I'm back... sorry.

Sorry it's been awhile.  We have been in Ponchatoula for my grandpa's services.  Everything went well and the services were beautiful.  I will miss my Pawpaw so much.  He was such a wonderful and loving man.  Tripp was an absolute angel through it all.  I brought him to the wake and the funeral because I didn't want to have to worry about switching out because I knew we all wanted to be there.  He showed off like you wouldn't believe and had those squinchy smiles for everyone who walked by.  I guess he enjoyed all of the different scenery.  But he did have an "episode" the morning of the funeral.  His trach collar (the big blue tube humidifier I put him on at night) obviously wasn't working right and when he woke up, he was completely dried up.  I tried using the saline to break up the plug, but that wasn't working.  He had turned completely grey and if he was breathing at all, I couldn't tell.  I got the ambu bag and gave him breaths and gave him oxygen.  I'm guessing the bag helped to push down the plug, because he slowly started coming back.  Not fun.  And when you're child turns grey, it's a vision that you can't ever get out of your head.  Randy and my mom were both with me to help, thank God.  And then he started the day all smiles after that.  I just don't know how he does it.  What a miracle.

Being at my parent's house has been great.  They are so much help to me.  And I've gotten to see a lot of my family that I don't get to see very often.  My sister's bridal shower was Saturday, so that's why we just went ahead and stayed the week, instead of me having to go home and unload, then pack everything up again.  But we are back home now.

Tripp has missed his last 2 OT visits because of the eye first and then my grandpa's wake.  He is really doing well as far as using his hands and a lot better than I thought he would be doing standing with us holding him.  We just need to be working with him more and letting him practice standing.  I want him to be able to get around so bad, poor baby.  He wants to be moving around and exploring things so bad but he can't crawl or turn over.  He is sitting up SO well now and loves being on the floor playing with his toys.  But you can tell that he just wants to do more by the way he tries to move around.  He will lean alllllllll the way over to try and reach for something in front of him or he will shake his whole body... arms, head, and all.  I have been trying to put him in his walker a lot more so he can start getting used to being on his feet.  He likes it a whole lot more now for some reason.

He is just so doggone adorable these days.  I really could eat him alive.  He is SO much fun and learning and listening to every single thing that we say and do.  I know he can't talk or can't communicate, but we can tell how smart he is.  And even though he can't talk to us... we can tell exactly what he wants by his facial expressions and actions.  He is hilarious and really makes me laugh so hard sometimes that I cry.  I'm just so grateful that things have been going well and that he has been so happy lately.  I know it only takes a second for something to change, but right now I am enjoying every single second of him.  When he wakes up each morning and starts smiling and kicking his feet, it melts my heart.  I could hardly even take a picture of him this week without getting a squichy smile! See?

This lasted about 5 seconds.

I put this outfit on him not knowing that it was too small and I would have to CUT it off of him.  

At least I got a picture! 

Helping Grammy cut the cookies...

My ALL TIME favorite pictures.  

This was the best bath he's ever had.  He was even kicking his legs! 

Yay for SALT!  

(the backs of his legs are where the sores are... but the tops of his legs, O my!  They're gorgeous!!

I love love love love love this kid!!!!
   Love,