Aaaand it's September!

Life does have a way of running full speed ahead, or at least feeling like it is. I was doing so good keeping everyone updated and then I just fell off the grid again. Sorry about that – but I know the people reading this understand. So. Updates since February…

After we somehow managed to survive the colds of March, April and May, we finally got a break in June…woohoo! Honestly it wasn’t so bad, and I think we were so numb to the illnesses that occurred in January and February we just became pros and got out the cold remedy arsenal to get us through to summer. 

Owen has made slow but steady progress over the past six months. He is holding his head up much better, really starting to stiffen up his back when you hold him and a couple weeks ago he (in his sleep) rolled from his back to his belly! He’s done it a couple times since too which we are pleased as punch about. He’s getting a lot of therapy – six different 30 minute sessions a week and two more to be added in the next month or so. (Side note: his therapy is entirely funded through the Early Intervention program in New York State. I will gladly play NYS taxes knowing that some of our money is going towards programs like this for kids who need it!) His therapists are amazing too, we are so blessed with a team that just helps him the way he needs it and he really loves them (even though sometimes he cries when they make him work hard!).

Big boy got up early to see his big sister off
to school on her first day!

He has a sleep study again this week (prayers please!) so we can see where his apnea is at…which I think it is slowly subsiding as he grows bigger and gets stronger. He has had two rounds of genetic testing, all of which have come back negative so he remains a little enigma. I think I mentioned this in an earlier post (maybe not?) but I am ok with him being a little enigma. He’s just going at his own speed and only time will tell what his limitations may or may not be. He still is as sweet as pie and has a smile and giggle/laugh that will light up a room. 

My big girl started Kindergarten this week. I had two goals: 1) Get her on the bus without her crying/refusing to get on and 2) Have the bus pull away before I started sobbing so she wouldn’t see me. Thankfully we accomplished both, and although there were tears the rest of the week, we made it through and I’m hoping for a better week this week. I know it will get easier as time goes on but each day seems to bring its own adventure of sorts and I’d kind of like to go back to boring (I’m laughing in my head as I just wrote that, boring, what is that?).

This one was a tough one for me – relinquishing control not only to my daughter and her independence but to the adults and children that surround her. Did I teach her enough so that she would be successful in school? Is she going to do what is right? Or is she going to pick up bad habits from other kids?  It took me awhile to think and pray about what I wanted to tell her before she went to school the first day, this is what I got out: I know you are smart and you are going to do well in school and love learning. All I really want to hear from your teacher though is how kind, caring and helpful you are not only to her but to all your classmates. Do you understand? She responded, yes mama, and we went about our nightly routine. Now, all I can do is pray she exudes love and kindness. Well, I can also remind her every so often too J

I promise going forward I’ll try and do a better job posting updates!

Things I am grateful for today:

1) The simple things in life that bring great joy. Like Luke mis-pronouncing a name and Millie laughing so hard she gets the hiccups.

2) The kids’ neighborhood friends. They and their parents are God-sends!

3) Our access to amazing education. We are very very blessed.