Willow's Wishes

Willow is now 17 months and 2 days old and did the most amazing thing this morning...... She fed herself cereal with a spoon!! :)   I am in tears over this.  It was one of those small, not really important things that I was noticing she just could not get a handle on; while I never made a big deal of it, or even make her tried at every meal, it was something we did try at least once a day (she generally got frustrated with it pretty quickly and would throw the spoon).  For some odd reason this morning, I put her cereal in her bowl and looked at her and said, "do you want a spoon?" She shakes her head yes, so I grab her a spoon and give it to her.... After a few tries and me not really paying attention (I was eating my breakfast at the time), I look over to find her actually getting the food into her mouth while using the spoon.  I watched her do this for a few more times and then shouted to Willow "You did it!"   She was all smiles. I do not have a picture to

Our little Willow is growing up just as we hoped she would! She is no longer in any sort of therapy, as she is developmentally at her level (or even fighting to go beyond it!).  She is learning sign language as well as I could dream!  I taught her ball yesterday and she is using it non-stop, and will sign it and then go find a ball to play with, so she is really associating the sign with the word.  Of course I am still speaking the word verbally for her as well, so that she hears it, see's it (in a few forms, the sign and actual item if possible).  She is now up to, hmmmm: mama, dada, don't hit, sorry, ball, more, eat, nurse, bird, elephant, banana (though she doesn't use it just yet that often, I have seen it twice), all done, open, diaper, (again these last two we are working on), I think that is it.  Wow 14 words!! Woohoo, and well of course she will wave hello and good bye! LOL We got to enjoy Mother's Day at home this year and not in the hospital, so that was sup

Never a dull moment in our house; after all what would we do with a dull moment anyway? Hmmm, the possibilities...  In all seriousness though, I thought it would be fun to give an update on our amazing little family.  After all there has been a few things happening in the last month outside of Willow's health! LOL   So, Jon turned another year older on the 15th of April (I am sure he is thrilled by this new turn of events), shortly after Evan gained a new number as well! Yes folks, he is now 9 years old! He is doing so well in school and really is growing into a great boy.  Easter was a blast, and was able to be spent at home and with friends; we went and had dinner with a friend and their family and really had a blast this year.  It is so wonderful to feel the support and love from true friends.   Jonathan has finished a couple of fundraisers this last month in order to raise money to go on two camping trips.  One is for 6th grade camp, and at the end of this month, they wi