The boys had left to the store so it was just Parker and me playing on the floor in the living room. Parker and I had been there a while mixing back and forth play with therapy. This particular session we had been playing extra hard with walking and crawling. Parker had been doing a great job, she was keeping motivated and wanted me to push her more. I could tell she was getting tired. In an effort to give her a break I sat her in my lap and began to sing to her to distract her from what she had been doing. The words that came out of my mouth had a very new, very real, and very literal meaning this time. My mind and soul processed them differently.

A I am a child of God,
And he has sent me here, ...Yes you are, and yes He did. We were told  a long time ago you would come.
Has given me an earthly home
With parents kind and dear. ...As your parent every day is hard, and it tests me. But I am trying my best because I love you.

 Chorus
Lead me, guide me, walk beside me,...Yes, yes, I  literally am. I am here. We are doing it right now. We will "shift, lift, step" our way to walking and beyond!
Help me find the way.... As long as you need it, I will always guide your little hands to open and close, or to find that little mouth with that spoon.
Teach me all that I must do. We are learning together, I think I am learning more from you. I see the joy in our journey. Its beautiful. Wow, I love you little sweet pea. I can't believe you are MY daughter. 
To live with him someday...You are that special. You'll make it baby, don't you worry.

-The Vrouw
"I am a child of God"
 Words: Naomi Ward Randall,
Music: Mildred Tanner Pettit,

12-11-2015

 

Parker loves walking

crawling to knock down the pins

Its potty time

The Ronald McDonald house hospitality was humbling

Santa even found us at the Ronald House

Wednesday marked the half way point of Parker's school. We finish a week from today. Things are going beyond what we expected. We are having so much fun, learning tons, and playing so hard. I am learning what Parker is doing, and what she is capable of doing, is nothing shy of miraculous.  Although therapy for three hours a day Monday through Friday  for a 1 year old is no easy task. Both of us girls have had our share of tears, wining, and times of frustration and exhaustion. When I am falling to anxiety and insecurities, I find the moments where I feel the faith, love, support, and prayers of others around me like a blanket of rejuvenation and hope. Like an added measure of love from the Savior.  Peace, knowing the Lord is aware of me and the little family I have stewardship to. Aware of the motherly mantle every mother frets to fill for her children.
I am so grateful for caring therapists who think about Parker beyond the moment we walk out their door.
This experience is one I would never trade. So blessed to have a mom and family who make the best cheerleaders!
-The Vrouw

Thanksgiving card 2015

Thanksgiving Card 2015

Dear Family and Friends,

Gobble, Gobble, Gobble! Happy Thanksgiving 2015 from the Clay and Dallen Shumway family!  The pictures were taken and therefore a card must be made.  I can’t wait to have turkey and lemonade. 

Parker is the cutest 1 year old princess we know!  October 2^nd 2015 we were told she has Agenesis of the Corpus Callosum (ACC).  Ultimately ACC means part of Parker’s brain didn’t develop during Dallen’s pregnancy with her. The best thing we can do for Parker is various therapies to create neuro plasticity and make new brain paths for the body’s different motor functions. Parker is not only a rock star to her older brother, but is now a major hit at Physical therapy, Occupational therapy, and all the doctors’ and nurses’ we see. Since we have learned of ACC, Parker has been to over 30 appointments and has made great improvements towards grasping toys, sitting up, and rolling over. We feel so blessed and so grateful for the prayers and fasting in her behalf. She is a fighter and she never gives up. Our family is blessed to be in Philadelphia to have #1 Children’s Hospital Of Philadelphia (CHOP) to help face the challenges that lie ahead. We are truly grateful for our little girl and are optimistic about her future (Parker updates can be found on the family blog.  www.thevrouw.blogspot.com).

If you were to ask Vander what he is, he’d say, “so fast!”   He loves running fast, cars, watching Hot Wheels on YouTube with Dad, building projects at Home Depot, and making Hot Wheels tracks or playing with his train set. He got his first kiss on Halloween night when he dressed like The Flash. He has another young girl dreaming about marrying him and he loves to flirt with college girls.  We can’t wait for him to think girls have couties. Vander loves nursery, singing songs, and facetiming grandparents.

Dad is excited to be done with classes after the 2^nd week in December!  1.5 more years of clinical rotations and 3 more years of residency and he will be a bonified foot and ankle surgeon.  Each step has been an adventure and he is excited for each new opportunity that his profession brings.

Vrouw aka Mom, and the kids go to 3-5 appointments for Parker a week, work on letters and numbers with Vander, read books, play with the dogs, and get excited for Dad to come home from school each day. Vrouw has re-found primary music and the joy it is to teach music each week.  Though her power, limitless as it may seem, when making a Thanksgiving card Mom needed a team.  So Dad was put to work and now it’s through so be really grateful and eat lots of food! Happy Thanksgiving!

The Clay Shumway Family

Happy Birthday Parker

Spring Break 2014 Momma Jo and Ron came to spend spring break with us and we loved having them! Officially they were our first visitors since we have moved for school. We  drove all over and went to lots national monuments. We landed Independence Hall, Liberty Bell, Mount Vernon, Yorktown, Williamsburge, Jamestown's Ferry ride, Aunt Carols house,  and the Washington DC LDS Temple.

V had his first sleep over in the hotel room next to ours in Grandma and Grandpas room. Clay and I went to the DC temple for a date night and since we were getting back late to the hotel grandma suggested V needed to sleep in their room. haha. He loved every minute of it. Spring break was suppose to be a vacation for Grandma and Grandpa, but they were so gracious to give us a break wherever they could. We felt so blessed they took time away from their busy lives to come see us. We loved having Grandma and Grandpa! Can't wait til next time! 
-The Vrouw

In front of Independence Hall, Birthplace of our great nation.

Philly is for Lovers

Mount Vernon,home of George Washington.

Washington DC LDS Temple

Washington DC LDS Temple

01/30/2014 It is 11 days before V turns one. I now understand the famous line parents always tell their 40 year old children, "It was like yesterday we brought you home from the hospital." Haha. It's hard to take in how fast this first year has come and gone. I'm not much for wearing feelings on my sleeve, especially when blogging, but I guess I will make an exception for this Shumway milestone. 
I am so grateful to have V a part of our lives. Life will forever be different. He has changed us. I think of the person I was before, and the person I am now, I can say I never would have made the changes on my own. No wonder motherhood is such a special, and endured experience. It is amazing to me how a child can take your heart, and take so much more from you in a single day. You know the days where you don't know the last time you showered. There you find yourself thinking you don't have anymore to give, then it happens. You get that sweet little smile, or that unexpected hug, slobbery kiss, or heart melting giggle. All of a sudden you find yourself overflowing with the receiving end of love, realizing your child is giving back to you so much more. I'm happy to know that all of the emotional ups and downs, diapers, spit up, crying, feedings, first steps, and first word is all shared with my sweetheart. I am so grateful that my sweetheart does beyond what he "has to." I know these are days to be cherished and gone before we know it. The love between father and son is special too. I see it in my boys. I am grateful for my boys making us a family. For truly because of them, I am Vrouw, and I am mom.  
-The grateful Vrouw

01/22/2014 Today is a landmark day for me. It's been hard and I can't believe today is here. Today marks the one year anniversary of Grandma Joy's passing. The longer she is gone, the more I miss her and realize how much she taught me.

-the Vrouw 

September 2013

Celebrate Grandma through one of Our Funnys.

01/04/2014 My first post of 2014 takes us to our adventure in Washington, D.C. at the end of Christmas break. 

-the Vrouw

Lincoln Memorial was my favorite.

Korean War Memorial.

On the Lincoln memorial steps over looking National Mall.

Air and Space Museum.

National Mall in front of the Capital.

Smithsonian institute.

LDS Nauvoo Temple info at the Smithsonian.

Taking a nap in the front carrier.

Yoda Santa Baby.

United State Botanic Garden.

Clay's favorite building was the Capital.

Walking around the Capital.

 12/02/2013 Thanksgiving was a surprise in Arizona! My Mother-in-law was turning 50 and that was excuse enough to surprise-fly out there!

-the Vrouw

Happy Day from us. WISH WE COULD BE THERE (prank picture)! 

Video of Mom finding out V came to see her.

Just before good-bye at the airport.

Picked Daddy up from school today to have a surprise pick-nick at the Franklin Institute park. Couldn't have been a nicer fall afternoon. 

-The Vrouw

Tickle monster, smiles, and lots of walking.