And again I say, its been forever.

Wow. It amazes me how so much time can lapse between visits to this blog. It amazes me how life seems to speed by in a hurried rush that doesn't allow for me to sit down and let my mind relax. I find these days that that is what it takes for me to be able to update. And I find that most days I just can't let my mind slow down enough to empty out!!

I'll start by updating about the things I've recently talked about. . .namely my aunt. She's come SO far in the last three weeks! She's finally out of the coma, and has been moved to a rehab hospital on the other side of town. She's starting to mouth words (can't talk due to the trach they have placed in her) and is recovering physically each day. There is still a very long road a head of her, but she's AMAZING! She still has days that are spotty with who and what she remembers. But I have all the confidence in the world that that will improve with time.


Todd and I are doing well. Things are starting to get really really busy for Todd. He has many commitments with church which keep him gone a minimum of 2 nights a week. He's involved in many different musical things, which suits him VERY well. We miss him while he's gone, but I'm so glad that he's able to do things that he loves!!!

We're still struggling with the whole medical insurance thing. We had applied and had our kids on MA as a back up medical plan. They went through Todd's as the primary, and MA as their secondary to help cover the medical costs that we simply can't afford with how insanely expensive his medical is. . . and then I got an income from doing day care. . .and it puts us 100.00 a month OVER the limit to get help. Its been DEVI STATING to us. It takes away the freedom to take my child to the doctor if he needs to be seen. Because right now we have 900 going out the door in premium each month, and we still have to meet a 5,000 deductible. Its insane. I hate being in this place. As a parent I want to be able to take my child to the doctor whenever they NEED it. And right now we wait as long as humanly possible because the cost is a minimum of 175.00 per trip. Money I just don't have.

Other than that, I think we're finally starting to feel settled into the house. We have most everything unpacked, and we've even been able to start working on the basement some. For the last several months that has been the dumping grounds for anything and everything we haven't wanted to deal with just yet. The unfortunate part in all that was that the boys had to walk through that to get to their room. But its now about 70% cleared out and I'm feeling pretty good about the progress. The goal is to get the basement sheet rocked, and finished, and the basement bathroom finished by February so that I have throw a party here for my husband who will be turning the big 30. . . we'll see how the progress goes!!!



The kiddos. . .I think I'll update on them one by one.

KALEB:

My bubby boy. Where to begin! He's such a sweet little boy! He's so loving, and caring. And his love for animals grows more and more each day!! On the flip side of that loving caring little boys is a temper waiting to happen! You can see that temper flip in two seconds flat. I think its because of his deep emotions that we see these flips!!

Kaleb is really enjoying preschool! He's getting to know the other kids, and I think he also really enjoys having Kendyl there with him!!! His conferences went really well! They're going to look into getting him some speech therapy, but other than that, he's right on track!!!

A couple weeks ago I found a lump on Kaleb's belly. I took him to the doctors immediately. This lump is about the size of a pea, just up and right (his right) of the belly button. The doctor seems to think that it is just a fatty cyst. We have to see a specialist to be sure, but for now there is no immediate concern.

He continues to be into animals, Diego, and Tigger and anything blue. But has now added Cars, and Buzz light year to the list!!!

KENDYL:

My princess!! Kendyl is turning into a real girly girl! But the funny thing is, I think she'd be the most content if she could be dressed up like a girly girl, wrestling in the mud with the boys!!! She can hold her own with those three!! And she also knows just what to do to keep them wrapped right around her little finger!!!

Kendyl got her ears pierced in August, and has just now hit the point where she can switch them out for other earrings! And she's LOVING it!!! Anything pink or purple is good with her! Its so cute to see her whole face light up with excitement over them when we change them out!!!

Kendyl is becoming quite the mommy's girl! She is forever telling me how much she loves me, and even told me this last week that when she grows up she wants to be just like mommy! I know that these days are short lived, so I'm eating it up!!!

She still continues to be into Tinkerbell, and anything girly that's pink and purple, my little ponies, and necklaces. But has added to the list, earrings (now that she has pierced ears!) and barbies (since her aunt got her one!).

GABRIEL:

Mr. Gabe. Where do I start with him? He continues to be one of the biggest challenges I face day to day. He's very much like Kaleb in the fact that he's one of the sweetest boys you'll ever meet. But the SECOND things don't go his way, WATCH OUT! The temper that this little man possesses scares the living whits out of me. He gets angry, and ANYTHING around him can become his next victim if he's in the right mood. I'll lash out and hit a sibling, he'll slam doors, he'll make faces behind my back (or so he THINKS they're behind my back.). The list could go on. These rages seem far and few between, but its still something we're struggling with!

Gabriel is SO passionate about the things he loves. He loves fiercely and with his whole heart. We see this often times with family, and friends. He loves so strongly that it takes nothing for him to be heart broken at the drop of a hat.

Gabriel had his conferences last week as well. And things DEFINITELY need to improve this year. I think a big portion of what we're seeing right now is difference in teachers from last year to this year. Things that last years teachers took more in a free spirit-that's just Gabriel-light this teacher wants fixed NOW. His writing for example. Its something he struggles VERY much with. This teacher wants to see him working towards improving that day by day. And we agree whole heatedly. He's a very smart kid, and excels very much in math. Reading he is still a head, but unless its something that Gabe is passionate about, he has NO desire to read about it.

He continues to be VERY passionate about donkeys, sharks, batman and pirates. He's also still very into the color blue.

DALLAS:

Mr. Dallas. . . Where to start with him? Dallas continues to be our tender heart. He's a very emotionally driven child, and VERY into the emotions of those around him. He's very in tune to if someone is upset, and what he can do to help make it better. He has an amazing talent for brightening peoples days!

We're working with Dallas on appropriate talking times, and when he's just simply sharing too much. Dallas has ALWAYS been a talker, and could talk to a brick wall for 4 hours and STILL have something new to say. Its one of his blessings, but can also be a curse for him. He will often tell people he doesn't even know way more information than they needed. We're working with him on filtering the things that come out of his mouth. We don't want to take away from his natural God given ability to be comfortable with anyone, at any time. But sometimes when his mouth gets away from him he's hurting feelings of those around him, or offending someone depending on the case, and he doesn't even realize it until its too late.

Dallas had his conference last week as well. He continues to soar above most of his class mates, and six weeks into the school year has already completed 85% of the third grade standards. The teachers goal is to continue to find things to challenge him and keep him plugged into the class. He isn't alone in this excelled studies. There are a few other kids in the class in the same boat, so they are often times grouped together and allowed to work together on the things that are more challenging.



All in all life has been pretty good. There's been ups and downs but honestly, where in the roller coaster of life will you not find those!?!?! We deal with our struggles day to day, and keep putting one foot in front of the other marching farther on, one day at a time!!!