Ricky thinks Brody needs this bed. He always wanted a car bed when he was a boy but his parents wouldn't let him have one so he is on a mission for our boy to have this bed. My logical is that Brody will not like it after about 8 years old but Ricky insist he will love it forever. I think Ricky might want to sleep on this bed he likes it so much. He even mentioned it comes in pink for the girls. My responses was along the lines of when hell freezes over. 
I really love this bed for the girls with a trundle bed underneath to save space in their room. We spotted this in Pottery Barn and it's made really well. I considered bunk beds but I loath them and think they are not safe.I'd rather have something more classic that they will have forever and that will go with whatever theme they decided as they grow. Can you imagine Brody being 17 years old sleeping in that bed? I can't. But I don't want to think of him being 17 yet either.
I'm not sure what else we are going to get them. They have Power Wheels, bikes, scooter, tricycles, a wagon, swing set, outside playhouse, sand box, trampoline, swimming pool, etc. so maybe it'll be a few small things. We only do 3 gifts each plus 1 from Santa anyway. We are also looking at what we will do when the Christmas season rolls around. Last year we took them on the train ride to the North Pole which they still talk about but this year we are thinking about taking them to College Station to http://www.santas-wonderland.com/ but it's more expensive then the train rides were and they were a lot!
Bath and Body Works is having a HUGE sale so I got their teacher gifts already. Can't beat putting together a gift that cost $5 a teacher and is nice stuff. I did this last year too and saved big because I also got their therapist little gifts. Between therapist and teachers we have 8 people to think about. It adds up.
Anyway, more stuff on the to do list but it keeps me busy.
This is going to be a really long post only because I'm just remembering I didn't update about Gracie's big appointment last week....
We've been trying to see the Developmental Specialist since 2011. It's a long wait and we found out last December they lost our paperwork so we had to go back to the end of the list (until I called the right people and raised hell) anyway, at the beginning of this year we finally got our appointments and Gracie's was first.
They did a lot of testing like they did for PPCD (Preschool Program for Children with Disabilities). It's a 3 hours appointment. We had a doctor and a resident doing different test and asking interviewing me. The doctor was really amazing. She was fun, outgoing, personable, etc. which was great because Gracie was able to finally come out of her shell although she didn't speak a single word other than when I called for her to speak to Madi. On a side note, this happens often. It's like she really wants to communicate, she smiles, will do task or even play but will not speak. She will dance and want to sing songs but doesn't. I've always noticed this but know her little personality is so reserved and cautious. She literally analyzes every single thing and it's almost crippling to her. So anyway, the test was complete and I was unaware I'd receive the results at the appointment but was excited to hear what the doctor was thinking. Basically in every area but two, she is only about 6 months behind. So developmentally she is 30 months old or 2.5 years old. She scored at 18 months old in gross motor skills but that is because she cannot run or jump (her leg issues have delayed these skills). She scored 27 months old in communication. But the thing I found very interesting was the doctor believes she has Selective Mutism ( http://www.selectivemutismcenter.org/aboutus/WhatisSelectiveMutism ) which is a form of anxiety and makes perfect sense to us. The doctor didn't want to put another label on her (which I love her for that) so she said for us to go back to her in 6 months and we can see how she is doing in school and daily living to see if there are any improvements. That was my main concern was how she will not speak even at our house sometimes. She said we should continue Speech Therapy and asked if the therapist note the same thing which they do. When she was testing for PPCD this Speech lady told me that it was "behavioral" and told Gracie she needed to use her "big girl voice" I literally wanted to punch the lady in the throat because it's not like Gracie is being rude or defiant she is just for anxious. I know my daughter! Anyway, the doctor told me that we've done an amazing job with them and handling their care. She didn't have any further recommendations on what we could be doing that we aren't already doing. That makes me breathe a sigh of relief. It felt like an elephant finally climbed off my shoulders. I'm always worrying about what if they need this or that and so much time has passed that they will be affected negatively by not having whatever it is, etc. The doctor was very pleased with the Gracie she met and couldn't believe that she was the same child she read the medical record on. That is how AMAZING God is people! She mentioned she had read that Gracie got gravely ill in the NICU when she got NEC (the intestinal infection) and she read that it was touch and go for over a month. Her saying that just gave me goosebumps. I remember very clearly how sick Gracie was during that time and how her little body was so swollen and full of infection. But just like everything that has been handed to her, she fought a good hard fight and won. I just know there must have been so many angels around her during that time. And that is what I love about this being our journey. I love it because it seems so unreal like a crazy made up story but it's not only real but it has an amazing outcome so far.
So it was a great appointment. I'm glad we have this doctor on our team. She will also see Madi and Brody. Madi's appointment is this Wednesday and Brody's is the following Wednesday. I'm very anxious to see what she has to say about Madi and to see if her results are the same as the assessment team with PPCD.
We are off to the Pediatrician in a couple hours for 3 year check ups and shots. Bummer but they have to have them!
Madi is doing amazing with potty training. So proud of her! She hasn't had an accident in several days!!
Ricky's class ends on Tuesday. He had to write a 31 page paper and his final is Tuesday. We thought he got a couple days until his next class starts but turns out the first day is Thursday. Oh well, I'm super proud of him and I know he is happy about what he is doing and the choices he is making.
I'll stop typing now. Have a great week!
KP
