And the winner is...

Today while I was upstairs making my bed and gathering laundry I hear a low thudding sound with the quiet rustling of a bag, over-powered by the laughter and giggles of two boys, now you're mind can come up with a ton of scenarios when given the opportunity..."They are throwing balls at each other" possible, "They are jumping off the couch into the tent(see post below)" it wouldn't be the first time. "They have a couple swimming noodles and are hitting each other with them", it's been know to happen. "They have the two new loaves of bread I just bought and they are having a bread battle", my mind immediately rejects this theory for the shear idea of how bizarre it sounds. So I finally muster the courage to peek down the stairs and it turns out I was right...needles to say our pb&j's that were on the menu for lunch were: squashed, smooshed, broken, flat, and falling apart. At least I didn't have to cut of the crust.

Tent City

I watch this little boy Ben, I have watched him since he was 1 and a half and he is now 5! Ben is just part of our lives, a built in friend for Stetson. They fight like brothers and they play like brothers. They love each-other! Today they had cabin fever so we set up a "tent-city" and they loved it.






Stetson got these tents for his 1st birthday and he is just now starting to really enjoy them. It has been a fun day!

Stetson

Well, I guess it is time to post about this. Stetson has had a really hard time with language. Especially verbal. He is pretty good with receptive- instructions and such, but struggles with speaking. We started working with Kids on the Move in October and it really has helped when he started he could say about 4 words now he has around 50 with about 30 of those being sign. At first people would ask if he had autism, but he makes excellent eye contact and he is very "present" so that was immediately ruled out. Then after working with him for a while his therapists were wondering if he might be deaf in one ear, which would explain why he wasn't saying a lot. Stetson has had ear infections non-stop, so we had tubes put in last June but he still got an ear infection about every 6 weeks, which they say after you have an ear infection you hear like you are underwater for 6 weeks after it is healed. In February we finally had the ears cleared and tested to see if he was in fact hearing, and fortunately he can hear fine when he doesn't have an ear infection. So then the fact that Chad had a speech delay (he didn't start "speaking" till around 4 or 5), same with my brother, might have something to do with it. I guess it can be hereditary, also there is the possibility that he might have a speech impediment, but those things are so hard to decipher so young. He works with an occupational therapist and a speech therapist twice a month and I have set "games" we play each day to increase his communication. Basically we are just taking this really slow, because Stetson gets overwhelmed. It breaks my heart because I can see him try to make the words and he just cant figure out how to make the sounds. This last month his therapist recommended having him tested for Aspergers Syndrome, so we made a trip to his pediatrician and she said he is right on the cusp, so she referred us to a specialist with primary childrens hospital, when I talked to the doctor she recommended waiting to test him after he is 3, it takes 6 to 9 months to get into her, and cost upwards of $1000.00 out of pocket, and it's really hard to have conclusive results until a child is a little older. So we are waiting, and just playing it by ear. And for right now we will not be putting a label on him. You know, selfishly I want him to talk so bad, because I want to talk to him. It's also frustrating just because he isn't talking does not mean he isn't smart, he is just working on other skills. We are not sensitive about it, it is what it is. And chances are I will probably look back on this in 10 years and laugh at how worried I am. We are not offended when people ask us questions, and we are not afraid to use sign. Thank you to my friend Tanya who let us borrow some of her signing time videos, they help us so much and Stetson loves them. I love them too and am thankful that such a wonderful thing was created. Here are the Lyrics to "The Good" it pretty much sums up how we feel. Thank you for reading this and for your thoughts and prayers on our behalf.

The Good

It was you and me and the whole world right before us
I couldn't wait to start
I saw you and dreams just like everyone before us
We thought we knew what we got

And then one day I thought it slipped away
And I looked to my hands to hold on
And then one day all my fear slipped away
And my hands did so much more

So maybe we won't find easy
But, baby, we've found the good
No, maybe we won't find easy
But, baby, we've found the good

It was you and me and a new world right before us
I was so scared to start
I saw you and dreams just like everyone before us
But how did they get so far?

And then one day I thought it slipped away
And I looked to my hands to hold on
And then one day all my fear slipped away
And my hands did so much more

So maybe we won't find easy
But, baby, we've found the good
No, maybe we won't find easy
But, baby, we've found the good

My Boys

I took Stetson to the doctor yesterday and come to find out he has strep, well this morning I woke up feeling like horrible, I had the worst migraine the kind that hurts with every move you make and it makes you throw up. Stetson was so cute though we just vegged out on the couch, he went off to his room for a second and he brought down 2 blankets and his two little "quackers" his duck blankies. He covered me with the blanket and gave me one of the ducks he then climbed into my lap and covered himself and had the other blankie. He then told me we could watch Harry Potter, because he knows that I love it. He kept looking at me all morning and touching my face, asking in his own way how I was feeling. It was so sweet. Then when Chad went home they went and got me some medicine and sprite. It has taken the edge off so we came downstairs so Stets can play. I am thankful for my 2 boys and what good care they take care of me.

The Hardy's go to the Movies

Chad and I recieved some gift cards to the movie theater for Christmas so we decided to use them for a family date. We went and saw Monsters vs. Aliens in 3D and a couple weeks later we saw disneys UP in 3D. Stetson loved the movie theater it has 2 of his favorite things popcorn and jr. mints. They were both fun days!