End of Summer

Don't look now, but I think we're headed into Fall. The temperatures dramatically decreased over the weekend and the sun is setting earlier. We stayed really busy this summer enjoying all the sunshine we could get. We got 3/4 of our landscaping finished and tried to play as much as we could. It's a lot to accomplish in a 12 week Summer!

Over the last couple of months, Patrick grew his two front teeth, learned how to walk (ok, that was just last week) and learned how to say an entire vocabulary of words (momma, daddy, grandma, grandpa, Daisy, Boone, clock, tree, car, truck, food, banana....) he's such a little sponge - it amazes us the words he picks up.

Donny was able to spend 1 week in Leadville, CO the last week of August for the International Preservation Trades Workshop where he was an instructor of re-locating a log building and participated in several other preservation demonstrations. Patrick & I spent the week with Grandma J who spent lots of time bonding (babysitting) him while I was at work. It was great to see her for all of that time!

Patrick's surgery in July was a success! He has completely healed and we have witnessed him peeing several times and.....still just one hole! So, we are so grateful for that.

Sorry I haven't posted much - just busy. I'll try to do better, but in the meantime - enjoy these pics of Patrick!

Surgery.....Take 2

Patrick's second surgery for hypospadias happened on July 7th at Primary Children's Hospital in Salt Lake City, UT. We've been dreading it since the day we found out he had to have surgery again because the first surgery (specifically the recovery) was such a nightmare. I have to say it went much better this time though. He had 3 really rough nights/days of pain, but then he started to pull out of it and ever since he's been fine. Donny did witness him peeing the other night and it was one hole this time, so we're keeping our fingers crossed that is how it will stay! One thing I did learn through that whole process is to keep life in perspective. We felt awful for what Patrick had to go through, but sitting in the waiting room we realized that if this is the only thing he has to go through in life - we're quite fortunate. One family in there had twin boys around the age of 4 who were both blind and handicapped. They were both going in for surgery.
There were several other children who had life long ailments going in for surgery. So, now when I start to feel sorry for myself in anyway, shape or form - I remember those families and think about how truly fortunate we are for having a healthy happy little boy!

Super Model Photo Shoot

ROAD TRIP 2009!!

We've driven to Salt Lake quite a few times, but on July 2nd we left for a road trip to Elko, NV to spend 3 days with Donny's family and then onto Salt Lake for 6 days. It was so great to see all of Donny's family including two new nieces Dakota Steeley and Mya Dudley. Patrick was asleep way before the fireworks went off, but luckily we had a perfect view from our hotel room. While in Salt Lake we got to see 90% of my family at the 1st Annual GT (Grandma Tulin) Family Reunion at my cousin Rachael's house. It was a great pool party and for some reason we did not get ONE picture! So, if anyone got some cute pics from that night - please send them our way. Stay tuned for more blog posts from that trip.

Green cast

Patrick's second cast for his broken arm was green and it was on for 2 weeks. It was kind of neat though because it could get completely wet and it would dry out quickly. The entire doctor's office was so impressed with Patrick because he did not even flinch when they were sawing it off. He's amazing!

Little Cowboy

Aren't these pictures cute! Our friend Abi at the Montana Picture Gallery took these this weekend. He sat on the saddle very nicely for a 1 year old who is VERY busy! He still rarely smiles for the camera - just the closed mouth smile like his Grandpa Pat.

Even a dirty face is an adorable face!