A new chapter

For sometime now we were keeping family & friends updated on Josie through her caringbride website: www.caringbridge./visit/josiedowd. Now that we are enjoying some surgery free time, I have decided to change formats a bit. So that is when i decided to start a "FAMILY" blog.

We are extrememly proud of the progress Josie has made over the last 3 years. She has endured 9 surgeries to correct her head, hands and hips, and throughout them all she has remained happy and carefree. Not so say the stress has not taken a toll on mommy & daddy. We are so happy that we are able to share some time toghether without the stress of upcoming surgeries for awhile. Not to leave out Brendan, he has been a trooper as well, adapting to staying at grandma/grandpa's or uncle gary & aunt gina's during hospitalization as well has keeping josie occupied during her 8 months of body casting! He really loves her with all his heart, and doesn't even realize that she is different, talk about unconditional love.

The first day of school is right around the corner...Brendan will be starting second grade and Josie will be in preschool. Josie will attend perinville early education. She will go M-TH from 9-11:30, how exciting! She will get on and off the bus at daycare. We are so lucky that our daycare is so flexible with us. Brendan will attend coolidge, he is hoping to have many of his friends in his class again this year.

Mark is wrapping up another year of fishing tournaments. He has won some and lost some, but we are so proud of him either way. He did not fish as much as usuall this summer, so we were able to hang out a bit more with him this summer which has been so much fun. Hockey is starting for the fall, so keep your fingers crossed that he does not injure his back too bad!

Of course we added a new addition this summer: Max our black lab, who just recently turned 1 and is FULL and i mean FULL of energy. The kids bonded too him quick as did Mark. Not to say I did not bond to him, max and I have a love/hate relationship. I have not become his "pack leader" yet, so he is a bit mischief when I am home alone with him. He has not ate any furniture yet, but my cell phone did!
He is a great dog, loves the kids and is a great addition to our family; and if watching hours of "dog wispherer" with cesar doesn't train him, then we may be in trouble!!

Of course last but not least, I (mommy & wife) am staying busy with work and looking forward to the fall. My favorite time of the year is the fall, the smells of apple cider, leaves, and of course lots of scrapbooking in the fall & winter. Hoping i get good use out of my scrapbooking zone upstairs this fall & winter! Somehow there is just not enough hours in the day....

Not sure where this blog will take us, but thanks for stoping by and ENJOY!!