Sweets and Swings

Just some weekend photos:

Photos From the Week

Charlie has been having a tough time in the late afternoon hours. It's that transitional time when he's tired from the day's work, hungry for the upcoming meal and no body seems to have the brain power and stamina to give him their 100% attention. So Jack and I have been slinging him for about an hour a pop between 4 and 6pm.  Hopefully he'll grow out of it soon, but until then, we get to have sweet little snuggle moments like the one below.  Dead asleep!

Also, we're really excited about Charlie's new chair (Thank you Aunt Jean!). Its a low sea that he'll be able to use for years to come.  It has some lower back support, straps to keep his bottom in place and a very large tray so that he doesn't lose toys over the edge as easily as he did in his smaller chair. Isn't it wonderful?

And finally, Charlie has been doing so well in therapy these past weeks. Its so clear that his core strength and balance are improving. Here he is sitting on a low bench, provided to him by his physical therapist, Lori. He can use the back of the couch for back support, his feet can reach the floor for base support and Walker keeps him from listing to the side. He sat like this for almost 5 minutes!  

OT Appointments with Cyndi

Saturday was the last day of summer!  The Greenman Family is definitely excited to greet Autumn with open arms. The air isn't as oppressive, the summer travels are complete and we're all settling back into our trusted happy routine. Walker is in school three days a week. Jack's tenure file is closed and he is now free to refocus his energies on his current students. And Charlie is the busiest of us all with a full line up of weekly therapies.  Just for reference, here's a look at his weekly schedule:

Monday:

10:45 - 11:45 Physical Therapy

4pm - 5pm Speech Therapy

Tuesday:

11:30 - noon Occupational Therapy

3pm - 4pm Service Coordinator Meeting and Therapy

Wednesday:

Mama and Charlie integrate lessons from Monday and Tuesday

Thursday:

9:30 - 10:30am Physical Therapy

11:30-noon Occupational Therapy

Friday: 

10am - 11:30 S.T.E.P.S. program and feeding therapy

It's a lot for such a little guy. But he's handling it all beautifully. This was Charlie's first week in his new orthotic leg braces. He's doing pretty well with it and tolerating them for about 4-5 hours a day. They're really warm though and I think they make him a little uncomfortable. We're going to slowly work our way towards wearing them for 6-8 hours daily. You're a trooper Charlie.

So what do we do in Occupational Therapy?  

Here's a little peek inside Charlie's appointments with Cyndi, our wonderful therapist at Baylor.

Charlie in a sling...

These two photos were taken at a wedding the boys and I attended on our first day in Oregon this summer.  Minden and Jamil are a sweet couple I met in Half Way and they asked us to attend their beautiful reception.  She just sent these to me...

Paintings

I pulled out some acrylics today to do some painting and Walker joined me.  He said he wanted to make me a piece for my new office.  He titled the piece below, "Plano Train" because he wants me to remember how much he loves riding the Dart Rail to Plano.  Pretty nice, eh?

And here's mine. Walker says this isn't a real picture because it "doesn't seem to be anything real". When I asked him what it looked like, he said "it looks like you made lots of mistakes."

Sensory Toys

Thank you so much to our dear friend, Gail, for sending this fabulous bunch of balls to Walker and Charlie.  A few of our therapists recommended a tub of plastic balls to help Charlie with some sensory input.  The balls also help him stay upright and encourage him to reach out and feel things with both hands.  Today, we filled a shipping box with the balls and the boys.  They had a great time.

Sunday Train

It's been a rough weekend for Mama. (Read HERE if you'd like to know more.) But it ended well with a family outing. The Greenman four spent the late afternoon at the Lake Highlands Back to School Splash - an event celebrating our local schools, teachers, principals and PTAs. They had these amazing inflatable structures that were filled with water - it was like a slip and slide bounce house. Of course, Walker, who was suited top to bottom in water wear, did not want anything to do with them.  "I don't want to get my hair wet!" he cried. Ah well. Luckily Walker found something that was far better than a silly old water slide:

I took some time this morning to work on a commissioned piece.  

Here's a peek:

Back To School

Walker had his first day of school on Wednesday.  I cannot believe I didn't take a photo in front of the stoop as I did last year.  I'll get him tomorrow on the second day - no one will know the difference in 15 years!  Luckily, Jack snapped a few photos of me and the boys after school. Walker's new teacher is Miss Laurie and when asked "How was school?", Walker replied, "It was good, but Harper Ann isn't in my class this year."

Wedding Weekend in Seattle

The boys and I just returned from a long but lovely weekend in Seattle where we were celebrating the marriage of Uncle Gil and Lisa. We also had an opportunity to catch up with some very important people in our lives. Many of the Greenman family were in town for the event!  Additionally, Jack and I were able to see some old friends and their NEW kiddos!  So much fun.  Overall, it was an amazing, exhausting and healing weekend - one we won't soon forget.

Walker and Charlie loved the hotel room and Walker commented on the "soft sheets"!

It was WONDERFUL seeing Quinn and Gil at Betsy's home.

They each took turns giving and getting kisses from Charlie.

The first thing on Walker's to do list was ride the Monorail.

Back at the hotel for some play time.

On Saturday morning, Jack and I took the kids to Volunteer Park (across the street from our old apartment) and met with some dear friends.  Harmony, one of my oldest Paso Robles friends, and her son Seth were there!  So was Michelle, my friend from Dallas who recently moved to the Emerald City, and her husband Troy and daughter Evy.

And even my sweet friend Courtney came. Courtney and I met at Southern Oregon University my freshman year in college. Then she played a beautiful Viola for me when I directed "Twelfth Night" in Seattle in 2005.  Here she is with 2 month old Bronwyn and little Spencer hiding behind his sister.

Seth and Walker getting ready to race down the slide.

After our time in the park, we headed over to the Tourino Collinsworth 

home to see our dear friends Rebecca and Brandon. 

Here is their son Oscar sharing his toys with Walker.  

Walker was too busy to look up.

Brandon and Rebecca have a family band and their 

guest room is filled with wonderful instruments.  Walker went crazy. 

And the day just kept going!  After the park and the Collinsworths, 

we headed back to our hotel to meet with my Portland sisters, Chris and Anne.  

This amazing couple always opened their home to me when I was working in Portland.  

Now they have the lovely Amaya, who was born a month before Charlie. 

Chris and Sarah!

 This photo was taken by Betsy at a pre-wedding party. 

It was a wonderful evening and Jack and I are SO grateful to our friends 

Lantz and Lisa who babysat the kids in our hotel room so we could 

join the adults for cocktails and conversation.

On the morning of the wedding, we went to Betsy's for brunch 

and a Greenman Family reunion.  I think it was by far my favorite part of the weekend.

Choir practice!  

We thought we'd prepare for the hymns that would be sung during the wedding.

I love this photo of Charlie, Jack, Aunt Betsey and Linda.  

I miss these two incredible women so very much and am already 

hatching a plan to visit their new home in Cape Cod.  East Coast, here we come!

Grandpa John, Grandma Patty and Aunt B and Linda 

enjoying a moment after the wedding. Don't they all look wonderful?

Here is the beautiful Hebner Vila Greenman Family:

Gil and Quinn, Lisa and her three children Sam, Joey and Audrey, 

Lisa's ex-husband Mike and his fiance and soon to be step daughter. 

Jacqueline and Julia were sorely missed and spoken of all day. 

Girls, we miss you SO much and send all our love to you.

This morning, we went to Betsy's for one last visit and some breakfast.  

Here was the scene - three grandsons watching "Finding Nemo". 

And here is Walker dancing in front of the fountain at the Hotel Sorrento. 

Goodbye Seattle. We will miss you and your beautiful cool weather!