Deep thoughts today

The grass is not greener on the other side....the grass is greener where you water it.

It finally happened!

Finally, finally, finally!

Early on after Wyatt was diagnosed, John made a comment about how Saige at about 18 months would run back and forth between us giving us big hugs every night before she went to bed. I had forgotten about that night time routine from days gone by. The comment he made was something to the effect that he was sad Wyatt wasn't doing the same.

Then.....it finally.....happened!!! Last night Saige, John and I were sitting in a circle on the floor. I would say, "Wyatt, give mama hugs." He would run to me and give me a big bear hug. John would say, "Wyatt, give dada hugs." Again, big bear hugs for dada. Then Saige, "Wyatt, give sissy hugs." Big bear hugs for Saige. It was an AWESOME moment. A milestone. Not the kind the doctor writes down in the chart....It truly is the small things that count.

I remember a line from one of Jenny McCarthy's books about her son that always stuck with me. (Probably because I cried like a baby when I read it). She said that the love her son gives her is "Louder than words".

It is true.

Belated Halloween pictures

I'm only two weeks late...


I think the girls loved handing out the candy more than getting it!

A bumblebee, a princess, superman, and a baseball player!

Couldn't resist posting these picts

Three years! No way...

November 1st:
I know everyone says this, but time really does fly by so fast! I can't believe my baby has turned three! I remember very vividly Halloween night three years ago. I was FED UP with bedrest, I decided for myself that three weeks was enough and if I delivered at 35 weeks, this baby would be okay. So I took Saige trick or treating to 4 or 5 houses, then let John do the rest, and the next morning we said hello to a healthy, perfect baby boy! The past three years have certainly been an adventure, boys are so very different than girls. But what a sweet boy we have! Wyatt's has been learning the "Happy Birthday" song at school and learning to fill in the blank when his teacher stops singing (Happy birthday to _____). So when our family began to sing Happy Birthday to Wyatt, Ben, and John it was so fun to hear Wyatt trying to fill in the word "you" as they sang. The look on his face was so sweet because I think he kind of understood what was going on. He even tried to blow out his candles.
He also enjoyed opening his presents for the first time, I think his Hoops and Yoyo card was his favorite (thanks mom)!


Picture of the family birthday party for Wyatt, Ben, and John

Wyatt with his Hoops and Yoyo card (who needs toys anyway)

Wyatt at only a few hours old! Yes, he came out smiling!

Saige, proudly holding her new baby brother!

Random pictures

I haven't had much time to blog, but here are few quick pictures...

The kids at Wyatt's preschool Halloween party. (Wyatt's in the cape, Saige is in the baseball cap)


Saige dressed up for 60's day at school.

Here's our superhero again at his preschool's party!

A day at the park...

Bath time fun

At Loose Park...

Check out my awesome kid!

Wyatt has continued to make AWESOME progress lately. I used to keep track and count all of his new words, but after 100 I lost track! Here is a video of a work session we did at home. He does 23 hours of therapy each week, not all this structured, but it's hard to describe to people how much time, energy, and effort you put in to get just the smallest amount of progress. I had no appreciation for the milestones Saige met as a toddler, for each and every word she said, and for her developmental progress. The progress just came...it's of course very different with Wyatt, but we truly rejoice with each new skill he gains!

In this work session we use a color block schedule to identify which task is next (he matches the color block to the work box), then he is working on matching the colored pegs to the correct slot on the peg board. He needed help with the first two, but then gets the last three on his own. I love that he tried to say all the colors too. I think he said each one except yellow.

"Penguin", "sheep", "frog"

Another therapy activity Wyatt enjoys. It's a bucket full of beans and various animal figures. He finds an animal and then we name it.

"I want bubbles", "pop"

Grocery discussions

John and I are having a "discussion" about our family food budget. Perhaps you have had similar "discussions". Since I'm the one that does most of the grocery shopping and food preparation, I think he loses touch with how much it costs to feed a family of 6. I went back in our recent bank statements for the past three months and added up what we spend at Walmart, Hyvee, Big V, Target, Whole foods, and Costco for the entire month. I was shocked! It really is a lot of money, and it does also include certain household items as well. But I thought that perhaps he was right (did I just say that?). BUT, then I did a google search for food budget calculators and linked to this site at the USDA.

http://www.cnpp.usda.gov/Publications/FoodPlans/2008/CostofFoodFeb08.pdf

For our family of 6 on the moderate plan, it figures $1169 per month. On the low cost plan it would be $1056. Let's just say I'm not admitting to anyone being "right" yet, I am well within the parameters that good ole' Uncle Sam has figured and that is including Wyatt's gluten free casein free foods which are at least 3 times as expensive as regular food.

The "discussion" will continue....

Octoberfest

Picts from Smithville's Octoberfest this morning....


Saige dancing to "Gitchy Gitchy Goo" with her Dance class



Saige and I marching with Brownie Troop 32 in the parade

...and Hot Dog Man....not sure what bet he lost to have to wear this in front of all Smithville, but a funny picture anyway!

Homecoming parade

I love that we live in a small town with some small town traditions. One of those is the Homecoming Parade. It is, to say the least, a BIG DEAL! The entire town shuts down, school is let out early, every boat, trailer, firetruck and tractor within a 5 mile radius is deployed to carry hyped up high schoolers around the streets of Smithville while throwing huge amounts of candy at screaming children along the way. The parade is of course the precurser to the football game which the ENTIRE, yes I said ENTIRE, town attends. This is the first year we went to the parade. In years past I have not wanted to venture out on my own with four children to supervise, but this year we decided to go for it!

Here we are loaded up in the wagon waiting for the parade to begin

Saige was way too cool to have her picture taken that day. :)

My pictures don't do it justice. I was trying to snap them while making sure Wyatt didn't get run over by a fire engine! But it was a lot of fun, and the kids got a lot of candy.