Fall is finally here!

It has been a while since our last post. It feels wonderful to have no new medical news for you other than our most recent overnight stay at a nursing home (this is to help expedite Medicaid benefits for Hayden). Hayden continues to wear his eye patches practicing to be a pirate for Halloween and Hanna continues to love learning at preschool.

Earlier this month we went to Dallas for our cousin, Anthony's, engagement party. We had a great time and the kids loved getting to see Gaga too. Hayden is getting stronger at holding his head. He rolled over for his first time on this trip and is working on sitting up and pushing up. On our road trip back home we toured the new Dallas Cowboys football stadium before it opened for the official first game. Not being a football fan (this is Adrienne typing), it was still fun.

We also had a great time with the Hanna family visiting from Philly. Work conference, BBQ, ESPN, outlet shopping, swimming and birthday party were lots of our festivities. John and Scott went to UT College Game Day with ESPN and took the kiddos while Paige and I got to go shopping with the babies. It was wonderful for all of us. Hanna and cousin Drake were so cute and nice to each other while Pierce and Hayden (both 6 months old) were sweet as ever and acted like twins. I have to break my own rules and put thier pictures on our blog. The cousins are just too cute and I know that these pictures are already out on the Hanna's blog or facebook:).

"Even without a perfect body, one can have a perfect soul."

I usually delete all forwarded e-mails but this one I thought might be good to post as it relates to kids born with Spina Bifida. It also applies to anyone told they "can't" do something. Below is posted the content of this e-mail:

This dog was born on Christmas Eve in the year 2002. He was born with 2 legs - He of course could not walk when he was born. Even his mother did not want him. His first owner also did not think that he could survive and he was thinking of 'putting him to sleep'.

But then, his present owner, Jude Stringfellow, met him and wanted to take care of him. She became determined to teach and train this little dog to walk by himself. She named him 'Faith'. In the beginning, she put Faith on a surfboard to let him feel the movement. Later she used peanut butter on a spoon as a lure and reward for him for standing up and jumping around. Even the other dog at home encouraged him to walk.

Amazingly, only after 6 months, like a miracle, Faith learned to balance on his hind legs and to jump to move forward. After further training in the snow, he could now walk like a human being. Faith loves to walk around now. No matter where he goes, he attracts people to him.

He is fast becoming famous on the international scene and has appeared on various newspapers and TV shows. There is now a book entitled 'With a Little Faith' being published about him. He was even considered to appear in one of Harry Potter movies. His present owner Jude Stringfellew has given up her teaching post and plans to take him around the world to preach that even without a perfect body, one can have a perfect soul'. In life there are always undesirable things, so in order to feel better you just need to look at life from another direction.I hope this message will bring fresh new ways of thinking to everyone and that everyone will appreciate and be thankful for each beautiful day. Faith is the continual demonstration of the strength and wonder of life.

Eye patch

Hayden has got two months of practice for his Halloween pirate costume. This was his first outing with it on and first swing time in the park.

You have to check out the video of him eating cereal on the right bar of youtube videos. I couldn't get it to upload on this posting.

Firsts

Hayden's first food, rice cereal...not really a favorite. See how he is eyeing the Sunday morning breakfast of Scott's green chile scrambled eggs & french toast.

He got his first pair of Nike shoes thanks again to the Pool fam!

Hayden's trip to the Ophthalmologist was a success. She said his optic nerves were great and that he had good vision. He does have weakened muscles on the outer edge of his eyes due to the hydrocephalus and that we will need to alternate patching his eyes for 2 months to help strengthen them. Whew..this was great news!

Hanna's first day of pre-school. She loved it and didn't look back. Even cried when she had to leave. Makes you wonder what her mother does or doesn't do at home doesn't it.