His new thing

Lego towers:

Physical Therapy and banana boogers

Graesen had a physical therapy appointment today.  I mentioned before that he pronates a lot.  Today we had someone look at that, and she agreed that he does pronate a lot, and without treatment he will have hip and knee problems as he gets more and more active.  She decided that he needs some custom orthotics, but he shouldn't need any therapy exercises.  She said that sine his feet are flexible and he doesn't resist having them positioned correctly, that orthotics/braces should be all he needs.  She did mention that at this age the bones in his feet are not fused, so while he will likely always need some sort of orthotic, we may be able to improve the mechanics of his foot a little by getting his feet in the right position at a young age.  There are only 2 groups around here who make pediatric orthotics.  The one group makes a very rigid kind that she does not think will be best for Graesen.  The other group is actually out of town and only comes once a month, so we have to wait until the end of September to get his molds made.  In the meantime the therapist gave Graesen some heel cups to borrow.  The help his feet get into a better position, but they are not good enough for the long term.  Graesen doesn't seem to mind them much, but I think his feet and legs are sore.  At nap time today he kept asking me to rub his legs and feet, which is totally unlike him.  Here is what the heel cups look like:
I got this picture from here, because I am too lazy to get up and take a picture of the ones in Graesen's shoes.

The type of orthotics Graesen will get will wrap around his feet and most likely go up his ankles, acting as a brace. Probably like the second or third one on the top row of this picture.

Image from here.

The good news is Graesen loved the appointment.  There was so much fun stuff for a kid to do and the therapist let him play around for a while after his feet were looked at.  She checked some of his motor skills while she was at it and everything looks pretty good for his age :)  I tried to get some pictures, but they are not good, because some little man was having way too much fun and moving around fast.

At school today Graesen cracked me up.  He was eating a banana and he doesn't like the little black part on the end.  He looked up at me and said, "Mommy, can you get the booger off my banana?"  He seriously thought that that is what it was:)

Here are some pictures of the little guy running tonight during a short break in the middle of my run:

I also have pictures from yesterday.  Last night I had to take a first aid class, so Graesen got to hang out with Phoebe at my parents' house.

Sweet sleepy boy

Somebody fell asleep a little early tonight...

Flowers

We went to church this morning.  They have moved fellowship hour outside to the front lawn now, so there is no escaping donut time :)  It used to be that I would let Graesen get a donut every once in a while, but now that they are on the way to the car he is getting a little spoiled with a donut each week :)  OH, and when I asked him if I could take his picture, he told walked to this spot and told me to take it in front of the flowers!

My friend has U-Pick flowers on her farm.  My mom and I took Graesen out to pick flowers today.  Unfortunately, my friend wasn't there, so we didn't get to visit with her or her baby :(  I guess we will just have to go back again in a couple of weeks :)

Graesen took this picture.  He is obsessed with taking pictures lately :)

Craving fall

The last couple of days it has felt a little bit like fall.  Even when it is hot out, the wind is cool and in the mornings we cuddle on the couch with blankets.  I love fall.  I feel like this year, more than any other, the passing of each season feels like an accomplishment.  A reason to proclaim, I made it.  I survived.  The first holidays alone, Graesen's birthday with half his family not present, quiet weekends with just my son and me.  Each season passed is a season stronger.  And fall always feels like a new start to me...fitting for someone starting their life over. 

I am so grateful for this little guy...

oops!

I just realized that I never posted last night.  I edited the pictures to post, but then never did it. 

Finally

Yes, I am finally posting.  Things have been a bit crazy and busy around here lately.
Sunday, Rachae and I took Graesen and Addison to a theme park.  This time of year the water park portion of the park is open too, so we spent the day going back and forth between rides and water slides.  It was so hot, so we were glad we could just throw on coverups over our swim suits to go on rides.  The kids had so much fun and miss Addison overcame her fears by going down the big raft water slides and going on a very big roller coaster.  Poor Graesen was jealous since he is too short for those big things. :(  He did have fun, but he keeps talking about how when he gets bigger he is going to go on a roller coaster.

Monday Graesen came to school for the day.  All day he kept telling me that he had a phone call to make :)

Last night Graesen got to have a pizza and movie night with his cousins and grandparents.  He was so tired by the time we got home.

Tonight Graesen really wanted to play Candyland.  He is starting to get how to play the game correctly, but sometimes he does try to make up his own rules.