Our Trip to Illinois

Last Friday we headed back to Illinois to spend time with family.  Before we left we got to spend some time with our neighbors (the Southards) who had been gone for three weeks to Florida.  As you can see from the pictures, the kiddos enjoyed the sidewalk chalk.  Our trip to Illinois was great.  We were able to see all of our family and some family friends as well.  Even though we only get back a couple times a year (thanks to Ava and Reese's retired grandparents), it is always wonderful to get back.  The only down points about the trip were Reese's vomitting episodes in her carseat, her face plant on my mom's deck, and the flash flooding our hometown experienced leaving water in my mom's basement.  Luckily all of that is being taken care of...Reese is showing no signs of sickness and really never did, her face boo-boos are scabbing over, and the carpet in my mom's basement is being replaced!

Anyway, here are the pictures to give you a glimpse of our last couple weeks...

 

 I know this is a bathtub video but everything is covered...bathtime is so much fun around here!

Photo shoot with Nana...

Learning how to use an iPod from cousin Bubba (Brandon)...

Reese just waking up and hanging with Bubba...

After jumping on Luci and Evie's, Grammy thought the girls needed one too...

Final (Foreseen) Departure

Yesterday Ava had her post-op appointments for her trach and g-tube site closures.  Everything checked out well and as we left the hospital it dawned on me that this was it.  Our last foreseen visit to Children's Mercy Hospital.  Two and a half years filled with hospitalizations and doctors appointments and now we were at the end.  We have two beautiful, healthy 2 1/2 year olds that we couldn't be more thankful for.  I've said it before but the desire for every family we have met along this journey who has experienced health difficulties with their children to have as happy of an ending as we have is stronger than ever.  It hurts to know that not every family will have as happy of an ending and we know that God has a plan for everyone but it makes us empathize for those families.  Our prayers will always be with all these families. 

In the meantime we will cherish all the time we have with the girls.  The things they say, their contagious smiles, the belly-laughs, and the development of their little minds...what fun to watch.

Here are a couple of my favorites from the last few days....