Thursday, August 19, 2010

We’ve been home for almost a month and what a difference we’ve seen in our little empress! I’m happy to report that after about 6 days, Ava Marie was finally on “our time” which means she now finally sleeps when it was actually dark, thank goodness for that! She still tends to scream out for a bit even after she’s fallen asleep in our arms and is transferred to her bed…baby steps right?

Ava has experienced something new each and every day and we still can’t believe she is really here to stay! The most amazing and wonderful sight we see is how her big brothers watch over her and take delight in making her laugh. Usually she is the one making them laugh! Lex has especially stepped up and assumed the protective big brother role. Jack is struggling a bit with the fact that he is no longer the baby. He doesn’t want to be a baby, but he still wants the attention of one.

Music is so therapeutic for Ava. Anytime she is upset or angry we put on some dancing music and voila, her bad feelings disappear and she immediately starts to dance! We’ve even been starting a “dance party” in her room every morning with (I hate to admit it) music from The Wiggles. She shakes her booty like there is no tomorrow! It’s the cutest thing ever! We all just dance and laugh and she is thrilled with all the attention she gets! (Psttt. Daryl here, for the record- I’m at work, not dancing to The Wiggles)

Ava really doesn’t care about cartoons or any sort of TV, but she will sit still for short parts of the Wiggles or Yo Gabba Gabba (which is another one I’m not thrilled with, but it interests her and gets her dancing. I suppose the language lesson is a bonus-yes contrary to the title the characters do speak English:).

Ava has seen two pediatricians and has been a champ during each appointment. She did need some more vaccinations, blood drawn, and stool samples L. But, I’m happy to report all her blood work and tests came out great. The only additional vaccination she needs is her Heb B series. Her eye exam results were also a success. On September 27th, Daryl and I will meet with her team of doctors at Seattle Children’s Hospital to develop a surgery plan to close her cleft palate and follow-up speech therapy. We are hoping to have the main surgery done before the holidays.

The language barrier notwithstanding, Ava amazes us with what she understands. She is constantly shaking her head “yes” or “no” in response to questions. Yesterday I asked her to go get her shoes, and without any signing or pointing, she simply walked over to her shoes, picked them up and sat down next to them until I came over to help her put them on. She will point to her high chair when she is hungry (which is a lot!) and lets you know with some sign language when she is done or wants more.

Ava has enjoyed some more firsts: her first swim in a lake, first hike, first bike (trike) ride, wagon ride, zoo trip, swim in Opa’s pool, hammock swing, sprinker run, water gun fight (more the recipient here), first birthday party, summer concert at the park, and many domestic “assists” too! So much for her NOT being a sweet tooth. This girl now LOVES cake, chocolate, and most all sweet fruit. Ice cream is a maybe, as long as it’s soft or melted, she’ll eat it. She is a huge fan of blueberries. I have to divide them up so that Jack doesn’t get too upset that she is “getting ALL the blueberries.”

We are adding another first this weekend, and are taking Ava on her first camping trip with friends that we camp with every year. Next week, we are hoping to add her first Whale Watch boat ride, and a new zoo we have never been to.

Thank you all again for your prayers, support and guestbook entries, we truly appreciate all of these and can’t wait to share this all with Ava when she gets older!

Love,

Michelle, Daryl, Lex, Jack and Ava