Happy Halloween!!!

Tonight was my very first Halloween. I was dressed up like a little lion. I was very good and left my costume on and didn't even rub off my silly whiskers! I'm not really sure what was going on or why mommy and daddy kept trying to get me to roar. I did it a few times just to appease them.

Recently Daddy and I had our first boys only day. We went up to Jay's and daddy bought me some camo items. I can't figure out why mommy and daddy call me "Jimmer!" every time I have my hat on. Something about Escanaba.. They are strange!!

I keep getting bigger and bigger. I still haven't decided to try the whole crawling thing yet, maybe someday. I'm quite content just sitting and playing with my toys.

GOOD REPORT

Max had his Cardiologist appointment on Tuesday. Dr. Florentine said that things are looking good and he is pleased with how big Max is getting. He did say that his valve won't repair itself, but is holding its own for now. He will change his blood pressure medicine to a kind that will be twice a day rather than three times. Max felt the need to try to help the ultrasound tech. The days of him laying still during his ultrasounds are probably a thing of the past for now. At least he wasn't unhappy during it, just squirmy! Max's Great Grandma King passed away on Thursday. This was his daddy's grandma. She always said that Max was very sweet. I'm glad that he had a chance to meet her. We hope that Great Grandpa can stay strong with his broken heart:(

Lil Soccer Fan

Since the weather has held out so far this fall, I have been able to go to a few of cousin Matt's soccer games. I like watching all the people run around but I do not understand why everyone is yelling all the time. Sometimes that scares me - especially if Grandpa yells. Aunt Di says its cheering which is different from yelling, but I don't understand the difference - they are both loud!

Matt likes to bop the ball a lot with his head - he jumps really high to do it. Last week he got kicked in the face and broke his nose...he took a little nap on the grass when it happened. Here are some pictures of me at that game.

Toofers

Hello All,

Sorry we haven't been updated much. Life gets so busy. Max is doing great these days. His one lone tooth now has a friend so he has two toofers now. I tried to get a good picture of them for all to see.

Max has a well child the other week. He is now in the 50% percentile for his hieght and still at the 10% for weight. The pedetrition was very happy with his developement.

Max is growing ans doing more and more. He finally is supporting his weight on his legs and standing up. He is able to sit on his own for a little bit before he starts leaning and falling forward. He actually slept through the night several times now. That is a huge blessing. Of course I still wake up several times a night thinking that I am hearing him crying.

Max sees the cardiologist on the 22nd of this month, so hopefully we get a good report then. I wil make sure to update then.

Love Always,

Michele

One more summer week gone.:o(

Good evening everyone,

Maximus told me I had to update the blog, so here we go. This week, Max went on his first boat trip. Well, a paddle boat any way. Michele took him to the pool. He loves to be in the water. I guess he takes after his Mommy that way. He is growing every day, and we are trying to get him out to see all the things that we can. He is seven months now, on his way to seventy. LOL

Joe Camper
Showing Grammy how I use my new tooth!

peek-a-boo

daddy & I sitting by the fire

telling Grammy a campfire story

Maximus goes camping.:o)

Well, I guess it all started Wendesday morning. I got up had a diaper change, ate a little peas, had some bottle, and kicked back. Mommy and Daddy were running back and forth carrying stuff out side. Then they grabbed me, placed me in my racing seat, buckled the four point harness, and away we flew. I did not know were we where but it took along time to get there. I was not sure how this camping thing was going to be, but I was curious. As we were pulling threw the place, I noticed things I had never seen before.

Daddy pulled the camper into the sight. I saw some cousins I have not seen in a while, so I said hi. Of course they were as happy to see me as I was to see them. Later that night, Daddy started a fire. I never saw a fire before. It was cool. I could not take my eyes off it. Untill I seen the dogs. My Aunts have dogs. Four of them to be exact. They played in the dirt, and got all messy. (I think I may try that some time.) I was so excited I could not stay asleep. I had to tell Mommy and Daddy all the stuff I saw. They acted like it was no big deal and wanted to go back to sleep. But I would not let them, I had too much to say. By the next night I was able to calm down and rest.

We came home sunday. I was beat. I did so much, seen so much. I just can't think of where to begin. So I think I will go for now. When Daddy gets back from North Carlina, I will make him put some of my photos on this for everyone. Sleep well.....(Good night son.):o)

Growing day by day.;0)

Max is getting bigger day by day! He cut his first tooth. It is just through the skin and sharp as can be!! He feels the need to gnaw on anyone who is willing to let him. He has started eating baby food. We started with green beans and tried peas for the first time today-which he gagged on!

Right now he is entertaining himself by trying to raspberry with his lips. He isn't very successful unless you count spit everywhere as success.

This weekend Maximus went to the campground to visit his Aunt Di, Uncle Scott and Matt. It was freezing cold for a July day. I'm not sure Max really enjoyed the camping experience, this could make Family Camping a challenge.

Aunt Kelly and Uncle Scott came to visit Max on Sunday. She was surprised how big he's gotten.

We hope you enjoy the new pictures.

John, Michele & Max

Busy Boy

Hello Everyone,

Max has been a busy boy lately. Daddy turned 40!!!! We had some family and friends over to celebrate. This ended up being a bit much for Max and he was too worn out, and cranky, to attend the Conway Reunion in Lake O. Luckily everyone had just seen him the week before at the wedding.

Max had his one month follow up appoint. with his Cardiologist. Everything looks great and we don't have to go back for three whole months!! He weighed 14 lbs, 9 oz. that day! That explains why my arm is always tired!!

Max has started to giggle!! One of those belly laughs that could even make the grinch smile!! Every day he seems to be getting bigger, more alert, and developing his own personality. Sometimes his little personality can be quite the challenge to deal with. I keep telling him he is too little to be such a sassafras!

For the fourth we went to Grammy and Grandpa's. It was pretty cold. Max took a nap with and Di. He was home and in bed well before any fire works.

We don't have a lot of new pictures because our memory card was filled to the brim! I finally transfered them to a cd. These photos are from today.

As I type, he is telling a tall tale to anyone who will listen!! We hope everyone had a safe fourth!!

Michele

Maximus goes to a wedding for the first time.

Maximus's cousin Katie's wedding was this weekend, and he was invited to come. He was able to meet more of his fans. It was a beautiful event. Max was a little over whelmed at first, but adjusted after a while. It was a really long day for him, he didn't get his naps all day, so when we were finally home, he crashed. Today he was sleepy, but I think he caught up. Congratulations to Katie and Dan, may they enjoy themselves as much as Michele and I. Here are a couple of photo's.

Photo from my friend, Jo, taken June 14, 2009. Those cheeks are impossible not to kiss!

Just a little up date.

Maximus is doing well, he is a strong little man. I am amazed at how fast he heals. You would not know he had just went through surgery. He is back to his smiling self. He is drinking more at each meal, and that is a good thing. He still does not like cereal yet, but we will keep trying. Max has been kept from public so as not to get him sick before he is fully healed. I am sure in the next couple of weeks he will be ready for his public appearances. Until then, I will try to keep up with the updates.

Maximus had his first meal from a spoon!!!

Hi everyone, sorry I have not updated in a couple of weeks. Max has his tube out, he removed it last weekend, to try and ween him self from it I guess. He is not drinking 5oz every five hours, but he will drink about 3oz every two hours. So he is getting his nourishment's.:0) He had a well child exam on Tuesday and has moved up to the 10th percentile for height and weight, this was a 3% increase from his 2 month exam. He is getting back into his normal routine finally. He still isn't supposed to be exposed to too many people or germs.

Today he tried cereal for the first time. I don't think he likes it yet, but you have to start sometime. Also, Jojo kitty left Max his first lucky rabbits foot on the front step this morning.

Well, here are some photos.

Back to the grind for Mommy.

Well, Mommy had to go back to work today. Maximus still has not kicked the feeding tube habit yet. But I have been able to trick him into pulling from the bottle a couple of times. But once he figures out that he is drinking from his bottle, he goes off. LOL Grandma is taking over for His day care lady this week. The day care lady did not feel comfortable with the feeding tube, so she did not want to take him back until he is past it. So we are praying that this week he gets rid of it. I am in Iowa this week, so I won't be much help. But paying the bills will. So thank you guys for keeping us in your prayers. Have a good night.

Today is a better day.

Maximus is in better spirits since I have been home. So he must love me. ;0) I was able to get him to drink a half of a bottle. So that is a good sign he will soon be past his feeding tube. He has been very sleepy today which is good. He is probably thrilled to get some uninterrupted sleep.

Yesterday mommy and grandma took him to his cardiologist during which he proceeded to scream for a good twenty minutes straight! The "no crying" song didn't even work. I'm sure his behavior was due to the drug withdrawals it certainly isn't the Max we all know and love.

Max will stay home with grandma for the week while mommy goes back to work.

Thank you once again for all your prayers. We felt fortunate that we were only back temporarily, there were families still at the hospital from our first visit. One little girl in Moderate Care has been there for nine months!! I will take our two week visits anytime!

Elvis has left the building

Wednesday morning Mommy told me that I would get to go home that day, so I pulled my feeding tube out. I was only trying to help the nurse, but Mommy said I had to have that in when I went home because I still am not drinking my bottle.

Mommy tried to put it back in but I don't like it so I gagged when she was doing it. Grammy played along and gagged with me so Mommy gave up. She put it back in when we got home.

I still have a respiratory infection so I'm not real hungry which may play a part in my not taking my bottle. Other than that, I'm very glad to be home in my own bed!

I'm outta here!

Hi everyone! Just wanted to let you know that they're springing me tomorrow! Mommy and Grammy are packing up their things at the Ronald McDonald house so they'll be ready to go as soon as I can leave. I'll still have a feeding tube, because those nurses have been keeping my belly so full that I haven't wanted to take anything from the bottle. Mommy thinks if I'm given a chance to get hungry, that I'll be fine with taking my bottle again. I still have a respiratory infection, so I'll have to take it easy when I get home. I'm coughing and wheezing a bit still, but not enough to keep me in the hospital. I appreciate all the prayers and support, and I'm looking forward to getting back home.

Love, Maximus

Maximus is on the move again.

Max was moved from moderate care down the hallway to a less urgent care room. He is in better spirits. He had his chest tube removed yesterday. He is still not taking from a bottle yet, so he may have to keep the feeding tube for a little while more. Michele said that maybe Wednesday they may be able to come home. So I pray for that day to come soon. I think he would like it better at home. So keep them in your prayers. I will be going back to work now that Maximus is more stable. I will try to keep this up dated when I here more.

Maximus had his last chest tube taken out last night!!!

That's right, Max had his last chest tube removed last night. He only has a I.V, and feeding tube now. He is still in moderate care for now. But things are starting to look a little brighter. I have some photos to put on, so here they are.