Zoo

We had another fun day at the zoo today. This time we did some of the parts we don't usually do...the deserts, the petting zoo, the water park and the gift shop!

Conner Prairie

The girls and I had the best day at Conner Prairie yesterday! Wow, has it changed since I was a kid. Conner Prairie is a "living history museum" where everything you see transports you back to the 1800's- including the staff that dress, act and speak as if in the 1800's. The newest addition to Conner Prairie is a HUGE helium-filled balloon (that you can ride in) that celebrates the first airmail delivery from Lafayette, IN in 1859. We could see it for miles before we got there.


Another new addition is the Animals Encounters Barn. This is where we went first and it was so neat! Ellie and Josie got to hang out with goats, cows, sheep, ponies, and baby chicks. Josie was a little hesitant at first but warmed up after a little while. Ellie just loved it and glowed with excitement with each animal she got to touch. Her favorite part was holding the baby chicks.


This cow just wanted to be cuddled...so sweet.


Josie finally warmed up to the whole idea when she was given a brush to brush this cute goat. :)



After the animals, we ate lunch in the food court which was right next to the balloon launch area. We sat there and watched the balloon go up and down, up and down, and, finally, after I asked Ellie about 10 times if she would go in the balloon with me, she said yes! (Josie said yes the first time.) So we did it!


We went up in this circular cage where you could see over the outside or down through a hole in the middle.


We went up almost 400 feet!


We could see all the way to the Indianapolis skyline- about 20 miles away.


Ellie and Josie LOVED it and so did I!


After the awesome balloon ride, we went to see the part of Conner Prairie that I remember as a kid: Prairietown


Ellie tried out some old-fashion toys...


saw an old school...


and pumped an old well.


Here's a cute little video of Ellie after we came across some wild chickens in Prairietown.



And here's 100 more pictures of our fun day!

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We were there for 5 hours and still didn't even get to see/do half of what all there is to see/do. We will definitely be going back soon!

Wonderlab

Yesterday we went to the Wonderlab Science Museum in Bloomington. Ellie's favorite part was the water table and Josie LOVED digging in the rock pit.

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Blueberry Picking (and eating!)

I was determined not to miss blueberry season this year and we finally were able to go picking on Friday. It was the first time for myself and the girls and we all had a great time! We found a wonderful place in the country near Lafayette and it was FULL of the best blueberries I've ever had. The absolute best part of it is that they are completely organically grown and therefore they encourage you to sample some right off of the bush since you don't have to worry about washing off any pesticides first. Josie took WELL advantage of this and ingested more blueberries than you could possibly imagine her little tummy could hold. She was in blueberry heaven!







Look how many blueberries she's eating! This went on almost the entire time we were there...

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Good News!

I just spoke with Josie's neurologist and the MRI showed no hydrocephalus and nothing else concerning. The only thing found was a small spot of something called a "nonspecific T2 white matter hyperintensity" on her left hemisphere of her brain, but the doctor said it is nothing to be concerned about and that she sees them often...usually without any explanation of why they are there. So, very good news! We still don't know what is causing her head to grow at a rapid rate, but at least we have now ruled out most of the bad things that could be causing it.

Only 3 of the 11 blood tests have come in and they are all normal so far, also. I will be sure to keep updating as we get the rest in.

Hurray for our healthy, amazing Josie!!!

MRI

We are already home (at 12:30 PM)! Everything went great. Josie came out of the anesthesia just fine and started asking for juice right away. She is, right at this moment, happy at home, sitting in her chair with a juice and a new Elmo coloring book...while her favorite Super Why episode is playing on TV. She couldn't be happier! And neither could we...I am so thankful that it all went well and that it is over! Thanks to everyone who was thinking and praying for her.

Oh, and the best part...they were able to get ALL her labs! It took them four tries, even though she was out, but they got them. Hurray!

Love This Dog...

Ellie has learned to do back flips over Charlie!


Josie likes to use him as a pillow.


Even baby Celia loves Charlie hugs.


These were all taken on the same day... We all sure love our Charlie Dog! :)