End of Summer, Start of School

Catching up! We enjoyed the end of our summer. It was a fairly cool and somewhat rainy summer here in Chicagoland, which was fine with me, because I don't like the heat and I didn't have to water the grass (although I have to admit my yard has really gone to pot, I just don't have the time to work outside - - keeping up with the inside is about all I can do right now!)

Anyway Noah finished up his NISRA summer camp and did another week-long camp at the Light Center, where they have animals and it's run specifically for people with special needs. He also got to do a lot of swimming. Noah is so sweet with Meredith. I do have to watch him pretty carefully, because he wants to hold and hug her, but he does try so hard to be gentle, and he has not shown any aggression toward her whatsoever. I worried about his reaction to no longer being the baby of the family, but he has adjusted beautifully and I'm so proud of him. He really does love his little sister!

Ethan also had a week-long camp, through the McHenry County conservation society. The only problem was that it took about 90 minutes to get there, it was way out in Johnsburg. So I spent many hours in the car that week. But it was worth it, a wonderful experience for him. He made lots of friends, including a boy who has a brother with Down syndrome (they're in our group.) It was quite a coincidence! He got to go canooing and learn about fur traders and pioneers and all kinds of historical things.

We also had our annual Down syndrome picnic. It was a bit rainy, but lots of people came anyway and we had a great time. Noah especially had fun seeing his good friends. What a great group of people! I'm writing the newsletter again, and though it's a lot of work it is definitely worth it.

I forgot to mention in my last post that while Scott and the boys were in Idaho for the Garner reunion they had a little baby shower for us. Since I couldn't be there they put me on speaker phone and Scott took pictures of all the gifts and emailed them to me. It was so much fun! And then in August my friends Michelle and Dwinell and Katie had a baby shower for me. I just love my friends. I had a great time and got so many cute things for Meredith. And 2 of my friends who have adopted were there, they have been so supportive of us.

Meredith is 8 weeks old today. She is growing so fast I can hardly believe it. She is filling out, but is still petite. Her hair is getting even thicker and longer. It is curly when wet, but as soon as it dries it puffs out like a little dandelion. She has started to smile, which is so wonderful. She usually has a very pleasant expression, but her smiles are just adorable. She loves it when Ethan wiggles her legs or arms. Both of the boys are so sweet with her! As soon as Ethan gets home from school he goes straight to her and holds her. He is getting quite good at feeding and burping her. Noah has been wonderful too. I was a little worried about him being jealous or aggressive, but he has been nothing but gentle. He sings lullabies to her sometimes. It's so cute!

Ethan has started 7th grade (can you believe it?) He is really enjoying it, and is making new friends. He is up to about page 800 in Les Miserables (only 400 more pages to go!) And he is as tall as I am and his voice is changing. Pretty scary, huh?!

Noah is so happy to be back in school. His teachers said his math and reading skills improved over the summer, so I must have done something right! The other day I asked him not to be a baby (about going potty or something) and he said, "I'm not a baby, I'm a fourth grader!"

What a wonderful life, what a wonderful family!