pumpkins, calcium, energy, sickness

Aren't these the coolest pumpkins?! My aunt grew them in her garden, and when they were still green she wrote the kids names on them with a pen. The pumpkins healed over the pen marks and grew with their names on them! Drew keeps asking when we're going to "hatch" them. I asked what he thinks is inside and he said popcorn. When I asked Ava, she said baby chicks. Too cute.

This is Drew enjoying his well deserved lollipop after his blood draw on Tuesday. It was for our last appointment with endocrinology (hopefully). Dr. Styne has been following Drew since he was a baby and was in charge of his calcium levels. Drew was weaned off calcium in March, so as long as these levels look good, we are done with endocrine! The doctor said some very sweet things, like this is what we've been working towards for so long, that Drew is a great kid who has come through so much and admiring his new pinkness and energy levels. I know it sounds crazy to say I'm a little sad to have one less specialist, but these people become like a part of your family. We will miss Dr. Styne, but not the pokes!

Yesterday I brought Drew to the gym with me and when I went to pick him up the childcare worker told me he got a good workout today and was running around the whole time. As I watched him I got teary AGAIN. I told her, you probably don't know this, but he had open-heart surgery three months ago. And it is just amazing to see him like this. She asked if he was so energetic before, and I told her no! He could barely walk up stairs before, he was the only 4-year old who wanted to sit in his stroller. I wonder how long it will take me to get used to this, before it just seems normal. Right now it is a daily reminder of how incredibly blessed we are. I should probably write a letter to Dr. Hanley.

One other tidbit of news is that Dan and Ava have been sick since Friday. Ava I think is all better now, with just a remnant of a cough here and there. Dan is probably about a day behind her. And so far Drew and I have remained healthy! We have been taking zicam, drinking fluids, and trying to stay away from them as much as possible! I am so glad that we've been able to keep Drew healthy (so far) and I think it must be a good sign that is immune system is improving. Yay Drew! We'll be calling on Monday to set up our flu shots though!