November

We've had a good month. Despite another ear infection, Cameron's having a blast. He now goes to Grandma's 3 days a week and he has a great time there.

Our friend Frances, who introduced us to each other, came up to visit with her 2 guys at the beginning of the month. It was great catching up and Buffy had fun with the boys playing Monopoly.

Our first official post-placement visit took place this month too. The social worker who did our homestudy came out one evening to check in and see how things are going. She'll be writing a report that in turn will be sent to our agency and then they will forward it to Kaz and ultimately the baby house in Karaganda.

The big birthday bash for Cam was on Buffy's birthday. We had chili for the big people and hot dogs for the little people. Aunt Laurel made his smash cake (and we're thinking she has a profession she can fall back on if she ever wants to give up the teaching gig).

Grandma, Len, Aunt Ginny and Auntie Sue were big helps in getting ready and we think a good time was had by all. Cameron did not register any complaints, that's for sure. The Little People school bus was a favorite gift as was the Radio Flyer pushcart (he's helping Daddy put it together in the picture - such a boy!) and our living room is now littered with little kid toys. We've been looking forward to that for years!

Also, on Buffy's birthday, Cameron's new cousin, Morgan Elizabeth, was born (Uncle Kevin and Aunt Wendy's baby). Buffy and Brent trekked to Columbus the next day to meet her and Cam spent the day with Uncle Kip and Em and Kenny.

For Thanksgiving, we broke from tradition and went to spend the day with Brent's family. Cameron met his new cousin and also had fun with Great Aunt Linda and his 2nd cousin, Diane.

The next day Buffy went to work, but Brent, Cam, Grandma B. and Len went to the Children's Museum where a good time was had by all.

Oh yes, and did we mention? The Cam-man decided to be more confident in his stride and did about 15 feet as a bi-ped the day before Thanksgiving while at daycare. Since then, his confidence has grown and he's going farther - his hands are still up over his head for balance, but he's getting the hang of it!

Going back to his lair on Halloween.


















Smash cake by Aunt Laurel.














Devouring said cake.















Opening gifts.















Helping Daddy assemble the Radio Flyer.









Playing with the bus.















Uncle Kevin, Daddy and Miss Morgan (1 day old).

















Grandpa DeWitt and Cam.

















Grandma DeWitt and Cam.















Cam and Grandma Bollin at the Children's Museum.

















Cam on two feet!

October

October was a busy month for us. We started with a trip to Indiana to help our dear friends move into their new house. The next weekend we got together with some other Cleveland-area Kaz adoptive families. All 3 boys had fun - they especially liked crawling in our non-functional fireplace. Grandpa Bollin came for a visit and helped with childcare while Grandma Bollin was on vacation. Cam and Grandpa really hit it off and he can't wait until Grandpa comes back. Mom and Dad had their first outing without child - to a house-warming party. Grandpa had babysitting duty and all went well. We made a trip to Toledo (Perrysburg, really) for Buffy's 20th high school reunion. Cam got to meet a bunch of Buffy's high school friends and he spent the evening with Jean Thayer who gladly returned the babysitting favor (Buffy sat for her kids 25 years ago - boy, does that sound like a long time ago). Cameron got to meet his third cousins and Great-Great Aunt Ruth that same weekend. We also had our last swim lesson for this session at the Y and Cameron went to his first Halloween party at his third cousin, Holly's, house. He went trick or treating with Daddy, they collected $20 for UNICEF and Cameron was waving at everyone the whole way.

Cameron started clapping in September and has been using the new skill with Patty-cake and whenever Mom and Dad say, "Yea Cameron!" He also says dada and mama - though dada sometimes means Daddy and sometimes it means doggy. Mama doesn't really have a significance yet, but we're working on it. He also said something that sounds like Jake and something that resembled Maizey. The dogs haven't figured it out yet, but he does talk to them too!

On a less cheerful note, Cameron had his first trip to the ER and the hospital. He has been fighting an ear infection as well as bronchiolitis (not bronchitis, this is different) since we've been home. He's been on bunches of antibiotics, but to no avail. He began breathing treatments mid-month and that didn't seem to be doing much either. We ended up at the ER one Sunday night when Cam's breathing clearly was not improving when it should have and Buffy was considering sleeping on the floor of his room to ensure that he did keep breathing overnight. Instead, we called the pediatrician and she advised us to take him in. They ended up admitting him and after 4 tries, managed to get an IV shunt inserted (both he and Buffy were wailing by the 4th attempt). They injected steroids and ran an antibiotic IV starting around 2:30 a.m. and did breathing treatments every 2 hours while we all slept. By 7:30 the next morning, he was much improved and we were all exhausted, but glad to see him coming out of it. That week, he skipped daycare and spent most of his time at Grandma Bollin's and Aunt Cathy's. Two weeks later, he's much improved. We're weaning him from the breathing treatments and his congestion is almost a distant memory. Through all of this, he has been quite a trooper. He is so good-natured and even-tempered and we are so fortunate to have him in our lives.

Next month... the big birthday bash. Stay tuned.