encouraged him to do things with the class. If he wasn't interested they didn't push it. When I got there, Mr. Cow was sitting on the shelf waiting for Will to come and love on him. When Will noticed that I was there he ran to me and gave me a big hug. It made me feel better.

Will's Thomas the Tank Engine Party

Will's party was a huge success! He had a great time and so did our guests.

We sang Happy Birthday!


Will thought about blowing out the candles.


He ate a cupcake. (the sock is to protect his cast from food).

We chatted and relaxed.

We opened presents.

We broke open the pinata!

And put candy in our treat bags. (why is it that the cameraman got the worst possible angles of me!! Good lordy!!)

We played stick the number on Thomas.

All of the kids in front of Thomas. My nephew James seems to be choking his sister Ruthie. :-)

Will and his cousin Ruthie (1.5 years old) standing in front of Thomas.

Will in his Engineer hat looking super cute!

Thank you everyone for coming to the party and celebrating with us. We had a fantastic time!

Prince William is 3!!!!

Our little Prince is 3 today! We will be singing, eating cake and braking a pinata this afternoon. Thomas the Tank is the theme this year, it should be fun!

William's RTS sister, Addie is having a birthday today too. Go check out her blog and wish her a happy birthday too!

Happy Birthday my Prince! You are the sweetest little ball of cuteness that I have ever laid eyes on. I am so very proud of you and can't wait to see what you will learn this year!

Love you, Mama

Wordless Wednesday

Run Michael Run!!!

Hey ya'll! Have you noticed the fancy little thingamagiggy over to the left? Will's RTS sister, Addie has this amazing Dad that is going to run a marathon again!!!! That's right folks! AGAIN! He ran a marathon last year and raised money for the Special Friends Foundation. SFF helps families of RTSweeties pay for things that insurance doesn't cover. They also provide the food all yummy food that we eat at the reunions each year. Last year Michael exceeded his fundraising goal and is hoping to do the same this year. So please click on the menu button and donate some moola for a fantastic cause!!

A Blue Cast

That is what William will be wearing for 3 weeks.



He took a tumble down the stairs yesterday evening. He probably fell down about 4 steps, carpeted. He cried for a little bit but then seemed fine. He slept through the night. He woke up this morning and we went about our business like any other day. He was in the playroom playing and he fell forward and had to catch himself with his hands in front of him. He cried in pain and held his arm, I knew it was broke. I called his pediatrician and they told me to take him to the ER, so I did. They did x-rays and confirmed that his arm was slightly broken, not a bad break but a break nonetheless.

He will have to wear the cast for 3 weeks and then he will be in a brace for a week or two after that. The cast is water proof, thank goodness. He seems to be tolerating the cast well. But I am sure that will change.

For the love of a picture...

Will and I tried to have a "photo shoot" this evening. It didn't go so well. It is very hard to get him to sit still, look at the camera and smile. It is nearly impossible. Here are some of the rejects!

Looking away from the camera, eyes closed...

Mr. Cow had to get in on it. Will making Mr. say CHEESE...

This is his favorite one, running away from me...

Swatting the gnats...

Having a Miralax moment...

I think that I may have gotten a good one, but I am saving that one!

The Day...

Today was the dreaded day. The day that I have been fearing for almost 3 years. The day that has caused me sleepless nights. The day that has caused my stomach to churn and twist into knots. Today was Will's IEP meeting. It is done. I survived....barely!


All kidding aside, it was okay. I cried, but we all knew that I would. Will's goals are set and Josh and I feel comfortable with everything that they have set for him. He will be going to school 5 days a week for 3 hours each day. He will be in a room where he will have a one on one aid, which we are very happy about. The only concern that I have is that they will only be working on feeding during snack time at school. We are going to have to look into some other outside therapy for feeding. He will be riding the bus to school and I am going to pick him up.

I think that he is going to excel in school and hopefully his language with blossom (whether it be through speech, sign or pictures). We are excited about the school year.

Oh, and the most important thing discussed at the meeting today...



Yes, Mr. Cow can go to school too. Shoooo, we were worried about that one! ;-)

Feeding update....

The other day the kids and I went to Josh's softball game (he plays with his co-workers on a slow-pitch softball team) and one of the other kids was having goldfish crackers. Will walked over to the Mom and held out his hand, he wanted one. She gave him one, he put it in his mouth and started chewing. I was watching and waiting for the spit out but let he walk around and play while eating the cracker. IT NEVER CAME OUT!!! He went back for four more crackers and none of them came out. I was in shock!

I told his OT about it at his session the next day and she suggested we go outside and let him play while we give him more crackers to see if it happens again. He ate nearly 20 freaking crackers!!

I have no idea what this means but I like it! Maybe he only swallows standing up! Who knows!! But now I know that he CAN and he WILL eat solids! Oh, I have also found that he likes chocolate pudding! He ate almost an entire snack pack container the other day! Baby steps...Baby steps...