The Hills: July 2009

We have had one exciting summer so far! It started with a trip up to Chicago to visit my family. While up north, we drove to Mid Michigan to visit some family, and then headed up to Northern Michigan to visit my grandparents! The day we left was on Noah's birthday, so we were able to celebrate it a couple times while on vacation. We were gone for about 10 days and had a wonderful time! We returned home and enjoyed some time with Daddy. We went to the beach, Sea World, played in the pool, and had picnic dinners at the park. Our friends the Callans came from Indiana for a week and we had an absolute blast! I am pretty sure it has taken us all about a week to recover from that fun week! This week has been a definate "hang out" week. We haven't been doing to much, and it's been wonderful! Thanks to the free movies every week, we have been to the theater alot this summer, which has been a special treat for the boys.

As far as the boys go, Noah has been going to school 2 half days a week which has been given me some extra one on one time with Jacob. During that time, Jacob has been learning how to use the potty. We aren't quite there yet, but he is doing well.....somedays. Noah loves seeing all his friends at school, and Jacob loves to have all the attention on him when Noah is gone. Josh has been busy with Volleyball Camps. He had Southern's camp for 2 weeks (while we were up north), and has been doing small satelite camps at high schools. At the beginning of the summer he was having problems with numbness in his feet, which later extended up his legs, then his fingers, hands, arms, and then small amounts of numbness in his mouth. After many tests, doctors, MRI's, bloodwork, he was diagnosed with Gullian Barre syndrome. Thankfully he had a mild case of it and while he is starting to receive feeling back, he is nowhere near full recovery. Fine motor skills are hard for him, as well as throwing a ball, running, pretty much anything but walking is hard for him. The doctor said that he will only get better but it could take up to a year for him to feel normal again. He is strong and while it really bothers him to be under this kind of restraint, he is doing his best and knows that the Lord is in control. Thank you for your prayers for him. I will try to update on his progress. I have really been enjoying my kids this summer. This is the only summer I will have a 2 year old and a 4 year old. They sure are alot of fun and the best of friends (well, most days). School is right around the corner, but we are going to hang on to our summer as long as we can!

Hope your summer has been terrific!