Friday, June 29, 2012

This & That

We went hiking at the Ledges last weekend with our good friends Steph & Mike (and their kiddos). Mason kept up with us pretty well, even with those little legs of his! He tried talking us into carrying him but an extra 30 pounds on your side doesn't last long while hiking!

Every now and then he will hold a hand, but he'd rather just run free!
Back at home his first love is still anything with wheels. Some days he lines up all of his vehicles before  pushing them around the kitchen floor.
Mr Mason got tubes put in his ears this morning. The ENT thinks he had recurrent & untreated ear infections most of his life. Hopefully this will improve his hearing which will help out as he is learning to speak English.
We got some good news at Zach's eye dr appt this week. His lazy eye has gotten 50% stronger since we started patching it. We will continue to patch for another 3 months and go back for a recheck in 6 months. About the glaucoma--it's uncertain until they retake photos of his eyes in another 2 -3 years. As of now, we aren't treating glaucoma.

Otherwise he's been having fun going to the pool this summer and also learning to read some short words. He's still into anything "space" related and is newly interested in superheros.

Monday, June 18, 2012

Fun on the Beach

We thought a day at the beach would be perfect to celebrate our anniversary (and Father's Day). Although Mom's idea of a day at the beach would involve ocean water and white sand, we still enjoyed our time at Big Creek.
The boys found sticks, rocks and sand to throw in the water.
Mason had fun doing all the things in the lake water that he gets in trouble for at home during bath time---kicking, splashing, jumping.....

We ended the day with a picnic, then home for a bath. The boys certainly had fun playing with Daddy on this special Father's Day.

We've been home with Mason for about 2 months now. Who knew that parenting is quite possibly the hardest job on earth?! However it's also the most rewarding job. We've realized fully how we are in need of God's strength each and every day. We're thankful that he's got us on the path that we're on. He's been teaching us so much about ourselves and our need for a Savior.

Psalm 70:5 But I am poor & needy; hasten to me O God. You are my help & my deliverer; O Lord, do not delay.

Wednesday, June 6, 2012

It's been hard to find time to post on our blog these days. By the time the boys get to bed at night, mom & dad are ready for bed too!

Over Memorial Day weekend we headed up to Winterset to the Tower Castle. The boys loved climbing up in the castle. We even did a little hiking while there.



Last weekend Mom was at a conference in Minnesota on Food Chaining. It was one of the best conferences I have attended. It was a win-win situation---I earned CEU credits while also learning information to help Mason with his eating. If any of you have "selective eaters" at home, check out this blog : http://cheriandlaura.blogspot.com/

Dad got to stay home and man the house for a few days while Mom was in Minnesota. As  you can tell below, the boys had tons of fun with Daddy. 
We went to Iowa City a few weeks ago. Found out that Mason needs tubes in his ears, which we are doing locally at the end of this month. He also needs another surgery on his palate. Apparently the first surgery (done in China) didn't really take, so his soft palate is almost non-existent. We are waiting until Sept to have that done, in order to allow more time for us to bond before putting him through something so traumatic. It's still uncertain if Zach needs another surgery on his palate. Once he agrees to be scoped (nasal endoscopy), the doctors can make that determination. They will try to scope him again in September.


1 Cor 16:14 Let all that you do be done in love.