A Long One

This is going to be a long one! A lot has been going on since my last post. I kept thinking I should post something but then we would have another activity to go to and I wanted to wait for those pictures. It ended up being a longer delay then I anticipated. Sorry for that. My mom came to visit us about two weeks ago and Isabella had a lot of fun with her. We went to a church flee market and Raymond got a new book.

Isabella got a Wiggles game that I would definitely recommend. It is a lot of fun to play whether your kids like the Wiggles or not. Isabella also got a Melissa and Doug pot holder making kit. She enjoyed working with that a lot.

Later that day we went to the Leesport Community Days. It was small and held at the community park. Chris was excited to see that one of the raffle's was for a riffle. Only in Leesport I guess! Isabella won a stress ball that looks like the earth. She was nice enough to give it to Raymond.

Chris and I bought Isabella tickets to get on three rides. Her favorite was the "little wheel".

Isabella and Grandma had a snack of apples and caramel. Isabella was able to peel the apple. She's done this before at home but she still thought it was cool.

Yum! Now that looks good!

We walked around a while and played a few games. Isabella won an orange soda at the ring toss. I was very impressed that she was able to get the ring on the top of the glass coke bottle. She and Daddy also tried to win a goldfish and of coarse...

they won!

The lady running this game lifted Isabella and let her push the button and dunk the girl in the water. Meanless to say, Isabella thought that was so funny!

After we left the community days we went home and roasted marshmallows while we waited for the fireworks to start.

Raymond also gave us a scare that night because we learned the hard way that he is allergic to the medicine Omnicef. Bloody diapers are not a fun find.

Sunday was a fundraiser in Lancaster for Raymond so my mom and I were there most of the day. On Monday we decided to take Isabella and Raymond to Hershey Chocolate Factory. On the way down we saw this...

This is the Meow-Mix van. It made kitty sounds too. The guy who drives this must have a blast with it. It was sure getting a lot of attention.

When we got to the chocolate factory Isabella and I made our own chocolate bar and it was a lot of fun. Here was the process...

We went in and watched an instructional video about the process.

Next we selected what we wanted to be put into our candy bar. Isabella choose sprinkles and chocolate chips.

Then we scanned our ticket and the machine started to make the chocolate bars.

The chocolate bars went down a conveyor belt and the machine dropped the toppings we choose on the top of them.

Then the bars were topped with chocolate.

Add a little vibration to make it smooth.

Then if you requested, it would be topped with tiny little colored kisses.

Next, into the dryer.

While the chocolate bars went through the drying process, Isabella and I went on to make the packaging for our chocolate bars.

Our guide

Grandma took this picture of us from above.

The bars came out of the dryer and went onto the final step of being packaged.

Raymond didn't get to make a chocolate bar but he sure was pleased that he got to hold (well, more like squish) a mini chocolate bar that he was given after we got off the factory ride.

On the way home we stopped at Arby's for a snack and Isabella was happy she got the gigantic curly fry!

Tuesday was Isabella's day to take a snack into preschool. The theme for the week was apples so we made these "apple" cupcakes.
Thanks to Grammy for helping us find red cupcake wrappers.

On Saturday (9/25) was the 11th Annual Buddy Walk. I want to thank everyone that came out and walked with us. I hope you had a good time. We did! I was tired at the end of the day from running around like a maniac trying to help get everything together but it was well worth it. We had a great turn out and the center made a great amount of money thanks to every one's generosity!!! Here are a few pictures from that day.

Krista, Tom, Jimmy and Ashley

Chris, Raymond, Chrissy, Nicholas and Jason

Isabella and MartyRaymond fell asleep about two minutes after this picture was taken. Train Rides
Joe and Nicholas

There was a group preforming called Sing for America. They did a really great job and we enjoyed having them there. The kids all really enjoyed the singing. Sing for America was also nice enough to put together a video with pictures they took at the walk. If you get a chance check it out!

Sing for America Video

You can also check out this Morning Call link to see some other pictures.

Buddy Walk 2010

This is not a great picture but Isabella really wanted me to share it. We went into Giant the other day and we saw this little bat sleeping on the building. She thought he was a "cute baby".

Speaking of babies, we're having a girl!!!

On Monday, I take Raymond down to Philadelphia to get ready for surgery on Tuesday. He is finally having tubes put into his ears and another BAER study. This will thankfully be an easy one. For most children this is an outpatient procedure but with Raymond's other health concerns he will be kept overnight.

On October 15th, I take Raymond to Hershey Medical Center to be seen by the doctor's at the hospital's Feeding Program. I'm looking forward to this appointment because I'm very hopeful they will be able to get Raymond on the path to eating oraly. I've been very conceerned lately that he is going to miss the small window of opportunity to learn to eat. If he does miss that then it will be an extreme uphill battle to teach him those skills. For Raymonds sake, we don't want to cross that bridge unless we have to. I'll be sure to let you know what they say and their plan of action.

We also recently had an appointment at the Eatern Pennsylvania Down Syndrome Center for a check-up. Chris and I love going there becaue all the ladies who work there have kids with Down Syndrome and they offer great advice. Dr. Rice, who see's Raymond, does not have any children with Down Syndrome but he has a special interest in the condition (and a heart of gold). I would like to point out that the women who work there and Dr. Rice (who has his own practice elsewhere) DO NOT get paid. They all do it on a volenteer basis. Not to be repetative, but that's why events to raise money like the Buddy Walk are so important. The center has so many wonderful people willing to give their time for other people's children. It was a great 2 1/2 hour appoinment. We have also just started Raymond on a new formula. Hopefully his little belly tolorates it. He's never had good luck at switching before. I also hope we don't leave the house without it because you can't buy it at anywhere. RX only. His other formula you could and there were a few times when we did have to buy a can because we left the house without it. Let's hope that doesn't happen.

One last thing. A few weeks ago we were at Border's and entered Isabella to win an American Girl Doll. Remember that Grammy? You were there. Well, I got a call on Tuesday that she won!!! We went that night to pick it up and Isabella wa so excited. She loves it. I'm going to look online to see if I can find any patterns to make her some cloths. They would make good Birthday or Christmas presents.

Until Next Time!

Lots of Love,

Erica