Greetings!

It's been a while... let's just forget about that and move on to what's been happening....

Ben turned 10 months and is on the verge of crawling (though we've been saying that for about 2 weeks). He is soooo close! He can scoot backwards but going forwards, he gets his one leg stuck under him a bit.  He doesn't seem to mind for the most part, and the other day he even went forward a few movements, but nothing consistent.  He's also starting to pull himself up.  He loves the variety of positions and at times doesn't seem to want to be held, but instead to explore.  Otherwise, he continues to be a very healthy and happy and cuddly little boy!

Ben & Grammie

Cori has been doing well, and an exciting change is heading her way. She should soon be receiving her glasses! We found out from an eye screening that her one eye seemed to be working harder than the other.  They recommended a thorough screening, and we learned she has amblyopia or lazy eye.  The vision in her left eye stopped developing, so the vision becomes out of focus and the brain turns off the signals to that eye.  To treat this, she must be "forced" to use the weak eye, which means glasses that have no prescription in her "good" eye  and a prescription in her "bad" or weak eye.  She'll have to wear them all the time, and until age 10 at least (which is when children become visually mature).

We are very fortunate that this was detected early, because otherwise she would have to had to wear en eye patch over her good eye for a long time.  The doctor said that is fairly traumatic for kids, so we are grateful she doesn't have to go this route.  We continue to pray that her glasses will be enough for her.

The past few weeks we've also been feeding a stray kitten... recently we were able to get her used to us and she allowed us to pet her and pick her up. I'm taking her to the vets today to get her vaccinated and looked over.  IF she is healthy and we think it possible, we MAY bring her in.  She is sweet and loving and so thin that I just want to snuggle her and feed her fattening stuff.  We've taken to calling her "Butterscotch" since that is her coloring... hey, we're not a very creative bunch over here.

The next few weeks hold lots of exciting things - Cori's 4th birthday,  a beach vacation,  a dear friend's baby shower, Ben's 1st birthday, a trip to Atlanta for my cousin's baby shower.... lots of things to be thankful  for.  Plus there are the small yet very meaningful gifts in every day life "as we know it" that we experience. 

Lately I am just overjoyed with the many blessings we have.  Please do keep in mind our friends' young son Calvin who continues to fight a rare form of epilepsy. He has some decent days, and some downright awful ones.  He is strong, but any prayers you can spare are much appreciated!