Two Months Post Surgery

Rowan recovered wonderfully from his surgery. We met with the neurosurgeon at Gillette in mid July, and he said everything looked great. We don't have to go back until next year for a follow up. Rowan even had his first haircut since the surgery and it didn't bother his scar at all. Now that his hair is shorter his scar stands out a lot more, though.

Rowan is talking all the time now. After we waited so long for him to be able to get his words out, it is really fun to listen to him. Sometimes his mind still works faster than his tongue, and in the middle of a sentence he will mumble a few extra syllables until he can come around again to the words he's looking for. 
His ability to ask and answer questions has improved greatly too. And, of course, so has his ability to express himself verbally when he doesn't want to do something or doesn't agree with what Mommy or Daddy is saying. (Of course, this is not new for us, considering Ian has always been a negotiator when it comes to wanting his way). 

Sometimes if Rowan is talking on the phone to grandparents we need to do a little translating, since he is usually talking about something in front of him, and the grandparents have no reference point. That is when and if he decides to talk on the phone. 

This summer has been so much fun with him loving swimming. We spend time in our backyard pool, the local pool, the lakes, etc. 

Ian has been busy this summer with 3 Boy Scout trips and Camps, Seabase SCUBA in Florida (which Jeff put together, organized, and attended also), summer camp in Wisconsin, and a week long Boundary Waters trip. He loves being outdoors. 
When he is home, he always seems to have friends over. He has a group of really nice kids he hangs out with, which we are very happy about. 
 Ian moves over to the high school this year. Even though he was a high school student last year, ninth grade was housed in the Junior High. Although he did bus to the Sr. High for his Honors Biology class. This year he is at the high school. His classload will be varied. Along with some honors courses like Social Studies and Science, he also is taking a small gas engines class. He is getting a lot of diversity which I think it great. I can't recall what else he is taking, I'll have to have him refresh my memory.

Also, he is talking about going out for Cross Country Running. He has a couple of friends who are twins who are joining and Ian is interested. He has been out running almost every day this summer, so I think he is serious about it. We'll keep you posted on that.

Our doggy is loving having us around this summer and of course loves any time she spends up at the lake with Grandma and Grandpa Stanton. Waiting on some lab results from the vet after she had a seizure as we entered the groomer yesterday. She has such nervous energy, I thought for sure that was the reason, but the vet doesn't thinks so. We'll see what they say.
 Stay tuned...