Heat, heat, heat!!

It's already 97 out, so the wading pool seems especially nice. Donovan has had a good day so far. He is eating well--had half a container of sweet potatoes and a bottle for lunch and fell asleep while taking his bottle, so he is now having a nap. I had to go to VCU to pick up some materials for R-MC Orientation tomorrow, so he had a long nap this morning in the car--that's the easiest way to get him to sleep. Then we spent a little time in the pool before his very good lunch. Over the weekend I made some baby food for Maris: sweet potatoes, squash, and peas. I froze them in ice cube trays and will get them to her as soon as I can without having them thaw out. He is sleeping right now and then we will head back to the wading pool in the side yard under the trees. The water is cool and in spite of the heat, there is a nice breeze. Earlier this spring, Donovan absolutely rolled over for me--from his tummy to his back. He seems to have forgotten how to do that. Now he rolls from his back onto his tummy, can't seem to get back, and gets very frustrated. This is unusual for me--all my kids rolled from tummy to back first! Oh, well. . .as my mother would say, "I never saw a kid go to college who couldn't roll over!"

Summer Is Here

We had a ten day road trip to the mid-west, with good visits with Kathleen and other good friends in South Bend, Iowa City, and St. Louis. Lots of driving but good visits. We missed Donovan during our trip, but we returned to our summer schedule. So I had Donovan for the day on Monday and Wednesday. It's VERY hot--high 90's to 100! On Monday we spent some time with Peggy O'Neill's granddaughter, Althea. Donovan seemed to enjoy her; he really responds to little people. Peggy and Al bought a plastic wading pool, and Donovan was happy as a clam just sitting in there. On Wednesday we did a little shopping at Costco and in the afternoon we went to the pool. He really seems to like just sitting in the water. I'll have to take a picture of it next week. He's getting so much bigger. He has started eating vegetables and is really getting the knack of swallowing. On Wed. he ate about 3/4 of a container of squash. I think I'll make some vegetables for him. I made my own baby food for my kids and it really isn't very much work. Squash, sweet potatoes, and maybe some peas!

The End of the School Year

Well, of course it is only for me. . .Maris has a little more than a week left. But it was our last evening with Donovan before we leave town and the summer routine begins (which for me is Monday and Wednesday from 7:30-4:30). We started off with a good afternoon; he ate and then we went in the stroller around the community and ended with a visit to Bob and Patrick, who really wanted to completely clean Donovan with his tongue! (For those who might wonder, Patrick is a dog.) Then we went to the Farmer's Market, where we usually meet Maris. But after we got home, Donovan wasn't very comfortable. He was clearly in some discomfort, though he did take most of his bottle before we ate opur dinner. He is so tired--rubbing his eyes, almost falling asleep while he is eating. But does he sleep? No. . .his eyes open wide and he is up. Steve and I tok turns with him; Steve was walking with him to settle him down, something I really couldn't do because of my back. But he finally settled down and fell asleep in my lap until Maris came. So, tomorrow we leave on our trip and when we get back, we will be on the summer two-day schedule.

An Uncomfortable Day

Yesterday Donovan's tummy seemed to be causing him distress, because he was writhing when he took what little of his bottle he could take. He was quite uncomfortable. Yesterday was also the day of my third back injection, so Steve came home early to stay with Donovan. So I also was very uncomfortable and, unlike previous injections, this one brought no quick relief. In fact, as I had been warned about earlier injections, this one made my legs sorer! But it was quick, so I was back home before Maris got here. Maybe today, we'll both eel better!

Avery's 10th Birthday

June 23rd is Avery's actual birthday, but because he is usually with his Dad on his birthday, we always celebrate it sometime early. This year because of our schedule he is having quite a few celebrations: last night with us, next weekend Adam and Rachel are taking him to the movie, and his actual birthday in Disney World. He was thrilled with his special gift (it is after all one of those big "5" birthdays) and when Steve measured him he had grown almost 3/4 of an inch since April. He comes up to the bridge of my nose and his feet are almost as big as mine! We had a great party and Donovan sat in his high chair for the first time. As you can see from the picture, he really isn't quite tall enough, but when we put a cushion in the bottom it made the tray rub on his knees. But he loves to sit up and while he really likes his little green chair, he really is almost too big for it. Avery is really a great big brother and adores Donovan, except of course when he doesn't! But Donovan always lights up when he sees Avery. Donovan is really getting quite responsive to facial expressions and seems startled if you make a sad or mean face at him with no sound at all. But when you smile, he breaks into the sweetest smile. It was a lovely evening.

What a Guy!

Donovan does not like to sleep, so in spite of my best efforts, he only napped for about 25 minutes. Not really a problem, but he gets so tired that he's very uncomfortable and if I don't put him in the car he really can't go to sleep. But mainly we had a great afternoon laughing and talking. He really doesn't want to miss anything. He has been lifting his hands in the air when we do and if we clap, he is so proud of himself and he laughs out loud. He is amazingly responsive! But Maris says he is getting better at night sleeping, which is really what matters.

The Last Thursday

Yesterday was the last Thursday night we'll be having Donovan late while Maris teaches (actually, next week we will have a late Tuesday, which will also be my last afternoon for the school year). He got a little fussy around 4:00 and couldn't settle down for a nap, so I packed him up and off we went to the pool. I think he could stay in that little ladybug lounger forever, just floating around. There was hardly anyone there, but in the baby pool was a young mother with her two children. Her daughter, Liza, was about 4 or 5 and was completely enchanted with Donovan. Since there was no one else there, I let her float him around and play with him. He really responds to little people. As we got up to go after about an hour, she looked at me and said: "Is he yours? He isn't the same color as you." Deciding not to have a long explanation, I just explained that I was his grandmother. He was excellent during our dinner and then, while he had a pretty hard time settling in (I think his tummy was bothering him) he finally ate himself until Maris came to get him.

What a Day. . .

Donovan was an angel yesterday: he played, he ate, and he took an hour and forty-five minute nap. But Maris' day, that was something else! We were supposed to meet at the pool and I was waiting for Donovan to wake up before I went. Maris called at 4:30 to say someone had run into her at a stop light. To top it all off, it was a three car crash with the person who started it having left the scene. She was beside herself, because this meant that on top of the accident, she would have to pay the deductible. If it wasn't so upsetting, one would have to laugh. You couldn't make this stuff up. Since last July here is what has happened: First Maris found out she was pregnant--not planned! Then a few weeks later, she finds out it's twins. She gets used to that and starts getting excited and she loses one of them. Then she was in the hospital for more than a week trying not to have the baby. Donovan arrives and spends three weeks in the NICU. Then there was the scare about the fluid in his brain and all the tests for that. A week ago Greg was on his way here and something flew off a truck in front of him and smashed his windshield--it's a miracle he didn't have a crash. And now this. Well, we did have some relaxing at the pool and Maris and Avery stayed for dinner. So we hope this is the end of a series of bad tough events and the beginning of a very god year.

College Days

Just before Donovan arrived yesterday, I found out that I had a meeting at Randolph-Macon at 3:00 and that some of the young women in residence life were willing to watch Donovan for me. So I only had time to give him a little of his bottle before we had to leave. He was a big hit! One of the students moving in for summer school saw Christina with Donovan and expressed surprise; she replied: "You never know what someone's going to leave in their room!" Katie decided he looked just like the baby on the e-trade commercials, so she pulled it up for me and sure enough , he does! By the time my meeting was over, it was time to go meet Maris. Donovan was so tired, he went immediately to sleep. He had had a big afternoon.

What a Weekend!

It was Memorial Day weekend and we spent two days at the pool with Maris and the boys. Avery has always been a fish and he once again loved the pool. But Donovan was great. Maris had gotten him a lounger floaty and he just laid back in it and chilled in the water. I think he would have stayed forever--it didn't hurt that it was really hot! He is so full of smiles and laughs these days. We'll have lots more days to swim.