The Olson Zoo Weblog

We are excited to announce that we are expecting a third child! Rachel is pregnant and is due in August 2008.

Here is the only picture of the baby we have so far:

Laura is one fun gal! On the way home Wednesday we were talking about her favorites. She told me her favorite CD’s are “Woody” and the “Chipmunks” - “but nobody beats the Chipmunks!” Her favorite food is watermelon and potato chips come as a far second. Her favorite color is “pinky-purple”. What a joy it is to see her blossom into her own little person!

What an eventful week! The week started out with Helen having her adenoids removed successfully and coming home on the same day. We were actually expecting to stay overnight because of her small size and because she had heart surgery just three months ago. Well…she was such a trooper they decided she did not need to stay overnight! What a blessing! She was able to come home and sleep in her own bed peacefully, the WHOLE night!!

That same day she wowed us by starting to crawl on her hands and knees in the pre-op area. We had been told that she might not do this because she was already two and hadn’t yet. She is also extremely flexible and we thought that she might not have the muscle tone to do it. But of course, she is amazing! Now she mixes the hands and knees crawl with her army drag one leg scoot.

Laura is continuing to learn to read! Wow, I can’t believe it but she is four and reading! She is definitely smart like her dad. Jeff has put a couple of games on the “family” computer for her to play. One is Roller Coaster Tycoon. She is able to add trees and all sorts of landscape to the amusement park without reading how to do it. Yesterday she even did something that Jeff wasn’t sure how to do. He says, “Get used to it!” I am sure that she will soon pass us both up on her computer smarts as soon as she can read everything.

As many of you know, Helen had an adenoidectomy today.  We’re happy to report that she is doing just fine.  The whole procedure only took about an hour and we were able to bring her home around 3:00 this afternoon.  She will be on some painkillers and antiobiotics for a week or less.

Thank you for all your prayers!

James P. McMullin Jr.
(August 14, 1922 - October 23, 2007)

James P. McMullin Jr., age 85 of L’Anse passed away on Tuesday, October 23, 2007 at Baraga County Memorial Hospital Skilled Nurse Unit. He was born August 14, 1922 in Bessemer, Michigan son of the late Jim and Janyce (Slosson) McMullin Sr. Jim was raised in Pequaming and graduated from Pequaming High School in 1942; where he was a basketball player. He was in the US Navy from October 1942 to March 1946 during WWII. He married the former Delores Lindberg on January 2, 1946 in Minneapolis, MN. Jim worked for CCI from 1953 to 1987. They resided in L’Anse where his community contributions included his service on the Baraga county Federal Credit Union Board of Directors where he was past president for 9 years; L’Anse school board of education for 16 years where he was past president and treasurer; former L’Anse Area Schools Athletic Director and was assistant hockey coach for the LHS Hornet team. His love for hockey was revealed as he coached the local Bantam and Midget teams to state championships. In 1994 he was selected as the L’Anse Area Schools Distinguished Alumnus Award recipient.

He was a member of the L’Anse Baptist Church and the American Legion Post 144.

Surviving are his wife Delores of L’Anse; children, James McMullin of Garland, TX, DeeDee (Walter) Payne of Flint, MI, John (Ann) McMullin of L’Anse, Barbara (John) Turpeinen of Alston, Victoria (Chad) Wierenga of Linden, MI; grandchildren, Jolie (Dave Jullian) Miller, John (Angela) Turpeinen, John (Melanie) McMullin, Jamie (Kelly) McMullin, Nicole (Nathan) Chylek, William (Shanna) McMullin, Joey (Holly) McMullin, Maria (Norm) Haataja, Jessica (Neil) Sandlin, Heidi Turpeinen, Britta (Jason) Grissom, Nathan (Tina Sanregret) Turpeinen, David Payne, Abigail Turpeinen, Jacob, Michael, Matthew, and Cayla Wierenga; 37 great grandchildren; aunt Audrey Johanson of Duluth, MN; 4 sisters-in-laws, Dorothy McMullin, Marlys McMullin, Elva McMullin, Edythe Falck; several cousins and 45 nieces and nephews.

Preceding him in death are his brothers, Thomas, John and Gerald McMullin; sisters Rhea St. Jacque, Elizabeth Klein; grandsons Scott and Chadwick Wierenga; and great granddaughter Jaycie Grissom.

Visitation will be held on Sunday, October 28 from 4-8:00 pm at Jacobson Funeral Home. The funeral service will be held on Monday at 11:00 am at L’Anse Baptist Church with visitation one hour prior to the service at the church. Pastor Gerald Bishop will officiate. Burial will be in the Pequaming Cemetery. The Baraga County Area Veterans will be conducting military rites at the cemetery under the direction of the American Legion Post 444. The Jacobson Funeral Home of L’Anse is assisting the family.

Helen is growing also! She has come such a long way in the three months that we have had her. When she first came to us she could not sit unattended. Since then, she has mastered that, learned to scoot with her arms and one leg, stand while leaning, take steps while holding on to our hands, and now today she has learned to sit up. Thanks to her amazing flexibility she lays on her stomach, pulls her knees under her tummy, walks her hands to her knees and brings her feet around to the front by doing the splits! I was able to catch it on video right after she had done it for the first time.

Helen’s speech is progressing as well. She says “Hi!” and something like “Bye-Bye” appropriately. She also says “Mama”, “BaBa” (chinese for Daddy), and “PaPa” but I am not sure if she is really calling us. A couple of nights ago, she started saying “Tickle”. She just loves to be tickled. Any kind of contact physically and face time are her favorite things.

Laura continues to grow up (and up and up and up). She is getting taller and harder to carry, seemingly every day a little more.

This fall Laura started home school, with mom as her teacher. Recently she’s begun learning how to read, and is doing great!

Laura continues to take gymnastics and swimming classes, too. She surprised me the other day by standing on her head, up against the wall, without any help. I don’t think I can do that!

Laura is also enjoying going to church and learning about Jesus. She recently learned a great song that says “Oh who made everything? God did, God did”.

We’re really proud of Laura and happy to see her growing up into a “big girl”! She’s a great big sister, too!

Here’s a couple recent pictures of Laura. There are more in her photo album.

Helen continues to do very well at recovering from her heart surgery two weeks ago. In fact, if you didn’t look inside her shirt to see the incision, you would not be able to tell.

She had a checkup visit with the cardiologist today, and everything checked out fine. She has gained almost 12 ounces in the 2 weeks since the surgery, so that is really great! She is eating and drinking really well, and she is pretty much back to the same level of mobility (creeping and rolling).

Please continue to keep little Helen in your prayers, that there will be no issues that come up, and that she will continue to grow and thrive.

Here’s a recent picture of Helen:

I’m really happy to let you all know that Helen is coming home from the hospital today! The cardiologist saw her this morning and gave the ok.

Helen will need some gentle care for the next few weeks, but she is really doing well. Thanks for all your prayers…we really appreciated it!

Helen has left the ICU and moved to a regular pediatric care unit. She had some fluid around her lungs on Friday, but that has subsided. All in all she is doing very well! She’s eating solid foods and she has been playing with toys on the floor. She’s no longer tethered to the bed by all those tubes & wires, so Rachel has been able to walk around with her.

There’s no definite word yet on when she’s coming home, but it may be as early as Monday. Thanks for your continued prayers!

Here’s a couple pictures of Helen from today (Saturday):