Brody, you are amazing your vision team! Your progress since getting your new glasses is really something to celebrate. For the first time, you actually don't mind standing up and you think walking while we are holding both hands is pretty fun. You do still have those moments where you whine because you don't want to do anything but they are beginning to become a rarity. This is change has been so great to watch. You gave your sissies kisses for the first time this week. Make no mistake about it, they both pick on you daily but your love for them is evident in the way you interact back with them. And, I'm pretty excited you are starting to stand your ground a bit. Your sissies might give you a hard time but their love for you is the sweetest there is. Madi will bring you a drink and not only bring it to you, she holds it for you while you take a sip. She even helped you this morning by pushing your food back in your mouth... you haven't learned how to do that consistently yet. She was so gentle and you appreciated the extra hand. Gracie is all of your emotions for you. If you are excited she is laughing with you. If you are crying, she is screaming and giving us the dirtiest looks until you are rescued. You are now saying "Bye, Bye" and have got the sign language sign for "more" down to a science. Your thumbs are still your second pair of eyes and it really astounds us all to see you see through them. So many things are starting to "click" for you and I am so proud. We are setting up some new services for you with DARS which is the Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services- Division for Blind Services. This program will help you throughout your childhood and into your adult life. Your specialist is blind herself and it is great encouragement to see her in the work place with no vision. It gives us hope for your future. Brody, you have so many special people that make your success possible. We do have our favorites, well I should say you really have your favorites. You light up when you hear the voices of your OT and VI teacher. You prefer to work with your team rather than me any day. I've learned to let go of the 24/7 work routine but what I want you to know more than anything is this, I just want the best for you and there will never be a day where I let us settle for second best. You deserve all there is and with that, you must know it won't come easy and you will have to work hard for your successes. Before I end I must also add that your love for Sesame Street more specific Elmo's song makes me so happy. We are pretty sure you can't see the actually show but everyday I put you in your chair facing the TV, you turn around with your back to the TV and listen and smile and dance. You don't have to see with your eyes because your seeing from so many other ways. It has taught and is teaching me so much. Your vision team has told me that 80% of what we learn is from our vision... my little man, you are learning in ways that is so impressive to everyone around you. I love you!
Madi, I'm exhausted honey child. I have to first say that I do not like your fits. More specific, I hate when you slam your head on the ground.... hate it! You currently have melt downs throughout the day and by 6pm I'm so worn out. Who would have known this would be so much work? In between your fits, you are doing so well. You love to color and share. The only bad thing is your share your colors with your bubba and sissy and they like to eat them. You are doing so many great things these days and your vocabulary is expanding. We had an appointment with The Little Gym today and you did so amazing.
Gracie, you are so funny. Your new nick name is tootie because you think it's so funny to pass gas.. all day long. You are still very sensitive and want to check the mood of your brother and sister before you make up your mind on what type of mood you will have. You love your brother and sister so much. Well you pretty much love everyone so much. You have started to throw major tantrums. Your favorite is to hold your breath until you turn blue and start jerking. At first we were able to pat your chest or back to get you to breathe, then it turned to flicking water on your face, now it is soaking you with cold water. It freaks us out every single time you do it and you are exhausted after a fit like that.... please out grow this stage as soon as possible. You recently had a swallow function done and it was pretty good news although they did say you were "a fast drinker" which is true. You have a love for food and drink and we have to cut you off because you don't know when to stop. You are a small thing but a little chunk. You have grown and progressed so much within the past couple of weeks. Your therapy team is excited with all you are doing these days. We can't wait to get your walker in to get you really moving about. Your vocabulary is expanding and you are now saying and pointing to your nose. You also say "Bye, Bye" and open and close your hand while saying it. You still have such thick hair and it is really getting long. You wear your hair up everyday now to keep it out of your eyes. You did something pretty disgusting this week... you decided to play finger paints in your crib... with your poop. It was everything mommy and daddy had not to throw up. You sure didn't like being told that was a no no and you really didn't like getting a bath to clean you up. It is never a dull moment around here. You still like to scoot around on your bum with one leg in front and the other behind you. You can crawl just fine and have gotten really fast but I think sometimes you forget you can crawl and go back to your old form of transportation. Your voice has gotten a lot louder these days. We are so excited about this. Your OT thinks it is because you are starting to strengthen your core muscles which plays a role in everything. I think we might consider another surgery to see if it will work better. Gracie the sky is the limit and we are so proud of your progress. I love you!
After 19 months home with you I am transitioning back to work full time. I am excited to find a balance but I'm nervous and scared to miss each of your milestones. Our routine is all each of you know and really all I know these days. We've hired a nanny to help care for you while your daddy and I are at work. Luckily, you already know her since she is your nursery teacher at church. We are looking forward to getting to know her better and I am sure you are in good hands- I wouldn't do this if I wasn't sure. With everything I am sure you will adjust well but I just need each of you to know that nothing will change in regards to my commitment to each one of you and your needs. I hope one day when you have a family of your own, you can look back at this and realize that it is ok to pursue things that is good for you as a person while still taking care of your family. If you want something bad enough you can make it work.
I'm excited about this next chapter in all of our lives and I couldn't be more proud of each of our progress in our family. We've been through some pretty tough times and have made it out a strong family so I am confident that we are strong enough to go through another chapter.
My love for you each is endless. Each of you give me my drive to succeed and create a strong family. Everything I do is for you and much thought and prayer is put into every decision made.
Love,
Mommy
Madi, I'm exhausted honey child. I have to first say that I do not like your fits. More specific, I hate when you slam your head on the ground.... hate it! You currently have melt downs throughout the day and by 6pm I'm so worn out. Who would have known this would be so much work? In between your fits, you are doing so well. You love to color and share. The only bad thing is your share your colors with your bubba and sissy and they like to eat them. You are doing so many great things these days and your vocabulary is expanding. We had an appointment with The Little Gym today and you did so amazing.
Gracie, you are so funny. Your new nick name is tootie because you think it's so funny to pass gas.. all day long. You are still very sensitive and want to check the mood of your brother and sister before you make up your mind on what type of mood you will have. You love your brother and sister so much. Well you pretty much love everyone so much. You have started to throw major tantrums. Your favorite is to hold your breath until you turn blue and start jerking. At first we were able to pat your chest or back to get you to breathe, then it turned to flicking water on your face, now it is soaking you with cold water. It freaks us out every single time you do it and you are exhausted after a fit like that.... please out grow this stage as soon as possible. You recently had a swallow function done and it was pretty good news although they did say you were "a fast drinker" which is true. You have a love for food and drink and we have to cut you off because you don't know when to stop. You are a small thing but a little chunk. You have grown and progressed so much within the past couple of weeks. Your therapy team is excited with all you are doing these days. We can't wait to get your walker in to get you really moving about. Your vocabulary is expanding and you are now saying and pointing to your nose. You also say "Bye, Bye" and open and close your hand while saying it. You still have such thick hair and it is really getting long. You wear your hair up everyday now to keep it out of your eyes. You did something pretty disgusting this week... you decided to play finger paints in your crib... with your poop. It was everything mommy and daddy had not to throw up. You sure didn't like being told that was a no no and you really didn't like getting a bath to clean you up. It is never a dull moment around here. You still like to scoot around on your bum with one leg in front and the other behind you. You can crawl just fine and have gotten really fast but I think sometimes you forget you can crawl and go back to your old form of transportation. Your voice has gotten a lot louder these days. We are so excited about this. Your OT thinks it is because you are starting to strengthen your core muscles which plays a role in everything. I think we might consider another surgery to see if it will work better. Gracie the sky is the limit and we are so proud of your progress. I love you!
After 19 months home with you I am transitioning back to work full time. I am excited to find a balance but I'm nervous and scared to miss each of your milestones. Our routine is all each of you know and really all I know these days. We've hired a nanny to help care for you while your daddy and I are at work. Luckily, you already know her since she is your nursery teacher at church. We are looking forward to getting to know her better and I am sure you are in good hands- I wouldn't do this if I wasn't sure. With everything I am sure you will adjust well but I just need each of you to know that nothing will change in regards to my commitment to each one of you and your needs. I hope one day when you have a family of your own, you can look back at this and realize that it is ok to pursue things that is good for you as a person while still taking care of your family. If you want something bad enough you can make it work.
I'm excited about this next chapter in all of our lives and I couldn't be more proud of each of our progress in our family. We've been through some pretty tough times and have made it out a strong family so I am confident that we are strong enough to go through another chapter.
My love for you each is endless. Each of you give me my drive to succeed and create a strong family. Everything I do is for you and much thought and prayer is put into every decision made.
Love,
Mommy
