BJM’s Photos

116 pints to be exact!  With the help of Nicholas and Bryan’s grandmother, we made a LOT of grape jelly last weekend.  The grapes came from the Ireman’s garden in Croton-they are good friends of mom and dad’s.  The bunches of grapes were wonderfully picturesque-just gorgeous.  Bryan and Nicholas took some pictures of them-Can you tell who’s pictures are who’s??  So. . .who wants some jelly?  🙂

Nicholas spent every evening last week at Maranatha Baptist Church at basketball camp.  He did it last year and loved it so he thought he’d go back for another year.  Next year he’ll be too old, but once he hits 8th grade, he can help out the coaches.  He learned a lot of skills and brushed up on what he learned last year.  He’s an awesome shot! 

We went over to Ally’s friend Kendall’s house last week and the girls had a great time together.  They’re not quite old enough to play ‘together’ – they more play around each other.  🙂  They did have a great time making laps through the kitchen, dining room and living room.  Ally was jealous when Kendall got her DOC band put back on.  I think Ally misses hers a little!  It was nice for us moms to get a chance to chat too! 

Recently Ally has really gotten into ‘reading’ books by herself.  She turns the pages and has her favorite books that she prefers.  The book that she is looking at here was one that Nicholas enjoyed 11 years ago!  – The Wibbly Pig series –

Although, Ellen rarely compares me to Homer. Normally, it is Jack Bauer, Tom Cruise, or Russel Crow. She will sometimes . . . on those rare occasions refer to me in the Homer.

Well, if we lived it Springfield, I guess we might look like this . . .

Ally went in for her final head measurements so we could find out how much improvement she made during her 15 weeks in the DOC band.

Anything below 5 mm is within ‘normal’ range. . .

In March, her measurements were as follows. .

Oblique         12 mm         NOW 3 mm
Cranial vault    7 mm        NOW 3 mm
Cranial base     6 mm        NOW 2 mm
Facial assymetry 7 mm    NOW 3 mm

We got her ‘graduation’ certificate today and we’re totally done!   We are thrilled with how her head looks.   In the beginning, we were so concerned with how she would adjust and how awful it would be to see her in a helmet.  It turned out that it was no big deal and it took us all a while to get used to NOT  seeing her in it.  (PLUS, she looked really stinkin’ CUTE in it!)  I even miss decorating it!  We’re hoping to finish our appeal in the next couple of weeks to try and get our insurance to cover it, but even if they don’t, it was worth every penny! 

It hit us recently that this is the first time in Ally’s 14 months that she doesn’t have anything extra that she has to wear.  First it was oxygen and monitor, then the cast for 11 weeks, then the orthotic shoes, then the DOC band.  We’re so happy to have JUST Ally!     

We went to the 149th Hartford Independent Fair today.  Though it rained all the way there, we had a wonderful afternoon and evening with grandma and grandpa and never got rained on at all! 

Mmmm. . .fair fries!  Ally also got to try out an elephant ear and stromboli-

   Ally even shared some fries with Grandma!

Nicholas tried out some Elephant TOES and thoroughly enjoyed them.  Nicholas also had a huge corn dog for dinner while I had a delish gyro.  In traditional fair fashion, we all had ice cream BEFORE dinner.