Teeny Tiny Hopkins

Merry Christmas 2011!

2011-12-26T17:24:00.001-05:00

Best Christmas ever! Such a blessing to have a healthy, happy little girl off of oxygen so we could go to holiday parties and travel to visit family this year. We are thankful every single day for the wonderful year that we have had. Thanks to everyone who got Lucy something for Christmas. We are truly blessed and look forward to another great year.Happy Holidays, everyone!

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-22T11:46:00.001-05:00

A snapshot of this year's Christmas card.Our beautiful family wishes everyone a Merry Christmas and wonderful New Year!

Christmas Cards Past

2011-12-22T11:45:00.000-05:00

A review of Christmas past. 7 years of glorious cards, 2004 to 2010.Click to view the entire set.

Elmo Time

2011-12-22T11:43:00.001-05:00

Lucy's BFF

100% All Veggie Patty

2011-10-31T21:52:00.001-04:00

"I've fallen and I can't get up."

Socks? We don't need no stinking socks.

2011-10-23T01:06:00.003-04:00

Sorting cups. Destroying the bookcase. Yelling at plastic forks. Tearing off socks. Getting ready for bed.

Excited for Fall

2011-10-14T20:55:00.001-04:00

Lucy is still toobie free and we couldn't be more excited to play in the leaves outside for Fall. We are all looking forward to our first hayride together next weekend.

Lucy Talk

2011-10-12T09:35:00.001-04:00

Apple Orchard

2011-10-09T22:07:00.016-04:00

Lucy helped pick apples at an apple orchard today. She was pretty good quality control, but if anyone eats an apple with a worm in it, we know who to blame.

Buddy Walk

2011-09-28T21:29:00.000-04:00

Lucy's team, Buddy's Beauties, have raised an astounding $11,423 and are currently in 1st place in team totals! Unbelievable! We're so excited to be walking with eight new friends.

Last year, Team "Catalina Joyce" was the winning Buddy Walk team, raising an incredible $11,140. So, we're very excited to have done so well this year.

If you haven't donated yet, please help support Lucy and her team by making a small donation. We only have two more days to secure our lead!

Thanks for your support, everyone!

Toobie Free!

2011-09-26T21:16:00.003-04:00

Notice anything different?

NO MORE OXYGEN! And new glasses!

At Lucy's cardiology appointment today, it was finally decided to try her off of oxygen for an extended amount of time (probably indefinitely). Now that she's scooting around the house, the last thing she needs is a tube holding her back.

We're so excited to see that beautiful face once again!

Zoom Zoom

2011-09-02T13:16:00.014-04:00

Lucy is ready for a night out on the town with her spiffy haircut, new orthotics and shoes.

Farty Mouth

2011-08-28T11:24:00.002-04:00

Practicing for the Raspberry Blowing Championship.

Team Buddy's Beauties

2011-08-26T14:49:00.003-04:00

It's that time again for the years' most fun event! The Buddy Walk! This year, Lucy has teamed up with eight other beautiful girls to create a team of beauties, because what could possibly be better than an all girl team? Lucy looks forward to walking (or riding in a wagon) with her new friends.

We hope you can help support Down Syndrome Indiana and team Buddy's Beauties by making a small donation at Lucy's fundraising page. Lucy is participating to help promote advocacy, raise awareness and show everyone just how awesome Down Syndrome is.

Thanks for your support everyone!

Get Your Motor Runnin'

2011-07-13T19:59:00.010-04:00

Lucy has been cruising the streets in her new ride. They may only be 3" rims, but she keeps them clean.

Teeth!

2011-07-11T09:24:00.006-04:00

Showing off her full set of razor-sharp shark teeth. Also, you can see the "play corner" in our living room. No, this child is not spoiled at all.

Picking Blueberries

2011-07-09T16:26:00.032-04:00

Lucy was an excellent helper to pick blueberries and blackberries. She was in charge of quality control which was basically smashing everything she could get her hands on.

Then again, next time she won't be in charge of quality control.

Peek-a-Boo!

2011-07-06T21:28:00.037-04:00

Thanks again to everyone for the lovely prayers, thoughts and wishes. We couldn't have done this without your support. We truly appreciate all of the good people out there that were thinking about our little munchkin during surgery.

Lucy has been recovering extremely well at home. Her oxygen saturation levels are around 93-94% without extra O2s, so she's at the low end of where we would like her to be. So, for the time being she's still on very little oxygen, 1/4 to 1/2 liter flow. We have a follow-up cardiology appointment tomorrow and pulmonology appointment later this month to review her current medications and discuss oxygen requirements.

We are so excited to hopefully have a toobie free baby soon. In the meantime, our little butterball couldn't be more happy to be home. And so are we.

Home Sweet Home!

2011-06-27T21:08:00.002-04:00

Guess who's excited to be home!

We were released directly from the ICU this afternoon. Lucy did so well, we are so proud of our warrior princess. This kiddo is stronger than an ox!

Healthy Heart Club, Update 6

2011-06-25T10:38:00.003-04:00

Lucy had a big day yesterday. Her chest tube was removed, arterial line was pulled, pacemaker wires were pulled and sedation was stopped. She woke up a happy, smiling girl. It was so nice to see her beautiful blue eyes again.

We left the ICU and were moved to the Heart Center.

If it sounds too good to be true, it is.

Lucy's blood pressure was really low all night even after receiving dopamine. And in true Lucy fashion, we are back in ICU. Been awake for way too long and we're all in a delirious stupor.

Healthy Heart Club, Update 5

2011-06-23T22:29:00.000-04:00

Not many changes today. We started G-tube feedings which she has been tolerating just fine. Trust me, you don't want this girl to go too long without any food in her belly, because if she's anything like her mother (she is), she gets mean as a snake when she's hungry (I'm a dead man).

The main thing today obviously was letting Lucy rest. She slept for 5 hours straight without moving an inch this afternoon. Followed by 3 hours of pure wiggling. It's 10PM now and she's once again fast asleep.

Speaking with the doctors, tomorrow we hope to start taking away some of the toobies that plague our sleeping beauty. On her right hand she has an IV and arterial line, which is boarded and wrapped up. This is referred to as her "clubbing hand", as it works best as a bat. The other hand is covered with a sock secured down with a velcro restraint; child's play for our little Houdini.

She has been doing well on 1 liter of oxygen all day long, which is where she was before surgery. The million dollar question is, will she still require oxygen after she has healed? Time will soon tell.

Healthy Heart Club, Update 4

2011-06-23T07:33:00.000-04:00

SHE'S A GRUMPY GIRL DON'T TOUCH HER MOM AND DAD NEED SLEEP SEND HELP

Our little wiggle monster had an okay first night. She was very restless, trying to find that fine line of just the right amount of sedation.

She is on Fentanyl (among many others), a narcotic pain killer, which causes itchy skin, especially in the nose and face. Poor thing will stop at nothing to scratch her nose, which she literally rubbed raw last night with a sock-covered hand.

Should be an interesting sock puppet show today.

Healthy Heart Club, Update 3

2011-06-22T21:34:00.005-04:00

Lucy resting peacefully (for now) in her temporary home in ICU. She doesn't plan on staying long so we will skip the decorations this time around.

Lucy is currently on a hefty dose of three sedation meds to keep her from tearing the ICU apart. She's basically one step away from a horse tranquilizer.

She kicked butt today and we couldn't be more proud of her. She's the toughest little soul we know.

Sleeping Beauty

2011-06-22T18:11:00.004-04:00

Our gentle giant is asleep for now. We are not responsible for damaged property from this child once the sedation wears off.

Healthy Heart Club, Update 2

2011-06-22T16:52:00.002-04:00

Good news, Lucy is off of bypass! Her little ticker is pumping again and they got her chest closed and stitched.

The best news of all, is that she's comfortably breathing on her own on 2 liters of oxygen. We are absolutely thrilled that they were able to pull her breathing tube so quickly after surgery this time.

We are still anxiously waiting to be reunited with our little peanut and can't wait to see her. More updates tonight.

We Heart Lucy

2011-06-22T11:03:00.002-04:00

Thanks everyone for the prayers, wishes and warm thoughts for Lucy. We're sending her awesome thoughts for a successful surgery and speedy recovery.

Healthy Heart Club, Update 1

2011-06-22T10:38:00.001-04:00

There are few things as a parent that are as difficult as watching your daughter go through open heart surgery, especially twice. Putting her life literally in the hands of surgeons and doctors is a feeling far beyond overwhelming. Indescribable heartache.

They often say that life isn't fair and for Lucy, that statement rings true. We would give anything in the world to trade places so she never had to feel pain again. She has endured and been through so much already, it breaks our hearts to put her through it again.

Lucy is in surgery now and we are nervously waiting for updates from the rounding nurse. Every time someone walks by, our hearts sink further into our stomachs. It's going to be a long day.

And so begins the second chapter in Lucy's life. A healthy new beginning. For as much love and joy that little bug has in her big heart, she certainly deserves a healthy one.

Come back to us soon, sweet girl.

Heart Surgery II

2011-06-21T23:05:00.001-04:00

Our sweet little Lucy undergoes open heart surgery number two tomorrow at 7:30am.

Please keep her in your thoughts and prayers.

Heart Surgery, Round II

2011-05-18T14:40:00.002-04:00

Lucy had a cardiac cath procedure yesterday to help explain the continued oxygen requirements and the handful of heart medications that she has been on since her heart surgery in August of 2009. Unfortunately, a significant Atrial Septal Defect (a hole in the wall that separates the right and left atriums of the heart) was found, causing oxygenated blood returning from the lungs to mix with deoxygenated blood. Also, there is a minor hole in the repaired patch of her ventricle wall from her first surgery. The mitral and tricuspid valves also have slight leaking which will need to be repaired.

Lucy's surgery date is scheduled for June 20th. We were afraid that she would need another heart surgery, but we didn't expect it to be so soon. It's a nice relief to finally have an explanation for her complications and luckily it's something that can be repaired. Putting Lucy through another open heart surgery is the last thing we want to do, but if it fixes her heart and takes away her continuous oxygen requirement, then it's obviously something that has to be done to give her the freedom she deserves. We just hope this surgery goes better than the first one.

Sanibel Vacation

2011-05-10T09:12:00.069-04:00

We visited Sanibel Island in Florida for a much needed getaway vacation. It has been three years since our last vacation before Lucy was born and we have never taken a family vacation together before. Lucy has never rode in the car for longer than two hours, so we didn't know how well she would do on a 17-hour car ride. It was definitely a journey for everyone. Surprisingly, Lucy did very well and absolutely loved the beach and water. We had no idea she was such a water baby.

We enjoyed 9 long days with beautiful sunny, 90-degree weather. We had daily bike rides and visited the pool every day. It was definitely just like paradise and we didn't want to leave.

The trip was extremely liberating. If we can travel 1,200 miles by car with a toddler on oxygen, there's nothing we can't do and we're already looking forward to returning next year.

Relaxing under the Sun Smarties beach cabana tent.

Enjoying the beach!

"I don't want my toes to get wet!"

OMG!

Water Logged Sausages

Ready to go for the daily bike ride.

"Not quite sure what we think about this."

Paradise

2011-05-02T21:39:00.001-04:00

Sanibel Island at sunset.

Sanibel Island

2011-04-28T18:58:00.001-04:00

Lookout fellas! I'm at the beach!

This is Lucy's first trip ever and our first vacation in three years after Lucy was born. Traveling with oxygen is difficult and it took months of planning. The drive took two days and many hours.

The family has a house on Sanibel and so the tradition for Lucy begins, vacationing every year at Sanibel, the home away from home.

Easter

2011-04-24T14:52:00.005-04:00

Hope everyone is having a wonderful Easter!

Hoppy Easter!

2011-04-24T13:51:00.000-04:00

Happy Easter from a true egg head!

Signing Time!

2011-04-13T15:27:00.000-04:00

One of our favorite educational videos that Lucy has been watching is Baby Signing Time. The videos have taught Lucy more than 10 signs already and she learns a new one almost everyday now. Several from her repertoire include: Mommy, Daddy, socks, shoes, hat, jacket, eat, milk, thank you, more, all done, bye-bye and car.

Springtime Ponytail

2011-04-12T09:22:00.033-04:00

We're so excited for the arrival of Spring. Time to get outside again and enjoy playing in the sunshine. We're also planning a vacation to Florida at the end of the month, which is something that is 3 years well overdue. Traveling by plane is out of the question due to the high cost of renting an oxygen concentrator for the flight. Portable tanks aren't allowed and rental costs would be over $1000 for the trip.

A 20-hour car ride with a two-year old who can't normally sit still for more than an hour should be pretty interesting. We'll probably need a second vacation after that trip. Nonetheless, we're ready to get out of Indiana and put our feet in the sand.

Ear Tubes

2011-03-18T10:15:00.002-04:00

Lucy is at Riley Hospital this morning getting ear tubes. She got a hefty dose of sleepy medicine before going back.

Playroom Project

2011-03-17T13:01:00.001-04:00

We worked diligently last month to finish converting a spare bedroom into Lucy's playroom. Painting that many stripes on a wall was tedious work and took several rolls of blue painter's tape and coats of paint. The furniture all came from IKEA and other furnishings came from Target. We made a custom 4'x4' chalkboard from a thin piece of plywood and painted it with chalkboard paint, then framed it in with finish trim. Overall, the project turned out great and Lucy absolutely loves the room.

Tree House Tent

2011-03-15T14:26:00.011-04:00

Lucy loves playing with stuffed animals in the tree house tent in her room. The tent is probably not wilderness 4-season ready, but it's cozy enough to fit a 2-year old and an adult (barely).

Kiss-a-Pig-a-thon in full effect.

Student Driver

2011-03-13T14:49:00.016-04:00

Lucy loves any type of activity that requires minimal physical exertion on her berhalf, so being pushed around the house in a car like a princess is exactly right up her alley.

Cute Runs in the Family

2011-03-06T10:50:00.001-05:00

Talk to the Hand

2011-03-05T20:14:00.016-05:00

Lucy has been doing very well progressing her fine motor skills. She can now take coins and put them in her piggie bank all by herself. She's come a long way from just taking the coins and throwing them clear across the room. We've worked diligently to get her to focus and calmly put the coin in the piggie's slot. She'll have the precision of a surgeon's hand in no time!

Lucy absolutely loves her stuffed animal, Carla Chameleon, that her great grandma gave to her. Thanks GG!

Farm Friends

2011-02-09T09:27:00.033-05:00

Lucy loves playing in her recently completed playroom. We converted the fourth spare bedroom into a space that everyone can enjoy, because who really wants to play in an exercise room? All of Lucy's toys are stored in shelf bins, which teaches her to pick up when she's finishing playing. We were lucky enough to have a nice television donated by Grandpa & Nana, which makes watching Elmo even more fun.

"Time to feed the hogs and chickens. What are you looking at, goat?"

Lamb Chops, anyone?

Smoochie Face

2011-02-08T15:27:00.008-05:00

Don't let the innocent, sly look fool you. She's most likely up to no good.

Natural Enhancements

2011-02-08T15:26:00.002-05:00

"Come and get it, fellas!"

She paid for these with her own money, because we don't condone this type of behavior.

I scream, you scream

2011-01-19T20:27:00.001-05:00

Lucy seems to have developed an attraction to her plastic ice cream cone. This wouldn't be a problem if it wasn't hidden among about 50 fruits and vegetables. Lucy has an eye for sweets and I think it's safe to say that exercise will definitely be in this child's future.

Playroom

2011-01-19T20:17:00.004-05:00

We have been diligently working to finish painting and decorating Lucy's playroom, and this ball pit is the newest addition to her ever-expanding toy collection.

It's like Chuck E. Cheese, but without the dirty tokens, pee-covered balls and who knows what else.

You've Got Mail

2011-01-04T14:31:00.007-05:00

Lucy loves getting mail delivered to her Fisher-Price Learning Home.

Cousin Eddie

2010-12-28T14:24:00.001-05:00

"Merry Christmas! Sh*tter was full!"

Uninsured Driver

2010-12-28T14:23:00.003-05:00

Lucy loves her new Chicco Ride on Car. In fact, she loves driving so much, she has hit-and-run the trash can, the lamp, driven through the closet door and crashed into the refrigerator. Just some minor body work and a new engine, and her car will be good as new.

So lookout, because another uninsured driver is on the road.

Christmas 2010

2010-12-28T10:47:00.035-05:00

"Wow! Look at this!"

"This giant sock looks interesting"

"The Christmas tree needs to be combed"

"What are we gonna open up next?"

"Sing Yourself Silly, huh. Well I guess I could try that"

"More bath toys!"

"How do you start this thing?"

"I just need an armoire to complete this table and chairs"

Lucy was exceptionally good this year, so she was certainly spoiled at Christmas. She got toys to help with her development and also a snazzy new ride. Overall, we are very thankful for the gifts that everyone gave to Lucy. Thanks everyone!

Merry Christmas

2010-12-24T12:35:00.010-05:00

Fruit & Veggie Throwing World Champion

2010-12-24T12:33:00.002-05:00

Happy Turkey Day

2010-11-25T09:38:00.004-05:00

Put your hands in the air for overeating! Yay!

Cookies Make Me Happy

2010-11-23T11:32:00.003-05:00

Lucy can't quite eat a cookie just yet, but she does enjoy a puréed baker's dozen pushed down her G-tube.

Welcome Home

2010-11-22T13:15:00.011-05:00

We apologize for the long delay of updating. We have moved and are officially unpacked into our new house still near the Indianapolis area. Lucy has been busy decorating her room and meeting her new therapists. It's been an extremely busy past couple of weeks for us, so we're looking forward to getting settled in. Lucy sends her best and will be posting lots of pictures soon.

Stuffed Sausage

2010-11-22T13:15:00.004-05:00

Lucy is all wrapped up for a cool Fall stroll in our new neighborhood.

Halloween Boca Burglar

2010-10-31T23:42:00.005-04:00

Did someone order a Boca burger with a side of cries? Lucy wasn't quite sure what to think about her veggie burger Halloween costume, but she did admire the slice of cheddar cheese.

Eye Peepers

2010-10-27T22:05:00.004-04:00

Lucy is now styling in her new pink glasses and can finally see objects better at a distance. Her vision is about -5, which probably makes Elmo look like a giant red blob. If those frames don't say fashionista, then we don't know what does.

Reading Rainbow

2010-10-27T22:04:00.004-04:00

Lucy may only be 21 months, but she reads at a 10th grade level.

Elmo's World

2010-10-27T21:59:00.005-04:00

"This Elmo character is crazy-whack!"

Lucy has a love-hate relationship with Elmo. It's complicated.

Designer Brand

2010-10-18T22:50:00.003-04:00

"Wait a minute, this is Burt-berry. You said this was Burberry."

Lucy recently got a new snow suit for this winter. She really liked the color, but became irate when she learned that it was a knockoff designer Burt-berry. Better luck next year, kiddo.

La la la I can't hear you

2010-10-18T22:48:00.002-04:00

"La la la I can't hear you. Still can't hear you."

"I can't put my arms down!"

"Well... put your arms down when you get to school."

We're Moving!

2010-10-18T22:40:00.005-04:00

We have had an extremely busy October. After 5 months, we finally sold our house and we're moving! We will still be living in the Indianapolis area. Lucy is excited to be moving to a bigger house with her own playroom. She has already started packing her things, but she's not a very efficient packer, because she only likes to put one toy in each box.

Gumball Machine

2010-10-07T23:20:00.004-04:00

Lucy is just too tired after playing with her gumball machine.

Oh no he didn't

2010-10-04T22:58:00.004-04:00

Terrible Tooth

2010-09-21T23:18:00.002-04:00

Lucy has been busy growing and feeding her bicuspids, molars and incisors for the past several months and now has 9 teeth in total. We can't wait for her other top tooth to join the party.

Peek-a-Boo!

2010-09-21T22:58:00.002-04:00

Lucy has recently learned how to play peek-a-boo. She only "unpeeks" herself for a split second, so you have to be fast before she covers her face again with her blanket.

2010 Heart Walk

2010-09-18T15:43:00.002-04:00

Team Lucy Kate participating in the 2010 Indianapolis Heart Walk for the American Heart Association. We love healthy hearts!

Summer Days

2010-09-17T18:57:00.004-04:00

Lucy enjoying the beautiful weather at the park and swinging on the last few good days of Summer.

Mrs. Pemberton

2010-09-11T17:40:00.009-04:00

"Hold my calls, I've got to file these TPS reports."

"I've got to take this important call. It's Langley."

"I'm going to need you to come in on Saturday."

Speak Up for SAY

2010-08-31T22:03:00.001-04:00

Mattel Toy Company is suing Super Duper Publications, makers of products for children with special needs, for their use of the words "SAY" and "AND SAY" in seven registered trademark product titles. Super Duper Publications have been making speech and language therapy products for children with autism and other disorders for over 20 years.

The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals has ordered Super Duper to pay $1 million of its profits and $2.6 million in attorney's fees to Mattel, a $5.4 billion a year company, to remove SAY and AND SAY from seven product titles, and destroy $500,000 of special needs products because they have the words SAY and AND SAY on them.

Why would Mattel do this? Because in 2004, Mattel decided people were likely to become confused between Super Duper's SAY therapy materials and a toy Mattel made in 1963 called SEE 'N SAY.

Large business trademark abuse like this must stop. Please help change this situation by contacting Mattel and speaking your voice to have the courts vacate the judgment against Super Duper. Also, we will no longer be purchasing any Mattel toys in light of this poor decision. Do your part and speak up for SAY!

http://www.speakupforsay.com

Visit the Super Duper website at: superduperinc.com

MoD President's Award

2010-08-27T21:22:00.006-04:00

Lucy is a top youth walker in the Indiana Chapter and she ranks number 74 in the United States. She received the 2010 March of Dimes President's Award. We are proud of her for raising awareness for prematurity and birth defects. Go Lucy!

Corduroy

2010-08-27T21:20:00.001-04:00

We told Lucy that purple corduroy pants are back in style this year, she seemed pretty excited about it.

Zipper Club Anniversary

2010-08-17T21:29:00.002-04:00

Today, Lucy celebrates her 1 year open heart surgery anniversary. What an amazing and challenging year it has been for all of us. We have been through so much and had many ups and downs, but I think we have learned a lot and are much stronger from the experience. At the time, we had no idea what we were getting ourselves into. A 46 day ICU visit.

Lucy went into surgery that morning at 6AM, and after a grueling 10+ hour surgery, we were told that the repairs looked good and they were going to try to start her heart again. The doctors initially had an extremely difficult time getting Lucy off of the heart-lung bypass machine. Third time was finally a charm, but by that time Sarah and I both needed our own machines to keep our hearts beating. A huge weight was finally lifted off of our chests nearly 10 hours later.

At around 6PM, we were reunited with Lucy for the first time and little did we know that our prison-like Pediatric Intensive Care Unit room would become home for many weeks to come.

After reading back what we wrote during that time and seeing now just really how sick she was, it's a miracle that she survived surgery. It's something now that we, the doctors and even her heart surgeon can joke about. We all love you Lucy! Happy Anniversary!

(Lucy’s heart surgery documented on Flickr)

Synchronized Maracas

2010-08-12T13:46:00.001-04:00

Lucy in a pool, playing her maracas on a ball. It doesn't get much weirder than this.

Indianapolis Zoo

2010-08-09T11:20:00.018-04:00

Lucy had a great time laughing at elephant poop at the zoo. Unfortunately, we were too early to feed the giraffes and have Lucy scream at the sight of a giraffe tongue, so we'll have to save that excitement for the next visit with our video camera.

Chubs

2010-08-09T11:20:00.003-04:00

Office Work

2010-08-06T15:28:00.004-04:00

Lucy has recently began to sit up on a bench all by herself. She also has about the straightest posture of any kid we've ever seen, so she's expecting a trophy for that soon. We have been working to get her to bare more weight into her knees and ankles, so that we can just skip the crawling phase altogether and go straight to qualifying for the 100m sprint.

At this time, Lucy is busy at her coffee table office, arranging similar shaped blocks into buckets. Her secretary urges you to leave a message after the beep.

Hello, 911?

2010-07-27T21:38:00.004-04:00

Yesterday, Lucy got upset while she was playing and stopped breathing for about 60 seconds. She turned navy blue and scared us to death. She has been sick for over 4 weeks with a cold which has now turned into sinusitis. Lucy has a history of getting upset and crying so hard that she puts herself into pulmonary distress, sometimes passing out. Yesterday was one of the worst episodes that prompted a 911 call. Luckily, she recovered after getting cranked up to 6 liters of oxygen.

Sarah was home alone with Lucy when she called me at work, screaming frantically. I made it home in 17 minutes. It's normally over a 30 minute drive from work. It took the firemen, which are only 2 minutes away, at least 10 minutes to show up. By the time I had arrived, the fire department and ambulance had visited to see our little Houdini. Lucy had slowly recovered and was excited to be playing with all of her new friends.

Once we knew Lucy was okay, we decided to drive her to the ER, where we spent 8 hours in a tiny room just to get a chest x-Ray, viral swabs and bloodwork. Needless to say, it was a wonderful day. Her test results have been negative, so we will keep our fingers crossed that she doesn't have a serious respiratory virus and also that she doesn't pull any of these little stunts again.

Hysterical

2010-07-20T09:07:00.003-04:00

Having a good laugh.

Stairway to Heaven

2010-07-20T09:06:00.006-04:00

Listening to Led Zeppelin and sitting on the stairs.

Maraca Mama

2010-07-20T09:06:00.004-04:00

Busy recording the maraca track for her next Top 40 hit single.

"Do my knees look chubby to you?"

Let's Get Physical!

2010-07-06T09:20:00.001-04:00

"I need to work on my delts and quads. Let's do some reps."

I think Lucy's physical therapy has gotten a little out of control.

Sicko

2010-07-01T10:01:00.001-04:00

Lucy has had an ear infection and cold for the past several days, so she hasn't been feeling or sleeping well. When Lucy doesn't feel well, no one around the house feels well. She's getting ear drops and some antibiotics to help and is feeling a little better today. Nonetheless, we still love our green booger monster.

Shake your money maker

2010-07-01T09:56:00.001-04:00

Lucy got several new toys from her Nana. Some wood blocks, rings, egg shakers and lots of other neat stuff.

In this photo, Lucy is working on her new solo album, which will be released next summer.

Chubby Cheeks

2010-07-01T09:54:00.001-04:00

Lucy's sweet, squeezable chubby cheeks.

Discovery

2010-07-01T09:45:00.002-04:00

Most of Lucy's toys are all battery operated loud, spinning, shiny, glowing, moving, singing, beeping or rolling, so we decided it was time for her to enjoy a good old-fashioned wooden toy. You see most of these in doctor offices now, granted this one isn't covered in slime and boogers. We hope she will get her fill playing with this at home, so when she visits the doctor, we won't have to hose her down afterwards.

Lazy Bones

2010-07-01T09:37:00.002-04:00

For those of you wondering, this is Lucy actually sleeping. This is how we found her, covered completely with a blanket over her head and her foot propped up on the crib. At least she's wearing a nasal cannula to get oxygen under there.

Tongue Twister

2010-06-18T09:17:00.001-04:00

Student Driver

2010-06-18T09:16:00.005-04:00

Lucy is learning to drive her new Lights and Sounds car. Student driver coming through. Watch your toes!

Peek-a-boo Book

2010-06-09T09:38:00.010-04:00

Lucy loves reading and playing with her peek-a-boo books. She has almost every page memorized and knows exactly where to pull to reveal the hidden object. Up next, War and Peace.

Indianapolis Zoo

2010-06-06T14:29:00.016-04:00

After a morning full of rain and clouds, we decided to go to the zoo and got lucky with beautiful weather in the cool mid-70's. The Indianapolis Zoo has a new Cheetah exhibit, which one particular cheetah was interested in Lucy's bright pink polka dot sweater. Luckily, the zoo staff decided against feeding her to the cheetahs.

Pink Piggies

2010-06-06T14:28:00.004-04:00

Lucy recently had her toenails painted and is fascinated by their reflective color. We can assure you that getting a baby's toenails to dry before smudging is more of an art than science. We are certified in the art of distraction.

We know that many of you are concerned, so we'll keep you updated on Lucy's current toenail color status.

STATUS UPDATE: HOT PINK

Piglet

2010-06-06T14:18:00.015-04:00

Our pink piglet has been doing so much better sitting up by herself and playing with toys without falling over. She is also gaining weight like a sumo wrestler and will probably need a new G-tube to accommodate the size of her round tummy that seems to be getting bigger every night.

Synchronized Swimmies

2010-05-23T18:18:00.005-04:00

Bath time isn't one of Lucy's favorites, so we were hesitant to put her in a baby pool for the first time. She absolutely loved it and thought it was funny to splash and get her face wet too. Looks like we'll be adding soap to the pool next time.

The Many Faces of Lucy

2010-05-12T23:12:00.002-04:00

Lucy sure can make a funny face and knows how to make us a laugh. Here are a few timeless classics.

Sweet Girl

2010-05-12T23:07:00.002-04:00

"Where did my ball go?"

Pure Celebrity Gossip!

2010-05-10T21:21:00.004-04:00

"OH NO SHE DIDN'T!"

"Where's George Clooney? Is George Clooney in here?"

Sarah and Lucy reading some age-appropriate material on the couch.

Jackie O Sunglasses

2010-05-06T17:12:00.006-04:00

"Do these sunglasses make my head look big?"

Tickle monster likes to be tickled.