Graduation from NICU followup

Greetings!

Jonas and Elsa had their final NICU follow-up appointment this week. The program monitors NICU graduates to see how they are doing developmentally and to align other resources as needed. Jonas and Elsa have had several of these four hour appointments over the past two years checking to see if they are doing what a typical babies/child does at each milestone. The past several visits there have been areas where Elsa and Jonas have been at their adjusted age milestone but not their actual age milestone. We think this motivated Jonas and Elsa and they worked their tails off as a result.

This time, Elsa and Jonas rocked each assessment and came out right where they needed to be. We were a little nervous about the threading a shoelace through a hole in a block test because this had been tricky in the past. This time, Elsa was first up and she picked up the thread and quicker than a flash had it through the first two blocks. Jonas followed suit and did a fabulous job.

Another area of assessment was speech. One of the bare minimums was for them to both know at least 50 words. This was a non-issue. They say about 50 words before breakfast in the morning! Overall, they did great on this test too! We are so proud of their hard work and effort!

Elsa and Jonas have graduated from the Nicu follow-up. The sun is almost out. The rain is almost past. The flowers are here. The birds are singing! Summer is here!

Pictures: The new "playground" in the backyard; Daddy's alligator (calculator).

God Bless,

Mari & Elsa & Jonas & Dan

Happy Father's Day!

Greetings!

Elsa and Jonas sang Happy Father's Day today to Dan and it was magical! They are truly fans of music and singing! Today at church, they were fascinated with a piano and drum set that were used during worship. While we love the passion for music...we are a little leery of a drum kit in the house:) :).

We have another NICU follow-up this week and having been working with Elsa and Jonas on all sorts of skills that they will be tested on. Whatever the outcome is, we know they will give it their all! Overall, we are so thrilled with how much they are learning to do!

Mari will also be speaking at a funding meeting for the NICU. Our NICU is trying to get funding for more beds and they have asked former patients and families to testify for the need and the benefit. We are honored that they thought of us to speak!

Jonas is now trying to wrestle the keyboard away.

Pictures: Elsa and Annika, The Fort!, Playhouse!, Captain Bjorne, Father's Day!

God Bless,

Dan & Mari & Elsa & Jonas

Buy stock in Klennex

Greetings!

We are a bit under the weather this weekend.

The upset stomachs, runny noses, and coughs did not stop us from discovering ant hills in our backyard. Jonas was over the moon to discover so many bugs! He wanted a stick, just like Dad's, to get an ant to climb up it. Elsa rolled down our small hill several times....usually leaving a slime trail from her nose! We played as best we could and then we rested!

God Bless,

Dan & Mari & Elsa & Jonas

Play Ball!

Greetings!

Elsa and Jonas went to their first baseball game this weekend. We had a great time at the Mariners! It was a scorching hot day and the perfect spot to be was at Safeco Field taking in the hometown team. Elsa and Jonas had fun watching all the activity and enjoyed a picnic lunch of chocolate strawberries, pizza, and fish and chips courtesy of the Safe. Everyone was ready for a nap after all this activity and eating!

The rest of the weekend was dedicated to resting and recharging our batteries!

God Bless,

Mari & Dan & Elsa & Jonas