Pigtails = Big Girl!

I'm not sure how well my math is, but we discovered pigtails this week and already, she's looking more like a big girl!

Working on the Parallel Bars for PT

Many of you have heard, but in case you haven't - we received WONDERFUL news from Eden's Neurosurgeon here! We met with Dr. Tuite last week and he reviewed her chart, repeated her MRI and reassured us that her surgery Dr. Fuchs did in February has done its job of keeping the fluid stable and some areas even appeared to be smaller than her previous scans! Praise to God! I have to admit, I was a little surprised when he shared the good news with us. We have prayed so much for healing, I had convinced myself that she would need another surgery. I know its probably a lack of faith, but every other scan has lead us to the OR, so I expected another surgery and for the Lord to heal her through surgery. I can't even begin to describe the emotions in my heart when Dr. Tuite said the MRI looked great and that if she makes it to 1 year past her surgery with no fluid accumulation, the chances of her needing a shunt in the future are small!

Not much else new here... just wishing for a piece of NC and TN fall:) Pumpkin Spice Latte + 90 degrees does not equal fall!

And a few pictures from our weekly visit to the park:

new table, new skirt, new skill

Gigi and PopPop bought E a new little table when they were here... she absolutely LOVES sitting at her table! When we are in her room playing, she will crawl right up to it and do the sign for "help" - precious!

I've had this fabric for a while now, and have been saving it for a new skirt for baby girl... it makes me think of fall (which I'm eagerly awaiting!). For some *crazy* reason, it also makes me think of this dress I had growing up which makes me laugh:)

And her new skill - Miss Jenny would be proud! She is learning to bend down and pick things off the floor when she's standing... its adorable to watch her try to so hard and be so proud of herself when she is able to pick it up!

Oh, I love this little one... more later... I'm pooped... today was my first day at the hospital and I'm back tomorrow night!

its been a long day...

"More"? Maybe tomorrow, Eden, Mommy's tired...

lots to say

It seems Eden has had a lot to say both "vocally and with sign. She's taken off with the sign language the past few weeks! Her vocabulary now consists of "more", "all done", "help" and we're working on "thank you". I've found myself saying the words over and over just to watch her make the sign and look at me so proudly! I have prayed so much for the ability to communicate. There were definitely times in the past year I wondered if I would ever get to communicate with her, thinking she would never catch on to this whole signing thing, but its so amazing to see how the Lord has continued to prove faithful in her development! She's also got her own little language as well - even though it only includes the consonants "m" and "n". It seems like she can make a hundred different sounds just from those to letters and her vowels! Talent, I tell you!

Eden had her evaluation last week for therapy services here. We're going to start speech/hearing therapy and physical therapy soon and I am so glad! We're praying for our therapist that will be placed in our home. We were blessed with the most amazing therapists in Raleigh, I can't imagine any better ones! This was one of the hardest things for me to give up before we moved, was not knowing who are therapists would be when we got here. But, God knows and I know that He will provide the way He has all along!

Many of you may have heard by now, but I'm changing jobs! The job I was (and will be for two more weeks) was such a blessing to have for our move and obviously God's provision in helping us get to Tampa. It wasn't however, a job I enjoyed, nor a job I wanted to do long-term. Sitting behind a cubicle, staring a computer screen was not my forte. I had been talking with a recruiter at the children's hospital and they were hiring for their Peds Oncology/Hematology/Bone Marrow Transplant unit. Um, yes, I would like that job please! So I interviewed and was offered the job last week. I start on Sept 14th and am so excited to get my feet back into the hospital. There's just something about hospital nursing I have always been attracted to and love this aspect of nursing more than any other I tried my hand at!

Enjoy the pictures, more to come early next week - we're planning a morning trip to the beach tomorrow - hopefully I don't forget my camera:)

And yes, she's started the doll phase!

holland...

a dear friend of ours sent me this video yesterday. what sweet perspective it gives...

http://www.cflparents.org/presentations/holland/index.htm

(in order to view, you have to select an option from the drop down box, but you do not have to give an email)

from frowns to smiles...

I'm not even sure why she was mad at me here... maybe because I was making her practice standing from the chair, but this was the face I got...

And as soon as the pouty face came, this face appeared.... oh my, she's approaching two too quickly.

we're back... and now blogging from tampa

I can't believe I let another month go by without blogging... okay, yes I can... this has been the craziest month I can remember. As most of you know, we have been planning and praying through moving to Tampa since January. All along, our "goal" (I use that term loosly) was to be in Tampa in August. Less than a month ago, with no jobs or place to live, we were beginning to get a little discouraged. Within of a few days, the Lord orchestrated all those details and had us moving to Tampa two weeks later!

We arrived to Tampa on the 19th, I started my new job on the 20th, Josh's sister, mom, and dad have been to visit, as well as my dad! Did I say we'd had a busy few weeks! Now that we're getting settled though, we're loving Tampa (though I can't say I'm loving the heat just yet)! We're meeting our neighbors which is our first step in building relationships here! Our church plant will also start meeting in the next few weeks - I'll have more blog posts about the church soon!

So, for the sake of not making this the longest post every, I'll end for tonight with pictures as promised (to Grandma, GiGi and Aunt Linda for starters). Check back this week, I'm planning a few more posts with Eden updates!

Eden and PopPop

(and yes, Dad, I do brush her hair)

We're official members to the Florida Aquarium

our itty-bitty living room/dining room/kitchen!

(photos on the walls are next weekend's project)

Kitchen...

Eden's Bathroom

the "view" from our back patio... we thought it was a "garage", but we're beginning to wonder...

our LARGE bathroom!

Our Bedroom

Eden, trying to find her drum under the bed...

This one's for Jodi - Eden's trying to take her index finger and move her lips to make a sound Jodi was always trying to get her to make:) (instead of her finger though, she uses her whole hand!

Eden's room, from Eden's view