Last Week of July

Hard to believe that July is already over. This summer seems to be going very quickly. Here are a few pics I took this past week.

First, the sad pictures. On Tuesday evening, our local hardware store burned down. It's just down the road from us. We heard sirens that night, but they sounded kind of far away to me, so I didn't think that much of it. Then when Jim went to work the next morning, he saw that Main Street was closed off and that the hardware store was still burning.

There were so many fire trucks you could see them from our house. And this was the next day.

I thought it was a foggy morning, but it was smoke from the fire. I panicked once, because I could smell smoke in our house. I didn't realize it was coming in from outside. The air was thick with smoke all morning.

This is what it looked like Wednesday afternoon. The only thing left standing was the front wall.

And this is what it looked like Thursday morning. Completely gone. The fire burned so intensely that fire crews couldn't get inside to battle it. They could only shoot water at it from the outside. The damage was so massive that they aren't even able to do an investigation into the cause of the fire. They just ruled it an accident.

You can see straight through to the pond that lies beside the river.

It's so sad. Middleville is a very small town and there aren't many businesses here. The hardware store was kind of an institution around here. Jim was on a first-name basis with the owner, Bill, because he was in there about twice a week buying little things. In fact he was in there the morning of the fire buying new pegs for the bookshelf in his office. The owner had a popcorn popper and customers were always able to help themselves to a free bag of freshly popped popcorn whenever they went in. We really hope they are able to rebuild it. The carpet store next door was damaged as well, but not as bad as the hardware store.

Now onto happier pictures!

On Friday we went over to the Wermuth's and went swimming. Lena's all ready to go!

Stylin' in her shades and hat!

Getting kisses from Daddy.

Eva was content to hang out in the shade in her bouncer while Lena played in the water.

My bathing beauty.

Having fun with Daddy.

Daddy was trying to get her to go underwater. She did do it a couple of times.

Eva after church this morning. I have a similar picture of Lena in the same dress. They were/are both beautiful in it!

We had a really fun July. Can't wait to see what August has in store for us!

Busy Week

We had a busy week last week. On Monday, Grammy Tammy and Aunt Amy came up to work on Lena's dress for Amy's wedding. Lena is going to be a flower girl. Then on Wednesday, we had a friend, Sandy, over for dinner because both her husband and daughter were out of town and she was lonely! While she was here, two other members of our church stopped by to show us their new car. Lena loved having a full house that night! Then on Thursday, her buddy Emily came over for a while and took her down to the park to play. On Friday morning, Mom came up to visit us for a couple of days.

Here are a few pics I took throughout the week.

Lena's flower girl dress. It's fun to twirl!

Pretty buttons on the back.

She loved the fluffy skirt!

Eva almost passed out on Sandy's shoulder.

Eva asleep in her bouncer. She likes the bouncer, but has never fallen asleep in it. I rocked her to sleep then laid her in the bouncer.

Emily trying to read Lena a book, but she was too busy trying to take her socks off.

Lena reading some of the books I got her recently at the local second-hand shop.

The result of trying to take a picture of a two-year-old. She turned her head at just the right moment.

This time she just put her hand in front of her face. I didn't think they did that until they were teenagers!

A big smile while taking a walk.

At the farmer's market with Grandma Sheryl.

Enjoying a cookie at the Big Easy.

Grandma and her girls.

We didn't get to go to the music in the park this week because it was rainy on Friday. Hopefully next weekend will be better!

Good News!

We took Eva to the pediatric ophthalmologist today and she told us exactly what I was praying she would. She said that every baby develops differently, on his or her own timetable and that it isn't unusual for babies not to track objects consistently until they are 2-3 months old. She said Eva's symptoms were not abnormal at all for a baby her age. She told us this at the beginning of the appointment, but went ahead and examined her eyes anyway. She put drops in them to dilate the pupils, then shined a super bright light in them to examine the optical nerve and some other stuff. She said everything looked completely normal. Eva did so well through the whole exam. She winced a lot and tried to keep her eyes shut, but she didn't ever fuss or cry at all. She did way better than I would have! (I absolutely hate getting eye drops!) I am so proud of her.

So, it looks like the pediatrician did overreact a bit, but that's ok. I'm glad we got things checked out. Now I don't have to worry. We can laugh at this now and remember it as "the week we thought Eva might be blind." :)

Thanks so much for all of the prayers for Eva. We really appreciate it!

A Fun Weekend with Aunt Hil and Cousin Noah

Last weekend Hilary told me she and Noah were coming up for a visit this weekend. Then on Wednesday, after getting bad news at the doctor's office, she asked if I wanted her to come up a different time. I told her that having her and Noah here would provide the distraction needed to not worry too much about Eva and let my mind run wild thinking of the worst case scenario. So she and Noah came up this weekend and we had a blast. I am so glad she came! It was her first time traveling with Noah, but it went really smoothly for her. I took lots of pics (over a hundred!); here is just a sampling. :)

Hilary and her adorable little man.

Noah with his Aunt Lesa. (That still sounds weird!)

Noah and his "Funcle" Jim. (In case you don't get it, it means "fun uncle".)

He is so adorable when he sleeps! (Yes, he's adorable when he's awake too, but I just love his "passed out" face!)

Eva getting kisses from Lena. I love the look on her face here.

Better get used to it, kid. Your big sister loves to smooch on you.

I can't get enough of these baby blues.

Happy girl in her bouncer.

More kisses.

Noah in his car seat getting ready for a walk.

Noah's first walk in his stroller.

Stroller caravan. We were headed to the farmer's market downtown.

Lena got a popsicle to eat on the way.

There was live music outside the Big Easy on Friday. They are celebrating their first anniversary.

The Middleville farmer's market.

Noah relaxing in the shade while we played in the pool.

Lena and her fishy.

I thought the pool was a bit small for a turtle floatie, but Lena loved playing in it.

Going on another walk. This time it was downtown to hear the music in the park on Friday evening.

Noah likes riding in his carrier.

So does Eva! (Lena never did like that thing.)

Lena loves playing with stickers.

There's that face again! Too cute!

Lena wearing Eva's hat.

Relaxing on a beautiful summer evening.

Noah and his mommy.

Hilary just loves her little guy.

Our Junebugs. I think this was the only picture out of maybe ten where they both had their eyes open! It is so hard to get a decent picture of two little babies! Eva is 6 weeks and Noah is 3 1/2.

We had so much fun with Hilary and Noah. We got to do all the stuff that epitomizes all the fun things to do in summer: shop at the farmer's market, play in the pool, make a super yummy meal using fresh produce from the farmer's market, taking walks, and listening to music in the park. And it's even more fun when you get to do it with two of your favorite people!

And I'm happy to report that there is an update on Eva: It turns out that we have a friend of a friend who works with the pediatric ophthalmologist that Eva's pediatrician tried (unsuccessfully) to refer us to. He talked to her on Friday and she agreed to see us Monday morning. I am so relieved that we won't have a long wait to find out what the problem is. We go in at 9:40 am. I am really praying that the pediatrician overreacted and that Eva is just fine. Today in church I did notice her following Lena with her eyes, so that makes me feel better. It could be that the pediatrician just doesn't know that much about the eyes and was erring on the cautious side in referring us to the specialist. So keep praying for Eva and I will update tomorrow after our appointment.