Baptism, birthdays, and more doctor appointments

On July 14 Ashlynn was baptized at our church in Owatonna with our family around us.  Raising our children in our faith is important to us so this was special day.  We are honored that Uncle Pat and Aunt Krystal became Ashlynn’s godparents.  Ashlynn did very well during the brief ceremony.  She likes having her hair done and to look at her pretty self in the mirror so wearing her baptism dress we brought in China was fun for her.  She wasn’t sure what to think when Father Cronin poured the holy water over her head but she didn’t fuss too long.  Her big brothers watched over the whole process very closely.

The Kleckers

The Lanoues

After Baptism, our families joined us to our house for lunch and to celebrate the boys’ July birthdays.  It was a wonderful day!  We are grateful that so many members of our families were able to spend the day with us.  We are blessed with such a strong support system!
In the afternoon, Derek and Mason hosted the first Klecker Brothers backyard baseball game.  The birthday boys were the captain of their teams and each carefully picked their uncles, aunts, and cousins to be on their teams.  Derek and Mason are still debating whose team actually won the game!

Ashlynn and the birthday boys

Derek turned 8 on July 21.  He spent the day in one of his favorite places doing one of his favorite things . . . at Target Field watching the Twins.  Unfortunately the Twins didn’t win but Derek still had a good day.  Ashlynn tolerated the game about as well as any one-year-old.  The warm sun and the lack of a good nap made for a few long innings but she liked walking around the concourse with Mom waving at anyone who would smile at her.   Since it was Kids Day, the boys got to run the bases after the game.  Troy even took Ashlynn around the bases, setting her down to touch her foot on each base.  Her proud Daddy may have enjoyed this as much as Ashlynn!

Monday, July 22 marked the end of Brandi’s 10 week maternity leave from work.  What a wonderful adventure these 10 weeks have been.  It’s hard to believe our two week stay in China and our first eight weeks home as a family of 5 is already behind us.  The first days on our new routine has gone well.  Getting all five of us out the door in the morning takes a bit of organization and some luck but we’re figuring it out.  Ashlynn seems to be adjusting to daycare.  She really enjoys being around all of her new friends.  We are glad the boys will be with her all day for several weeks before they go back to school.
Ashlynn’s doctor appointments continue.  Ashlynn saw ENT which confirmed that her ears are clearing up and there is no concern with her hearing at this time.  She saw our family doctor yesterday and got her first set of vaccinations.  Ashlynn received vaccinations in China but she has a few shots to get her caught up to US guidelines.  She isn't a fan of anyone in a white coat or blue scrubs and this clinic visit didn't help any! 
We saw the plastic surgeon today.  She was pleased with how well Ashlynn lip has been coming together.  She believes Ashlynn will be ready for surgery in September.  Ashlynn also started physical therapy today to help get her gross motor skills caught up.  We are pleased with how much strength she has already gained.  She’s still not crawling but she is finding creative ways to roll, turn, and scoot herself on the floor to get to what she wants (which is usually one of her brothers’ toys).  We are confident she will learn to crawl and walk before long.  And then watch out Derek and Mason!

Thank you to everyone who continues to read our blog and follow our journey.  Please leave us a comment and let us know who is on this journey with us.

Meeting the newest member of the Klecker family, Miss Hayden Renee

Our new normal

Life is returning to "normal", whatever that is.  We are adjusting to our home filled with the energy of three children.  Our days seem to go by so quickly with all our summer activities.  It's hard to believe we've been home from China for almost seven weeks now.  We are so proud of how well all three of our kids have adjusted to this big change in our family. 

Ashlynn's surgery was over two weeks ago already.  The two days following surgery were a little rough.  She developed a fever and was just not herself.  The doctors were unsure if the fever was related to her lip adhesion or infection in her ears but a few days of antibiotics did the trick.  By the end of the week, we had a smiley little girl back! 

Ashlynn was feeling so much better that we took in a Twins game at Target Field together on June 29.  It was our first game of the season and Ashlynn's first game ever.  Her big brother Derek, our devoted Twins fan and lover of anything baseball, was so excited.  He tells everyone that Ashlynn is lucky because she got to see her first home run at Target Field and the major league debut of starting pitcher Kyle Gibson--details she'll likely never appreciate as much as Derek! :)  Ashlynn did pretty well at the game.  Ashlynn, Mason, and Brandi spent a few innings walking around in search of Mason's favorite ballpark treat, mini-donuts, and taking Mason's picture next to every thing he found interesting.  It was a great day at the ballpark!  We're sure Ashlynn will find herself at many more games in the years to come.



July 2 was Mason's 5th birthday.  We celebrated at Chuck E Cheese with Uncle Pat, Aunt Krystal, and Gavin. 

It was a tough day for Ashlynn.  During lunch, Ashlynn's stitches on one side of her lip let go.  It had not healed as well as the other side and was open again.  There was very little bleeding and it didn't seem to cause her much pain.  This was a risk the surgeon had told us about on the day of surgery but since it was over a week post surgery we thought we were beyond that possibility.  We had our first follow-up appointment with the plastic surgeon that afternoon.  She too was surprised this happened so many days after surgery but was very reassuring that it was nothing we did or didn't do.  Ashlynn now has to wear a band across her upper lip that is anchored by adhesive to each check.  This is doing the job the stitches would have done.  It's pulling the tissue of the lip and palate together and pulling down the middle part of the upper lip.  We were so disappointed that Ashlynn went through surgery and all the discomfort afterwards to only have to wear this band but we know it will all be worth it in the long-term.  The band doesn't seem to bother Ashlynn.  She only gets upset when we have to change it every few days.

Ashlynn made her first trip to the Brandi's parent's farm over the 4th of July.  Ashlynn did great sleeping away from home and loved seeing her grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins.  On Saturday, we celebrated the wedding of Brandi's goddaughter, Michele, and her new husband Scott.  It was a fun day and a great chance for Ashlynn to meet many members of her extended family.  Ashlynn loved the music at the wedding dance.  She like to bounce to the music and wave her arms.  We have a dancer on our hands!

 



11 Lanoue Grandchildren

We saw the plastic surgeon again on Tuesday.  She was very pleased with the changes in Ashlynn's lip.  We will see her again at the end of the month when we'll starting planning for Ashlynn's second surgery which will most likely be in September.  In the doctor's office, Ashlynn weight 18 pounds!  She's gained 2 1/2 pounds since we were in China.  

So we continue to find our new "normal".  Ashlynn tags along for the boys' swimming lessons and baseball games.  She loves being outside so she doesn't seem to mind.  This weekend is Ashlynn's baptism and the boys' birthday party with our families.  Another great weekend to look forward to!