This summer went by fast. I kept the kids busy with some camps and VBS. In late July we got to spend a week in Orlando. We kicked it off celebrating Caleb's 6th birthday! Since the World Cup was on this summer and we watched nearly every game-Caleb's cake (made by my fabulous neighbor) was a Brazilian soccer ball. We had SO much fun with my parents that week. Michael and Leanne and their kids came over, as well as David and Tanner and Kimberly. It was nice to have most of us together (minus Austin and Cameron).
The kids love to go to Downtown Disney-right now it's almost as good as Disney to them. I realize this will not be the case for very long. :P
Cruz LOVES Buzz Lightyear and was so happy to stand next to him.
How awesome is this pic?! So rare to get all of them looking int he same direction AND smiling?! Love!!
We had fun back at the condo. Caleb loved playing checkers with his Papaw.
Nothing beats a day of eating ice cream, playing video games and going swimming.
Cousin love-having fun with Nolan.
Some cute pics of Tanner. Love this baby!
3 generations of Douglass men.
My dear friends, Mindy and Maria. Had my first teaching job with them at Lake Mary Elementary 17 years ago!
Skylar and Denise got to come and stay with for a bit.
And our dear friend Falecha came out to visit with us. It was so nice getting to see so many good friends.
A few weeks later it was Zoey's turn to have a birthday. Can't believe she's 4 years old!
She loves the movie Frozen and was so happy to get her Elsa doll.
My girl. She is wise beyond her years. Byron will often say it seems like she is the oldest. She still adores Caleb, loves to go swimming, bike riding and play outside. She loves her barbies as much as she loves ninja turtles. When I call her "Princess" she tells me, "No, mommy, call me Angel." That's Zoey-a girl who knows what she wants. She definitely marches to her own drum. One of the many things I love about her.
We had a joint birthday party for the kids at Pump It Up. They had a blast with their friends.
Cameron changed schools this fall. He is now playing soccer for Florida Gulf Coast University in Fort Myers (about 2 hours south of us). He is doing well in his classes and is enjoying his new school. We had the pleasure of having him at home with us all summer long. It was a bit of an adjustment for all of us when he went back to school. We don't get to see him as much as we did when he was at USF but we're happy that he likes his new school.
And then there's Cruz. Cruz brings us so much joy. He has such a great personality. He is a fun loving kid. He loves to play with Caleb and Zoey. Loves playing outside and going to the gym with me. He continues to have a feeding tube and very rarely eats anything orally. His GI dr suggested that he go to an intensive feeding therapy program. We are lucky enough to have one here at All Children's Hospital (there are only a few in the country!). Basically we would be in therapy from morning til night (breakfast, snack, lunch, snack, dinner) everyday for a month. In between feeding sessions he would get occupational therapy as well. There's a reason it's called intensive! Yikes! There's a wait list and i'm hoping we get in after the new year. It will be a very challenging month but well worth it. The expense of having a feeding tube is crazy. I can't believe I even have to wonder how we can afford to keep our son alive financially when it's the ONLY thing keeping him alive. You would think his supplies and formula would be covered by insurance. Please pray for us-that he gets accepted into this intensive program. I'll keep you posted on our next update!
First day of 1st grade!!! We are so lucky that Caleb has an awesome teacher. Mrs. Hinson is actually our neighbor. Caleb is very bright and still a "passionate" kid. He continues to crack us up daily. We can't wait for soccer to start back up in November.
This is Zoey's first day of VPK! She goes to the same preschool she's been going to since she was 2. She absolutely loves it. Caleb can't wait to have her at the same school as him. I feel very blessed that my kids love each other so fiercely.
