Changes

This may be the biggest shocker of the year......we moved again!!  This should be the last time that we move for hopefully many years.  John and I bought a house in Oakdale (on the eastern side of St. Paul) and have put our nomadic lifestyle to an end.  Here is a recount of all the places we have been in our eight almost nine years of marraige.  1.  Brooklyn Park  2. Uzbekistan (Peace Corps) 3.  Minneapolis (only a short stay)  4.  New Brighton  5.  Minneapolis  6.  Maplewood  7.  Lauderdale (second floor apt)  8.  Lauderdale (down to first floor apt)  9.  Roseville  10.  Lauderdale (back to student housing)  11.  Oakdale!! 
The kids are loving the new house and Adina will be in Kindergarten!  There are many kids in the neighboorhood and we feel blessed to have found a wonderful house that suits all of our needs, especially Mr. Oliver.
Speaking of Oliver, we discharged him from Hospice!!! (again)  We are hoping that this time it is for a very long time, but we have learned that anything can happen.  It was a bittersweet goodbye as we have become so close to our fabulous hospice nurses and team.  There are so many people that have become part of our family through this journey and we will never forget any of them.  We also sadly had to leave our school team who has been with Oliver since he was 5 months old.  These were the people that always focused on what Oliver could do rather than all of the can'ts that the rest of the world has always put on Oliver.  His new team will be great but Roseville will always hold a very special place in our hearts.  We are planning on sending Oliver to school this year, hopefully 1-2 times a week.  Yes, he will get sick, but what kid doesn't want to be with other kids? 
I spoke with a group of new nurses today at Gillette about what it is like to be the parent of a special needs child.  As John and I made the power point together of all the pictures of Oliver throughout his short life we relived every emotion from the day he was diagnosed.  It has been such a roller coaster that will continue to have the highs and lows and loop-de-loops.  Oliver has taught us all so much and the kids are so proud of their brother.  Adina is worried that Oliver is going to wrestle too hard at school because that is what boys do, they wrestle.  Cora has decided that when Oliver is in his wheelchair she is going to sit in Olivers lap for the free ride.  She is becoming his new protector.  Phinneus is oblivious and loves his tubes.  Oliver is a celebrity in our household! 
Nothing else new here, just enjoying the last few weeks of summer before I send my two babies on the school bus!!  That will be a rough day for mom!

Phinny-9 months

Oliver got out of picture torture as he was asleep.  He is a clever fellow.

Pooped out from the long drive.  Cora and Phin often hold hands in the car.

Cousin Arne helping Cora with her hat.

 4th of July cuties!

 Kisses for Oli.

Cheesy!!

 Papa and Phin.

"Help" from three painters.

Very thankful for all of the help from Uncle Scott who can fix anything!!

Adina got to help paint her room, yup, it's purple.  She is pretty excited!

 
Help from mom who painted all week alllll day long.  Thanks mom!!  We did not keep the blue walls.

Finally celebrating Oliver and Cora's Birthdays.  Phin was taking a nap, as was Oli, wearing his pirate's hat. 

Oliver got a glitter lava lamp.  Party central in Olivers room!

Snuggle with cousin Charlie, Grandma, and Adina. 

Hmmmm... I stepped away for a few minutes and Cora came to me looking like this.  What great helpers big sisters can be.  This was not a fun bath!!

Little Acts of Love

We were outside today and I had a good reminder of how happy little acts of love and kindness people make.  The kids were playing and we heard accordian music.  There was a man practicing his accordian up on the hill so we went and listened to him play.  Oliver was LOVING the music.  The man was carefully looking at Oliver with a concerned look.  When he realized Oliver was enjoying it, he came closer to him.  We started talking and we learned a little about him and he learned about Oliver.  We decided that Oli was a strong name.  He had a cousin named Oli who lived to the age of 100.  This man plays in a group and they wear bells on their legs and play English dance songs.  Before he left he put the bells on and demonstrated his dance.  Adina and her friend were giggling away and everybody was happy.  (Cora stood further back with her very serious look unsure of the whole situation.)  He didn't have to keep playing when we interrupted his quiet practice time, but he was a very kind man.  It is hard for people to see if Oliver is enjoying himself, but I know.  It was a very special moment.  Music is Oliver's favorite thing and this man was just there.  Little acts of love.

Oliver also got to go on a little hike today with me and the girls.  The chair is not easy to push up a gravel path, but we made it!  John is still patiently waiting for a call.  Oliver is doing well.  Early in the summer we were told that the medication Oliver uses to sleep in no longer being made.  John and I were ready to cry.  We are trying a new med and it is okay, but not as good.  Oliver went through withdrawal of course and had a rough week.  Adina gave herself a haircut, not a good one.  It was in her eyes so she just took care of it.  She had her dance recital and looked like a little beautiful little swan (or bull in a china cabinet).  Coraline is talking up a storm.  The first letter of the words truck, bucket, walking, and monkey are all replaced with an F.  It is something that we are excited for her to outgrow!  Phin Phin continues to be our little chunk, happy as can be.  He loves his siblings more than anything.  Happy 4th of July.

Cold ice cream!

                                        Looking for fish.

                                          My first haircut, kind of. 

                                      My pretty little swan waiting to dance.

                        Phin Phin happy as can be.  (Little John)

                                                              

                                 Open up! Give me ice cream!

                       Snuggle time with Grandma.

                               Walking in the woods.

                            Beautiful Cora with her serious look. 

                         Accordian Music.  He was such a kind man.

       Hiking time.  These two trails always remind me of my favorite poem by Robert Frost, The Road Not Taken.

                       Who says a kid in a chair can't do stuff!

Our last dose of Chloral Hydrate.  You will forever be missed wonderful sleep (and sleep meds).

               Phinneus and Great Uncle Doug. 

                   Cora and Grandpa Dave. 

Adina dancing at John's cousins wedding, dancing with her cousins.  Do you think she
was having fun?

              Phinneus showing off his abs!  My little stud muffin!

May

It has been a while since our last post which means life here has been uneventful, or totally crazy.  Adina graduated from preschool tonight, which means in a few short months Kindergarten will start!  She had her piano recital and the second we walked into the room and she saw all of the people she said she would not play.  I did what any mom would do in a crunch, BRIBERY!!  With a little whisper of "new Barbie" in the ear the show went on.  Oliver is doing well and turned four May first!  We didn't think we would get to three, what a stud.  We will have our bumps and anything could happen but we just live our lives and don't focus on what could happen.  Some nights when I am working with Oliver I sit and watch him in is drug induced sleep and am amazed at how perfect he is.  Only the luckiest of people can see that, few will figure it out.  He really is the most amazing person I will ever know.  Coraline is our little stinker who is almost two.  She can push Adina's buttons and turn on the fake cry like that.  She will give herself a time out for hitting Adina, strut out and hug and apologize, smile and whack her again.  She will make me go grey at some point.  Phinneus is our little chunky monkey, seven months old weighing in at 21 pounds!  His future might be football or sumo wrestling!  John graduates on Sunday.  Now we patiently wait for his first call.  We are all excited to find a place that we can call home for more than a year.  Until that happens John is taking over the stay at home mom role and I am bringing home the bacon!  Happy Summer!  Enjoy the pics.

My sweet Coraline

 

Adina at Graduation

This is what happens when you have a big sister!

Phinneus lookin pretty too!  Poor boys..

Trying hard to crawl

The girls watching the Heart of the Beast parade.

Oli hugs

Piano Recital

Our chunky boy.  His shirt appropriately says, "Judge me by my size do you?"  It's an 18 month shirt.

Brother time, looks like Oliver has a great secret.

Easter Sunday with Papa and G-ma.

Phinny with Great Uncle John Easter Sunday.

Great Aunt Gracia!

The kids love to hang out with Oliver.  His bed is where the kids sit most.  

Cora holds Oliver's leg down with hers so she doesn't get kicked.

We all went to Disability Day at the Capitol to show support. 

All of my kids wore their Public Policy Advocate stickers.

We were proud parents.

Adina was so proud of her brother.

Phinneus kissing (licking) Oliver's head.  I think Oli liked it?

Adina's piano recital.