it's visitin' weather

For the last week, we have been so blessed with some nice autumn weather, and we have been taking full advantage of it. 

There is a certain little boy who LOVES to go wagon riding with his daddy.  We usually go for wagon rides about every evening now that the weather is so nice.

Seeing Jude so happy and excited just warms my heart!!

On this particular evening, we were on a mission to pick Maw Maw's Magnolia leaves for a wreath I'm making.  (going to post some pics when its ready)

Jude didn't mind the waiting... He enjoyed playing with the magnolia leaves in his wagon..  (multi-purpose on the wagon ;-)

We made it all the way to Jude's Great Maw Maw and Paw Paw's house.  Lane and I are so blessed to each have two grandparents who love their great-grandson very, very much!  (I have pictures of Jude with my grandparents that I'm going to be posting in the next couple of days.)

After I promised her copies, Maw Maw couldn't wait to take pictures with her redheaded great-grandson.

They think Jude's "vibrant" behavior is hilarious...  as you can see

Notice Paw Paw crying...  he has gotten a tender heart in his older age.  I remember the day we brought Jude home (he was almost 8 weeks old): Maw Maw was in a different hospital where rest of the family was visiting her.  So we brought Jude right to her.  As soon as we walked through the door, it was Paw Paw, not Maw Maw, who started crying.  It was a very sweet day.

Back outside, Jude had a blast playing with their puppy, Toby.  I know we should probably get Jude a puppy, but I'm having a hard time committing to such a big responsibility.  Maybe Santa will bring him one..

Okay... On to some Jude News: 

First of all, Jude will have to get a new set of tubes in his ears.  Although this is a very simple procedure, Jude will have to stay overnight at the hospital just because he is such a high risk anesthesia patient. 

Since Jude needs tubes, we had to delay his transistion from Early Steps into the School System for at least a month :-(  I am okay with this now because Jude has started receiving private therapy 3 times a week.  In the meantime, Jude developed a rash this past weekend and was later diagnosed with Fifth Disease.  However, he seems to be doing much, much better.

Next, we finally ordered Jude's gait trainer which is a piece of equipment that will teach him how to walk and support him until he grows strong enough to walk without it.  Lane and I have also bought Jude a very special birthday present that will also strengthen his legs.  I can't wait to you see it.  Needless to say, I'm goin to be spending a lot of time at the track because there isn't that much cement in the back pasture.

Finally, Jude saw his neurologist at New Orleans Children's Hospital this Tuesday, and she had nothing but good reports for him.  She is so pleased with Jude's progress that we only have to see her once a year now!  She still wants to get an MRI of his spine to make sure his spinal chord is not tethered, but we'll cross that bridge later.

I guess that's really it for now.  Jude's 3rd Birthday Party is this weekend, but I managed to resist the need to plan a big bash and we are only doing family..  (which is still about 25 people, haha)  and you know I'll have plenty of pictures of the birthday boy!

Until then, Happy Fall (with real Fall weather)!