Cristl Update

This past weekend I received a phone call from Cristl wishing me a happy birthday!!!! Her father called me and then put the phone on speaker so that I could talk to Cristl. It was amazing! I had received a message early in the day, but since we had been deep in the woods, I didn't get it until much later. Listening to Cristl talk in the message was unbelievable. I returned the call later that night and got to talk with her for about five minutes. I don't think I will ever forget the sound of her voice. It's something I never thought I would hear again. Her parents prompted her to ask me questions and when I asked her about simple things she was able to formulate responses on her own. At one point she congratulated me on my pregnancy and told me she had a good name picked out. When I asked her what the name was, she simply said, "I don't know." So cute :) She sounded like Cristl, though. A little timid, quiet, and child-like, but definitely like herself. So exciting!!!

Tree Removal

On Monday our friend Rich came over to take down a tree in our backyard. This was very exciting for us, but unbelievably exciting for Trafton. Trafton loves being outside, large trucks, people, and helping (and now we can probably add chainsaws to that list). As soon as Rich showed up and started working, the only thing that Trafton wanted was to be outside watching and 'helping.' He was ecstatic!

It was a once removed tree where 'suckers' had grown from the original stump, causing not-so-attractive, but quite large, little trees to shoot up. The tree provided nice coverage in the spring and summer from the house next to our backyard, but it was precariously growing on a little hill. It mostly just made me nervous.

Halfway down

Rich uses a rope belay system to easily and safely guide the cut branches down so they don't cause destruction in tight spaces.

Guiding down the last sucker

Polishing off the stump

Trafton was more than happy to help the guys by picking up the fallen twigs and giving them to Daddy. (Daniel was picking up the large branches and handing them to Rich in the truck.)

The finished product!

Visit from Grandmom and Grandpop O'Hare

This past weekend my parents came to visit. We had a great time hanging out and they watched Trafton for us on Saturday evening so we could go out for a bit. It was great - we went to the Turkey Hill Brewing Company for dinner and then did a little shopping afterwards. My mom and I worked on our baby announcement for the little sweetheart (affectionately being called Baby Owl) who is due in just 16 weeks. We do, of course, already have a name picked out for Baby Owl, but that shall remain a surprise . . . Trafton LOVED all the attention that he got over the weekend and I think my parents might have been worn out by the end of the weekend!

Trafton was more than delighted to have the undivided attention of Grandpop who willingly read him an endless supply of books. My parents brought Trafton several new books which he is still very excited by.

Bopping down the stairs with Grandmom

Porch relaxation

Such beautiful weather we have been having!

I really did not teach Trafton to hug trees, he just started doing it!

My mom and I were just finishing up getting some of our baby announcement ideas together - you can sort of see it on the table - lots of pink, of course!!

Family

Jason Visits!

Last Sunday Jason came to visit! It was a nice spontaneous surprise :) Trafton, of course, was unsure about him at first, but quickly began to warm up to his uncle.

I'm not sure I know you, but I'll let you hold me as long as I can see my mama.

Trafton got Uncle Jason to participate in one of his favorite games: the toy parade! After that, Trafton didn't want to stop playing with him.

Let's play with blocks now!

Now you can read me a book!

Beautiful weather :)

Cristl Update

The last time that I posted about Cristl, she was being transferred to a rehabilitation home. She only lasted for about two days in the rehab facility before developing a fever of 103.5. She was sent back to Howard County General Hospital and after four hours in the ER, her fever climbed to 104 degrees. She was eventually admitted back to the Special Care Unit (just next to the Intensive Care Unit), and it was there that she pushed past her 'persistent vegetative state' and into a 'minimally conscious state.' While fighting off an infection, she was able to begin moving her arms and gain some eye control. She also started eating small ice chips, turning her head from side to side and give actual kisses to friends and family.

This is progression well beyond where the doctors believed she would be able to get to and she's still coming back!

A few weeks ago, Cristl was admitted to Kernan Hospital in Baltimore. It is a very good brain injury rehabilitation hospital that Cristl was not originally eligible to get in to because of her low brain functioning. Because of the progress she had made, she was able to secure a spot in this facility. She is currently on the road to further recovery at Kernan.

She recently was able to swallow and can now be fed pureed food rather than be fed through a tube. She has begun to smile and say a few words. She doesn't talk often, but she has been able to recall things rather than just mimic speech. She has started to answer simple questions.

This is all immensely exciting and encouraging! Please continue your thoughts and prayers for Cristl :)

21 months!

Last Saturday Trafton turned 21 months! He is surely crazier than ever, too :) Some fun things that I have observed lately . . . He is practicing kissing on his stuffed animals. It's hilarious! When you ask Trafton for a kiss, he just comes at you with his mouth open wide and attempts to plant his open mouth on top of yours. Totally not a kiss - but it's what he's made of it. So, he practices this with his stuffed animals which causes them to get all wet with slobber - kind of gross, but so funny! He has also been giving his animals hugs and when he gives them hugs he either pats them on the back or rubs their backs. He has a puppy that when you push a body part, sometimes it asks for a hug - I think this is what has encouraged all the stuffed animal affection! He even rubbed my back the other day when he gave me a hug. Trafton is also becoming quite the dancer. We listen to music pretty much all the time in our house and sometimes when a good song comes on, we'll have a dance party. We run to the room where the computer is (the one we just got carpeted!) and all dance. Trafton is starting to expand his dance moves with his latest ones being his version of the moonwalk and twirling. It's great! He is saying more and more words and signing "more," "drink," and "finished." He is getting very independent and having more and more tantrums, too. However, we have a well-established one-minute time-out rule for bad behavior and so far it has been working wonders. Seconds after being placed in time-out, he is quietly sucking his thumb and the tantrum is over. He also likes to 'help out' with things, too. He puts things in the trash can, puts his dirty laundry in his hamper and generally tries to do things that he thinks will please us.

He now likes to play with his old musical table while squatting on top of it.

We got this table and chairs at a discount store and Trafton LOVED them, but we decided they were extremely unsafe, in more ways than one, and returned them within a week or so. We're still looking for good toddler furniture.

He loves to play the drums with Daddy.

Grandmom and Grandpop got him this construction zone set for Christmas and he has only recently taken up a great interest in it now. He carries the parts to other places in the house and wants us to set them up for him so he can play.

Story time with Pappy

Daniel was moving chairs out of our house one morning and Trafton insisted on helping.

Trafton likes to have 'toy parades' or 'truck parades' and will give one of us a toy and expect us to move about the house with it so that he can follow us. This occurs at least once a day and is definitely a favorite activity right now.

We've had a stool upstairs for a while now to help with teeth brushing, hand washing, etc. and recently Trafton has enjoyed carrying it around to look out the windows. The other day while I was in the kitchen, Trafton tried dragging one of his ride-on toys with wheels over to me to stand on so he could be next to me while I cooked. Later that day I took him out to buy another stool to keep downstairs. He loves it! He takes it all over and uses it to do all sorts of 'big boy' things. Of course, playing the drums is one of the things he enjoys very much.

So sleepy . . .

Brunch with Karen and Lou

On February 26th we went to our friends' house to have brunch. Karen and Lou recently put a beautiful new addition on their house and it was the first time we got to see it. It is spectacular! Trafton had a terrific time eating (a lot, of course) and especially playing with Lou.

Lou joins in Trafton's toy parade with the pull-frog.

Trafton is chasing Lou around the furniture as Lou crawls around trying not to let Trafton catch him.

More Lou and frog entertainment :)

Checking out the beautiful new fireplace

Lou, Trafton, Karen