Anders + End of summer

August is right around the corner.  In the past, this has meant one thing to me: the impending start of the  school year.  This was came with mixed emotions: I was always excited for cross country during high school and college (which now translates to fall racing season), but a little sad that the freedom of summer was coming to a close.  These days, it marks something else: Anders' birthday.  As we get ready to celebrate his second year of life, I am taken back to both the hardships and, more importantly, the celebrations.

Look at how far we've come!

As I got out of bed this morning, it hit me that our life is almost "normal" (though the definition of normal is, of course, debatable).  We no longer have the weight of oxygen, and thanks to our wonderful therapists at Monroe-Meyer, Anders' eating abilities have improved ten-fold.  Anders is happy and healthy.  He is extremely active and social, and already has crazy basketball skills.  Anders was enrolled in gymnastics this summer, and while he did improve as the sessions went on, he spent the majority of time, however, trying to figure out how to get his basketball into the massively high hoops in the gym.  That's right--the only way Anders would participate is if he was allowed to carry and chase a basketball around as a reward for trying or completing a new apparatus.  Unfortunately for Anders, I do not believe that there is basketball for toddlers.  He'll be enrolled in dance lessons this fall.

Anders is also able to go to day care now with his peers.  After staying home for the first two years of his life, Anders spent three days last week with his brother while I attended the Women Run Nebraska Running Retreat and subbed for the summer school program at the Cen7ter.  Quinn actually had a harder time being dropped off than Anders.

Anders continues to attend follow up appointments with pulmonology and GI, but these seem much less stressful and are few and far between.  Remember way back when we thought Anders would have to get eye surgery because of the large amounts of oxygen he was receiving? Well, Anders was seen by a pediatric vision specialist in Omaha and earned a favorable report; he would not have to be checked again for three years.  He also gained a good report from the NICU follow-up clinic at St. E's--developmentally, he is on track for his corrected age.  We continue to work through Anders' feeding disorder through weekly sessions with Monroe-Meyer, but Anders no longer exhibits aversions and is now drinking from a sippy cup.  He does well with blended foods, but struggles with anything that requires biting and chewing (this doesn't stop him from trying).

This summer has been a busy one--in addition to Anders' appointments, Quinn was busy with swimming lessons, dance, and gymnastics.  They went to the pool, children's museum, and zoos.  They tagged along with mom at Jazzercise and helped with shopping and baking (Quinn more so than Anders).  I've also been squeezing in Ironman training.  WRN continues to thrive and we successfully put on our first summer retreat this summer.  Philip has been able to spend time doing what he enjoys--working at the cabin with the tractor, spending time outside, and of course working and traveling for Sandhills Publishing.

So, here we are looking down the barrel at August.  We leave for Colorado next week, and the following week I'll begin my fourth year at the Cen7ter teaching Life Skills to students with developmental disabilities.  I absolutely love my job and look forward to seeing my co-workers and students on a regular basis. I will be taking two courses through the University of Nebraska-Kearney to add my administrative endorsement.

I'm sure things will slow down this fall... ;)