Avery 7 mos 1 1/2 weeks

I will hope to get back on tonight and post some recent pictures - it has been a very busy few days! I have been working on a couple projects for 2 families that I have done some pictures for - and I cannot wait to get them finished. Many of you know that photography is my "thing" Recently I have completed two photoshoots for families with children who are suffering from terminal conditions. Being in this position myself - not too long ago - I just want to give back. We have amazing photographs of Conner and now I have the ability to give that gift to another family. I have really enjoyed this outlet and specialty aspect of photography. I know it sounds odd - but I find a sort of inner peace when helping others - especially like this. I would love to show some of the photographs - cause they are pretty amazing!!! - But I want to be respectful of these families and the heartache they are going through right now :)

Avery and I are off to Boston Thursday morning! I am getting excited and anxious all at the same time. The best part is just to reconnect with old friends. A lot to do before then... Avery and I are going back to the eye doctor today - a different one for a second opinion. Have I mentioned yet that I cannot stand these eye appointments. Yuck!

UPDATE: Avery's second eye opinion went SO much better. The plan is to see her in 3 mos and schedule surgery at one year of age. Finally I feel like we have a plan, it still includes patching (damn) - but, it's a plan. . I mentioned that I felt a little distressed after her last eye appt at the sorta "lack" of a plan. The doctor felt that she is using both eyes equally - so there is no need to take her to surgery right now (it's typically done around 6mos-1year old) - and this way anesthesia is a little less risky because she will be a year old. - * that also means it should be able to be done outpatient instead of an overnight stay. -= Phew. Staying while she had her MRI was the pitts! We saw the doctor who diagnosed Conner today (always a little anxiety being in that room again - sitting in that same chair)- Avery has seen her a few times - and today I feel way better! I think this doctor sorta "gets" what I mean when I say - I need a plan!

Avery isnt doing much more sitting - she is only sitting unassisted for about 30 sec at a pop - but she is really enjoying her new skill of getting on her knees - it's so cute! She just gets up a rocks - it's pretty awsome!

a textured picture

I generally dont texture prints - but I felt this image was screaming for it - the brown winter grass and the antique beer crate - So... I went for it and I think I really like it, so I just wanted to share :)

Avery 7 mos and almost a week

I managed to get a few pictures of Avery today - Im running out of ideas until she can sit alone. On that topic... today's sitting tally is 52 seconds - WOW! Also she has begun to "work for a toy" If you lay something out of her reach she tries to get it. She doesnt really go forward yet - but she has become quite the expert at turning in a circle when on her belly. Another late breaking development - she got on her knees and rocked today for the first time. So exciting in the Hopf house today! I think she is still quite a ways off from crawling - but hey, it's a good start! The NTSAD conference is coming up next Thurs - so it looks like Avery and I will be jet setting alone. Carl's sitting this one out - I think it's a mix of not wanting to take off work and just the tough emotional aspect of the conference. We again are sponsoring Soulumination - which is very very near and dear to my heart. I am looking forward to just getting to spend some time with some of the most amazing people I have ever met!

A day at the dentist

Brenden and I both visited the dentist today - and .... we both are cavity free! Seriosuly I dont know how I escaped this one, it's been 5 years since my last dentist appointment - I know, I know. Not to mention I drink an obscene amount of diet soda - but no cavities!!! When I started to tell the hygentist why it has been so long since my last visit - she of course was very understanding, and said that my gums and teeth looked amazing. All those years working for a dentist taught me how to take good care of my teeth. Somehow when you have a child that is dying - your teeth are way down on the list of priorities. But Im back on the road to visiting the dentist every 6 mos. Here are some pics from Conner's garden that I just took - while little miss sunshine is sleeping. Avery's sitting tally for today..14 seconds. The boys are off to bowling - so just me and Avery for a little bit.

Avery 7 mos

Today I got to spend some time with a very special little boy! Mac - your amazing! http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/cormacmurray It's been a while since first meeting Mac and his family - but today was very nice. Through Conner's illness - I truly have met some incredibly remarkable people and this family is no exception. Mac is 5 years old and has MLD, (metachromatic leukodystrophy) a cruel disease that is slowly taking their son away from them. Like Tay-Sachs or any of the diseases like it - we all battle the same things and share so many of the same emotions. Hopefully I will get to hang out with Mac and his family some more and get some pictures for them!

Avery is beginning to sit "a little" - her record for sitting unassisted is 10 seconds! Yeah Avery! Yesterday was 4 sec - today 10 - how many days till we get to 1 minute?? We got a huge chuckle out of her last night. Bath time was SO funny! She loves kicking and splasing everywhere. It was really amusing to watch her! My to do list... find the charger for the camcorder! Oh... and go to the dentist...ugg

what a difference a day makes

Conner's garden today - has some real action!!! I love the spring! We have a driveway full of mulch - so this weekend - it will be happy mulching! Brenden starts baseball tomorrow - he's practicing right now - how funny - lol

Happy 7 month birthday Avery :)

This is a picture of the first bloom in Conner's garden of the season!!! Things are sprouting up - a very exciting time! I look every day and things are different from the day before. We have it all cleaned up and mulched and ready for the warm weather! - Does anyone know when that will get here? Avery's eye appointment has left me a little stressed (as they always do). The doctor still wants to wait for surgery. He agrees that she is fixing and following much much better than 8 weeks ago - (huge sigh of relief) but doesnt want to rush into the OR just yet. So for 6 more weeks we keep patching... I hate those stinkin patches! Although I am super glad we found some that dont irritate her skin at all - what a relief. Other than her quirky eyes, she's doing fine - sleeping really well and very happy!

Avery 7 months - Adjusted 5 1/2 mos

It was a beautiful day today (well, i guess technically yesterday, since it's 12:15am) I got the kiddos outside before the next rainy day - uggg. It seems like it's always dreary lately. Avery turns 7 months old today - I just cant believe it. She is such a delight! She is gaining more and more personality - which is so fun to watch. She just loves her daddy - just lights up when he looks at her - and she sits and watches him - to wait for him to talk to her - it's very cute! Brenden is just the coolest kid ever! I enjoy him so very much - even when he makes me crazy. He has always been "Mr.Personality" - and he is living up to that name!! We have had so much heartbreak in our lives - and having Brenden and Avery somehow makes it ok. I still struggle every day missing Conner - part of our lives is missing. 7 months is a tough age for me - Conner was diagnosed at 7 1/2 months and our world came crashing down. We just miss him so much - I know he would love his baby sister!

tomorrow's the big day - 7 months old - how did that happen?

This post's for you Shella - Im going to try again today if the sun ever comes out! Still a little big on her - but SO cute!!! Yes, all her hat is a cupcake for our 7 month old birthday girl. Tomorrow is Avery's next eye appt - uugggg. Im nervous already!

Some St.Patricks Day photos

almost 7 months old???

Happy St.Patricks day!!! Brenden woke up to green pancakes - so exciting when your five! We made cupcakes last night - with green icing - so he has requested that they be his snack when he gets home from school. Avery has discovered she can get her toes in her mouth -this is quite possibly the cutest thing I have ever seen! Neither of my boys ever did this - so this is a new experience for us. Every time she gets a bath or a diaper change - she quickly grabs her feet and makes a quick pass toward her mouth. Yesterday I had the chance to talk with a newly diagnosed family. Their sweet son is just 7 months old and was diagnosed just last week. It is so heartbreaking with every new child that gets diagnosed. This family is grieving so very much already for their son. Please keep them in your thoughts.

pink eye - yuck

So our vicious cycle of pink eye has not yet come to an end. First Brenden, then me, now Avery. Yep - Avery made a quick trip to the pediatrician yesterday because she has bilateral conjunctivitis. She has only been on the eye drops for one day and already I see a huge improvement - no more green goo and swollen eyes :) It has been a busy week - Brenden had lacrosse on Monday - his very first week - let me just say VERY cute! If I can find the power cord to the camcorder I will tape some next week. (I think we have a secret rockburn triangle where things disappear and never return) I don't have any pictures to post just yet - maybe tomorrow.

a picture post Avery 6 1/2 mos

nothing much to report today . Ready for a warm weekend - finally!

Avery 6 1/2 mos - adjusted 5 mos

Avery is somewhere in the neighborhood of 15lbs 14.5 ounces and 16lbs 2.5 ounces - our little wiggle worm kicks so much on the scale that I couldn't get a real weight. Today we did a real quick informal shoot - we're ready for SPRING! She had her infant and toddler assessment on Tuesday and she is within normal limits developmentally - this was based on her chronological age not adjusted which is pretty exciting. - So in simple terms - she is doing what she's supposed to be doing for her age. Next eye appointment is coming up - so I can start freaking out about that soon - lol

More of Avery and the mess she makes eating - lol

We have to alternate - spoon of food, suck of thumb, spoon of food, suck of thumb - quite the routine! Notice the cereal on the top of her hand - it gets everywhere! This is Brenden after yesterdays sleigh ride - looks fun right?

A March snow day - crazy huh?

Snow is so much fun, but so much work!!! These stinkin dogs bring in pounds of snow in their fur - and get my house all wet. And they eat pounds of it which means - it eventually comes out - and if I dont get to them soon enough it will be on my floor - (dreaded sigh) Them and Brenden LOVE the snow. I wanted to get some awsome snow pictures, but between this terrible wind, my knee and the lack of snow boots going on in our house (what you couldnt see in Brenden's picture is I have his feet wraped in shopping bags under his shoes - lol) I just couldnt get any good ones.