Bye Bye Grandpa Grandpa

After catching pneumonia in late December, and having a few other health issues to follow, my grandpa John Driver died early this morning. He would have been 84 years old on 12 Feb. He had a happy & healthy life right up to the end, but that doesn't mean that we aren't devastated at his loss. He was a husband to Martha for 53 years, father to Gary & Linda, grandfather to Leslie, Jill, Amanda, Jennifer, Michael, Jon Paul, Stephen, & Jessica. He was grandpa-grandpa to Avery, Jordan, Brayden, and Birkeley John, whom he didn't have the privilege of meeting in these past 5 weeks. He was a friend to hundreds.

We Love You & Miss You

Randomness

Birke is really setting the tone of the household lately, and if I had to pick a theme, it would be "random." Although he's clearly a good eater (as told by his weight gain), he's definitely a free-spirited snacker who will not get onto any type of schedule. And let me tell you, if I can't get him onto a schedule, no one can. So, we're having a bit of a power struggle, and he's winning. We do what he wants, when he wants to, and chaos abounds. As a nursing mom this is a little difficult for me to accept, but what choice do I have? And if it weren't for nursing, I wouldn't care in the least. Only my milk supply cares -- it's a bit confused.

This is the blog that reflects our theme. So many things have been happening lately I can't seem to stay caught up and on top of them all.

Birke in a messy, milk drunk state a couple of weeks ago

One of Birke's common snooze positions, all curled up in the Boppy
He sleeps well in the swing, too, although he doesn't sit well in it. . . .
Wait a minute, that's not Birke -- scat Sierra!
that's more like it
Jordan finally got her new wheelchair a month ago. From the first evaluation, through finding the right chair & components, insurance & Medicaid approvals, and ordering & shipping, it took 13 months.

Jordan also got a TLSO (thorasic lumbar sacral orthotic) in December. It won't correct or even prevent her scoliosis (which is pretty bad already), but it does give her body support & allows her to work on her head control. The problem is, she HATES it. So far we're still "stuck" at about 30 minutes per day, and she fusses & fusses the whole time. Oh well, hopefully it will get better with time, as it really helps her body. It also makes her a full 2 inches taller, so we have to adjust her headrest on her wheelchair each time she's in it.

It even gives her support to sit up without her wheelchair

Night time is snuggle time, and most nights Devon & I unwind from the day by watching a little TV & taking turns snuggling with Jordan & Birke (Avery is in bed by this time). Sometimes we get a little stacked up. . . . Hey, I'm hungrythis cheek is givin' me nothing!Avery thought it was a riot to ride in Jordan's car seat the other day (it goes to 105 pounds!)

Our neighbors were up early on Sunday to make these snowmen before it all melted by the afternoon. There were actually 4 of them, but one of them had already fallen down (on the left) by mid-morning, and I didn't get a photo of itAvery got Aquasaurs for Christmas from our friends the Woods. The package said there were 50 eggs, about 5 of them hatched, but we're down to 2 that are alive & thriving. They're kinda creepy, and I'm not sure the kitchen counter is the right place for them, but we all love watching them.

1 Month Old

Birkeley turned 1 month old today. I wanted to take some pictures in the sunlight, but since we didn't have any sunlight (in fact, I woke up to ~2 inches of snow, but it melted away by mid-afternoon), I had to settle for OMSI light (while the girls were off playing, see below).

It's been a wonderful, tiring month. The tiring is obvious -- "Newborn Fog" as my friend Kelly calls it. But the wonderful is rejuvenating. It's totally worth the exhaustion and juggling. It's such a relief to have a healthy baby that does things he's supposed to do. After a week or two I completely quit worrying that he might have neurological problems like Jordan, and now I just bask in the positive energy his existence has brought to the house. He's so strong & expressive, and growing like a bad weed (I weighed him on our scales tonight and he was 9.8 pounds -- making me wonder if our scales are right!). We're so lucky to have him!

Mostly Birke just slept, slept, slept through the whole OMSI experience.

I did get a few with his eyes open, and some funny faces, too.

An OMSI Date With Kate

We needed a day out of the house, so off to OMSI for the afternoon.

Birke had to come along too -- he was ecstatic Learning something science-y

The puppet show

Birke's Birth Announcement

Baby Birkeley Shower

Birke & I stopped in at Landau on Monday for a visit & were treated to a surprise baby shower. Cheryl went all out on decorations & dessert -- aren't they cute?!

These bags were all full of the sweetest baby boy clothes!

Yes, you can see the tiredness in my bloodshot eyes

YUM! Dessert from Saint Cupcake. The frosting was to die for -- seriously, better than you can believe. Everybody took at least one turn holding Birke -- except Jake who is too scared of breaking babies to hold them! Birkeley slept through it ALL!

Heidi & Birke
Cheryl & Birke

Andrea & Birke
Jessica & Birke

4 Weeks Old

Where does the time go? Birke was 4 weeks old yesterday, and I can hardly believe it. Here are some pictures taken by Kelly Wood on Tuesday. THANKS KELLY!

Tiny hands

Tiny feet

Even Kelly's daughter (Avery's BFF) Kate calls Birkeley "baby brother"