I thought I would update everyone on things going on in our household.  I promise to be totally random.

First off, Operation Blanket and Thumb Removal had a breakthrough this evening.  Avery decided to try to go to bed tonight with her toxic thumb-sucking repellent on.  This is the first night for this.  We have had great success getting the blanket and thumb whittled down to nap and bedtime, but then met resistance on the final stage.  I haven't been pressuring her because I wanted her to actually want to stop.  I had told her that in five days we were going to try to not suck the thumb during nap time.  She was not pleased but I have kept talking about all the wonderful reasons to not suck her thumb.  Well, all that jabber did something because tonight she decided to give it a try.  Big step (although the promise of an Ariel doll recently spotted at the Disney Store might have helped a little)!

Mia continues to do fine and is still eating quite well on her milk-free diet.  She went to the orthotics doctor on Monday and picked out new Strawberry Shortcake leg braces.  I am sure they will be cute.  She actually grew enough to have to get another pair.  She is starting to stand a bit more on her own and seems to be less and less nervous about it.  She is still walking all over the place with her walker.  She is getting quite excited for her upcoming birthday in October.  I can't believe she is going to be 2!!

As for me, I have been struggling with TMJ problems for the last 3-4 months.  I have had issues before but they always went away.  Well, this time the pain decided to take permanent residence in my upper jaw.  The dentist has decided to put me in splints for 6-12 months to help repair this joint and to reposition my bottom jaw.  The best part is that I need orthodontics to full repair this problem because my teeth are not aligned properly.  So, after the split I have to wear retainer-type mouth pieces for 12-24 months correct my teeth.  In the end, the dentist said my face shape will change a bit and my smile will become wider.  I will take the smile part  There is a silver lining to everything.  I suppose I should be glad it is that and not braces, but yuck!  I am not the least bit excited about all of this.  I get my splints in two weeks and I have to wear them all the time.

As for Chris, I have to brag on him a bit.  He recently received quite the accolade at work from various people, even the owner of company.  Chris received a promotion, bonus and a few extra rewards.  He works for an amazing company and I am so excited they realize how amazing he is too.  Chris may also get the opportunity to travel to China in November.  I have already asked if he can grab us a baby while he is there, but apparently that is illegal.  Who knew?  (For those that don't know, we are very interested in international adoption - please don't think I advocate baby stealing or anything like that.)  I am so proud of his dedication to his job and his continued interest in what he does.  He is always looking for news ways to solve problems.  And of course, let's not forget that football season has started.  Go Colts!!  I love watching his excitment each year.  He loves it!

And last but not least, we were excited to pick the first vegetable from our garden this year.  We decided very late this summer to put a small garden on the side of our yard.  The only plants we could find were half-dead ones at Meijer.  We had no hopes for the garden this year.  But low and behold, we have several eggplants growing and this one was plucked from the vine today.