Welcome to OUR World!: Update

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Update

Sorry its been SO long since we updated. Lots has happened.

In the end of June we took a trip to San Diego and went to Sea World and the Beach. The kids had a blast it was nice to be able to take a vacation. Brandon has been doing alot of traveling with work over the last few months. Good for the checkbook at times, but not so good for family time. We are very blessed that he still has a job in this economy though.

The kids started school at their new charter in August and they LOVE it. Sean is still in his Autism program, but they have him attending some "specials" with the regular 5th grade class as well as Social Studies and Science with them too. Most of his friends are still there from last year, but he has made a few new friends this year as well. He gets to join Lexis class and that has been good for both of them. Lexi is in the 5th grade as well and is doing really well. Its a small class with only 14 students. Very close knit group, very much like a little family. She has made quite a few friends. She is doing the cheer and dance club with school and also attends the release time chapel program on Fridays. Its non denominational but has been a good way to help with learning character traits and things that we hope that the kids they attend school with will learn. Being that their charter is linked with a church and owned and run by a Pastor they are very BIG on family values and the majority of the kids that attend are Christian families with good values. We havent had anything close to the bullying we had before and we are SO grateful for that. It seems to be a GREAT fit for us. We are praying it continues to stay that way. They go up through 12th grade so hopefully we will be able to remain with this program til the end.

In the end of August we moved to a new house. If you want the new address and you dont have it just send us an email and we will send it to you. Its been a great fit. Alot more space than before. Its right behind Brandons office so it cuts his commute by more than 3/4 of the time. And a couple miles closer to the kids school. Its been great to have the space to have people over. We were able to have Brandons mom come over for dinner, and we have been able to hold the Blaylock Family fast Sunday get togethers here which has been a much better fit for the kids. We are enjoying getting to spread out, the kids have there space and we have ours. We arent on top of each other anymore. We got the office out of our bedroom so we have our own space now that is not community space. Thats been nice. Having a laundry room inside instead of in the garage has been great too. We have a large yard for the kids to enjoy when the weather cools off. So far they have played out in a small dirt area and on the covered patio but not much in the rest of the yard. It has some overgrown weeds and dead tree that we are in the process of removing and then it will be the perfect outdoor space for them. We are settling in nicely.

Lexi had her first sleepover with her new friends a couple weeks ago. We were really nervous about it since we dont know the family well, but we decided that since we know they were a very Christian family and that it was important for Lex to feel connected with these kids that it would be a good thing. She really enjoyed herself and really bonded with them much more. This was important since this group was a little clique before she came to the school. Its been nice for her to feel accepted by them. There are only 6 girls in the class and 4 of them had been at school together since Kindergarten. She really enjoys their friendship now. She also started a ceramics class at Mesa Arts Center in September. That was the only thing she wanted for her bday (She got more than that =) but that was all she asked for) she has missed a couple classes from being sick, but she has really enjoyed it and is sad that it will be ending soon.

Other than that not much has gone on. Looking forward to a visit with the kids baby cousin (who is a year old now) we havent seen him since he was a couple months old. And the kids are gearing up for Halloween. We are enjoying our fall break now, unfortunately Brandon is out of town this week so we havent been able to spend any real time with him. We spent Lexis birthday here at the house, not much celebration but we did do a little family thing with just the 4 of us after Brandon got back into town. Sean birthday is coming up next month as well. And looking forward to our first Christmas here. We are just renting here but plan on staying for awhile while we get our finances back in order to buy again.

Anyway, thats our last few months in a nut shell.
I will try to update with each of the upcoming Holidays so you can see what we have had going on.
Talk to you all soon. Love ya <3

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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!