Birthday and Anniversary

Wishing MaMa and PaPa Happy Anniversary and MaMa B Happy Birthday.
Ryan had a very busy weekend. Friday Aunt Tara came over to hang out while mom and dad went on a much needed night out with Scott and Renee. Broadway Oyster Bar was the destination and we had a great time. Great food and drinks! The Reeves' were also in town. Everyone was at our house Friday night through early Saturday evening. Jen, Cam, Jordan, Ryan and I went to the zoo on Saturday while the boys had the Fantasy Football Draft.

Ryan and I really enjoyed hanging out at the zoo. What a beautiful day. I can't believe it is still August. Really, a high of 79 at the end of August. Hope we don't pay for it in October.

Here are a few pics from the week.

Enjoy



At Tower Grove Park

Playing with the straw at the Zoo


Cam and Jordan
Ryan, Cam and Jordan at the Zoo
In the mouth of a Giant Turtle at Turtle Park

Birthdays, Birthdays Birthdays!!!

Olivia's First Birthday Cake

Big Irv taking it all in

Ryan, Olivia and Great-Grandpa

Ryan, Tim, Olivia, Julie and Great-Grandpa

Adorable Cousins


Olivia and Trevor at the Zoo

At the Zoo
Olivia and Julie at the Zoo

Ryan licking his chops

Having fun on the Carosel at the Zoo

Aunt Tara with her niece and nephew
Sitting up on the chaning table


Coloring with Ellen

The Barbie House


Hanging with MorMor Jo

The Waterslide at Madisyn's Party
Aiden and Ray in the Bouncy Castle

Ryan and Tim in the Castle
The Princess on her Birthday!

We've had a busy August this year. August 9th was cousin Madisyn's 4th Birthday party. What a crazy day. Hot, Hot and more Hot. Tons of kids and tons of fun. I gave Madisyn the 2-tier Barbie house that Jen and I played with as kids. It was so fun to watch her play with it, as well as Aiden climb into the house and get stuck.
Grandma Carla, or Car-Car as Ryan calls her, stayed with us last week. It was great to see them bond and have a lot of fun. They haven't spent that much time together since Ryan came home from CGCH last year.
Ryan had a great eye appointment on Thursday, showing off some cognitive improvement by picking out objects from flash cards. His vision is right on target!
On Thursday, Aunt Julie, Uncle Trevor and cousin Olivia arrived in town. We were able to spend some time with them on friday at the zoo and saturday in Steeleville, Il for the Summer Birthday Bash. We celebrated many birthdays that day. Olivia will be 1 in a couple of weeks, Chelsea will be 21 this week and I won't mention the ages of the rest of the birthday bunch! We took the kids swimming and had so much fun. Ryan was in the water a little over an hour. He is definitely a fish (just like his Uncle Dan)!
On Sunday, we took it easy, the little man took a couple of much needed long naps. We did have a little scare. Until now, we never had to strap Ryan down when we changed his diaper. He would lay on his table and coo and try to grab his toes and play. Well, while Tim was changing his diaper, he pulled himself up to grab his toes and rolled right off the table! Fortunately he was ok, he fell about 2.5 feet to the carpeted floor. He cried a few minutes; I think it just scared him. The good news about his roll, is that Ryan IS rolling! His trunk is getting stronger. He tries to pull himself up on his changing table as well as roll over to his side while he sleeps. We are so excited. The bad news is, we now have to strap him down when we change his diaper! Here are some photos from the last few weeks. I know I havent posted, so here are some to hold you over (Uncle Dan!!!)
Video will come later

Ryan gets his stander

Ryan in his stander

The Kreutzman Family Reunion

I know I haven't been posting much lately, but we have really been busy. Work is busy; we come home, spend time with our little man, he goes to sleep and we follow. We've had family in town the last few weeks and have more due in next weekend too. A family reunion was an event we couldn't miss. Up next week are birthdays and more parties.

But focusing on Ryan now, his big news is the stander was delivered last Monday. Its an odd contraption that is very big and awkward. We put him in it for 15 minutes a day now, building up to an hour. Lets just say, he tolerates it. At least it has an attached tray so he can play with toys while standing. Its great to see him upright.

He is also standing more with his AFO's too. Last weekend I took him to the Health Fair at my work. There were hundreds of people and so much to do: DJ, African Dancing, sno-cones, food, give-aways, classic cars, train rides, pony rides and best of all, a petting zoo.( I'd like to give credit to those that planned the MHDCHC Health Fair, it was a huge success). Anyway, I took Ryan to the petting zoo. It was a 15-foot fenced in area with a couple of goats, ducks and a llama. I stood him up while he held on, with both hands, to the fence and watched the animals. He tried to grab the goat and was tickled when the goat brushed up against his hand. He was so focused on the other children and the animals that I don't think he realized he was standing BY HIMSELF for about a minute and a half! I nearly cried! I wish I had my camera. (Specifically left it at home, because I knew a camera, stroller, snacks and Ryan would be a too much to handle since I was flying solo.)

On Thursday we had a meeting with PT, speech and our new case manager from First Steps. Ryan was approved for speech therapy twice a month. (Yeah!!!) He is babbling more and more each day. Laughing and giggling. Aunt Tara had him rolling earlier today. All she did was lift him above her head and he giggled like crazy. What a funny little guy!

Today we went to the grocery store and he was babbling and laughing down every aisle. He makes so many friends, especially women. They love him. He flashes his cute smile and gives a sly look. They just laugh and smile back at him. So cute to watch.

Anyway, I've babbled on enough myself, just waiting for dinner to arrive.