Finally I post...

I apologize to everyone for my lack of blogging. Summer is so busy and relatively uneventful in terms of what I think you all would find interesting. Other than pictures I haven't had a lot to say.

In reality we do have a lot about to happen. We will be welcoming our little boy in just 19 days, my c-section is scheduled for July 30. Yikes!

In this post you will find pictures of the boys at the Fire Station in Manistee, Michigan. Blair has been doing an amazing job helping me to get Brady and Bryce out of the house. Lately my energy level has slowed way down and I haven't been able to keep up with them. He's constantly taking them places in the evenings after he gets home from work or on day trips on his days off. It has been wonderful, allowing me to get things done and recharge my battery.

Thank you Honey!

This particular day he ventured up to Manistee. We both were raised there. One of the many things they did that day was tour the Manistee Firehouse. The boys were in heaven and extremely impressed with their personal tour. So as I catch you up on everything I hope you enjoy the pictures of their day trip!

Like I mentioned, the biggest thing going on in our life right now is making room for baby. Nesting and therefore preparation started a little late this pregnancy so we've been trying to get a lot done in a short amount of time. Since Kaitlyn has just turned 11 months essentially it is going to feel like we have twins for quite awhile. (Very nervous about this!) We needed a second crib, highchair, another dresser, and even boy clothes. You see once we found out Kaitlyn was a girl we said sayonara to all of our baby boy stuff. God has quite a sense of humor and once again has showed us his plan is VERY different then ours! Placing my complete trust in Him has proposed to be quite a challenge the last 9 months but I'm getting there!

We have some amazing friends who have generously helped us out in numerous ways during our preparation for this little guy and we would like to say "thank you," it has meant so much to us and is humbling to say the least! Thank you to all of you, you know who you are!

I haven't spoke to much of my pregnancy the last month, in terms of my health and the babies health, things are going well. I am pretty confident (knock on wood) that this baby has zero plans of arriving before my scheduled c-section. Never in all my pregnancies have I gone into labor on my own. My babies like to stay inside. I am getting nervous about all that is to come though. The surgery, this will be my 4th c-section in 5 years, risks increase with each one. The baby and his health, even though we went through extensive screening for Ds I am still nervous.

Before Kaitlyn was born I had a different view on reality. Bad things happened to other families, not mine! Naive I know, but true. I think this pregnancy I am just more aware of what things could happen. Having a baby with a congenital heart defect, and a chromosomal disorder, and a Mother who developed aggressive cancer out of the blue tends to give you a jaded view, a realistic view, on what could be? It makes you appreciate the good and not take one moment of life for granted. I do miss the innocence I felt before all of this but wouldn't change any of it. I'm a different person then I was back then, a better person! And I LOVE my daughter just how she is...yes, I just typed that! I will do EVERYTHING I can to make her be the best she can be for her, I wouldn't change her, I wouldn't change Down syndrome!

So in the next weeks please say a prayer for me and my unborn baby, and our health. Please also pray for my two little boys who feel anxious about this babies arrival. They remember very clearly Kaitlyn's birth, her and I being in the hospital for a week out of town, and how unsettling that was for them. They're nervous, and a little bit excited! Please also say a prayer for my husband. Things are going to be crazy around here and a lot will fall on his shoulders. And little Kaitlyn, my poor baby, she is amazing and so laid back, I pray this is a smooth transition for her and doesn't cause her to have competitive emotions. God, calm my children and help me juggle all of their individual needs. (like I said, I am sooooo nervous)

On a lighter note,

Summer has been great!

(Other than this past week of 90+ degree heat we just had.....that made for a grumpy pregnant Mama)

We've been staying busy. Going to the beach, park, or simply playing in the back yard with the kiddie pool and sprinkler are amongst some of our favorite activities. We've gone boating with friends, I wish I had pictures of my fearless boys going tubing behind that boat. It was so much fun! We've spent time with our new friends over the 4th. Since Kaitlyn's arrival we've had many new friends enter our lives. They were definitely God sent! We also make an effort to have frequent play dates and the boys start two weeks of swimming lessons tomorrow.

So, yep, we are busy!!! But it's been...

So Much Fun!

Hopefully I will be able to do some blogging the month of August. So keep checking back. At the very least I hope to put updates and pics on facebook. You can friend me under Jenee Skocelas Ross.

Happy Summer!

Some Good News!!!

Yesterday we spent the WHOLE day in Grand Rapids. It was a long day but a lot of fun. We had 3 different appointments scattered over the course of the day with time left over to go to the museum and have lunch.

Our first appointment of the day was to the Cardiologist for Ms. Kaitlyn. It was a hassle free quick visit. No echo cardiogram this time. The doctor said she was doing great and we didn't have to go back for a YEAR! I have to tell you how crazy this all is. Her surgery was only 5 short months ago. Those first months of her life she was such a sick baby, and here we are such a short time later, her heart is repaired and she is as healthy and active as ever! It's truly amazing, seriously there are times when I think back and can't believe that was our "crazy" life this past fall!

With the rest of the morning free we headed to the Public Museum. I had never been to this museum we always went to the Children's museum. We had a blast. It was 3 stories high and had so much for the kids to see and do. I think the Bug exhibit and the Planetarium were the biggest hit among the boys. I have a lot of pictures to share and I'll do it soon on a separate post.

After the museum we headed to lunch, we were all starving, our morning had started very early. After lunch we headed to the Pediatric Opthamologist for a follow up appointment for Brady and Kaitlyn's first eye appointment. Both of the appointments went really well. We brace ourselves each time we head to the eye doctor. Brady has been wearing glasses since he was 2 1/2. It is very common for children with glasses to get their prescriptions changed often, its been every 6 months for Brady. Which gets quite expensive. I am happy to report that Brady didn't need new glasses this time. Yay!!!

Next up was Kaitlyn. In the last 6 weeks or so I had been noticing Kaitlyn's eyes crossing. We aren't new to estropia, this too is what Brady has, but I was so sad Kaitlyn was getting it so young. All I could think is how in the world do you keep glasses on a 9 month old baby face. (She's 9 months old today, Happy 9 months baby girl!) And rubber glasses, really, very practical, but not cute! No I'm not that vein, but on a baby her face would be lost behind those glasses, and having Down syndrome, it is clear she already has a disability, and I will spend my whole life trying to get people to see her and not the stereotype. Glasses would be just one more thing that people would see instead of the beautiful baby behind the frames.

So what did we find out...

Kaitlyn is somewhat farsighted and she too has intermittent estropia (crossing of the eyes some of the time). We can expect glasses in her future. How soon? We are not sure! He wants us to go back in 3 months.

This was the doctors explanation...

Due to Kaitlyn having Down syndrome, therefore low muscle tone, and having had heart surgery, developmentally she is somewhere in the 4-6 month old range verses her actual age of 9 months. So when deciding the plan of action he took that into account. It is "normal" for a 4-6 month old baby to still be working on developing the eye muscles that stabilize the eyes. So for now we wait. When we go back he is hoping to see some improvement, if not we will talk about options (glasses or patching of the eyes).

So for us it was a great day! We spent time as a family. Medically speaking the kids are doing great, and the day didn't cost us a small fortune! Awesome day!

Hope you enjoyed the pictures I snuck in the post. I will never miss an opportunity to share my beautiful kids with all the friends and family who come to read and SEE them.

One more quick update. My parents are coming this weekend for the week. My Mom is officially in remission and can't wait to get here and hug her grand babies. We are all so excited. She hasn't seen Kaitlyn since she was 5 weeks old. It will be a happy "extra special" Mother's Day for sure!

For The Love Of Photography And My Kiddos

Memories Made

We ventured up to Manistee yesterday. We had a day planned of family, friends, and our favorite pizza shop. One of the main stops on our day trip was to visit my 87 year old Grandma. Life has prevented us from getting up there lately. The visit with my Grandma was long overdue. The boys love going to visit Great Grandma, she has many special treasures, and Brady thinks it's neat she lives in a hotel (its an apartment(smile)).

We lived close to my Grandparents growing up, I spent much time at my Grandma's house. It is heart warming to know that my kids are getting to know this amazing lady.

Kaitlyn was in a great mood all day. She was so sleep deprived, but kept smiling and melting hearts all day long.

I think what I enjoy most about the time I spend with my Grandma are the stories she shares. Her memory is amazing. She brought out a box full of photos, it was full of pictures from the last 80+ years. Literally there was a picture of her as an infant with her father (Pop), and one of her meeting Bryce shortly after he was born in 2006. I truly believe that more memories were made yesterday and that these pictures on this post today will be in my photo box to share with my grandkids decades down the road. HOW COOL!

It was a beautiful day! I love sharing my kids, and I love making memories!

A Fun Filled Week And A Lot Of Pictures

Since a picture speaks a thousand words I'm going to let the collages do most of the talking, with a few added details. Easter was a lot of fun! The boys are at a great age and are starting to remember our yearly traditions. Instilling traditions is a job I take very seriously as a Mom. Growing up my Mom worked extra hard to make sure holidays were memorable and very special. She still does, even from far away with cancer. And no matter how old I get it is something to look forward too. There isn't a holiday that she doesn't celebrate, that we don't celebrate. I am enjoying creating traditions now for my family.

Happy 8 months old pretty girl. Oh how I love this little one!
A special package came in the mail this past week from my parents. The coming of a package means there is reason to celebrate. Easter sweets and treats for the little and big kids alike. Thanks Mom and Dad!
Also in the package was something extra special for Brycie. His birthday present from his Grandma and Grandpa S. He loves it! Today is Bryce's actual birthday,
Happy 4th Birthday Buddy!

Spring break has just started for the boys so this too will be a busy week, I can't wait!!!

Happy Easter Morning!

The morning started EARLY with tons of excitement from two precious little boys. They started by finding the eggs the Easter Bunny had hidden and in the process stumbled across their Easter baskets full of treasures and sweets. All of this time sister was sound a sleep. Soon after, she woke up, and the boys couldn't wait to show her the basket the bunny had left for her. It's been a great morning but we are missing our Daddy who is at work and Grandma and Grandpa S who couldn't make it up this year. Grandma is getting better though and we will see them soon. We took tons of pictures of all the Easter festivities and will post them shortly, but for now we show our morning giving Gma and Gpa a reason to smile! Wish you were here!

John 3:16 - For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.