Happy Birthday To You . . .

Last March Jacob and I went to New Orleans--just the two of us.  It was fun to try the great food and see the sights.  On the way home I just did not feel well at all.  We had eaten a lot of sea food in NOLA and we just assumed that something I had eaten wasn't agreeing with me.  When we got home I still didn't feel well and a couple of days later I was still feeling ill.  It was Saturday morning and I had to buy groceries.  I left the boys with Jacob and ran to the grocery store.  The thought was HEAVY on my mind that I felt like I did when I was pregnant with both the boys. So, without saying anything to Jacob I grabbed a home pregnancy test while at the grocery store.  When I got home Jacob came out to unload the groceries and I hurried to the bathroom to take the test. It was positive.  I remember looking at it for the longest time and comparing it to the picture on the box repeatedly to be certain it was, in fact, positive.  I was nervous about how Jacob would react to this news.  We were done.  We had talked about having children before having Alex and we both decided two was enough.  We had two boys--Alex was 6 and Logan was almost 5.  We were happy with our little family and now in our early-mid 30s. I really didn't think Jacob would be happy about this news.  I took a deep breath and walked outside to the car where he was unloading groceries. I watched him for a minute and then I said, "So, are you SURE you only want two kids?"  He, of course, stopped what he was doing and said, "Why?  What's wrong?"  I said, "I'm pregnant."  He kind of shrugged his shoulders and said, "I kind of figured."

We sat down to dinner one night with the boys and Jacob said, "Guys, mama is going to have a baby."  Logan started crying and asked if there could be two babies of the family (because, he was my baby).  He wasn't too excited about it (until she arrived).

We were nervous about telling our families.  It was crazy.  I remember calling my mom and telling her and she said, "Is this is a joke?"  HA HA.  A few months later we went for an ultrasound and were told the baby was a girl.  Jacob was sitting in a chair beside me, kind of leaned over.  When they told us it was a girl he sat up and said, "Really?"  We just assumed, with two boys, we'd have a third boy.  I would be lying if I said we weren't a little excited about having a girl.

On Nov. 14th, 2011 we went to the hospital to have a C-Section.  The doctor came in and started talking about Rick Astley, because our last name is Astley.  Everyone in the room started singing, "Never gonna give you up . . . " It was funny and light heart-ed and I was just a little nervous. After a little while we heard her cry.  Every mother knows what that is like--when you hear your child cry for the first time.  I remember having to tell myself to NOT get emotional.  They let me see her and touch her and then handed her to Jacob.  He held her while she screamed at him.  She seemed big to us because she was significantly bigger than our boys were when they were born.  After that initial screaming she was really happy and quiet and didn't cry much. She had these big, beautiful eyes and she would just stare at you and look around the room.  She was very observant.  We, of course, fell in love with her immediately.

A year later we all adore her.  Alex is nearly 7 years older than her and lets her do ANYTHING she wants. He is always there to protect her and help her.  Logan is 5 and a 1/2 years older than her and is always gushing over how cute she is and how much he loves her. She has her daddy wrapped around her little finger and she has stolen all of our hearts.  Logan will say, "How did we ever live without her!"

I agree.  So, today, on her 1st birthday we are so thankful for our precious little surprise.   Our family is now truly complete and I couldn't be happier with my three little gremlins! ;)

Happy birthday, baby girl!  We love you!!

A Little Family Halloween Party

Well, it's that time of year again.  Fall is here and Halloween is right around the corner.  As a child I loved Halloween.  My mom would decorate the house and make fun Halloween treats with us.  We would listen to fun Halloween music.  We had fun Halloween parties at school and went to parties at friends' houses.  On Halloween night my parents would take my brother and me trick-or-treating and then we'd watch Disney's Halloween Treats, It's The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown, and other fun kid-friendly Halloween shows while my parents would go through our candy.  My dad would tell us about how he had to make sure the candy was safe for us to eat, but all I noticed was that he would eat the good candy and we'd get upset.  HA HA.  I am happy to continue some of these fun traditions with my kids.  We always decorate the yard and we usually decorate the boys' room but this year they asked to decorate the living room instead.  This afternoon they helped Jacob do just that. We put Pandora radio on the Family Halloween station and the boys and Kaitlyn danced around to the music while helping Jacob with decorations. Jacob set a cauldron out as a decoration and the boys were playing cauldron basketball with it and a Scooby-Doo ball.  Kaitlyn walked around with a trick-or-treat bucket.  It was just a lot of fun!  

You know I took pictures so here are some pictures of our afternoon of decorating for Halloween.  We have more Halloween fun to come, too. ;)  Our kids won't be little for long so we are enjoying EVERY minute of this! 

 Logan and Jacob decorating the living room for Halloween.  The boys loved it!

The boys have a book called "Here They Come."  It is about the monsters having a party on Halloween night and hiding from "the scariest sight of all" which turns out to be kids trick-or-treating.  It is such a cute book.  There is one monster named Honaby who is just a hat with legs and feet.  For some reason Kaitlyn reminded me of that while she was walking around in this big hat.  

Kaitlyn loves this blue trick-or-treat bucket. Jacob said she is practicing.  LOL 

Jacob hung his werewolf mask and Logan said, "Cool! It looks like you killed a werewolf and mounted his head on the wall like you would a deer."  Oh, life with boys.  HA HA  I said it was creepy but the boys say they like it. 

The Big Picture

We have discovered an Apraxia Kids website as well as blogs and online groups for parents with children who have Apraxia.  One thing I have noticed is that a lot of parents on the website post that they are depressed and they sat together and cried when they were told their child had Apraxia.  The therapists all say the same thing--a child with Apraxia (with the proper therapies, treatments, etc.) could grow up to speak clearly and do things that are so hard for them to do right now as children OR they could grow up and still have issues.  It can go either way and they want parents to be aware of this.  I read the comments of parents who are just devastated that their child has been diagnosed with Apraxia and I understand. Your child has to work harder than other children and as a parent it is SO hard to watch your child struggle and get down themselves. 

Alex not only has Verbal and Limb Apraxia but he also has a rare bone disease called Osteochondromatosis.  He has had two surgeries and he sees a bone specialist on a regular basis.  He has a lot to deal with, and while he does have moments of frustration, he is very determined and one of the hardest workers I have ever known.  

I think about the parents on the websites who seem devastated that their child has this disability and I understand where they are coming from and how they feel.  While I do understand their concerns, I have learned that as parents our job is to love our children, encourage them and prepare them for adulthood.  They will not be children for long and will be adults for a much longer period of time. Our children do not have a terminal illness, they don't have a disability that will keep them from experiencing a full life, or going out on their own one day and making it in this big, cruel world we live in.  I look at Alex, I watch him struggle and it's hard, but I know in the big picture he is going to be just fine.  Yes, they have to work twice as hard as other children, but in the long run (the big picture) they will be better people because of this.  They will be more equipped to deal with life's slaps in the face and disappointment and nothing will keep them from doing anything they set their minds to.  One day Alex is going to do amazing things.  He has big dreams and I know he will work so hard to make those dreams reality and I will be there smiling proudly and encouraging him along.

Sweet Morsels of Life

By now everyone knows the story. We took Kaitlyn to the ER at Children's on Wednesday where she was given a breathing treatment and some steroids and we were sent home.  She was fine until the next morning so we took her back to the ER where she was admitted.  We were there for a very long 4 days.

BUT . . . while we were there in the wee early hours of Sunday morning, during the stress of it all and the pure exhaustion, I had a good laugh.  Kaitlyn's oxygen levels were low.  They kept giving her breathing treatments but they didn't seem to work so the nurse came in to get the oxygen all set up in case the doctor told them to give her oxygen. I was sitting in the chair holding Kaitlyn, who was sleeping.  The nurse turned on the oxygen and instead of just a steady little stream of oxygen she was met with a very hard force of air.  Her hair blew up really high and her cheeks were shaking form the force.  One of the loudest sounds I have ever heard suddenly boomed from the wall. You know the sound of the drill at the dentist office?  Well, this sounded just like that but about 1,000 times louder.  This, of course, caused Kaitlyn to jump and then scream in fear. Another nurse came running in and tried to help--so then there were two nurses with their hair flying up and their cheeks shaking from the force.  One nurse began to scream and the other started laughing.  It was the funniest thing. They couldn't get it turned off so they flagged down a male nurse who gave it a try.  They eventually came to the conclusion that it was broken and were happy when they discovered Kaitlyn wouldn't need the oxygen.

We were happy to get to come home Sunday afternoon and Kaitlyn seems to be feeling much better.  Every time I think of that morning around 3 a.m. with the two nurses fighting the oxygen I still laugh.  It was like watching a sitcom.  Even the most stressful times in our life have funny moments.  Sometimes you have to look for them and other times they just present themselves, but they are always there.  Here's to enjoying the sweet morsels of life!

Apraxia Is Just Another Way of Saying, "Super!"

"Young boys should never be sent to bed. They always wake up a day older." --J.M. Barrie

This quote is true for all children.  I love this quote.  I see it happening in my own house.  Alex no longer lets me hug him goodbye at school.  He is very independent. He's in 2nd grade now--It just isn't cool to be in 2nd grade and have your mom hug you goodbye before school.  And I'm okay with that because he still lets me hug and kiss him when we're at home.  He even crawls onto my lap from time to time. 

Alex was a very quiet baby.  He didn't babble until he was a toddler and he didn't talk until he was nearly 3.  We used some sign language to communicate with him.  After a few doctor's appointments he started going to the school for speech therapy and we had a therapist come to the house to work with him. Once school started we began to notice other things--little things at first, shaky hand when he was writing, forgetting things and repeating things to the point of driving us crazy, not being able to read or recall the sounds each letter makes.  We noticed the way his mouth moved when he spoke and smiled (like Sylvester Stallone). He started occupational therapy to help with all the things he was struggling with. We knew something was going on, but we just didn't know what. Last year when Alex started 1st grade there was a lot of frustration and tears as he struggled with reading, writing, spelling, and math. Once 2nd grade started a couple of weeks ago he seemed even more frustrated and overwhelmed, which wasn't encouraging because the school year had only just started! We had no idea what to do to help him or how he was thinking or what was going on.  

Then, last week, I met with one of his therapists who informed me that they had tested Alex and he has Verbal and Limb Apraxia. She told me about how the disability affects Alex's brain and body--how there is (like) a disconnection from his brain to his body.  He knows what he is trying to say or trying to do, he just can't seem to do it. How frustrating that would be for me as an adult--I can't imagine having to deal with that as a 7-year-old boy.  Yet, he does--every day.  A friend said, "Giving it a name doesn't change anything.  It's like saying you knew your child had trouble breathing even before they were diagnosed with Asthma."  And she is right. There was no choir music echoing from the sky as the name of Alex's disability was given to us.  Alex wasn't miraculously "cured" just because we had a name to go with the disability.  BUT--on the other hand, having learned about the disability, we now feel like we understand Alex a little better.  We know a little more how his brain is working and we are getting new information on how to work with him and the treatments to help him. It has all been very eye opening and just amplifies what we have said about Alex all along . . . 

He IS a true super hero.  I drop him and Logan off at school and as I watch them walk into the building I am sure I see a tiny glimpse of his invisible cape. J.M. Barrie was right--every morning Alex wakes up older, but I believe he also wakes up stronger.  

Back To School (And Other Things)

School started last Friday.  Between getting used to a new schedule and a 9-month-old who is getting into everything, cutting teeth, and doing new things every day we have been far from bored around here!

Alex is now officially a 2nd grader and Logan is now a 1st grader.  Time is just speeding along.  I remember taking Alex to the elementary school for speech when he was three and Logan was still in diapers and being carried by me. Now they are big boys.  So far they both like school.  Logan loves his teacher and thinks she is hilarious.  Alex's teacher is very sweet and he came home yesterday excited about doing a science experiment at school.  Alex has already started bringing homework home this week and we have started working on spelling words.  I am assuming  that Logan will start homework next week. So far we have gotten back into the school schedule and while things are a tad hectic in the evenings, we are getting things done and the boys are getting to bed on time--so all is going well!

Kaitlyn has been pulling up on EVERYTHING!  She has started standing on her own and even tried to take a step the other day.  She is clapping, wagging her finger at us and shaking her head "No, No," laying her head on my shoulder repeatedly so I'll say, "Aww.  I love her!"  She is so funny.  In the evenings if Jacob is eating Goldfish crackers she will go over to his recliner, pull up, and Jacob will share his crackers with her.  It is the cutest thing!  I honestly can't believe she is already 9 months old.  It is going by too fast and we are trying to enjoy every minute of our children's childhood. I love every minute of it! 

 Alex helping me give Kaitlyn a bath.  He is ALWAYS eager to help!

                                         Kaitlyn and Logan

               The big 2nd grader doing his homework!

I am SO proud of all three of my children! Here's to another GREAT school year (Fingers crossed)!

All About Alex

People always say, "Children change your life."  Well, this is a fact in ALL parts of your life.  Some people say, "You'll never sleep again," or talk about how much it costs to raise a child. The truth is, children don't just change certain parts of your life, they change EVERY part of your life.  Having children changes you as a person.  It changes your schedule, what you spend money on, how you spend your time, and it changes how easily you make decisions.  Jacob was recently offered a position in another town and at first it was exciting.  The thought of moving and Jacob getting this amazing opportunity was all very . . . well . . . fun.  Then, we started talking about it and realized that a big change like that might be devastating to Alex.  Let's be honest for a minute--kids are mean.  There, I said it.  It's true.  Well, not ALL kids are mean, but there ARE kids that are very mean to other kids.  I'm not an idiot.  I know that Alex would be an easy target for some kid who was looking for some one to pick on. Right now he has friends who have been with him since he was 3 and 4 years old.  I can't imagine taking Alex away from everything he knows and force him to start over with new kids at a new school, new therapists, new doctors. He has made some great friends here and they don't treat him like he's different.  To them, he's just Alex. Sometimes, as parents, no amount of money is enough to take your special needs child from everything he knows and stick him in a new and strange environment and force him to start over. We love the therapists Alex has now and we love that his friends are always there to support and help him.  We even have friends here that help us when we need it.  Friends who love our children and would do anything for our children. So, after a lot of thinking, praying, and discussing the pros and cons we kept coming back to the same thought--"What about Alex?"  So, Jacob turned down this great opportunity so Alex can go on thriving and stay with all the people who love him.  I know telling them "no" when they offered him the job wasn't easy for Jacob, but he did it for his son/family.  I am thankful to have a husband (and father of my children) who puts his children/family first.  I think Alex is going to do great things one day and I look forward to watching him continue to thrive, grow, accomplish new things, and believe in himself because he is surrounded by people who love him! AND--to all of you wonderful people who love our children and are always helping us, encouraging us AND them--THANK YOU.  We love you guys. ;)

Delight

“I think it's worth trying to be a mother who delights in who her children are, in their knock-knock jokes and earnest questions. A mother who spends less time obsessing about what will happen, or what has happened, and more time reveling in what is.” 
― Ayelet Waldman

I am guilty of posting too many pictures of my children on facebook.  I'm guilty of talking about them too much and expecting the rest of the world to see them as the amazing little people that I see. Ayelet Waldman said it best and I agree--I WANT to be a mother who delights in who my children are. To delight in Logan's many questions about life and the world around him. To find joy in Alex's too cool/tough boy attitude that is pushed aside from time to time as he comes up to me, hugs me tightly, and says, "I love you." To delight in Kaitlyn's slobbery kisses and her curiosity about the world around her. To find joy in my boys' big, giving hearts and Kaitlyn's constant smile! I am not a fool . . . I know that parents lose their children each and every day--No one is promised tomorrow. I don't want to get so caught up in the every day routine and schedule that I forget to stop and delight in who my children are.

The Countdown Begins

The big thing in the Astley house right now is getting everything we need for school.  Yes, it's that time again.  I can't believe it.  Where did summer go?  Then again, it's too hot for the kids to play outside so they might as well be in school, right?  I let the boys pick out their back packs and lunch bags.  I ordered their tennis shoes for school and they have a closet full of new clothes. The only thing left to get is the actual school supplies. Let me just say that this is the worst part about back to school.  You have this list of 100 different things your children need for school.  The items are so specific that you'll spend an hour standing there, reading the list, and repeating one item at a time as you scan the 10 different types of the same item . . . only to find that that the one item you need isn't there. Do you wait and try again in a few days or do you just buy something else?  It takes forever and then, $100 or so later you have everything your child needs.  Or do you?  Usually I get home and realize there was one thing I didn't get.  School starts two weeks from today.  I'm going to try and enjoy the last few days I have with my boys before we all start school, homework, therapies, and all the craziness that back-to-school involves.

Hoping for a great year for my boys!

Being Different Isn't A Bad Thing

I heard, "Hi, mom," and looked up as Alex walked towards me rubbing his eyes.  He gave me a big hug and said, "Are we staying home today?"  I said, "Well, for a little bit, but you have speech and OT later today."  His voice was shaky as he asked, "Why?"  I said, "Buddy, they help with your speech and help you do things that you're having a little trouble with."  He said, "Okay," and walked into the living room to watch T.V.

A little while later he walked up to me and said, "Mom? Why am I different?"  I asked, "What do you mean?"  He said, "I talk different and Logan can do things I can't.  Why am I this way?"

Alex is an amazing boy.  So much of his time is taken up by therapies and he struggles daily to do things that most children his age have been doing for a long time. He rarely, if ever, complains, which impresses me beyond words.  If I were a 7-year-old and had to walk in his shoes I think I'd be a little grumpy.  I think I might throw a tantrum or two and just beg not to do the therapies. As Alex gets older he is asking more questions.  Logan has the same bone disease and Alex keeps telling us that Logan will need surgery, too.  "If I have surgery and he needs surgery and it's the same thing, why am I different?" 

We talked about how everyone is different in their own way. Alex said, "Yeah, like Logan needs glasses and I don't."  I said, "Exactly" and explained that just because he sees a difference between himself and others doesn't mean it is a bad thing. 

He hugged me so tightly and then, in true little boy fashion said, "Can I have a waffle?" 

I truly believe that this boy is going to do amazing things one day and I'm so proud that I get to call him mine! 

Little Boys' World

As many of you know, Alex and Logan share a room.  Between the two of them there were so many toys and other items and it was just getting messy and cluttered.  I couldn't stand it any longer. So, Saturday we devoted our entire day to the boys' room. The boys helped me carry everything out of their room and we vacuumed and dusted and cleaned.  Then, Jacob came in and moved their furniture around the room.  We organized and got rid of some things and the boys' room now looks a lot less cluttered and well . . . better.  I don't mind walking in there, now.  We were all tired at the end of the day when we finished but the boys were excited about their "new" room.  Here are some pictures of the changes we made.

Fun Changes and Crafts!

This week between running here and there we have been trying to organize different rooms of the house.  Today I focused on the kids/guest bathroom.  Here are some pictures of the bathroom after the changes.

I used green and blue containers because they match the bathroom colors.

A basket on the boys' level with their wash cloths.

Found an old, round basket and hung it as a towel holder in their bathroom. 

Logan's "hot air balloon to space" artwork (framed) and a painting Alex made. 

It looks really cute! 

Logan also helped me paint a flower pot this morning.  It's not perfect but I did it with my 6-year-old and we had fun.  Now we just need to get some flowers to put in it! 

We have some other crafts, etc. we plan to do.  I'll be sure to share those as well. ;) 

Special People

About 9 years ago I took a job at an elementary school in OKC working with special needs children.  There were children in wheel chairs, children with mental disabilities, and children with minor issues.  They were the neatest kids to work with.  I learned that you have to get to know each child and work with them differently.  My mother always told me that she didn't think she could handle having a special needs child, but she thought I was the kind of person who could have a special needs child and be a great mom to that child.  In all honesty, I think if you are given a special needs child you quickly learn to adapt.

My Alex doesn't have anything life threatening.  He doesn't have anything that requires special equipment and he isn't in a special needs class.  Alex's issues are unique.  Jacob and I often talk about how it seems Alex is trapped between two worlds--he is struggling in regular classes and isn't required to do everything the other students do.  He has come to us and told us on more than one occasion that he feels "different" from other children. His little brother can do things he can't and every day Logan will get to play while Alex has special reading homework, special speech homework, special OT assignments, and other activities he is supposed to do in order to help him.  I can't imagine how Alex sees the world.  I can't imagine what it's like to be 7 and have to work twice as hard as everyone else.
I can't imagine what it's like to be 7 and be so persistent and hardworking while your little brother plays.

This morning we had another IEP meeting to add more help for Alex when school starts next year.  One of the sheets we went over stated that Alex could have extra time for tests and homework if he needed it and that teachers were asked to be patient with him and allow him time to answer questions.

I sat at that table surrounded by people who have worked with Alex for years--people who have come to love Alex.  They went on and on about what a sweet boy he is and how they enjoy working with him.  I can't be with my boys every second of every day and I will admit that we worry about Alex more than we worry about Logan.  What if people don't understand him?  What if people ignore him because they can't understand him?  What if some one gets frustrated with him?  What if . . . what if . . . what if . . . the list goes on and on.  It is nice to know that your child is with people who truly care about him--people who know him and his needs and want to help him succeed.  Today, I am thankful for these people--the amazing people who are in my son's life cheering him on, comforting him when he gets overwhelmed, and understanding his special needs.

Thank you for a wonderful school year and for loving my son. You all will always have a special place in our hearts!

This is a picture of Logan at his first birthday party.

Logan on his 6th birthday.

Six years ago today Jacob and I loaded 15 month old Alex into our car and headed to the hospital.  My parents met us there to watch Alex while I went in for a C-Section.  A couple of hours later we met this little guy for the very first time.  Alex was such a quiet baby that it was almost shocking to hear Logan scream.  He hated the car seat and made traveling seem twice as long as he screamed bloody murder from his seat.  Time has flown by.  Now, that loud little baby is a 6-year-old boy with a giant heart.  He is curious about everything and is constantly asking questions--how things work, why things are the way they are, what things mean.  When I was his age I remember listening to music in the car with my parents and liking the music, but never listening to the lyrics.  Logan listens to the lyrics and asks questions about them.  He just such a curious boy.  He wants to help others and cares about the people around him.  It has been a fun adventure watching him grow over the past 6 years.

Logan requested a big breakfast for his birthday dinner so we will be having biscuits and gravy, hash browns, eggs, and sausage for dinner--followed by ice cream to celebrate his special day. He took donuts to school this morning to share with his friends and kept referring to himself as, "The birthday boy!"

Happy birthday to my sweet boy.

Something Different (And Different is Good!)

I had a rough morning with Alex today. He has been sick since Saturday evening and today was the first day this week that he was well enough to go to school. He didn't throw a tantrum--that's not his style.  He did cry though.  He cried and said he would miss me.  He said he didn't want to go. "It's too hard.  I'm not smart and can't do things everyone else can."  When I told him to put on his shoes or brush his teeth he would pretend he didn't hear me. Mornings like this are hard for me.  Part of me wants to tell him I understand and let him stay home, but that wouldn't benefit him at all. I hug him, I let him know that I understand his feelings and concerns, and then I encourage him and tell him how proud of him we are.

Needless to say he was angry with me when I dropped him off at school.

As Alex gets older, days like this happen more often.  He is now 7 and realizes that there is something different about him. When we're in public Logan will talk non-stop.  Alex, however, is always really quiet.  He told me one day that he didn't want people to hear how he talks.  On rare occasions when Alex is in a really good or hyper mood he will talk in public--and Logan will ask why people are staring. I love Logan--I love his outlook on things.  To him Alex is just Alex.  He has always talked that way and he has always done things his own way and that is just who he is . . . he is Alex. I wish we could all see Alex the way his little brother does.

I wish Alex could see himself the way his little brother does.

So, this morning, I stood in the rain and watched my boys walk to the school.  Logan under an umbrella and Alex refusing to use one. Being a parent is a crazy ride.  Being a parent of three children is an even crazier ride, and having a special needs child just adds to the fun.  I would love for things to be easier for Alex, but I wouldn't change him for the world. I look forward to seeing how he turns out--what great things he is going to accomplish! Through all the challenges, therapies, appointments, and little triumphs I have learned a child can do anything--even teach his parents a thing or two about life.

Play Ball!

Well, those of you who know us well know we like baseball.  The boys enjoy playing baseball and we watch a lot of baseball. We took the boys (and Kaitlyn too, of course) to watch the UCO Bronchos play this afternoon. Let me just say . . . it was HOT.  LOL We had a good time, though.

We are enjoying the warmer weather and being able to do more things outside.
Here are some pictures of my sweet family at the baseball game.

 We took snacks and bottled water for the boys.  Here they are sitting on the blanket watching the ball game.

Jacob and Kaitlyn at her first baseball game

My guys!

As I said before, it was hot.  Kaitlyn fell asleep--we tried to keep her in her stroller so she would be in the shade.

UCO Bronchos playing baseball!

We plan to start taking picnics to the games and Alex keeps asking to buy hot dogs from the concession.  It's even more fun now that the boys are a little bigger.  Here's to many more baseball games with happy kids!

A Mother's Bragging Rights!

These two are hilarious.  They are best buds.  They are awesome big brothers to Kaitlyn and they are eager to help me around the house most of the time. I have been around a lot of other children in waiting rooms and other places this week who just do whatever they want while their parents sit there. Children climbing all over tables and running around yelling while their parents read magazines and play on their iPhones. While in the waiting room for Alex's OT one day a bigger boy was telling Alex that he was doing a magnetic game incorrectly. Alex is Alex--he does his own thing and that is the way it has always been.  His teacher will even say, "Alex is Alex" and " . . . but, it's Alex."  Ha. He completely ignored this boy until he finally sighed and left Alex alone. Alex looked at him and glared to let him know that he had heard him but he didn't want to listen to him.  Ha. Another child was sitting on the play table hitting Logan on the head.  Logan didn't do anything so the child continued to hit Logan until Logan finally just stood up and walked away. There was no whining, no tattling, no fighting--my boys just either ignored the other kids or walked away.  I watched them sitting together playing quietly while the other children ran around like wild animals and I was reminded that I have great boys.  They DO get into trouble from time to time but for the most part they are great boys.  They are respectful and well behaved and I am very proud of both of them. I just wanted to brag on these two for a minute--I am thankful that I have two great boys!!