More Gieser fun

Yes, these Africans really were in Wheaton! How fun that we got to (very briefly) see Darlington & Hillary (in Wheaton to attend grad school for 2 years), and Mawethu & Lisa (on a road trip visiting friends).

SURPRISE!! Granddad had the most excellent idea to rent a bouncy house for 3 days - and thankfully their yard is big enough to hold it! The kids spent hours out there jumping, sliding, chasing, hiding, and even playing house in it. And then of course they all slept soundly at night after all that exercise.

Meanwhile, the dads could sit back and watch...

Fourth of July! Ready to head to the parade in their new red shirts and holding up Star Wars Pez candies from Nonna.

Whoever invented these new bouquet water balloons was brilliant! Hundreds of balloons fill up quickly and self-tie at the top, so every kid could have his/her own stash.

For supper on the 4th, Mom and Dad hosted all the extended family in town (cousins and 2nd cousins and aunt & uncle). It is so special to see them, especially since Jim grew up celebrating holidays with this extended family and now the next generation is getting to continue those relationships. I always wish we had more time to spend together!

We also had our family photos taken, but we don't have those back yet from the photographer to share. And of course there were other activities that we didn't get photos of, like: lunch and a visit on Wheaton campus; ladies shoe shopping trip; church; pizza night; walks around the neighborhood; and a trip to the Eye Clinic to pick out new glasses (it wouldn't be a Gieser reunion if someone wasn't getting their eyes checked!).

Thank you, Dad and Mom, for a wonderful reunion! Summertime at Granddad and Nonna's is the best!!

Gieser family time over July 4th holiday

We had a wonderful, fun and relaxing (yes, it was actually relaxing!!) week up in Wheaton with the extended Gieser family. Eight cousins under 7 years old this year and eight adults. The last time we had been together was two years ago, and we were all gratified this time to see how well the kids played together - which meant we adults had a bit more time to talk with each other, in between crazy, loud meals that is.

On our first full day the majority of the family headed to downtown Chicago to the Aquarium, which was a first for most of the kids (I stayed behind with Mattias and Hawk, and Nonna). They had a blast and saw some amazing fish and ocean mammals.

L to R: Elsie, Avery, Bella, David, Timo, Millie

Noah & Katie, Tiff & Steve

Brothers!

Nonna found a deal on a blow-up pool (from Aldi) and the kids spent many, many hours out in the backyard splashing and playing water games. It was perfect. Timo and David in particular seemed to enjoy it and had a blast splashing each other and rough-housing.

Meanwhile, I spent a lot of my time with this little one!

 Typical scene for the week  - the Lego table (with boys in swimsuits) and the food table (with the 2 youngest - not counting Hawk - still eating).

On the 2nd morning we woke up to this parade of penguins and sign that had been placed on the front lawn. Naturally, Nonna also had matching outfits for all the kids.

The best time is just sitting on the steps at the house, chatting and relaxing while the kids play.

In the playhouse, which doubled as the art house this year, filled with supplies

More coming in the next post...

Yummy

With this boy, we are celebrating and marveling at every small, new thing he learns - so look who discovered how to get his hands (especially the right one) up to his mouth for a little nibble! That's what you'll find him doing in the stroller most of the time on a walk now.

He is 2-3 weeks into doing therapy for his joints and limbs, and we are impressed at the differences it has made already in his mobility. He can raise his arms higher, open his hands and stretch out his fingers, straighten his head/neck better, and open up his hips better.

Casts in progress

Hawk is now on his 5th set of corrective casts for his feet! The process to correct his "inverted talus" started when he was 3 weeks old (the same time as babies born with club feet, at least here in a country that has the medical care to correct the feet so early on), and the orthopedic doctor anticipates approximately 8 weeks of weekly soft casts, which slowly angle his feet down and inwards. Babies' bones are mostly cartilage at this age, so they are pliable and correct much more easily, and heal more quickly. This procedure is called "Ponseti casts". At the end there is a surgery to insert a pin up his heel, through his ankle and into the base of the leg bone; they also will cut the Achilles tendon so it can lengthen as it heals. After the surgery Hawk will have his final cast for 3 weeks.

Dr Raustol has seen a lot of success in children that go through this process, though he is a bit uncertain of how Hawk's body will respond, considering the tightness in joints that he was born with. It may mean the reshaping will take some extra time, or that Hawk will be more prone to regress in the future and will likely wear orthotics once he starts walking (we hope and pray!). So far the process has gone quite smoothly and we are already seeing the changes in his feet. Just today they took x-rays of his feet and saw the talus bone has moved the right direction, but still has some movement to make, so Dr Raustol has added two weeks to his casting process and then will take x-rays again.

We are SO thankful for the access to quality medical care, which hopefully means that Hawk's feet and legs will work properly and he will be walking and running normally in his life!!

Here are some progress photos. The first two show what his feet looked like when he was born.

And - photos from his first set of casts. He has done SO WELL and never even cried while they put on or take off the casts. The first week he pooped and peed all over the table (because they have to loosen the diaper to put the casts on high enough) and got quite a reputation... but he hasn't done that again. The casts go all the way from toes to thigh to ensure that he's not making any movement in his legs to disrupt the bones.

In the meantime, Hawk has started smiling! And he has long periods in the day when he is alert and happy and looking around. He seems to like to hear his brothers and will turn his head to see them. He also loves lying down, stretching and making cute noises and listening intently.

And two photos from today. He gets a precious 10-15 minutes between casts to stretch out his legs and get some nice touches and massages from mommy. It's really amazing to see him kick his legs and stretch out, because when he was born he didn't do any of that! The nurse also weighed and measured him today: 3.62 kg/8 lbs and 20.5 inches long. (That's 2 inches grown since birth!)

Look at the change in his left foot! (and a lot of dry skin)

Good job, little Hawk! We are so proud of you!

Creek walk with cousins

Summertime means family time! We LOVED having the Weltys here for two days - if only it could have been longer. They are on a break from Texas for the summer and spent a couple of weeks in nearby Montreat, so twice they were able to come over for the day to hang out. The boys really hit it off with legos and good guy/bad guy games, and once again Lillian was adored by her younger cousins (Mattias followed her around and she was very patient and helpful with him).

Meanwhile Rachel was also here with us (on her own! party!) for 5 days. The boys were so, so excited to have her - and Timo barely stopped talking her ear off or asking, "Auntie, do you want to play with me?"

It doesn't take long to get to it with legos!

On Saturday we all trooped along Fisher's Creek (trail just on the edge of town). It was a bit cool and cloudy but still great to be on the trail and near (or in!) the water. I think this counts as Hawk's first hike.

this is Timo's new "explaining" posture

 

Cold!

Back home for the afternoon. The sisters got to go out together for coffee during naptime, while the Welty kids checked out the public library. And then it was time for smiles from Hawk and supper outside.

Time for a little Far Side before bedtime and good-byes