Eating like a big girl!

So John has been sick this week and stayed home. Today Brooklyn stayed home with him, rather than go to Grandma's. He called me to report that she ate a whole container of sweet potatoes. Wow! Normally she finishes a container in like 2 or 3 meals. You go girl!!!

Doing Something New

Today we went kayaking around a wildlife preserve in our area. Neither of us had 1) been to that part of our area and 2) been kayaking before. I LOVE doing new things. And I can't believe I've been surrounded by water my whole life and have never been kayaking, but hey, I'm doing it now!

Our instructor told us to think of your body as a stack of blocks...keep your head (block #1) over your shoulders (block #2) over your torso (block #3) and you'll stay balanced in the boat. Okay. Will do. As John and I settled down into our tandem boat with me in front and him in the back, I realized the great tip-potential of these tiny little vessels. And holy crap was that water cold! Um....did we really think this through? We push off the beach and I'm desperate for us to get into a paddle rythm. I feel our boat start to lean starboard (that's 'right' for all you land lubbers) and I yell to John "Your blocks! Stack your blocks!!!" He corrects himself and the boat straightens out.

Now we've been canoeing together before and learned that I'm a strong paddler and good at steering the boat. We also learned that John is not so much good at either of those things. Let's just say we saw many tree roots up close along the river THAT day. Hahahaha! In his defense, I think it is because he hasn't had much experience. Nothing wrong with that.

I admit that today I had low expectations as he took the spot in the boat that controlled our direction. But you know, we REALLY worked well together. He got the hang of dragging his paddle in the water to get us to turn and we both learned how to "paddle hard right" to turn right quickly and "paddle soft" to help us straighten out if we started zigging or zagging across the inlet.

We saw a manatee up close, we avoided running into any fishing lines from the shore fishermen, we watched and applauded a guy on a motor boat who reeled in this huge fish, we didn't get eaten by gators, didn't crash into another boat or tip over, and realized that we'd love love love to do this again. And I can't wait for the time when we can bring Brooklyn to go kayaking. Yay us!

Patty Cake

So today Grandma Linda taught Brooklyn patty cake. If you hold your hand out to her and say "Patty cake Brooklyn" she'll take her tiny hand and smack it several times. It's SO cute. I love how smart she is.

Our First Family Portraits

So today we went to JC Penney's to do our first family portraits. Brooklyn is 7.5 months old and I do regret not getting her in sooner, like around 1 or 2 months old, to do the really cool newborn pictures. But I can't keep beating myself up about it. She was premature and couldn't go out in public for 3 months. So yeah, I'm over the regret. Anyway, the photo shoot turned out really well. Brooklyn was in such a good mood and so very smiley. Every picture preview turned out amazing. It was not difficult to decide with shots to buy....we just bought them all! Can't wait for them to come in.

Wow...so glad that is over!

Well, we are finally home. Yeah, we thought we'd only be at the hospital with Brooklyn for a couple of days. Turns out it was an almost 9 day stay at Hotel Arnold Palmer. Poor baby wouldn't stop vomitting. They wanted her to go 24 hours without IV fluids and without any assistance from anti-nausea medicine. Daily we'd watch the clock after each feeding, hope growing with every hour that she'd keep her milk/pedialyte cocktail down. 5, 6, 7 hours. Yay! And then she'd vomit. Well, let's start the clock over again. So this went on for days yet finally her little body decided it wanted to cooperate and go home too! So Saturday was a successfuly day and Sunday we were discharged.

I'm so proud of John for getting back behind the wheel of the car and carrying us home safely. I know he was apprehensive about other drivers all throughout that ride home.

I had to find some really important lessons to bring out of this accident. If I didn't, then it makes the whole experience a waste. This accident taught me that we can get by with just the basics in life as long as we have each other. We lived in that hospital without our big flat panel TV, without our cars, without our array of clothing, without my scrapbook stuff or many of the things we enjoy daily, and you know what? It didn't matter! Brooklyn being healthy and us having each other was all that did matter.

The second thing I learned is how blessed we are for the people God put in our lives to pray, support and care for us. The outpouring of calls, emails, text messages, visitors, gifts and meals was overwelming. Facebook was instrumental in rallying people all over the country and world to pray for Brooklyn's health and our sanity. God did not disappoint. His wings of protection were over us the whole time.

The third thing I learned is that yes, we are all just one phone call away from having our world turned upside down. You never know how you'll react in the situation until it shows up. I feel like I kept my cool and stayed positive for the most part. I was able to make wise decisions for the good of my baby even when it went against what hospital staff told us. I feel like I was firm about many things when normally I'm a total wuss. I'm proud of the me that came out of this.

The fourth thing I learned is that I didn't run to God like I should have when things felt overwelming. I found comfort in friends and family and THEN did I pray or seek God. I'd like for Him to be my first stop when I need help.

And finally, I feel like crisis bonded John and I together even tighter than before and in a way that just might never have happened any other way. We truly worked as a team supporting and encouraging and lifting each other up when the load became too heavy. I truly love this man and never could have made it through without him.

One really bad day

Just want to give you all a quick update...on 1/22/2010 Brooklyn and I were rear ended into another car at Fiske and Barnes. We were taken to Weusthoff and Brooklyn was subsequently taken to Arnold Palmer Childern's hospital with head injuries. The folks at Arnold Palmer have done three successive CT scans and Brooklyn's injuries are improving. They don't expect there to be any lasting damage but they won't let her go home until she is able to keep food down on her own. We will be at the hospital until at least tomorrow or Tuesday depending on how things go. I know this is a lousy way to tell you all but until I am 100% sure of her condition this is the only way I can keep all of her fans informed. Thank you for your thoughts and prayers and please keep them coming. We are at Arnold Palmer Hospital room 2037 but please don't call the room. We prefer you call our cell phones so as not to disturb Brooklyn. Thanks everyone

First Laugh

We heard Brooklyn giggle today for the first time. I don't know if it was HER first time giggling but it was certainly OUR first time hearing it. What was it like? It was as beautiful as I imagine the sound of angels ringing bells would sound.




What induced her to laughter? I kissed her left cheek, then her right, then her left again and then she giggled. John and I looked at each other in disbelief..."Did she just giggle?" "Yeah, I think that's what that was." "AWESOME!"

I believe that this is the first of many many giggles to be had in the Bassett house.