Pure Talent

Laney enjoys playing with Benji's iPhone and iPod and watching YouTube videos. While playing around, she found a video that has gummy bears dancing to different songs. This song was one of them, so she made up her own dance moves. It was too cute (and funny!) NOT to share it!!

Laney's First Movie-SMURFS

Laney had her first experience at the movie theater yesterday. Mommy & Daddy took her to see Smurfs. She really wasn't sure what to even expect from the movie, let alone the theater. We loaded the purse full of candy (who wants to pay $3 a box for candy?), fruit snacks, & a juice box, bought popcorn and a drink at the theater, and headed in. Laney really didn't care about seeing the movie once she saw the games in the theater lobby. We eventually pulled her off of them and found our seats.

She did so good sitting through the movie. At the beginning, she couldn't even take her eyes off of the screen. She lasted a little over an hour before she started getting antsy and wanting to walk around the theater. Nothing another piece of candy can't handle, though!

I would recommend anyone to go see the movie. It's really cute for kids and it brought childhood memories back for Mommy & Daddy! It'll definitely be one that we will purchase on DVD!

Fun with Friends

This past weekend, we had a few college friends and their kiddos over to swim. Laney and Max loved playing with other kids their age. They get to see these other families, but not nearly enough. The Gross family (Travis, Sarah, Tyler (4 yrs old), & Logan (18 months) live in Sellersburg. There really is NO REASON we can't get together more than we do, which is once a year. The Calhoun family (Chuck, Megan, Morgan (almost 4), & Charlie (14 months) live in Chicago, so it is harder to find time to visit with them. Luckily, they have family that live in town, so we always make time to see them when they are down for a visit. The kids had so much fun!

There was lots of swimming

Eating popsicles on a hot day with new friends is always fun

and just goofin' off

Nothing beats spending time with good friends, new friends, and old friends.

Brewski Update

I posted a couple weeks ago that Brewski has not quite been himself lately and that we had taken him to the vet to have a few tests run. The test results showed that his thyroid was low. He was then put on a daily thyroid medication for two weeks to see if he improved. After a week of the medication, we saw little to no improvement, so we called the vet again to see what the next step was. Do we wait until it's been a full 2 weeks? Do we bring him in now? What's next? Dr. Rennekamp then wanted to do xrays on his heart to determine if he had a heart disease or enlarged heart. He also put him on medication for arthritis, in addition to the thyroid medication. The xrays came back normal, but Dr. Rennekamp wanted to send them off to a specialist for a second opinion.

The medication for his thyroid and arthritis were still not helping him. Dr. Rennekamp saw him for one more visit to observe him. Dr. Rennekamp wanted to talk to the experts at Purdue and see what they would recommend. After a phone consultation, the vets felt Brewski needed to be seen by a neurologist for an MRI and a spinal tap. Our appointment for that was scheduled for next week.

While we were at Holiday World for two days, Benji's mom and brother said Brewski didn't eat or drink at all. And the day we got back, he didn't go to the bathroom at all until about 2 or 3 pm. Benji and I both thought he looked like he had lost some weight, so I mentioned taking him in to get a weight check. Brewski had lost 1 1/2 lbs within a week. No, that doesn't sound like a lot to me or you, but to a 22 lb dog, it's equivalent to us losing about 8-9 lbs in a week. YIKES! Dr. Rennekamp called Purdue and got us in on Wednesday to see the neurologist.

Benji took Brewski up there yesterday morning and had to leave him up there for observation, xrays, an MRI, & spinal tap. The results were given to us yesterday and we are devastated. Brewski has a brain tumor (pituitary tumor). The tumor is inoperable, with the only form of treatment being steroids or radiation.

The steroids will give Brewski roughly 2-6 months, but will keep him comfortable. The radiation could possibly give him 1-2 years, more or less. The radiation, most likely, would shrink the tumor, but eventually, it would come back.

We have decided to do the steroid pills, and enjoy every day we have left with him. Yes, it was a very hard decision to make, but we had to think about what the radiation would do to him. He would be up at Purdue for several days at a time, not enjoying time with us, the people that love him. How is that fair? It's not. The cancer isn't fair either, but this is just part of life. It's not fair, plain and simple.

So please keep Brewski (aka Bruce) in your prayers. He is such an awesome dog and we love him so much!

Holiday World & Lake Rudolph-2nd Year

We did our annual Holiday World & RV trip to Santa Claus, Indiana. Like last year, we had a great time! I'm sure Max enjoyed himself a little more this year than last year! We camped "Reinhart Style" in a Super King RV at Lake Rudolph. We had 2 bedrooms (sleeping 8), 2 bathrooms, & a full sized kitchen. It was nice!! The Bruce Family joined us this year, which made our mini vacation even more fun!

After a two hour drive, the kids (and adults!) were ready for some fun, snacks, and drinks! :) We hung out at Blitzen Bay, the campsite's pool. The kids had so much fun splashing, swimming, and running around!

Max was a little hungry at the pool, so he found someone eating some Goldfish and thought he would become pals with them. Poor Max thought Mom & Dad didn't have food for him!

Half of our kid crew ready to go to Holiday World. Betsy wasn't asleep, she was just keeping the sun out of her eyes!

The other half of our precious cargo! Charlo and Laney were busy watching the BIG roller coaster, The Raven! Luckily, the adults got a chance to ride that ride!

First it was to the waterpark, Splashin' Safari. We were so excited to see that Laney and Charlo were tall enough to ride a couple of the big kids slides. Actually, Laney really wasn't, but I think the guy that measured her at the measuring station felt bad and let her slide through. So a BIG "Thank You" to him!

One of the big slides that Laney went down with Mommy & Daddy. Boy, it was fun one! Totally worth the wait!

Then Grammy & Pappy wanted their turn with Laney....another fun slide! This one was in the dark! Of course, that made it even more fun!

The Splash Land was Max's favorite place! This was new this year and was a great addition to the park! There were fountains, slides, and a small wade pool for the little ones. Our big kids even enjoyed it!

Riding slides was one of Laney's favorite things to do on the trip. She started getting confident and wanted to go on her own.

But the rides were also fun. Laney talked all day about riding the airplanes (Comet's Rockets), so, of course, that was the first ride she wanted to go on. All four kids loved it!

Max got to ride on his first Merry Go Round ride, which was a lot of fun for him!

Holiday World 2011

After a full day in the sun, swimming, walking, and riding rides and water slides, it was time to head back to the campground. We were so lucky that the big kids took naps when we got back so they could stay up a little later and make s'mores and see the fire the Dad's & Pappy built!

Max didn't make it, maybe next year!

These chocolate faces had SO much fun but were super tired (and still are!). We're already starting to make notes for next year's trip!

VBS

This past week, Laney went to Vacation Bible School at our church! The theme this year was Hometown Nazareth Where Jesus was a Kid. Although it was a struggle to make it through the morning without a few tears, Laney said she had fun and wants to go back. The helpers at VBS said she would be having fun with her class, but then, all of a sudden she would tear up and want Mommy. I expected her to be a little shy and nervous because she is not used to being watched by someone other than family or close friends. But, she does know all of the people that were there, so I knew she would enjoy it.

Daddy recorded their singing and dancing, but I won't post it because she just stood there! Haha! She told me what song she was going to be singing, but of course, when it came to showtime....stage fright!

Laney doing her song and dance (or just standing there looking around)

Laney did meet another little girl who just turned 4....Kendall Brooks. We are going to have to get these 2 cuties together sometime soon!

She wants to go back. I told her she can when she's 4. Honestly, I think the only reason she wants to go back is to get a slushie from Sonic (which was her reward for being good this week!) I know, I know....we bribed, but who doesn't!?!?!

Swim Lessons for Max

Max had his first ever swim lesson last week. He really does enjoy the water, but on his terms! The pool temp was 90 degrees, so we can't blame it being too cold. I mean, don't get me wrong, it wasn't a horrible lesson! Buuuuut.........

It could have been better! No, he's not laughing in this picture. He's fake crying. But we kept doing the lesson. Miss Tara and Mommy weren't going to let a few fake tears stop the lesson. We were not going to let him win!

I will say he did kick and use his arms on his own. But I think it was to try to reach Mommy!