Audrey turns 2 in her home home state!

Audrey returned to Michigan for the 2nd time in 6mos this time for her own birthday after being there in early March to celebrate her cousin Ava's 1st.  Thankfully, in late August the rust belt didn't throw 18in of snow at us over the horn of Lake Erie.

We had a fantastic visit with family and enjoyed perfect Michigan summer weather for a week. Kathie and I got to Somerset  twice. We got some family skating in (and some hockey very early in the morning).  We got down to all three sports arena's in Detroit, walked along the refurbished Detroit River waterfront and had lunch at GMs headquarters, the "Ren-Cen" as we like to call it in De-Troit!

My beautiful bookends!

The older kids stayed in Michigan to travel back with Kathie's parents who live on the other side of the state in Grand Rapids.  That gave Audrey 4 days of Mommy and Daddy to herself back in VA...not exactly by herself since Dune and Mocha were sure glad to get out of the kennel and back to their couches and our bed at home.  

What does one do at a 2yr old's birthday when one has run out of Sudoku....

I haven't been a good blogger, so I will follow this post up with one on the first day of school and the fall activity schedule.  Until then, here is our gorgeous daughter and her equally beautiful mom, brother and sisters:

At the pool

Hanging with and on to Grandma

Beneath the Tiger's paw

Hanging w/ Ava

Entrance to the best stadium on the planet

These two photo's illustrate Audrey's creative side as well as her father's uncanny failure to know where the hell she is and what the hell she is doing.  Notice the blue marker on the trim and directly on the window as well as her tatooing of her own arm.

Additional pics from late Summer

A few more of this beautiful child...and DON'T forget, to see the full HD photo double click on the picture and it will open in a larger window, you can use the back space arrow in your browser to return to the blog...

With Marli, our friends from GR's daughter adopted 5yrs ago and one of our inspirations to do the same.

"Hey Dad, do those other kids havvvvve to come back from Michigan...I could get use to this"

Hey! Look at me lookin' at you!

Baw-deeeeezzzzz! (east coast for buddies)

I am lovin' this milk, what's in this stuff?

A champion is born!

Six Month Anniversary

June 10th marked 6mos with Audrey in our family and our arms and it couldn't be any better.   She is thriving, growing and changing.  Last week we had her vocal chords looked at.  It required her being put under, but it was over in 5min.  Turns out there is no scar tissue from her heart surgery, but we still don't know why one side is paralyzed.  Good news though is, it shouldn't effect her development, however, we are still stuck on a lot of daaaa (which stands for dog, milk, water, swing, outside, inside, shower, the various brothers and sisters) and derrrrr (is either there or this, we usually judge the context, [aka, direction of pointing] when determining meaning).

When she is older and there is less risk involved we will probably have surgery to tighten the gap between the working vocal chord and the paralyzed chord.  The long-term risk of not doing is sound production (developing a raspy, breathy voice) and aspirating fluids into the lungs. They would take  fat from her body and  inject it into the paralyzed side to build it up and that should take care of it.  But that we don't need to worry about for awhile.

There isn't much more to report other than the close of the school year, the other kids are doing great and we look forward to...well, school starting up again! LOL!  Go Wings, thanks for a great year...the kids are totally hooked on hockey--thankfully replacing Star Wars for awhile.

Here are some pics:

Keeping up w/ Ubz

We've been busy here since my Baptism.  Hugh's 4th birthday, Owen's 6th birthday and Alena's First Holy Communion.  We also went to Naples, Fla. for Spring Break.  My first time to a beach and swimming.  It was also my first time on a putting green and of course my first time at a Ritz-Carlton resort!  My parents said don't get used to this, we got a good deal.  Next year DisneyWorld! 

My Dad posted some new videos on the blog on the video sidebar right.  It doesn't get any cuter than me!

Emma started Field Hockey up for the Spring season. She scored three goals in her first game continuing to lead her team in scoring since last fall.  Hugh started soccer and Owen started ice hockey--(so did my dad, but it's late at night so i don't get to see him).  I can't wait too skate, i am always trying to run out on the ice.  Alena is busy w/ dance and she and Emma start swim team soon.  Alena received an important award, Citizen of the Month for her class--for outstanding academics and attitude.

Okay, here's a bunch of pictures:  

Audrey's Baptism--2.24.2008

We had a fantastic day w Audrey and family. She made it through w/o tears as did the 6 other much younger babies. We, of course, were the only family of 7 there. Everyone else looked like rookies. Father had us stay in the pews and went around to apply the oil and fire portion of the ceremony. Audrey was called up first to the Baptismal Font, the picture captures water falling off her head if you look closely.

Audrey's Godmother is Julie St. George. Julie has a been a babysitter to our kids since she was 12, we lived across the street from her family in the green Ridgeway house, before we stormed the hill! Julie is from a wonderful family of 7 kids whom we have admired since we met them. Talk about doing it right, her parents are raising 7 wonderful children from ages 22 down to 5, and if our kids are half as loving, respectful and faith-focused as Julie and gang we would be very pleased. She is a junior at Bishop O'Connell, runs cross-country, works at a local kid's science and toy store here in Broadlands and is a lead organizer of the Right to Life campaign at the High School level. Accompanying Julie was her good friend and also part of our now babysitter duo, Meaghan Leon--who we have to thank for taking these fantastic pictures. I could barely get to class in HS, these kids got it together...which is good since they are both driving!

We were very pleased Julie accepted and we no doubt made the right choice--which Julie confirmed in her sentiments to Audrey.."i will always be there for you as you grow in your faith and love of Christ." We had a party at the house with friends and then it was back to healing the sick, as Hugh continues to fight an ear infection and Owen took on his first 103 fever and cold.