June 2014

Here's what we've been up to this month through pictures -

Lilly finally got her hearing aids!  We're noticing a subtle difference already.  She babbles a lot more.

Liam drawing Bob and Larry from Veggietales.

Liam loves to build things with his Legos.  This is his giraffe.

Lilly practicing her ballet

Lilly accessorizes for everything - even walking the dog

...and eating.

Fort Wayne Children's Zoo

swimming in Grandma & Grandpa Kusch's pool

taking a ride in the Mustang at Grandma & Grandpa's house

Yay, finally able to put Lilly's hair in a pony tail

Leo-Cedarville splash pad

playing memory with Grandma Kusch

Lilly enjoyed most of the strawberries we grew in our little garden.

Grabill park

"Spider-man pose"

Liam took swim lessons and did an amazing job.  He learned a lot.

Lilly accessorized to watch her brother at swim lessons.

Strawberry picking at Cedar Creek Farms.  We used the strawberries to make freezer jam.

They were kind enough to let Liam check out the tractor.

Fathers Day weekend included pool time, brunch complete with a chocolate fountain, and fishing.

Liam caught two fish in one cast.  They were large bass.

For Wayne Children's Zoo

Liam liked dressing his stuffed animal friends.  He dressed them for bed and to play.

Liam has become really good at riding his hot-wheel.

Kreager Park

Lilly on a day with no nap

snuggling, watching a video in bed

Yet another trip to the zoo.  Liam wore his zoo keeper outfit and wanted to get a picture with the zoo keeper taking care of the monkeys on monkey island.

Liam reading books with Grandma Kusch

Lilly with Grandpa Kusch

Lilly grocery shopping

Liam with his cousin Hudson

Liam and the Case of the Missing Navy Bean

It started as a typical Sunday.  We went to church as a family.  The kids were great during church.  Liam even looked up every hymn and tried to follow along.  He also followed along with the bulletin.  We came home and enjoyed a wonderful brunch.  Then, the kids began to play together.  They decided to play with the bean box.  I took Lilly back to her room to rock her for her nap.  That's when Liam decided to try and balance beans on his ear when one fell in (his explanation).  He came back and told me right away what happened.  Dave and I were not able to get it out, so Liam and I left Lilly and Dave at home and went to Redimed.  It was about 1pm when we arrived at Redimed.  The doctor there tried to remove the bean, but pushed it farther in the ear.  He suggested that we go to the ER.  At 3:30pm we arrived at the ER at Parkview North.  Thankfully, the doctor from Redimed called ahead and we didn't have to wait long.

On the way Liam said, "Mom, I am sorry. I sure hope they don't have to take me apart to get the bean out.  That would hurt."

The ER doctor tried several ways to get the bean out, but was unsuccessful.  By this point the bean was pushed up against Liam's ear drum and was causing pain.  The only thing that seemed to calm Liam down was when I sang, "Jesus Loves Me."  He asked me to sing it over and over again.  The ER doctor suggested that we go to the ENT surgery center at Lutheran Hospital.  Because it was Sunday, and Liam's condition was not medically urgent, they sent us home.

Liam fell asleep on the way home from the ER.  He slept from 5pm-7pm.  When he woke up we made him eat a large supper and drink lots of water, since he couldn't have anything to eat or drink after midnight.  Liam complained of ear pain most of the night.  I think he finally fell asleep between 1-2am (not really sure, since I was in a fog at that point).  We had to wake him up at 8am and head to the hospital.

We checked into the hospital at 8:45am.  The doctor tried to look in Liam's ear, but he wasn't too fond of doctors at that point.  They decided sedation was the best way to get it out.  We went over Liam's heart condition to make sure sedation would be alright.  Then, they pulled him off of me and took him back to the surgery room.  That was the hardest part.  I could tell he was scared.  He went back at 9:42am and at 9:47am the doctor came out to talk to me.  He said the bean was pushed up against his ear drum and had bruised it, but it should heal in 1-2 days and he didn't think there was any permanent damage.  The nurse took me back to the recovery room.  Liam was out cold and the nurse couldn't wake him up.  I leaned over and said his name and he sat straight up and said, "Mom, I'm so confused!"  Then, he proceeded to talk, and talk, and talk.  He had a crowd of nurses listening to his stories.  I think he would have stayed there all day if I had let him.  Liam is the funniest kid on anesthesia.  When Lilly was on anesthesia, she cried all day.  Liam had the exact opposite reaction.  He was a ham.  I'm sure he made an impression.  In fact, an older lady stopped me in the waiting room to tell me what a delight it was to talk to Liam in the waiting room.  The nurse gave him the popsicle they promised him and the bean in a case as a souvenir, and we headed home to get Lilly.  She got to play with her Koehlinger cousins.  By the time we got home at 11:30am, Liam was starving, and was ready to get on with life as usual.  I pray that this is an isolated incident.  I think Liam learned his lesson the hard way. 

6 Years

Six years ago, on June 1st, our beautiful sons Christopher and Connor made their brief appearance on earth and then made their entrance into heaven.  We still experience sadness.  We miss all the opportunities we could have had as their parents.  Part of our heart will always belong to them.  We are also joyful that they are with their Savior.
We talk to Liam about his brothers.  He's seen their pictures before and has asked questions about them.  Yesterday on the way to church he said, "I wish I could visit them in heaven.  I want to see their mansion.  Mine will be green when I get there."  
When the twins died, we had memorial money given to Central Lutheran School's preschool fund.  This was the first year the preschool has been open.  With the memorial money, each preschooler got a gift.  The three year olds got a Jesus fish and the four year olds got a cross.  The parents were told about Christopher and Connor.  It is so neat to think that our little boys, who were only on earth a short time, are making a difference.  Children are hearing the gospel because of them.  We look forward to our family reunion!