2008 Clampitt reunion

Memorial Day weekend we had our Clampitt reunion at Ben Hawes Sate Park in Owensboro, KY. My Mammaw Carter was a Clampitt. Her two sisters and their families were there along with our families. We have this reunion every three years. We have family in Oklahoma, Kansas, Illinois, Wyoming, and a couple of other states. It is fun to see everyone, and see how much our younger cousins have grown. We have 3? sets of 5 generations in this family: Monica, Myself, and a cousin. We had a great day playing washers, cornhole, and playing on the playground.

March for Babies 2008

This years walk was a great success. With Monica, Matt, and McKynley joining us we are now "Cousins 'R' Us". We had over 40 walkers and raised over $1600!!! This is such a great event, and thanks to those who donated and shared this time with us. Love you guys!!

Handsome Man

I got Dakota dressed for church on Sunday, and he looked handsome. Therefore I go the camera out, and started posing him! Some of these are silly, and others are very cute if I say so myself. :)

Day At The Park

It was sooo nice to get out, and enjoy the weather. We have had enough rain to create another ocean I think. We are soo tired of the rain around here. Anyways.... We have enjoyed our days in the 70's. They will soon return after a few days in the 40's/ 50's. Dakota could spend all day everyday at the park. Up the slide, down the slide, in the tunnel, out the tunnel, climb up the stairs, and back down the slide. Over and over again. We still wonder where he gets all of this energy!!

CMOE

Dakota's preschool took a trip to the Children's Museum Of Evansville. I went along to help, and see Dakota enjoy his first field trip. :) They had funny playing in the ball room, the "Human" room, and a few other areas. In a couple of the pictures you will notice some pictures of Dakota in a green "slime" thing. This is an estra large nose they can climb through. They also had an area for them to open their mouth to a camera and see inside their own mouth. Dakota enjoyed making facing faces, and sticking out his tongue. One area was for the creative side of the children. They are able to make their own dinosaur show, make music, and paint their faces. I tried to color Dakota's like Spiderman, but we didn't have time to get the webs drawn across his face. Therefore he looked kind of silly. Dakota is definitely getting old enough/ big enough to participate in more things, and enjoy them.

Is Spring finally here???

This was one day about a week or so ago. We were cleaning up the landscaping. Dakota got his bike out, and was trying to ride it. He still wants us to push him around. We keep telling him he needs to learn to pedal, and showing him how. et again he shows how stubborn he is.

While in the far corner of our hard Jassen was raking out the old stuff. Dakota wanted to sit on the rock, and I put him up there. I then found a snail. Dakota thought it was interesting until the snail came out, and starting crawling. He was scared to death, and didn't want anything to do with it. We thought it was pretty funny, until Dakota jumped off the rock trying to get away from it!!

Before going in he had to sit in daddy's "new" car, and play.

Easter

I know I am a little late. Thought I would get the blog updated. We first went to church at Roberts Stadium. Then we drove to Owensboro to visit my family. My Uncle Chris was giving Dakota rides on his leg. Dakota couldn't quit laughing, and kept falling off and wanting more. At Dads he took it upon himself to put on the head gear, and play Uncle Heath's drums. This is totally fine. He can play all he wants at Dads, but don't think I could ever have them in my own house.

New Portraits

It was time again for Toyota's Children's portrait session. I love these photos. Comparing them to his last ones, they haven't changed much.... I know it is no surprise to see the tennis racket. When I seen it on the table I made sure it was used. I was very happy to see that it turned out. Enjoy!!

We've Closed a Chapter in Our Life.

It all started Tuesday night at my moms. Dakota was playing with his cars, and my brother Logan. Logan was standing in the living room, and glances at the floor. "There's his mickey," he says. And I'm thinking he doesn't have a Mickey Mouse let alone brought to moms. No... his MIC-KEY! So we packed up and jetted out of there. Went home to get the surrenge (sp) to deflate the balloon, and put it back in. Ha Ha. IT has closed up a little bit, therefore we are back in the car ( at 930PM!) headed to the ER. They didn't have his size MIC-KEY, but pu tin a foley ( tube) that was the right size for the hole.
Told Jassen about it, and he thought it was time to just leave it out. I felt the same. Dakota has had his feeding tube since November 30, 2004! So, Wednesday I called the pediatrician to talk to him about it. Today we went in, and first they weighed him. He had gained 1 lb. since last month. He now weighs 30 lbs!! Well we talked to Dr. Ransdell and he agreed that it was okay. So there in the office he took the foley out, put a bandage over the hole, and we were done. The hole has to heal itself. You may be wondering about the hole to his stomach... I too thought they would stitch up the stomach, and stitch up the skin. Nope. He will have scar tissue from the stomach that will connect to the healed hole. It will take about 2 weeks for the hole to close and heal.
We were very excited about this whole thing. Throughout the day I was fine. I was thinking "Great, this thing is gone. Finally." Tonight he got upset when I tried to take the belly picture. I asked him why he was upset, and he didn't answer. I asked if he missed his MIC-KEY and he said "yes". He has never known any different. This hit me like a ton of bricks, and I cried (as I am now), and just as I did when they took away all of his oxygen tanks and supplies. This made me realize that we have finally closed this chapter of his life, and ours. The Preemie chapter is over. Other than him still being little we have officially finished that last obstical that came with him being 9 weeks early. After 3 1/2 years, Praise the Lord!!

1. Dakota without his MIC-KEY!! Red marks from the bandage the ER put on. 2. This is what his tube looks like. We slide it in hole, and 3. We inflate the balloon that is then in his stomach to hold it in place. Hope that's not too much for you. :) Thought some would be interested.

Jassen Almost Cried!

We never thought the day would come when Dakota would poop in the potty. Jassen simply asked if he needed to go potty, and Dakota said "yes". I was sitting in the living room, and I hear Jassen going on and on about how Dakota did a good job. HE did it!! AS soon as he knew he had done well he wanted prize. I keep a surprise bag in the laundry with cars and cars stuff in it for when I needed to bribe him, or he had done well. All I had left was a dry erase board with Lightning McQueen on it. He didn't care. It was "Cars". We didn't decided we needed to have a party. Dakota wanted pizza for lunch so we went to Pizza Hut. He went 2 more times today in the potty without our assistance. Yes, I took my camera because this is a day to remember. I will knock on wood because he is still not 100% potty trained. But I will keep it positive. We were soo excited!