Happy 4th!

Wish I had some fireworks pictures to share...but sadly, I forgot my camera last night. We went out to Winchester with Unca Jamey and Auntie Barb, Nana and Pop and saw a nice fireworks show. It was Ethan's first (obviously). I wasn't sure how he would be, but he really liked them - lots of smiles and clapping. Ellie really enjoyed them too. I don't think she remembered them from last year. It was a long wait to get out of the parking lot and Ellie was telling us all about the fire fighters. She was getting it confused with fireworks. She told us she wants to be a firefighter when she is older, but that she wants to be a nurse first. She has been seeing alot of those lately, so I am not sure if that is influencing this decision.

Ellie is doing so well! We have had just a few appointments recently. She had an evaluation with the VA department of education. If she showed signs of needing physical, occupational, or speech therapy, the state will provide it for free until she is school age. Well, I think the evaluator thought I was crazy for bringing her in (which is a good thing) she said she looked great and didn't even complete all of the tests because she was scoring in or above the normal range for a three year old on everything!

The big test of late was an MRI earlier this week. The neurologist that we have been seeing at children's national requested that she have a repeat MRI...she just wanted to confirm the location of the stroke. It was a long day, but Ellie (and Ethan too) was such a trooper! Nana came back home with us from NJ to help which was wonderful! I was able to stay with Ellie until they sedated her. That was the hardest part, the test wasn't until 12:30pm and she couldn't have anything to eat all morning due to the anesthesia! It is very hard to reason with a three year old why she can't eat. She definately got her Chick fil a for dinner afterwards!

Other updates:

Ethan is not only crawling everywhere, but he is pulling himself up to stand! He did it once last week at Nana's and has been pulling up on everything since we've been home - the coffee table is one of his favorites. He even took a few steps while holding on to the table. He'll be off and running soon! He is talking some. His words right now include:
Da - Tim
Ma Ma - Me, of course
Doh - He seems to say this whenever he sees Ellie so we think this is his word for her
Hot Dog- really, he does, I am trying to get it on tape
All done - and he can say it at the table when he is done eating too
Uh Oh - especially when he throws things from the high chair
And his favorite - NO! - I guess he hears this one too much!

Ellie has been getting so much of her personality back lately. Yesterday when we were on our way to James and Barb's we passed an abandoned farm. She was chatting away in her car seat. Here is our conversation:
E: "They have hair on them!"
Me: "What has hair on them baby?"
E: "The Hilos have hair on them"
Oh, the silos have ivy growing on them - of course "The Hilos have hair on them!"

Tim taught her to sing "Yankee Doodle" while she washes her hands to make sure she takes her time and doesn't just splash them in the water. Well, when we visited the mall today she had to make a stop in her favorite ladies room - they have a tiny potty that she says is just the right size for her. Well, after she took care of business she ran over to the tiny sink and was all excited to wash her hands and started singing "Yankee Doodle" for the first time with out being asked! That's my patriotic girl! She loves her "America Flags" too.