Gulf Drive

We are enjoying our summer routine of taking turns watching Hudson during the days while the other works. Trent is really loving being able to spend so much time with Hudson now that he's learned what his different cries mean. I love that he has this privilege to spend large chunks of time caring for our son. It's always so sweet to come home and find Trent & Hudson waiting for me outside.

We both spend lots of hours (yes, hours!) rocking on a porch swing in front of a vacant apartment near our house with Hudson. People move in there on July 19th, so we only have a few more weeks to enjoy it. We are also enjoying visiting with old and new neighbors outside in the afternoons. We are so blessed to live in the community we're in right now. We live in seminary housing and have neighbors that are in many of the same boats as we are. There are many of our neighbors getting the same degrees as us and that have small children. So we can bounce lots of ideas off one another, get advice and just share our lives together. You can almost always find someone outside to hang out with. In addition to sitting on the porch swing and visiting with neighbors, we're both running, singing lots of songs to Hudson (he loves Itsy Bitsy Spider) and still going to the pool in the evenings. It's nice to have a break from school and studying.

a little pea in a pod after bath time




with Kenton & the Seilbacks


Hudson, Trent & Kenton waiting for our frozen custard

Hudson's special trick

One of Trent's very best friends, Kenton, is visiting from Chatanooga right now. He's doing an official campus visit to Covenant. We're hoping that he moves here before we graduate (May 2009). So far, we've enjoyed trying a new Thai restaurant in St. Louis, getting frozen custard (a STL specialty) and playing with Hudson.

Hudson's latest feat was while he was hanging out with the guys one day this week. Trent, 2 of his friends & Hudson were chatting in our living room when there was an explosion from Hudson. Trent was holding Hudson at the time, but immediatly came and found me in our bedroom. He handed Hudson off to me saying he was going to be sick & repeating "this is absolutely disgusting!". There was poop all over Trent's hands, clothes and our rocking chair. Hudson just continued looking like a little angel, not sure what all the fuss was about. Hudson managed to keep his clothes neat and tidy.

A Pool Baby

While at the pool this weekend, we decided to put Hudson's feet in the baby pool. Just before putting his feet in, he was smiling and cooing. The second his feet hit the water, he screamed. I guess he's going to continue our pool outings by looking around, feeling the cool breeze and just enjoying being outside.

Our other new activity is sitting on the porch swing on the neighbor's front porch. No one currently lives there, so we feel free to enjoy it, but new people are moving in Wednesday. We've been contemplating moving the swing to our back yard before they get here because we like it so much. :)

Well, I have a few more pics to post of some fun happenings recently, but it seems the computer isn't cooperating anymore. Also, we don't have internet anymore (why it's been a week since the last post). I'm not sure how often I'll be able to put updates online now. Maybe we'll get internet again soon...

after church on Father's Day

Summer Days

First an update about Hudson's physical therapy...he has an appointment at St. Louis Children's Hospital on July 2nd. Until then, we are trying to keep him off his flat spot as much as possible and stretch his neck the other way a little. We do feel a little more encouraged after talking to my sister who was able to explain what toricollis means (the condition Hudson has) and hearing that another baby in our neighborhood just finished physical therapy for the same thing. His dad said their baby's head is changing its shape since the baby is able to turn his head different directions and not just always laying in one spot.

On a totally different note, we have been really enjoying our new activity of going to the pool in the evenings. We wait until the sun's gone down mostly and its cooler (sometime between 6-8pm, so we don't expose Hudson to the sun) and head to the public pool by our house. We joined the gym attached to it around Christmastime and didn't realize that we got pool passes as well. Anyways, it has been a lot of fun! We take turn swimming laps and either read if Hudson is sleeping or play with him (out of the water) if he's awake. Tonight starts an outdoor summer concert series at the park where the pool is located. We're looking forward to swimming and then picnicking and enjoying some live outdoor music.

Enjoying the cool breeze at the pool


holding his head up


showing off one of his favorite toys...his wrist rattles


cuddling with his teddy bear, Olby

Got Milk?

My return to work was pretty smooth, at least for me. It was good to see my coworkers and catch up on what's been going on in their lives. I guess when you spend 20+ hours a week with the same people for a few years, it's strange not to see them at all for a couple months. During my first day back I answered the main line to the bank and was surprised to hear Trent's voice. He was overwhelmed and frustrated. Hudson had been screaming for over 45min straight and wouldn't take his bottle. Trent knew he was hungry, but Hudson refused to eat. We were quite busy at the bank, so I suggested he ask our neighbor, Kelli, if she could help with the situation. Kelli just had her 2nd baby last week and her mom was here to help, so I thought maybe her mom could help. So Trent went next door and they suggested heating the bottle up (Trent was giving Hudson his bottle from the fridge). Sure enough, Hudson immediately gulped it down and was better the rest of the day. Trent was surprised that Hudson didn't want some "cool, refreshing milk" on a hot summer's day. Kelli, thanks again for being such a good friend that we can even come over for help when you're recovering and adjusting to life with Caden! You rock!

The drive home from work has been so exciting this week because I just can't wait to get home and hug my 2 guys. It also makes me appreciate the days I'm able to hang out with Hudson all day. I really love being his mom!

update: our printer is working fine after water getting in it :)

2 month check-up

Today was Hudson's 2 month check-up. Here are some stats:

12lbs 7.5oz 75%
23" long 50%
?? head circum 25%

We left Hudson's check-up feeling heavy and burdened. The doctor referred him to St. Louis Children's Hospital for physical therapy so we could learn some stretches for his neck muscles. Since he's been born, he always turns his head slightly to the right. She said this is from one of his neck muscles being longer than the other. It is hard for him to turn his head the other direction. This is the reason he's getting a crooked flat spot on the back of his head. The next step after physcial therapy if he needs it will be for Hudson to wear a helmet. Even this might not remold his head. She tried to reassure us saying that once he gets hair you won't be able to tell he has this flat spot. Thankfully, it is only a cosmetic problem and this doesn't affect his brain. We still long for everything to be perfect for him. After discussing this, he got four shots and screamed like we haven't heard him scream before (thankfully we've never heard this scream before!). After a long nap and eating, he seems recovered. It was still hard to hold him down and look in his eyes when he got the injections. We are blessed to have modern medicine though.

I'm off to hopefully get a good night's sleep before starting work tomorrow. Pray for Trent as he'll be here for 9.5 hours by himself with Hudson.