Sunday, March 29, 2009

Sunday Fun-and an adorable apron!
















My mom made us the cutest aprons for a special Valentine's package...right before my life got crazy! So, I haven't posted all of the pictures yet, but here's a new one. Doug made a Gumby cake for a friend, and Piper really wanted to help. I gave her her own "cake" and scoop of green frosting. She very carefully dipped the knife in the frosting, then licked it off the knife over and over. The cake did get a little tiny bit of frosting in the end, but not much! The cake was impressive! I also was thrilled to have waffles, strawberries and whipped cream made for me for breakfast this week-Doug liked the "lip" shape of the strawberries!

The Fogelquist Family Coming to a Station Near You!







Saturday we had the opportunity to "appear" on two different radio stations in Springfield as part of a fundraiser for Children's Miracle Network. We are so grateful for the help they've given our family since we've moved to Missouri. They provide money for the travel and hotel stays for some of our St. Louis hospital stays, and have helped with extra therapy (PT/OP) since the last seizure. We talked about Monte, his conditions, what a blessing he is in our family, and the help the program has given us. I cried the first time, it was just overwhelming at the moment! (The radio host cried too, it made me feel better). The second station went much better, Doug and I both got a chance to talk and have some fun with it. They loved Monte and his Mohawk. (Lots of sponsors called in after we talked, it was nice to feel that we'd made a difference). Here's us with the radio hosts, and the grand total for the day. (Incidentally I had a period in my life where I planned to be a radio host...it was kind of serendipitous for me!)

Spring Pictures
















So we got the kids dressed up and headed to a studio for Easter Pictures. They went amazingly well, the whole shoot was over in about 15 minutes. (It was a fundraiser and it only cost $10, plus we got a free 8X10. It's the only photo opportunity we've done after our sister-in-laws got so talented!) The magic object of the day was...a bunny! It was the calmest, sweetest little bunny, he sat on Piper, then Monte's lap, and didn't seem stressed out by the situation at all. Both kids adored him...until Monte got tired of sitting up and decided to toss him down. Luckily I'd anticipated this moment and caught him mid-toss. Since they didn't allow us to take any pics, I took a few when I got home. Unfortunately Piper fell off the couch, ran into the table, bounced off the wall, and hit the table again. She's got a red, bruised cheek now, poor thing! Still, she smiled and posed with Monte for me. A few hours later Monte lost his second top tooth, 4th tooth total. It bled and bled, and bled...so I'm glad we did the pictures this morning!!

Magical Clouds











On Saturday I just happened to go outside and glance at the clouds. They were amazing! I ran back in to grab a camera and snapped away while I could, the phenomin only lasted for a short while. I'm not sure what this type of cloud means, it far exceeds my knowledge of, um, clouds. Any ideas??




Cute Kid


Tonight Piper was really tired. She somehow ended up without a nap, and started to droop early. However, she asked if she could play outside for a bit. I agreed, then caught up the kitchen while she played, happily. A little while later she came inside and said "all done." Then she brought me pjamas that she picked out herself. A matched set, then another pair of pants in yellow and green. I'm all about letting her pick her own clothes out, it's a great self-esteem booster, and I save my battles for important things! So I didn't mind when she put on the pink camo top with the green pants. However, she surprised me by saying she then wanted the pink pants OVER the green ones. I guess she was cold from being outside! So she ended up wearing a nice matched set-with a warm set underneath. What a smart kid! And a great helper, getting herself ready for bed.

Saturday, March 28, 2009

Utah Trip The 30th Epic Celebration







So to celebrate my 30th birthday, Doug sent me to Utah to spend it with family and friends, most specifically, my sisters and mom. It was fun seeing all 5 of my sisters, and my special friends all at once! I also had a blast with some one-on-one time with Lindsay, my engaged sis. We had a good time putting on a 50's bridal shower for her. I also squeezed in a walk through the BYU Art museum, CAFE RIO!, See's Chocolate, Seagull Book, the Distribution Center, D.I., IKEA, breakfast at Kneaders...all my favorite haunts. Although our favorite part may have been the massages we all got! Most amazingly, though, was how special everyone made me feel. From the welcome signs on the door that my sister put up, the jump drive of music my brother made me, the CHI!! from my mom, the DVD from Linz and Karl, the box of toys for Monte from Aunt Allyson, the awesome pampering kit from Amber, and the corsage, purse, polish, and presentation from Amy and Allison...best birthday ever. Plus, Monte and Piper and Doug were so thrilled to see me at the airport, it made me feel pretty important!
Now whose ready for next year??!!














The Endangered Blue Mohawk


So I found out that they've been washing the blue gel out of Monte's hair at school. When i asked why, I was told that "if a typically developing kid wore it in their hair, ran a lot, and got sweaty, it could run into his eyes and hurt them. So Monte can't wear it either."
So many thoughts, none of them polite...
Any comments?
Oh, and a huge hug for Emilie, my awesome cousin, who shaved her son's hair into a sympathy mohawk! So touched and overwhelmed, what a friend!

Thursday, March 26, 2009

Yippee!























After months of laying the groundwork, coaxing, and wondering how it's possible that so many grown-ups and their parents ever succeeded at the process...Piper is potty-trained! Here's the magic formula, hope it helps someone else! We bought the pink, comfy, cushy potty about 6 months ago, and waited for the magic to happen. We'd heard that the key was to be low-key about things, so we never pushed, forced, or demanded, we just went with her interest level. I also purchased a few pairs of Disney Princess Underwear and jelly beans. I also let her wear her pink princess dress everytime she did go on the potty. Then last Thursday Piper decided she was ready! Since then she's gone every single time on the "big girl potty" only having a single miss. That one was our fault, we didn't get her there fast enough. She's so excited about wearing her UNDERwear that she carries them around with her throughout the day and shows them off. Wow, Wow, Wow. Potty trained in just a couple days. I'm excited. So, all those with girls that are gearing up for this: pink potty, jelly beans, and princess dress, and princess panties. Good luck!

These pics are Piper in her blessing dress. I love the one with all her fairy godmothers helping her get ready. And look at that bald head! She now has gorgeous blonde, wavy hair that hangs down to the middle of her back. She's been a wonderful blessing and a true joy in our family. 2 1/2 and an amazing little princess. The other pics are at the St. Louis Zoo for spring break last week.

Memory Lane
































I came acrossed these pics on a camera that we'd given up for dead...and was so thrilled to see them! It's Monte's 5th birthday, 6th Halloween, Piper and Monte together, he loves her so much! You can see the joy in his face everytime they are together. Also, some fun ones of me and Doug with the kids. I hope you're thinking what I'm thinking, "wow, she/I have great hair in these pictures!"
And, yes, Doug made that amazing cake!



Wednesday, March 4, 2009

Monte's New Look







Before:


So, we decided to embrace the terrible haircut that Neuro-surgery gave Monte, and use it to help us all laugh a bit. Seriously, the scars and stitches are so much worse this time, and it looked kind-of frightening. So, we cut the rest into a mohawk, spiked it, and put blue gel in it. Then we took it out for a test run...we got so many excited comments about the hair, only 2 noticed the scars. Whew! Now all the kids at school want one, we took him today for about an hour so he could practice getting back to his routine. Unfortunately, he cried for most of it, and then threw up on the way home. He clung to me after that for about and hour and a half, just sobbing. It breaks my heart, he loves school! I'm sure it's just been a traumatic experience for him this week, and it will take awhile for him to return to his old activities. He's sure an amazing kid, I'm having a hard time adjusting to being away and sleep deprived, and I didn't have any surgeries.
During...
Loving it! Thank-you for all of your prayers, it's been a really overwhelming time, and we're still trying to return to 'normal.' But we're thrilled that Monte's home, he's eating and playing again, and starting to feel better, improving everyday.

Update Monday 3/1

We were surprised when a lot of kids were suddenly discharged from the hospital on Friday, I guess they were clearing the house for the weekend. Monte came home late Friday night, but has been throwing up continually and dehydrating. However, the past few hours has been going well, so I think he's hopefully on the mend. We get the stitches out from the first surgery on Monday, and on Wednesday I can wash and shave the remaining hair. (Neurosurgeons give TERRIBLE haircuts! He has a mohawk of sorts, and two huge scars).
But through everything he's been patient, sweet, and so loving. He's an incredible kid.
We're trying to put our lives back together, and needing to catch up on some sleep!
We know that your prayers sustained us during this time, and enabled us to do as well as we did. We know that Heavenly Father is mindful of Monte, and that he has blessed him with this fast(ish) recovery and given him strenth. Thank-you all for loving him, and caring so much!