No place like home.....

Better Late Than Never, eh?

I have to say, I don't know where time went, but I can't believe it was just Thanksgiving.  All our big family get togethers and dinners are done.  Then I realized I never posted about our Halloween (and I was pretty cute with my missing tooth and lion costume).  I decided, since I am happy we are home today and done with our travels till Xmas time, so I thought it was fitting to put my Fam's pics from Halloween up, since we went as the crew from the Wizard of Oz.  My parent's (my mom to be exact) hasn't let us watch the actual Wizard of Oz yet, but we got to watch Return to Oz (which is a cartoon and more age appropriate as my mom would say).  Anywho, here's me and the fam!

         

        Happy Thanksgiving to Everyone! 

Hope everyone had something to be Thankful for, I know I do!

There's No Place Like Home

Beautiful Weekend

Well, as promised, a couple pics from my lil sis' celebrations of turning 1.  I have to say, if she gets 3 parties every year, me and Maggie may have to put up a stink or something.  Here she is, only been around a year, and she gets 3 parties. I guess she pretty cute, so I will let it slide this year.

And, because it was a beautiful weekend here in the tri-state area, we decided to do a lil hiking in town.  La Crescent has some pretty nice trails.  Leave it to Maggie to go hiking with a headband in - as she says "I'm stylish".  Now, if only I fit into my backpack next summer so we can continue doing this as a family.  Once I get too big, my mom will have to figure out another way for us to accomplish this all together.  So, if anyone has any great ideas - be sure to pop them my mom's way - we have till I hit 55lbs (good thing I am only 40lbs, eh). 

Where does time go?

   

Hey, so it's been awhile, ok a long while, since I wrote on here.  I blame it on my mom.... she hasn't had the time to help me with my post.  Things have been a little more on the "crazy busy" side than usual.  So to catch you up to speed, here's the short and sweet version of the last few months.... 

We hung with family a lot.  Gwen came to visit us for a moment!  Gracie and Maggie had free run of Casa Ala Shay a few times this summer.  We have a new baby cousin, Preston Shay!  And the Servais Clan had a pretty sweet party in Coon Valley!

     





       




        

The start of school flew by.  I am in 1st Grade this year!  Maggie started 4K or preschool - she gets to ride the bus with me 4 days a week and then gets to go to her daycare on Fridays.  And speaking of daycare, Molly now goes to Maggie's daycare 5 days a week.  Mom is working full time and dad is working full time x 3 (if that is a real thing). 

   We went to the Dells for a weekend when Aunt Kristi was home!  Molly got to celebrate her birthday with the Servais' that weekend.  The Shay bday party will be next weekend (lucky girl).  Today was actually her birthday - Oct 15th.  I just can't believe she is 1 already - she is walking all over our house and at times trying to run.  She is up and down our stairs and into trouble pretty much all the time..... I guess I taught her well.  Dang I'm a good big bro!  I left my pic out from our Dells trip on purpose, I was too busy enjoyin the Lazy River and Wave pool to get any real good shots!

  

Finally, we had to go pick some apples!  Maggie and Molly LOVE apples.  I like moving and being outside - so it's a good trip for our family (at least it is as long as I fit in this backpack thing - not sure how we will do this in the wheelchair, but I am sure my mom will figure something out when the time comes).  

     

       

 

I am sure I will have some bday pics of Molly to share soon,  I will get on my mom's case to help me sooner than later!  I try to cut her some slack sometimes, she/we are still trying to figure out how to balance life!   So to wrap things up, I got my new glasses, I got my new AFOs (braces for my feet), my wheelchair got all its updates, I am switching from pedisure 1.5 to a thicker formula called nourish (for all you "foodies" it is gluten free, dairy free, nut free, GMO free, and organic) and only 1 seizure in the last couple months.  Victoria helps me out 3 days a week and with Hannah and Katelyn both gone (Katelyn back in December) my mom has finally found someone to help out the other 2 days - her name is Cathy.  Dad is teaching at UWL on Wednesday evenings.  Molly has only fallen down the stairs 2 or 3 times and Maggie has only gotten off at the wrong bus stop once.  Life is good!

      

  

  

Why I Couldn't Sleep Last Night...

I would have to say, 95% of the nights since I came home from the NICU, I don't sleep through the night (and when I do decide to get a good nights sleep one of my lil sis' step up and take the roll of keeping my parents sleep deprived).  My parents try to figure out why I don't sleep.... is it that I didn't do enough during the day, did I do too much, is it because I didn't take a nap, am I getting sick, is there a new "sound" that is bothering me, is it a seizure......

Well, I am going to let you all in on a lil secret, I typically do it just to keep things interesting.  That's right :)  But last night was different.  Last night I was sad.  Yesterday me and my fam said bye to someone who has been part of our family for the last two and a half years, my friend Hannah had to go back to med school and this time she doesn't have any more summers (or time for that matter) off until she becomes a doctor.  I am going to miss her (and so is the rest of my family).  I think she summed it up the best in a story she wrote for me a year ago:

One cold winter day,

a girl named Hanna met Conner Shay,

And her life was forever changed in the very best way.

Conner has a special gift you see,

but he let Hannah think they were just

doing his therapy.

Even though Conner couldn't use his voice like you or I,

he was teaching Hannah with a smile

and a twinkle in his eye.

While he showed off his jumping skills,

he taught Hannah to celebrate the small thrills.

When he got messy with food,

Hannah caught his infectious mood.

Conner convinced Hannah to throw water therapy

into the mix

to show her that there is nothing

a smile can't fix.

Conner's little sisters joined in on the fun,

and together they played Hannah

three against one.

They quickly became two peas in a pod,

And for Hannah, working with Conner was

much more than a job.

Because she knew she met Conner for a reason,

And her love for him will not change with the season.

   

   

   

" As the years go by Our friendship will never die! 

You're gonna see it's our destiny, 

You've got a friend in me! "

Don't forget us and always know you are always welcome at our house!  

Thanks for sticking with me all these years! 

You'll never truly know what you meant to me and my family!