Wow it's been forever since I've written here.  Things are so busy, life is just flying by.  I cannot believe in 2 months my baby Josh will be 2 years old and Drew will be 5 in January!  This makes me feel so old but so young at the same time.  My kids definately keep me young at heart.  It's so much fun to run around outside playing tag or hide-n-seek.  Or inside playing Uno or hide-n-seek!  as you can see hide-n-seek is one of our favorites!  The kids are forever begging me to play...and I'd rather do that then clean :O)

Josh is doing well.  His CP diagnosis came this summer and he's slowly been reaching those first milestones.  He is now crawling and pulling himself up on the couch and cruising around it.  Maybe by the time he's 2 1/2 or 3 he'll be walking!  Josh loves to read books, play with cars, trucks, trains (anything with wheels), he loves to sing and play finger games and he's also signing words: more, all done, cracker, cookie, eat, drink, please.  His favorite word is NO! but he doesn't seem to know what it means......everything is NOOOOOOOOOO!  lol  He gets therapy from Ken-o-sha two mornings a week ~ thursday and friday.  He amazes me everyday. 

Drew is in preschool, he goes M-W-F afternoons and he has a new friend Ben Skillen....it's never just Ben, it's always Ben Skillen :)  Eli is in 1st grade and his foot is finally healed!  No more crutches!  He is thrilled to be able to run and play again.  He loves to show people the scars and say how well his foot is healing!  Megan is in 4th grade and so smart!  She impresses me with all her knowledge about the elections and the presidents!  It's amazing to see my kids grow into wonderful little people.  I'm so very proud of them!

I would  like to do something I've never done before so I decided to run in a race.  I'm thinking I will do the RiverBank run in the spring.  I went for a run outside on Saturday with Megan (she rides her bike) I did my 4 mile walk and ran at least 3 miles of it if not more!  I have been run/walking on my treadmille 4-5 days a week for 40 minutes.  So if I can keep it up all winter I should be able to do the race no problem......my goal is to run the whole thing without having to take a break and walk. 

Anyway, Drew and Josh need mommy to clean up their lunch and get Drew ready for school.  Have a good day :)

Josh's MRI results

We went to the neurologist this morning & Josh has PVL or Periventricular Leukomalacia scartissue in the brain that was the neurologist kept saying wasn't my fault or my OB's fault....but most likely occured when I was pregnant w/ him or during his birth, something like if I felt lightheaded during my pregnancy it could have resulted in oxygen deprivation to Joshy...they just don't know. So that is why he is developmentally delayed. Obviously I'm still in shock, I honestly thought nothing was wrong.
They also had to take blood which didn't go well....first try didn't work, used the other arm got blood and now got a call that says the blood won't work b/c he was all worked up so I have to go back tomorrow so they can draw it again my poor boy. They also want urine. Just to run additional tests. To make sure nothing else is wrong.
I found this site...but need to do some more research.....
http://www.lpch.org/DiseaseHealthInfo/Heal.../neuro/pvl.html

We have to keep him in Early On they said that is good, and if Early On takes a break for the summer he will have to start Physical Therapy.  If there is a regression or if he stops speech development we have to call them immediately....

I have no idea how this will affect him growing up....if he will alway be delayed or what.....

I thought this was very fitting since it is snowing like crazy out there and SOOOO cold :) enjoy fellow Michiganders!!

Michigan Poem

It's winter in Michigan
And the gentle breezes blow,

70 miles per hour

At 52 degrees below!

Oh, how I love Michigan

When the snow's up to your butt.

You take a breath of winter air

And your nose is frozen shut.
 
Yes, the weather here is wonderful,

I guess I'll hang around.

I could never leave Michigan ,

'Cause I'm frozen to the ground.

I am so embarrassed.  My kids (Eli & Drew) act like hooligans.  I see the looks of parents at Oakdale Christian....thier looks of uggg can't that mom control her kids?!?  I wish my kids would just behave in public----well everywhere---- but they are kids....haha.  I think part of their acting out (Eli's) is that Chad is always working/never home.  Which is very frustrating for me.  We all miss daddy!

Eli is having surgery on Monday morning---he is having his tonsils and adnoids removed.  He has to miss at least a week of school and eat only mushy things for 10 days.  How am I going to get that very active boy to sit still for 10 days?  As a mom, I'm worrying about everything.  I need to let it go and trust that God will take care of my child.  I know He will.  So why am I worried?  I'm stressed about school arrangements for my other kids, luckily Chad will go in a little late to work so that he can drop Megan off at before school care so I don't have to bring Eli out in the mornings, but Drew has school two days a week, and I'm thinking maybe I should keep him home so that I don't have to bring Eli out, but that wouldn't be fair to Drew!  Orrr should I leave him home by himself (with our dog) for a few mintues?  I'm usually only gone 5-10 mins how is that different from when I'm in the shower?!?  I don't want to inconvenience anyone either so I hate asking friends for help.  But then what if I'm in a accident----I dont' wanna go to jail....lol....see told ya I'm a worrier.  I love my kids and only want to do what is best.....really..

so if you feel led- please pray for peace of mind for me.  Pray that Eli's surgery goes well and he's a good sport about it.  He is very afraid of needles and I haven't talked to him much about the surgery b/c he starts crying....not worth him being upset.  Pray that he can be still and heal.  thanks!!!