Do You Want One?

Before


Recycled journal from Borders: $3.00
Scissors: $1.00 - I ended up using the kitchen shears for the job! :)
Fabrics: $1.50
Embroidery floss: $0.35

After

Completed project: Priceless!

I was so excited about writing in my new 'to do' book that I hesitated at adding french knots to the ends of my letters (note that I only did them on the 's' and the 'h'). I had fun creating this- very easy! I was able to briefly freshen up my embroidery skills, given it's only a back stitch and some knots.

I'm counting down to my next project--it's written in my new and stylish 'to do' book.

Sticking Around

Joseph discovered that banana holds better than professional mousse...and tastes better too!

Before

Joseph has been into animal sounds lately. He can imitate or sign many of them. So, I bought a handful of these cute little Zoo Pal friends to practice sounds and help with signing.

After

With a little magnetic tape, we made them stick to his closet doors!

Now I'm curious: did Joseph use banana mousse to stick his on the doors?

False Alarms Are Good News

As an overly paranoid mother, I took Joseph to the pediatrician's office this morning for what I thought to believe (self-diagnosed) as a middle ear infection. He has been somewhat fussy, tugging at his ears and not wanting to go to sleep. It turns out there was no middle ear infection, no strep throat, nor any reason to take him to the doctor. :) Dr. B. did say his throat was a little red from nasal drainage, possibly caused from teething.

False alarms are good news... and so are stickers from your doctor!

It's the holiday weekend and we are preparing for the annual Satterfield Family Reunion. I'm in the process of putting together some traditional family reunion games. Tonight, James is picking up the food and paper items we will need for a yummy spread. I will be busy wrapping up last minute details the next three evenings while the little ones are asleep.

Let's hope the cheerful invitations I recently sent help draw a crowd for what I'm anticipating to be a downhome good time (minus ants)!

Busy Fishing

Daddy and Chloe playing on the sofa

We've had a lot going on around here lately...no time to write... I'm sneaking in a few minutes here while the two little ones are napping and before I'm off to organizing the entryway closet (another project off the to-do list).

Tuesday was a busy day for us: Joseph's speech therapist came, Joseph had an appointment at the Neonatal Follow-up Clinic, and we visited Kosair's NICU to see the doctors and nurses that took care of him those first few months of his life. I've noticed a change in Joseph's speech, although Kim said it would be a gradual process of getting him to be more vocally expressive. We're more aware of his speech delay and what we can do to help him expand his vocab. We're including a few signs, which I can tell are making a difference. He seems to be more interested in learning, too.

Neonatal appointment: Good news and bad news.... Joseph is doing really well cognitively. The developmental therapist said that if he walked in her room and without her knowing his medical history she would think that he 'was just a normal kid for his age'. But, because she does know his medical history she thinks that all the childhood intervention we can get the better... I agree. The bad news is that Joseph isn't growing as he should; he has gained a little over 2 pounds in the past six months. He now weighs 22 lbs. and 2 oz. We're starting him on a Pediasure diet, replacing his whole milk. Dr. Devlin said that we'd be spending his college savings on it-- and we will be! I have a 'high calorie foods' list, too, of what Joseph should be eating. At first glance, I thought, "this is a heart attack....", but it's what's prescribed to get some meat on Joseph's bones! Dr. D. said this lack in growth could be because he is more active now; however, it should be watched closely and remedied since he was/is a preemie.

We had a wonderful time seeing the folks at Kosair's. One special nurse, Susan, practically came running when she saw Joseph. They played together for a little while before Susan had to go back to tend to a new arrival. Watching them play together took away the stuffy feeling I was having remembering all the times I walked up to the NICU window and asked to see our baby. After that, we walked back through the pedway; Joseph loved being above the trucks on the street! You should have heard the motor sounds he was making.

Among other news, I made Chloe a pipe cleaner flower that Joseph destroyed shortly after. James made Joseph a watch, which was destroyed too. Good thing pipe cleaners recycle! We're having a lot of fun with them. The one creation that Joseph hasn't destroyed are a pair of wide-rim glasses.

Here today.....


Gone today.....

We have a few new additions to our family..I told you that we were busy! They're our gill-having friends--fish! Joseph was so in love with Elmo's goldfish, Dorothy, that we decided to get a few fish of our own. We're now owners of six tetras. It's relaxing to watch them swim and explore in their world. We also bought a fish that Joseph can play with. He takes her to night-night with him, too!