Rested and Home

My sis and I had a wonderful trip. We spent the majority of the days relaxing. I finished "Schuyler's Monster", "Shut Up About your Perfect Kid", and started reading "Blue Sky July" again...because I love it.

We had great food, relaxing massages, scenic walks and runs, and were pampered by the pool in 105 degree heat. They laid your towels down for you, and refilled your waters without being asked. I could definitely have gotten used to all the fresh fruit and delicious coffee each morning and a big, comfy robe to lounge around in. My bed at home is pretty hard to beat, but this one came close...

But even though I was blessed with 3 nights of uninterrupted sleep, and great laughs with my sister, I was happy to be home. I missed all my babies.

Kamden started school on Monday. I missed the first day of school last year because we were in the hospital discovering Kendall had diabetes...but Grandad took pictures! His first two days of 4th grade have been great. Getting back in the groove of drop off, pick up, and finding energy for extra curricular stuff (Karate and guitar) has been challenging, but so far so good. Kamden also has a new desire to pick out his clothes and not cut his hair...hmh.

Kendall's in the throws of a busy week again. Her skills on the KidWalk are improving by the minute. She took several steps in the living room today and seems to be enjoying the upright position. I'm very ready for it to cool off so we can take her outside with it again. Until it does, pool time is front and center right now. She moves like crazy, and can usually tolerate the water longer than me!

Our drop in ratio begins next week. I have my work cut our for me changing all our recipes on the KetoCalculator and re-printing my binder full of current 3.5:1 ratios.

I'm glad to have some routine back in our lives. I'm definitely the type of person who needs structure to get things done! I feel like this summer was just a lot of fun and not very productive...but I guess that's what it should be :)

Now, bring on the fall weather.

Swallow Study

We loaded everything up and headed out to the swallow study that has been on the calendar for 3 months. Our SLP was concerned Kendall was aspirating on thin liquids, and wanted to have one done just to be safe. We thought there may be a possibility she would need to thicken her liquids. She had stopped working with Kendall on cup drinking because the past few times she was coughing after a sip...

I never stopped working with her on thin liquids ...

And Kendall's swallow study came back perfectly fine. I think it surprised everyone. The Dr. reading it has seen her before, and was very impressed with her progress. She has a very strong swallow. She didn't have any penetrations. The food went straight from the spoon down her throat. Her liquid went straight from the straw, pooled in the front of her mouth (a safe area) then went right down.

Once again, I left an appointment with a skip in my step, and a smile on my face!

We talked a lot about the swallow study with her the past few days. I knew she'd be nervous once we got in there, but I had explained what was going to happen. We decided in the room before hand it would be better for me to let her sip from a regular cup or drop liquid from a straw...so when I pulled out the sippy cup for her to try during the test, she had a meltdown. Thankfully it was right at the end! That's the last time I try to pull one over on her!

During the consult before the contrast study, she told the SLP from the hospital on her iPad "Goodbye" and "I'd like you to leave now."

I would have chalked that up to a fluke and her just pressing buttons, but it took three screens and crossing midline to make that happen! And she did it on her first try.

I think she's getting a bit of an attitude. NO IDEA where she gets that!?!?

I'm happy to end the week on a good note. It's the end of my week because my amazing, generous, awesome sister is taking me to Austin tomorrow for a spa weekend! I'm so freaking excited to spend the days without looking at the clock. I plan on relaxing, shopping, reading, running by the lake, and being pampered! All I have left to do is make Kendall's meals, freeze them, and get Kamden's stuff ready for school on Monday! Then I'm a free woman until Sunday!

Justin graciously took off work Friday to hold down the fort (with no ulterior motive whatsoever.....except that hunting season is right around the corner!)

UCP Pics

"Rejoice in your hardship, for from hardship comes endurance, from endurance comes character, and from character comes hope, which does not disappoint us." ~Romans 5:3

Some days...

My cup overflows with love for and pride in my children. Other days I want to scream! Thankfully, we have had a couple of great days. I was unsure how my babies would do with such a busy weekend ahead, but they have both been amazing. I'm exhausted, but these memories will be forever, so it's so worth it.

I'll post pictures from the UCP walk later on, but right now I'll leave you with a video of Kendall...

Life is good.

So Proud.

I mentioned yesterday that Kamden had a guitar performance. I have to say I was one seriously proud mom! He gave me chills, and I was in awe of his bravery! He said he was a bit nervous, but I couldn't tell at all. He nailed it :)

I had to laugh though...he's such a boy. Totally and completely uninterested in socializing with the cute girls, all he cared about was eating the wings I wouldn't let him eat until he was finished, and playing video games in the arcade! He was also easily consoled with a snow cone when we had to leave early because Kendall had a diaper malfunction...