Welcome to OUR World!: March 2009

Sunday, March 22, 2009

Playdate with Madi....

we havent seen Madi in a year, it was so fun to get to see how BIG she has gotten, and to spend the day playing together. Thanks Rachel, it was a blast : )

Lexi cracks me up some days.... Shes such a ham ; )

These are videos taken by Debi while I was at work this last week: Lexi apparently has found herself an imaginary friend. She was walking around the park holding hands with the friend, and then walking around carrying on a conversation. At first you think she is talking to herself until she looks off to her side at one point during the conversation. When asked about it later she said she was talking to her friend Merrily... Like in row row row your boat ; )

Then there was her trying to help with the house work. They were cleaning up for me while I was at work and Lexi asked Debi if she could do the dishes and Debi showed her how and then let her go to town. This was the result, she brings new meaning to the term "whistle while you work" by creating her own song about washing dishes... She cracks me up some days : )

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

We had a fun day....

We managed to have some fun today.... Picnic at the Park (with green Gogurt), Playing with friends (and a beautiful baby boy :0) )... And Dinner @ Chilis... It was a nice day.

Monday, March 16, 2009

Happy Saint Pattys Day....

Today we went shopping for our St. Pattys Day clothes and accessories....

We had fun and cant wait to wear the gear and take the pictures tomorrow.... Fun Time awaits....
Hope you all have a rockin awesome St. Patricks Day!!

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Funny Little Mom (and Dad) Songs....

I have gotten this email quite a few times with the Momsense Song by Anita Renfroe.....

This one was sent to me by my mom yesterday, My Favorite Things by: Hilary Weeks

And then I found these ones yesterday.... Dadsense by: Anita Renfroe..... even Brandon laughed... Its cute!!! and The Ultimate Mom To Do List by: Hilary Weeks.... Enjoy!!!

I just had to share..... Enjoy!!!

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Brandons Surgery Day......

So for those of you who dont know, Brandon fell off a ladder in June and broke is Humerous bone in half. He had to have a rod put in to hold his bone together while it healed. The rod goes from Shoulder to Elbow.... It was quite an ordeal and after a month and a half off work and an additional 3 months in physical therapy he was finally back on his feet and completely healed, or atleast we thought that was the case.

He has been having these random infections pop up in the middle incision near the break where they had put a srew in to hold the bone to the rod. They cant figure out why the infection isnt going away. We will think we have it nipped and the incision will start healing and then a week or two later its back again.... UGH!!!

So today they decided to try to fix the issue with another surgery. They are going to try to remove the screw, cut the dead skin off around it and some of the infected muscle, clean out the wound and hope that fixes the problem. If not they may have to remove the rod (now that the break is healed) and see if that fixes it. We are crossing our fingers and hoping and praying that this works. Its one week off versus the whole 4 months ordeal all over again.

(Sorry the pic isnt that good, thats the pin and the beautiful break the day of the 1st surgery 6-26-08)

(Brandon trying to BBQ on 4th of July, approximately 1 week after his surgery to put the pin in, Crazy Boy... He was bound and determined to not let a little pain ruin his fun)

WISH US LUCK.... and keep us in your prayers!!

Follow-up:

So we are home and all went well. They found out that the screw that we thought was just infected had come loose and then poked back through his bone in a different spot which was causing his bone to leak fluid when it would get irritated. It appears that was what was either causing the infection or that it was just the fluid building up and draining that gave the appearance of an infection. Either way they were able to get the screw out, but it took allot more work than they originally thought and therefore will cause more pain than originally thought. We are glad that its all over with now another week of recovery and he should be good to go, and we are hoping and praying that this is the end to this trial for us. Thanks for all your well wishes and prayers, we appreciate them more than you know. Love ya XOXOXOX

More About Us.....

Sean is doing AMAZINGLY well (considering), If you missed the last couple updates Sean has been diagnosed with Aspergers (High Functioning Autism). It was a tough road to get to that end result, but we are picking ourselves up and dusting ourselves off and moving on in the direction that is best for the little man. Always making sure that the end result will be in his best interest.

Sean was able to be a part of a program this last couple years that has helped immensely with his sensory needs, coping mechanisms, language helps and keeping him on track educationally without the chaos of a "normal" classroom getting in the way. He made so many friends, friends that understand him and his quirks and LOVE him despite them. He was finally able to see that there are people out there like him and he is not alone in the world. We were SO blessed to have that oppurtunity. After a couple months of waiting for the new school year and homeschooling he is back in the program at a new campus and loving it (Pieceful Solutions) they are a God send for us. This next school year they are going private BUT due to a scholarship program offered by the state we are able to continue him in this amazing program AND their new campus is right around the corner from us. Couldnt be happier for them or for our little man. New adventures on the horizon. SO exciting! Check back to see how our Aspie survives the new school year at his new campus!!!

Lexi has had a rough school year last year BUT she is LOVING her new school and her new teacher, her and her BFF (in Florida) are enjoying being pen pals still. Miles cannot come between them, they are still forever friends and always have each others backs. Its nice for her to have a shoulder to cry on and an ear to listen from someone who is her "two peas in a pod" bud and will always get what she is going through. She loves her and misses her terribly, but they are making it through. They are both SO excited (AND so are us moms) that we will be taking a vacation to Florida in July to see them. Its been over a year and we miss them SO much. Cant wait. It will be a great adventure; first trip to Disney World, first flight and reuniting with great friends.

After a couple months of being homeschooled last year (which really turned out to be a great experience for both of us despite the added stress at times) Lexi is very excited about being back in a brick and mortar school. She is enjoying the cheer and dance club as well and chapel time on Fridays. Its been great for her to make new friends. This year has been tough again, ups and downs with friends. BUT she is learning to make it through and cope with the fact that not everyone is nice and kind all the time. She has had a boyfriend this year and they are adorably cute together. This year has not been without its drama, but we are expecting that to be the new norm as the kids get older. If we can just make it day by day, step by step we will make it through. Keep checking back for updates on her going ons at school and with her friends.

For both kids this new school year is a BIG change and an oppurtunity for them to grown in their own ways, It has been good for them to have much different experiences and growths. As much as they grow apart in some ways they are growing closer in others. Its been a struggle, but a good life lesson for Sean to be attending Lexis class for some parts of the day. Its good to watch her friends reach out to him, and to hear her want to stand up for him with the couple kids that dont understand him. Hopefully this trend will continue and they will remain close. As much as they get on each others nerves, they both know they have each others backs. We have made it through most of the year and in one peice, thats progress in and of itself =) Hoping this will continue next year as Lexi moves onto her Middle School Campus and Sean moves onto his new campus. This will be the biggest change ever for them, Two totally different schools, new adventures around the corner.

Brandon has been working hard and traveling ALOT (still, some things never change). We have been VERY blessed that he has been able to keep steady work this last couple years or so with the economy the way that it is. And we are hoping that it just stays that way. He is looking forward to our vacation this summer and a break from work. He is getting close to burn out but hanging in there. He is AMAZING and we appreciate the hard work that he does for our family. We love him dearly and miss him like crazy!

As for me: I have been enjoying just being a mom and having the oppurtunity to help my kids learn and grow this last year or so. I was blessed with the oppurtunity to give them all of me and everything they needed this last year. And they blessed me right back with a few lessons I needed to get out of life on perserverance and endurance. I love those guys to peices; and none of it would have been possible without the hard work of my loving husband. He is amazing, and although things arent always perfect between us he never gives up and always fights hard to provide us with everything we need. I love him more than words can describe.

I am looking forward to this school year and being able to take a more stand off approach. Still being involved but seeing how much they can flourish on their own. Still being there to help them with homework and attend their fieldtrips and events. Still helping occasionally in the class, but allowing them space to thrive. The stand off approach has been good for all of us, they are settling into that well. They know I am around when they need me but they are becoming much more independent. Love those little monkies!