It's that time again...and yes, I know that we are all feeling the effects of the current conditions of the economy. Chad's business is officially no more, so we are feeling the crunch in a huge way too...but God is bigger than all this and I have faith that we will still have a great turn out for our walk this year! You all know why we support March of Dimes, but I would like to tell you why this year is different. As we are all too aware, the State of Arizona is experiencing its largest budget shortfall in its history. A few of the programs important to the March of Dimes are faring well in these turbulent times. Kids Care, a program that provides health insurance to approximately 65,000 kids was facing cuts from the budget, but thanks to the March of Dimes and many other organizations, this program has been reinstated. The March of Dimes is still waiting to hear the latest on the New Born Screening programs. We’re hopeful for good news about this program. We thank you March of Dimes for all of your efforts for babies and children! The state has most recently cut therapies for many, many children in the state...Dane is one of those children. It is big advocates like the March of Dimes that will be there campaigning against these cuts.

We ask you to prayerfully consider donating to our team, and even better to sign up to be a walker! We had a blast last year at the walk, it's only a 4 mile walk, and it starts early so it won't take up your entire day...I think that we were home last year by 11:30am!

If you would like to donate please click on my March of Dimes badge on the right!

Please enjoy this video!!!

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Dane's 2nd Birthday...and more!

My big two year old!!! CUPCAKES!!! Yum!

Opening gifts

Our budding young carpenter!

His new Radio Flyer trike!!!

What a month we have had! Lets' start with my Bday weekend (Jan.31st), Dane spent three days with Grandma PapPap while the rest of us took a mini vacation to the happiest place earth. It's the first time we have left him for more than an over nighter, and he did great. Three days of undivided attention at Grandman and PapPap's...which to Dane is the happiest place on earth! So we all had a great time that weekend, though we all missed Dane a ton, it was so nice to spend some uninterrupted time with Gage and Katie! (and the fact that were riding Space Mountain didn't hurt!)

On February 9th Chad and I celebrated our 18th anniversary, and then came the big day...February 10, 2009...Dane's second birthday!!! Chad was out of town and I had to work, so we celebrated on the 11th, but I am sure that he didn't mind! We are smack in the middle of a very nasty RSV season, so we opted to not have a party for him. I have several friends that are pediatric nurses and they have told me that the hospital is full of VERY sick RSV babies...so we have been very strict with him going out anywhere or having people over. We did have Grandma and PapPap over for dinner and cupcakes, he opened his gifts, and considering he didn't get to celebrate with all of his cousins and friends I think that he had a great 2nd birthday. I did promise him a big party when he turns three, so we will look forward to a house full of friends and family for next years bday party. Someone did give him a special present for his birthday, I don't know who gave it to him or when on his birthday he actually opened this gift, but we know that he received it...AN ATTITUDE!!! This gift has enabled him to test us repeatedly on his limits and show us that he would rather go into time out then do what is sometimes asked of him. So, if anyone out there would like to send me the receipt for this gift we would like to exchange for something else!!! :)

Dane had an evaluation with an occupational therapist, actually someone from our old church who knows Dane and has been praying for him (which is too cool), and he said that he was border line for needing services...which I think is a great thing! He said the same thing that we really already knew, he is weak on his left side and if we continue to work hard with him we should continue to see improvement. We opted to do some home therapy with Chad and I, then have him re-evaluated in about three months. He is getting physical therapy twice a month, where we are working on balance and strengthening his left side, and stretching out his left side too. He is still doing great with speech, and I think he has mostly caught up to his peers in this area! He still has choking episodes, mostly with saliva which his speech therapist thinks mostly has to do with his left sided weakness that affects his tongue and mouth. But the choking continues to happen less and less, so we are thankful for that.

Dane is soooo smart! He knows his colors and most shapes, he knows to say "sorry" if he bumps into you, he loves to watch NOGGIN and when it is not on he will say, "Noggin, pul-ease!" followed by, "remote go???" so we can change the channel. He is a Daddy's boy for sure, he loves his Daddy and is easily heart broken when his Daddy has to scold him. Me, on the other hand, could scold him all day with out much notice. He also loves coloring and playing with play-doh, and playing with his trucks too. He loves to dance, though when he dances it looks like he has a 30lb weight on his head...it's actually very funny, I need to catch him on video!

We are enjoying some beautiful weather and playing a lot outside, Dane loves going to the park. He is totally fearless which can be challenging as I run around the jungle gym from side to side in case he falls! His favorite way to go down the slide is head first, which I know is a no-no, but before I have a change to yell...there he goes again...head first. Look out Evil Knievel...here comes the 'Great Dane'!

We are getting ready to return to the March for Babies event on April 18th, we are excited to possibly have more walkers join team Great Dane this year! I will be posting more details very soon, as well as sending out emails to kick off my official fund raising!