Vacation And Stuff

Jimmie has a small stomach bug this week. He's had a lot of dirty diapers and has not eaten or slept well. Today though he seems to be feeling a bit better.

He is stuck at 16 lbs it seems. He was around 16 lb 12 oz a couple weeks ago and when Rachael weighed him the other day he was down to 16 lb 8 oz. Rachael is trying to be relaxed about it. He is thriving in many other ways so that is encouraging, but I know it's hard for her to have that constant niggling worry about his weight gain. It would just be really really nice for Jimmie to have some extra fat on his bones.

Jimmie did really well on vacation last week. He slept well and he ate like a horse!

He loves swimming in Table Rock Lake!

This is how Rachael covered up his G-tube site for swimming . . .

Jimmie learned how to "motor boat" with his mouth in the water. I have a very cute video of that. I'll post it as soon as I can figure out how to get it off the camera.

He loves riding in the boat. He fell asleep almost every day with the sun shining down and the wind blowing as they sped around the lake.

He also enjoyed watching mommy, daddy and Grandpa Rod water ski. And even Auntie Amber! Me and my husband and kiddos stayed with the Gravitts for 3 days at Table Rock Lake. We had a blast.

This is Rachael and I skiing. It was my first time which is why I'm hanging on for dear life while looking a little "knock kneed". I loved it though!

Justin skiing . . .

When it got too hot Jimmie and daddy would crash indoors and play video games.

And then back out for more skiing . . .

Rod, Rachael and Justin are a bit crazy if you ask me.

Here they are skiing a pyramid . . .

You think this is it? Oh no...

She's going to stand on their shoulders...

You think this is it? Oh no...

She's going to "one hand it" and wave at everyone gawking!

Yeah- um, I have no doubt in a few years that will be Jimmie. Justin was water skiing at age 5!

And then there is Grandpa Rod . . .

He had Justin speed up the boat . . . He kicked off his board and water skied BAREFOOT!

Yeah- crAAAAzy!!!

On their last trip to the lake a couple of months ago, Justin and Rachael took Jimmie to visit Dogwood Canyon . . .

It's a beautiful spot . . .

Jimmie loved wading in the cool water . . .

This time- Rod, Kathy, Rachael Justin and Jimmie took a day trip to Eureka Springs Arkansas. There is a "Big Cat Rescue" there.

Jimmie didn't take his eye off of that tiger. . .

Smart of him . . .

While my family was visiting we all went to Silver Dollar City! This is Jimmie's first ever park ride!

Look closely and you'll see Jimmie is waving just like momma!

This ride the wait in line was too long for Jimmie's tastes.

So he started out of sorts . . .

Yeah . . . by now- he was done with the frogs!

My kiddos loved it though! (-:

So Jimmie had a really great summer vacation! Now he's back to the grind. (-:

Today he had speech therapy and his therapist decided he should have a session every week now. He is really taking off cognitively and with his receptive speech, but not so much verbally. He is not gaining consistent intelligible words. So Rachael and his therapist decided it is time to buckle down and get a little more serious, expect a little more and work Jimmie a little harder. As of right now Jimmie is not following any pattern for any speech diagnosis. His therapist says he's a mystery. Hmm- this seems to be Jimmie's style! Over all though no one is seriously concerned.

As soon as I figure out the camera computer interface problem I'm having I'll post some totally cute videos of Jimmie!! He's so smart and cute and sweet and feisty...

I love him!!

Love,

Amber

P.S. Gideon graduated to Bi-Pap last week and as of yesterday to C-pap! He had his last dose of that steroid yesterday and they are praying he adjusts well without it and can stay off of the ventilator. He also had his first eye exam today I think... Keep praying! These are awesome improvements from where he was just a couple of weeks ago.