Father's Day 2012

Yesterday was Father's Day. This is not a holiday I have had to celebrate with a significant other. All new to me. So... what do you do for your fiance with all 4 kids for Father's day? You make a video...and then go on a family hike.

Here's the video:

Our family hike was to Jones Run Falls in the Shenandoah National Park. This was a brave 3.4 mile hike for our first time hiking and for taking all 4 kiddos. Although Katelyn fought with us (and lost) about what she was going to do and where she was going to hike, Mikayla felt faint, Sydney said she was tired, and Jessyca was just determined she was going to be the first to the end -- I would call it a success. 

Eric loved the video (brought a few tears I think) and then had a good time spending the day with us on our outdoor adventure. We have decided that maybe hiking is not our thing at this point with a challenging two year old. Maybe next year?? 

At least we enjoyed the beautiful scenery....

Mikayla, Kate, Me, Jessyca, and Sydney looking at Jones River Falls

Eric & Sydney in front of a Mini-Waterfall

Sign A Day - Dad

Being that we celebrated Father's day this past weekend it seems fitting to have our next sign be "Dad"


Dad is made by opening your hand flat into a "5 shape" and bringing it up to your forehead. Place the tip of your thumb on the middle of your forehead as seen below.

What is a Father?

According to www.dictionary.com:

fa•ther [fah-ther] (noun)
1. a male parent.
2. a father-in-law, stepfather, or adoptive father.
3. any male ancestor, especially the founder of a race, family, or line; progenitor.
4. a man who exercises paternal care over other persons; paternal protector or provider: a father to the poor.
5. a person who has originated or established something: the father of modern psychology; the founding fathers.

Some of the definitions above are not what people typically think of when "Father's Day" pops into their head. Oddly enough, neither Katelyn or I have a father in the traditional sense. Both of us have "fathers" that are not involved in our life in any way, shape, or form. Father's day has never felt like a holiday to me. Mother's day was always celebrated, but Father's day was not the same. With such a high number or divorces in America I'm sure some of you feel the same. Many fathers are awesome even after the parents separate, but unfortunately this is not the case for Kate or I.

In a way, we are luckier.

The men that act as the Father in our lives choose to be there. It is not a natural thing for them. They, at some point, made a conscious choice to be involved in a fatherly roll on a daily basis.

Tim, my step-father, entered my life when I was 12 years old. Although I don't call him Dad, I constantly refer to my "parents", meaning Tim & my Mom. He still continues to help me and be involved in our lives on a regular basis even after I left the house. He has been the man that helped me get to football games in high school, picked me up when my car broke down, celebrated graduations, the birth of my daughter, and is an involved Grandfather as well. Tim has been there in all the ways that count as a Father. For that, I am truly grateful.

Next weekend, we are all going out to Lake Anna with my parents and Tim will get to show his boat off to Eric and his girls to celebrate Father's day. Looking forward to making these memories with Kate and all three of Eric's kiddos as well.

Happy Father's Day Tim!!

Tim, Mom, Myself, & Kate in February 2012

Another Audiologist Check-Up

On Wednesday, we visited our audiologist Dr. Deb Hildebrand at UVa Audiology. With our recent hearing aid break (and lost & found aid) we had concerns about all the "whistling" we were hearing from the aids Katelyn was currently using.

The Virginia Department of Health has a loaner bank which we were borrowing from initially to see how the hearing aid process would work for Katelyn before making the investment ourselves. Borrowing from the loaner bank is an amazing option for us, but left us with no choices on the make or model of the aids Kate wears.

I had no idea that there could be a huge difference. Until now...

Seeing the broken aid, Dr. Hildebrand wanted to exchange them due to the extra feedback Kate was getting. Luckily, she already had a pair in house. The loaner bank hearing aids were from Oticon, but the new hearing aids are Phonak brand. Like I said before, I didn't expect much of a change.

When Katelyn put them on, there was a clear difference. Her toddler phase of constant movement was creating whistling sounds all the time. The aids had been jostled and would become loose. The new aids have a stronger feedback control. We hear very little feedback. The profile is also slimmer which keeps them attached to her ear better.

We have only had the new pair a couple of days, but so far she has only taken them off once. And that was to show displeasure to me, not due to an annoyance from the aids themselves. I am hopeful that this new pair will be even better for her.

The more she wears them, the more she learns. The more she learns, the more she will understand. Hopefully this understanding will lead to more speech and happier days for little K and I. Keep the prayers coming...

Country Baby Girl

It is safe to say that Kate was oppressed living in the City. Now she has a grassy, fenced in, back yard there is nothing more she likes to do than get dirty. 

Recently we went to the Chile's Peach Orchard and went strawberry picking. She loved every minute of it. At points she was shoving strawberries into her mouth faster than she could pick them.

Her little bucket only had one strawberry remaining when we left. All together I was able to pick 7lbs and even came home to make home made strawberry jam. Canning it makes it possible to enjoy our strawberry picking adventure throughout the year. We're lucky to have a orchard near home that is small enough where Kate can roam freely and be the country girl she is. I love days like this with her.

We Lost a Hearing Aid!

Last Friday, I began a new bible study with the women of my church. The meeting is being held at the local library while our kids are with sitters at a church building about 1 mile away. Typically, when I leave Kate with a sitter/mommy friend, she does not bother her hearing aids at all. This would not be the case on that Friday. When I left Katelyn, she had BOTH hearing aids. When I picked her up, she did not. Several older kids and teenagers helped me look all through the kids play area, but no luck. I decided that it would be best to say a prayer and wait. Patiently wait. On Sunday, I told our Pastor about the lost hearing aid in case someone found it during the course of the week. Feeling less than hopeful, I decided to give it one week before calling it officially gone. Tuesday night I got an email from my bible study leader. The hearing aid had been FOUND! It is officially back with us. The expense of replacing the loaner + buying Katelyn her own permanent set, was not in our plans right now. Thankfully, this has been put off for a future day!