Weekend in D.C.

Chloe

Claire is all Smiles!

Carrying the soccer ball I think she is trying to tell us something~!

in the tunnel at the park!

Claire and Chloe on Aunt Connie and Uncle Ed's porch.

Claire and I went to Alexandria, VA this past weekend to visit with family. We got to see Uncle Brad, Aunt Danielle, Cousin Chloe, Aunt Connie, and Uncle Ed! It was a lot of fun but exhausting the same time. We love getting to see everyone. Claire and Chloe played pretty well with each other, Claire got frustrated here and there, but all in all it was a great trip. Claire and Chloe went to the park one day and on a walk another and played and played! Chloe loved to put Claire's binky's in her mouth, and take them out too! I wish we all lived closer since the girls get along pretty great! The days fly by when we are there, which stinks because before you know it we are on our way home! :o( This was our first trip since Claire had Surgery and it will probably be our last because of how today went. She fell at a gas station on our way home and her hand started bleeding. It scared me more than anything I thought we had ruined all of our progress. I called the Doctor and I took pictures and emailed it to them again and tomorrow we will see if they want us to come up for X-rays. Claire want's to walk and be in constant movement it is so hard with her extenders on, hopefully we will make the next few weeks without another accident. She held up pretty good she cried for about 10 minutes and then slept for awhile and was pretty good in the car and when we got home. I don't think she did any severe damage because she is pretty happy, but we will see what they say tomorrow. Please say a little prayer for our baby angel. We are laying low until next weekend when Grandpa Richey will be here!!

We have our walker almost back!

Emma opening her presents at her Birthday Party!! :o) She is now 2!

Claire at Emma's Party

Daddy and Claire :o)

Thursday was a busy day for the Richey Family, we had another appointment at Cleveland Clinic, a visit with Grandpa Inks, a visit with Grammy Tracy, and a walk to the park. Our appointment at Cleveland Clinic went great! We are no longer turning the keys!! So that is one less fight I have to deal with each day!! O wait let me back up a little bit, Monday Claire was just standing and watching TV and fell face first! Scared me and her very much! She cried and cried and her right hand became swollen by her wrist, at first I thought she may have broke her wrist, but luckily that didn't happen. Her right hand was starting to puss and scab so I called her Dr. and thought there might be an infection, so they put her on antibiotics just to make sure. So back to Thursday, we had a good appointment. He thought everything looked great! We are only going every 2 weeks now! Yay! We will be going to D.C. with no problems this coming Thursday! I asked how long the extenders would be on and Dr. Bill said that probably around 2 months, so we are looking at early or mid June for our next surgery, which will be to just take off the extenders and possibly cut back some skin. All is great to hear!! I just want her to be able to enjoy the summer and be able to get wet! So after the good news we left Beachwood and headed to Kingston to see Grandpa Inks. He is being a real trooper and hanging in there! He lights up every time he sees Claire so we try to get in there to see him as much as we can. Then to Grammy's where Claire decided she was ready to walk again! She was zipping here and there and very careful when she would fall, she shoves her butt back so she falls on her butt. Although the first time she went head first she put her hands out so she landed on her face and chest. A smart cookie, I am sure!! Then we took Claire to the park, which she loves! She loves the swing and slide! She greets everyone she sees now with a "Hi" we were telling her she should be the greeter for the doctor's office or Walmart, who knows?! We have been without Fredpa this whole week and we survived! He has been in Florida visiting Aunt Joey, I am sure he has been having tons of fun and will have many stories to share! We had a play date with Claire's friend Emma today and was tons of fun! Emma is one of my best friend's little girl who is turning 2! We have a birthday party to go to tomorrow! Emma did really good with Claire and her hands I didn't have her covers on and I was really impressed.

13 months!

my new foot!
No More Casts!!
peter cottontail
Happy Easter!!
her fingers growing! march 30th


BabyHayden!

I Can't believe Claire is 13 months! A lot has changed in the past month, she started walking, turned 1, had surgery, grew her fingers over 15 mm!, gained a new cousin/friend, got her foot cast off! What a crazy month! I'm sorry I didn't update after her last appointment it was a very long day! We have been going up on Mondays and that is when her doctor does surgery so we wait and wait until he has time to see her, which is not fun with a 1 year old. We would get there about 11 and not even see Dr. seitz until 2 or 2:30. But thankfully they changed our appointments to Thursdays now and he doesn't do surgery on Thursdays so the process shouldn't be as long! Last week they noticed one of the extenders wasn't working so we had to double up on turns, so it will eventually catch up with the others. As of yesterday everything looked great and Dr. Seitz was very happy with everything, Claire not so much but that is expected. He let her take her leg cast off!!! We were super excited about that! She will pull to stand on it, and has taken one step. I'm going to guess in a week she will be walking, but I will not push her to do it, she will start back at it when she is ready. So enough about surgery! She has been kind of a crank for the past few weeks, we are thinking that she has more teeth coming in and her ears may be bothering her. So I bought so homeopathic Ear Ache drops in hopes that it will make her feel better. If not we will be off to the doctor :o( We have been lucky to have such nice weather Claire has been on many walks that she loves! Our new thing is taking her to the pet store to see the animals, and she loves it! So I am sure the zoo will be a hit this spring and summer! Claire's Cousin/Friend Hayden Christen was born on March 31st weighing in at 8lb 8oz 22 1/2 inches long! (his daddy called the weigh exactly). He was born at Wooster Hospital and by Dr. Weeman (same hospital and doctor that delivered Claire). I was able to be there for most of the day trying to help Brittny as much as I could, but I had to leave to tend to my own baby. Mitch and I both started school last week, and it hasn't been too bad so far. I like my classes and I am pretty sure Mitch does too. Mitch's Brother Bryan also left for Basic Training on the 28th, and so far we hear is doing well and likes it! Claire and I will be making a trip to Columbus tomorrow with Grammy Tracy and Aunt Lyda to see Grandpa Inks. He was life flighted to Grant Hospital in Columbus on Monday because he has an aneurysm in his stomach, he seems to be doing better so we have been praying everything turns out ok! We had a great Easter, Claire got all kinds of goodies and Mommy and Daddy let her spend the night for the first time by herself! She stayed with Grandma Crystal and Fredpa for the night and didn't do too bad. We laid low on Sunday we came over to the Kell's for lunch and then came home and did some homework and went to bed! We hope everyone else had a great day! Claire is completely off Formula and doing ok, she would prefer juice and water over milk, but she has been doing ok. She has been talking more and more! On Sunday she said "Kitty Cat" but in her mind everything says ooof! (woof!) We are looking forward to a possible trip to D.C. to see Uncle Brad, Aunt Danielle, Cousin Chloe, Aunt Connie, and Uncle Ed! Grandma Crystal and Fredpa are going at the end of April, Claire and I will be going as long is it is permitted by Dr. Seitz. The past few weeks have been pretty crazy but we are hoping things will slow down a bit.