Progress

Kynlie had her follow up appointment for physical, occupational and speech therapies last Thursday and things went great. We went from possibly wanting to be seen by OT on a regular basis to her being on the verge of being able to be discharged from the NICU follow up program. She did get discharged from speech therapy but PT and OT wanted me to make an appointment for January and if Neil or I don't have any concerns when the time comes, we'll call and cancel the appointment and she'll be discharged from all 3 therapies!

She rocked her appointment, everything they asked her to do, she did first try! Things I have tried to get her to do at home, like copy me drawing a straight line or circles, she did the first time OT asked her to. She put puzzle pieces in first try, rings on the ring stacker, stacked blocks like she was building a skyscraper, put coins in a piggy bank, read books, and jabbered her appointment away.

She has been learning so many new things every day, she never ceases to amaze me!

Friday morning we had an appointment for her eyes. Dr. Samson said she is a little near sighted but he isn't putting her in glasses because the glasses could make her eyes turn in worse. He said that her vision is good enough for how far out kids her age look that it wouldn't affect her anyway. He did say that we need to do whatever we can do to get her to wear her eye patch. He said if she'll keep her sunglasses on to cover the right lense and use that for a patch. He said at this point that it is important to make sure that she uses her left eye so her brain doesn't just block it out because she can't get it to focus like it should. He doesn't want me to patch her left eye at all anymore, only the right. He did say that she isn't using her eyes together like she had been before, and it is partially my fault because when I got pregnant, I was so worn out that I didn't feel like fighting her to put her patch on and make her keep it on. I'd try here and there and just get frustrated and give up. Now that I am feeling better, I'll get on the ball again and make her wear it every day.

Speaking of the pregnancy, we are halfway done! Things are going great, I am feeling good, tired, but I can nap if I need so that helps. It is unreal to think that I was only 4 weeks farther along than I am now that Kynlie and Kirsten were born. I can feel the baby moving a lot, Neil felt it 5 weeks ago but we haven't been able to feel it from the outside since then! We have our routine ultrasound in a week and it'll be great to see the little one again.

Fallon County Fair

We had a great fair weekend, it seemed like we were going nonstop! Thursday evening, Neil was in the Motor Mania where they did an appliance race and car soccer. It was a blast to watch and Neil said it was fun to compete in.

Saturday was a very busy day starting with the parade. Kynlie made out like a bandit with the candy and she even knows that you can open it when you pick it up off the street!

 After the parade, Kynlie and Sterling were in the Pet Parade. Kynlie was a chef and Sterling was a hot dog. They won owner look alike and best holiday attire awards and Kynlie got two crisp $2 bills!

After the pet parade, we went to the rodeo, then took Kynlie through the petting zoo. She wasn't sure what to think of the animals, she liked petting some of them but wasn't too sure about most of them. It was a great petting zoo!

 After the petting zoo, Neil took Kynlie on the Carousel. She LOVED it! She was petting the horse the whole time!

Kynlie telling Mommy "I Love You" in sign language

After the rides, we went over to Mettler's for supper, then sat on their back deck and listened to the night show.

Sunday we went to another rodeo and Kynlie wore her "Tough Enough to Wear Pink" cowgirl outfit that Grandma O'Donnell bought her for the rodeo. I thought her old boots fit her but they were too small so she got some new boots, that she is VERY proud of  and she wore her belt that Great Grandpa Rustad had made for her. He gave her one of his belt buckles that he won in 1974 so it was pretty neat that it finally fits her! She thought she was pretty cool in her cowgirl outfit and I must say, she was pretty adorable!

After the rodeo, we went back over for the demolition derby. This was the first time since Neil was 15 or 16 that he did not derby in Baker but he was back in the pits helping out. The derby was fun to watch but I enjoy them a lot more when Neil is driving! Kynlie was so tired from two days of no naps and late nights that she fell asleep during the derby and has not woke up yet! It is almost 11 am and she is still snoozing away, and yes, she is still breathing, I have checked a few times!

It was a great weekend, we ate some awesome fair food and enjoyed all the activities but I am sure glad it is over! We are just going to play catch up this week, then Thursday, Kynlie and I are off to Bismarck for her follow up Physical, Occupational and Speech therapy appointments, then an eye appointment on Friday.

She did it

Kynlie is learning new things daily. It is SO fun to watch her change. She has been a full fledged walker for about 2 weeks, she just started walking on her own one day and hasn't stopped. She jabbers all.day.long. She'll talk and talk, then laugh at herself, then talk some more and laugh a little more. I would love to know what those funny words are.  Earlier this week, she was quiet upstairs so I went up to check on her and she had crawled up the chairs at our tall table, with her phone and was sitting there like she's been doing it her whole life.

I got Kynlie this ponie for a dime at a garage sale on Saturday and it's Kynlie's new favorite toy

I used to be able to let Kynlie wander around the house on her own and not worry about what she was into, but that is not the case anymore. She is into EVERYTHING! She can get into the top drawers everywhere now so nothing is safe. Last week, she got a whole roll of stamps out and was giving them a bath in the dog's water. Speaking of the dog's water, his food and water can not be down if she is awake or she's eating it and putting the food in the water. We also can't leave the doggie door open because if it's open, she's outside!

Mommy's little helper pulled off a whole roll of toilet paper and most of a box of kleenex- all over the floor

Tonight, I was out at my parents' house and thought Kynlie had walked around the couch to poop. I told her not to poop because we didn't have anymore diapers out there. She walked over to me and it smelled like it was too late. I checked and she had just started to poop so I took her to the bathroom and set her on the toilet and she pooped like a big girl! She thought it was pretty cool when we were cheering for her. We are definetly not going to push potty training but are trying to catch her in the act!

Family Pics

We were lucky enough to be able to book a session with the AMAZING Kristin Merwin when she was home over the summer. She has a way of capturing special moments that makes working with her a breeze!

                               Thanks for the memories Kristin

The Rest of July

I am finally getting around to putting all of July's pictures on the computer so some of these are pictures of stuff I already posted about but the end of our July was just as busy as the beginning!

Neil jumping the wake on the kneeboard

Neil and Sterling swimming

Jen Mettler, me and Ashley Rost on the tube

 The last weekend of July, we went down to the Black Hills for the weekend, Neil took the semi down to drop off and pick up some loads for work and Kynlie and I pulled the camper down. Thursday night we camped outside Rapid City. Friday morning, we did a little running around Rapid, then went down to Hot Springs and camped at the KOA outside of town. We went to the Mammoth Site that is an active dig of mammoth fossils, then Jen Pekas and Joe, that was in the NICU with Kynlie came down to visit us.

Kynlie loves talking on the phone

Joe and Kynlie, friends forever!

Kynlie giving herself chubby cheeks

Giving daddy chubby cheeks

 It was great to get to visit with them again and see how far our two kiddo's have came in two years!

Saturday we went to Evans Plunge, it is a natural hot mineral spring pool. They have waterslides and an indoor and outdoor pool, it was a lot of fun, but the water was a little cool! We went back to the camper to nap before we had to go to a wedding. A great friend of mine from college got married in Hot Springs at a beautiful park. The wedding was beautiful and I got to visit with some old friends so it was a great time.

Sunday we got up and headed home but as we were going through Spearfish, Neil called to see if I wanted to go to the waterpark so we stopped and did a little more swimming.

Monday Pyper stayed with us during the day, it was great having her again and her and Kynlie had a lot of fun together. The rest of the week was spent getting ready to go to Detroit Lakes, MN for WeFest. I went with Jen Mettler and Kourtney Stortz, two great friends from WAY back. We pulled the camper over and camped at the concert site and had a great time floating a river, hanging out and watching some amazing concerts. We saw Rascal Flatts, Brad Paisley, Sugarland, Miranda Lambert, Blake Shelton, Darius Rucker, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Charlie Daniels, Willie Nelson Jerrod Neiman, and Easton Corbin.

Kynlie went over to my great friend Maranda's for Wed afternoon and Thursday, then we had a high school girl come over to the house Friday. Saturday she went to Neil's sister-in-law's. It was great to get a break from her but I sure did miss seeing her goofy face every day! It made me feel great to hear that she was perfect for everyone that watched her, I was a little nervous because she has rarely stayed with anyone but family.

Kynlie can get herself out of her high chair now!

This week, we are catching up around the house, it is going to be a long week as this is the first week in four that we will be home all week!

Not happy about being stuck