As summer is nearing it's end, the boys are enjoying every last bit of it. Here they are enjoying the pool and sprinkler this week!
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| Action Shot |
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| Evan running through the sprinkler! |
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| They crack me up! |
Friday, August 23, 2013
Friday, August 16, 2013
Photo Friday
Last weekend we went up north to Standish for the day where Grandma and Grandpa were camping. The boys got to play at the playground, go on a hayride and roast hotdogs and marshmallows for the first time. They had a really nice time and we can't wait to do it again!
Wednesday, August 14, 2013
One Crazy Day
Today was one crazy day and full of so many different emotions - I had to share.
Alex has his last Occupational Therapy session today with his current OT Jen. Jen has been working with Alex since November 2011 and has recently taken a new job that will benefit her and her family. There was something about Jen that Alex was drawn too. He would talk up a storm when he was with her like he was telling her a story. Today even as they said good-bye he was talking away and putting his hands into it! It was super cute. We are going to miss her a lot but are so happy for her and her new adventure! Here they are saying good-bye today.
After that we took a trip to Meijer - while we were there Evan spotted a woman who resembled his Grandma Precilla (who is Filipino) and called out "Grandma" to her in the store! Luckily the lady didn't respond or hear him! It was really cute though. I explained to him that it wasn't grandma and he just stared at her as we passed by!
From there we went home and I had a guy come out to replace a part on our refrigerator but it didn't fix it - which I was afraid of. Turns out that our compressor is bad and he informed me that we need to get a new fridge because it is going to cost us a whole lot to fix it and we are better off getting a new one. Great. Just what I need. Luckily we have a back up fridge in the garage that we can use until we have money to get a new one.
After the boys nap today we ventured off to the park by our house. After playing on the playground, Evan wanted to go throw rocks in the water so he collected a bunch and he threw them in one by one while Alex and I sat on the bench nearby taking in the sunshine. I am not a fan of water; I have never been a strong swimmer and when I was younger I flipped off a raft in a friends pool and nearly drowned. So, I guess you could say I am extra cautious around water - especially when it comes to Alex and Evan. The dock he was on had a metal ramp on it that I could tell was slippery and I kept telling him to walk - not run...and of course my worst fear came true. He slipped, fell and rolled off the ramp face first into the water. I have never been so scared before. It 's not super deep but for a 3 year old - deep enough. He was scared and panicked and his head went under twice before I got to him and ripped him out of the water by his shirt. Luckily he was OK and did a good job of flapping his arms while in the water. He was more scared than anything - as was I. I was proud of myself for acting fast - but not overreacting because I didn't want to scare him more. I hope that never happens again. I am just glad my baby is safe.
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| Evan BEFORE he fell in. It was a beautiful backdrop |
So that's my day in a nutshell. I had to share because it was just one of those days...
Tuesday, August 13, 2013
My Little Hero
There are so many dates that reside in our minds...holidays, birthdays, anniversaries and for me...today: August 13th. Three years ago, Eric and I were given news that would forever change our lives: Our precious son who was exactly four weeks old on that day experienced oxygen deprivation at some point and as the ultrasound showed, had brain damage. PVL it was referred to and it would undoubtedly lead to Cerebral Palsy.
That was the only concrete answer they could provide us. Everything else was crap. The Doctors dropped a bomb on us and then left us hanging. I was crushed, I cried for days but there was no way in hell I was going to give up and let this get the best of me.
Fast forward to today: August 13, 2013. Alex has since been diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy; he has surpassed some milestones and has yet to accomplish others; he is beautiful, strong and all around amazing. He works harder than most people I know to do things that we don't even think twice about. He gets frustrated but pushes forward and there isn't a day that goes by that he doesn't laugh. I could listen to him laugh all day.
He isn't walking or talking just yet, but he understands a lot. I can see it in his eyes. He especially loves his brother who he not only laughs with but fights with as well.
I look back to those dark days after finding out about Alex and his brain damage and that time seems so distant now. We have so many wonderful memories as a family and what he has accomplished through therapy is so amazing. We try not to look to far into the future, we just take one day at a time.
He has changed my life; he is my little hero. I hope he knows that he has the biggest and best support system there is. Eric, Evan and I will always believe in him and always encourage him to believe in himself. His CP will not hold him back from experiencing the best of life. He deserves it just as much as the next person...if not more.
That was the only concrete answer they could provide us. Everything else was crap. The Doctors dropped a bomb on us and then left us hanging. I was crushed, I cried for days but there was no way in hell I was going to give up and let this get the best of me.
Fast forward to today: August 13, 2013. Alex has since been diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy; he has surpassed some milestones and has yet to accomplish others; he is beautiful, strong and all around amazing. He works harder than most people I know to do things that we don't even think twice about. He gets frustrated but pushes forward and there isn't a day that goes by that he doesn't laugh. I could listen to him laugh all day.
He isn't walking or talking just yet, but he understands a lot. I can see it in his eyes. He especially loves his brother who he not only laughs with but fights with as well.
I look back to those dark days after finding out about Alex and his brain damage and that time seems so distant now. We have so many wonderful memories as a family and what he has accomplished through therapy is so amazing. We try not to look to far into the future, we just take one day at a time.
He has changed my life; he is my little hero. I hope he knows that he has the biggest and best support system there is. Eric, Evan and I will always believe in him and always encourage him to believe in himself. His CP will not hold him back from experiencing the best of life. He deserves it just as much as the next person...if not more.
WATCHING ALEX GROW
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| 6 Weeks |
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| 6 Months |
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| 10 Months |
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| 17 Months |
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| 22 Months |
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| 2 Years |
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| 3 Years |
Friday, August 9, 2013
Photo Friday
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| At the Zoo |
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| Alex watching the giraffes |
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| Evan throwing pennies in the water |
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| Goofing around as usual! |
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| He asked for a picture by the bush! |
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| Can he get any cuter? |
Friday, August 2, 2013
Sunday, July 28, 2013
Summer Update
Summer has been busy for us, so I haven't had the time to post a lot other than pictures. Here's an update to what has been going on in our crazy lives!
ALEX:
Alex went to the eye doctor on July 3rd and we finally scheduled his strabismus surgery for September 13th. I really thought it would have been done by now but the Doctor was waiting to see how strong his muscles would get. They have gotten stronger over the three years, but there is still crossing and his left eye is more dominant. Both eyes will be operated on to strengthen the muscles. Hopefully it will only have to be done once. He is having it three days after he starts preschool but it is on a Friday and hopefully he will recover pretty quickly.
He also went in for another round of Botox on July 19th. The first round was done in on February 15th on his adductor muscles. This time we had his hamstrings done. The Botox blocks the nerve to that muscle so it stays relaxed and doesn't tighten up. It's amazing what a difference it makes for him. He is able to sit better and we are hoping it will encourage him to walk more in his walker. I am sure I has to feel better for him as well. It isn't a pleasant feeling when your muscles are tight!
His Physiatrist (Physical Therapy Doctor) keeps telling us how good his looks and how well he thinks he is doing. You have no idea what that means to us.
We haven't seen his neurologist in a year and a half and that appointment is coming up in three weeks. I always have mixed feelings going into that appointment because I feel like it could be a really good appointment or a really depressing appointment. Areas where Eric and I think Alex is doing well the Doctor may just crush us in saying something we wouldn't expect. He is all about statistics though, so I try not to look to much into it. There is no telling what Alex is going to do.
As I have said many times in previous posts, Alex is an amazing kid. He has a smile that not only can brighten your day but it can melt your heart. He's happy, funny, adorable, lovable and determined. He isn't walking or talking yet, but he knows his peeps that's for sure. The other night before bed, I asked him where daddy was and he turned his head looked at Eric and smiled. I asked him where Evan was, he did the same and once again when Eric asked him where mommy was he turned around and looked at me. Of course we made a big deal out of it and he got super excited!
Thankfully Alex is a content kid. He is happy with his favorite toys, his favorite foods and his Mickey Mouse. He will occasionally get frustrated with his AFO's if they have been on all day or if a toy falls off his stander tray or in the car. He definitely has a voice even though words aren't coming out yet! Most importantly, he loves his brother.
I am so proud of Alex's hard work in therapy and all of his accomplishments and seeing him struggle with certain things is hard, I wouldn't trade him for anything! He is my little monkey!
EVAN:
Where do I begin? Evan has two sides to him: the loud, busy, stubborn mischievous side; and then he has the adorable lovey dovey side to him. He loves hugs and kisses and making his brother laugh is a daily duty for him.
Evan likes to get into anything and everything that he shouldn't. He wants to be independent and thinks he can throw a tantrum to weasel his way out of things. He is a handful and there are days where he runs me ragged.
He is a really smart kid. He knows a lot for just turning 3 - and I would say it's all happened in the last 6-8 months. His words are starting to form sentences now, he knows all of his colors, his ABC's, he counts to 13 (then starts back at 7!) He is excellent at the Find it books and puzzles. He knows a lot of objects visually and isn't afraid to get what he wants. He loves his brother a lot and like Alex, he is also very determined.
He just recently started pedaling his tricycle and he now rides it on our walks. He LOVES the mall - any mall. He is fascinated with the place - I don't get it. He enjoys going to the park and more recently can't get enough of the beach. He has no idea how much he is going to love our vacation at the end of August when we go to Myrtle Beach. He is NOT going to want to leave!
I am so proud of all of his accomplishments and although he gives me a run for my money nearly everyday, I wouldn't trade him for anything! He is my Pit bull!
Having twins is both challenging and fun all rolled into one. Seeing how different they are just amazes me; how they have the same DNA and are closer than the average siblings but are so very different. I think it is neat how they differ and that they look like brothers but aren't identical.
ALEX:
Alex went to the eye doctor on July 3rd and we finally scheduled his strabismus surgery for September 13th. I really thought it would have been done by now but the Doctor was waiting to see how strong his muscles would get. They have gotten stronger over the three years, but there is still crossing and his left eye is more dominant. Both eyes will be operated on to strengthen the muscles. Hopefully it will only have to be done once. He is having it three days after he starts preschool but it is on a Friday and hopefully he will recover pretty quickly.
He also went in for another round of Botox on July 19th. The first round was done in on February 15th on his adductor muscles. This time we had his hamstrings done. The Botox blocks the nerve to that muscle so it stays relaxed and doesn't tighten up. It's amazing what a difference it makes for him. He is able to sit better and we are hoping it will encourage him to walk more in his walker. I am sure I has to feel better for him as well. It isn't a pleasant feeling when your muscles are tight!
His Physiatrist (Physical Therapy Doctor) keeps telling us how good his looks and how well he thinks he is doing. You have no idea what that means to us.
We haven't seen his neurologist in a year and a half and that appointment is coming up in three weeks. I always have mixed feelings going into that appointment because I feel like it could be a really good appointment or a really depressing appointment. Areas where Eric and I think Alex is doing well the Doctor may just crush us in saying something we wouldn't expect. He is all about statistics though, so I try not to look to much into it. There is no telling what Alex is going to do.
As I have said many times in previous posts, Alex is an amazing kid. He has a smile that not only can brighten your day but it can melt your heart. He's happy, funny, adorable, lovable and determined. He isn't walking or talking yet, but he knows his peeps that's for sure. The other night before bed, I asked him where daddy was and he turned his head looked at Eric and smiled. I asked him where Evan was, he did the same and once again when Eric asked him where mommy was he turned around and looked at me. Of course we made a big deal out of it and he got super excited!
Thankfully Alex is a content kid. He is happy with his favorite toys, his favorite foods and his Mickey Mouse. He will occasionally get frustrated with his AFO's if they have been on all day or if a toy falls off his stander tray or in the car. He definitely has a voice even though words aren't coming out yet! Most importantly, he loves his brother.
I am so proud of Alex's hard work in therapy and all of his accomplishments and seeing him struggle with certain things is hard, I wouldn't trade him for anything! He is my little monkey!
EVAN:
Where do I begin? Evan has two sides to him: the loud, busy, stubborn mischievous side; and then he has the adorable lovey dovey side to him. He loves hugs and kisses and making his brother laugh is a daily duty for him.
Evan likes to get into anything and everything that he shouldn't. He wants to be independent and thinks he can throw a tantrum to weasel his way out of things. He is a handful and there are days where he runs me ragged.
He is a really smart kid. He knows a lot for just turning 3 - and I would say it's all happened in the last 6-8 months. His words are starting to form sentences now, he knows all of his colors, his ABC's, he counts to 13 (then starts back at 7!) He is excellent at the Find it books and puzzles. He knows a lot of objects visually and isn't afraid to get what he wants. He loves his brother a lot and like Alex, he is also very determined.
He just recently started pedaling his tricycle and he now rides it on our walks. He LOVES the mall - any mall. He is fascinated with the place - I don't get it. He enjoys going to the park and more recently can't get enough of the beach. He has no idea how much he is going to love our vacation at the end of August when we go to Myrtle Beach. He is NOT going to want to leave!
I am so proud of all of his accomplishments and although he gives me a run for my money nearly everyday, I wouldn't trade him for anything! He is my Pit bull!
Having twins is both challenging and fun all rolled into one. Seeing how different they are just amazes me; how they have the same DNA and are closer than the average siblings but are so very different. I think it is neat how they differ and that they look like brothers but aren't identical.
So that is all for now. Hope everyone is having a nice summer!!
Enjoy it because it will be over before we know it!
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