Visit with Aunt Colleen & Uncle Julian

This weekend we were able to see Aunt Colleen & Uncle Julian's new house!  There was lots of space for us all to stay over, and we had a great time.

We went to the beach at Port Dover, and the boys enjoyed the big waves!

Darren

Evan

Aunt Colleen, Uncle Julian and Darren & Liam

Darren burrying himself

Isaac enjoying the sand

Evan was a little overtired and slightly grumpy

Hooray for the beach!

Isaac & Evelyn

When Isaac was in the NICU in London, I got an email from a friend of a friend of a friend.  She heard that we were going through the same thing they were - her little girl was born early, and was in the NICU.  We realized that we were both from the same area, and that Isaac was going to be transferred to the same NICU that Evelyn was in. 

They only overlapped for a week in Oshawa, and the day I officially met her mother was the day that Evelyn was discharged.  But it was nice to have contact with another person who was going through the same as we were.  They also have 3 older children the same ages as our boys.  They came for a little visit last week.

 Isaac & Evelyn are both over a year old now, and are doing great.

(Liam had to get in the picture too...)

Oma & Opa's visit

Oma & Opa came for a few days last weekend.  Evan and Darren were counting down the days until they came.  They spent several mornings draiwing pictures and colouring green John Deere tractors that Opa loves  (okay, so he's very much a Ford man).  He brought the boys some crayons, but took away the green ones so they couldn't colour any more green tractors!

Isaac & Oma hanging out 

 Darren & Opa working very hard at puzzles.  Very serious business.

All four boys huddled around the iPod.  The Muppets' Bohemian Rhapsody always brings laughter ("Mama!!!!")

 We were also able to go for a visit to Oma DeJonge in Woodstock.  She was in the hospital, but seemed to be doing much better.

Popsicles

Summer fun

We recently made plans to visit Great Oma DeJong for her 90th birthday celebration.  Unfortunately she ended up in the hospital and the celebration was cancelled.  We are keeping her in our prayers every day.

So we had a Saturday with nothing else planned to do, and we decided to go to the Science Centre.  It's nice to have a membership (thanks Grandpa & Grandma) so we can go at the last minute and not feel like we have to stay all day to get our money's worth! 

 There was a large reptile exhibit.  Evan & Darren liked this tortoise shell replica.

 We saw all kinds of lizards, turtles & snakes.  There was a huge python and a snapping turtle that was bigger than our kids!

Evan, Darren, & Liam  have been enjoying a few days in Belleville with Grandma, so Isaac gets to be the centre of attention (just what he loves!).  I found him in the kitchen playing so quietly with this potato.  Of course, being the good mother I am, I took a picture rather than taking the dirty potato out of his mouth...

Yes, it was hot yesterday.  Our (old) thermometer hit almost 39 in the shade.  I thought I'd take a picture, because it's not  something we see too often (and hopefully we won't see it much more!!)

Oh, Isaac!!

Isaac recently spent two weekends in the hospital for breathing issues.  The first was a 3-day stay in Oshawa.  They thought it could have been pneumonia, but ruled it out later.  We left the hospital with no real diagnosis again, but "possibly asthma." 

 We were home for 3 days before he got sick again.  We were on our way to visit the Renkemas, and brought him in to the hospital in Clinton.  They immediately did chest x-rays, bloodwork, and decided to send him off to Stratford, a bigger hospital with a pediatrics unit.  We spent 2 nights there, and then they were able to transport him to the hospital in Oshawa.  We arrived there to the same room we had the previous weekend.  After another 2 nights he was released, again with the diagnosis of "possibly asthma."  They can't test for it at this age, so we are following a regimen of puffers and looking for a new home for our cat.

Isaac was very charming to all the doctors and nurses (not so charming for me, though).  In the span of a week, we went from the clinic to the ER in Bowmanville, and by ambulance to Oshawa.  Then we went to the hospital in Clinton, by ambulance to Stratford, and Patient Transfer to Oshawa.

 Isaac, Isaac, Isaac.  What are we going to do with you?

He was quite interested in the DVD screensaver last night - sorry it's so dark.  Great way to occupy a baby. (Fans of "The Office" will also appreciate this clip!).

Summertime

"When are we going to Oma and Opa's house?" - Evan

 Little poser!!

 Watermelon boys!

Eric is reading this biography of Bonhoffer.  I thought it was funny to look over at the couch and see him with this book by his face!

While the men were working...

...we went and had some lovely pictures taken...