All told, it has been an excellent trip, and we're having a great time getting to see so many people we love.

First, the big news.  We are moving to an apartment in Lone Tree, CO (about 20 min north of Mom's house), which is much closer to town and right next to the light rail station.  That will save us a bunch of money for parking, gas, and general car-maintenance-cost, which is really fantastic.  We'll miss spending so much time with Mom & Bob, but it is so great to know that we will be on our own again.  We sign the lease on 7/28 (well, Charles does -- I'll be travelling still), and we can move in once we all get back from Ohio/Virginia/wherever we are.  It's a two bedroom, which will take a little adjustment, but I think that it will be great once we get everyone settled!

Last weekend we went to the Rowan Tree Foundation's Butterfly Release.  The whole (Denver) family came out: Mom & Bob, Heather & Chris, and Charles & the boys were all there.  It was a really beautiful ceremony, and it wasn't too hot, thankfully.  Cole even got to release a butterfly, which was pretty fun to watch -- the look on his face when a butterfly came out of the little envelope was positively indescribable.  There was a breakfast afterward, which was also really nice.  It was a really beautiful, positive way to celebrate Conal's life, and it was so nice to have everyone be able to attend. 

Today, I spoke with the pulmonologist, and I have some things to report.  We've tried to do an overnight study several times to turn Braychan's overnight oxygen down from 1/8 to 1/16 several times now, and we just can't quite make the change.  He appears to be improving, but more slowly than expected.  At 11 months, and even 7.5 months after being discharged, Dr R would expect him to be making more serious improvements by now.  

At this point, we are focusing on Braychan's reflux as the culprit.  Here's why: because the liquid travels back up his esophagus, it is possible that some of it is splashing back into his lungs, which would definitely cause his lungs to heal much more slowly.  We are increasing the dosage of his medication, thickening his formula, advancing solids, and we will see Dr R in two weeks to discuss whether it seems that he is doing better.  If not, he will need to have a combination endoscopy/bronchoscopy.  Let's keep our fingers crossed that he improves in the next two weeks.

Meanwhile, Braychan continues to be happy, silly, and fun, as long as it isn't bedtime. He learned to drink from a sippy cup all on his own yesterday.  I just handed it to him and he did the rest!  He has become highly motivated when eating solids, and it looks like he might even be able to eat some of his own birthday cake.  He is also getting to be a bit of a troublemaker, in the baby sense of course.  He wiggles and rolls his way all over the house, getting his tube wrapped all over him.  He won't lie still during diaper changes, and today he smeared Desitin all over himself, his bed, and his dad. He almost ate some too -- yum!

Cole is doing well too.  He has been putting more and more words together, and he's becoming easier to understand.  He definitely misses having Gym as an opportunity to run around and climb on things.  We like to make sure that he gets to run out on the patio and play with water, which is good, but definitely nothing compared to Gym.  He has a newfound interest in his books about babies and pregnancy that I read to him when I was pregnant.  He loves talking about babies, even though he is a little hot-and-cold about his own baby brother.  ;)

I'm working hard keeping everyone entertained and getting everything ready for The Big Trip.  We don't leave until 7/21, but I think it will take every moment we have, with all the arrangements that need to be made!  We are really looking forward to seeing everyone and being back in many of our favorite places. 

Believe it or not, it has now been 11 months since Braychan & Conal were born.  It's just so amazing how much has happened, and it still feels like such a brief time.  Braychan is growing up so much, and he makes me more and more proud every day.  Conal is still a part of our everyday life, and we still miss him terribly, but now it's harder to imagine him even being here at present day.  Just part of moving forward, I suppose.  Regardless, he will always be our baby! :)