Speech and Occupational Therapy at Work!!

I am so happy with Logan's progress since he started the new ECI program at the beginning of the year.  I have seen great improvements in his understanding and fine motor skills.  Though it is still a work in progress, I am encouraged to see how he is improving on a daily basis.  This is just an example of what he is learning.  A week ago he could not do any interactive activity without help.  He actually understands what I am telling him now and that is SO encouraging!

I Love Being Home With My Sweet Boys!!

Things are going great for us!  I am so blessed to be home with my boys.  God knows exactly where I should be at this time in my life, and I truly believe this is the place he has prepared for me in the past 5 years!  It is so great to be able to look back over the years and see how he worked in certain circumstances to place me where I am at this particular time in my life. 

Corbin was diagnosed with Dyslexia this month.  Though it will be a challenge for him through the years, we consider it a blessing that we discovered this so early in his education.  So many people never catch it and struggle for years without any assistance.  His teacher is a true blessing….she is the one that finally noticed the Dyslexia and helped us decide to test him.  I prayed for the perfect teacher for him this year and God provided exactly what he needed.  I can see how much she loves Corbin and it warms my heart that she takes such a personal interest in my son. 

Corbin took the news well…..I am so proud of him and how he handles things like a little man.  I don’t think that he understands exactly what dyslexia is, but he understands that he “learns differently” than the other kids in his class.  I think he is just relieved to know that he is going to get the help he needs.  He has a special dyslexia teacher that is working with him on his reading and writing every day. 

Logan continues to improve daily as he learns to walk.  He is still a little off balance and walks up on his left toe, but he is walking none the less, without any assistance from braces or a walker.  All Logan’s therapists (speech, physical, occupational, nurse, and dietician) come to the house to work with him, which is incredibly convenient.  I am so blessed to be able to work with him at home on a daily basis. 

I never imagined I would have two children with special needs, but I would not change a thing.  They are both so special and have blessed our family in so many ways!  God is so good.  My prayer is that I can be the best mom possible to my boys and that I enjoy every moment I have with them.  They grow up so FAST!!! 

Christmas FUN 2010

We had a great Christmas!  I would say it was busy, but that would be an understatement....I think chaotic is more the word I am looking for. :)  I still need to go through the pictures I did take, but they won't be anything like Becca and Sara's fancy pictures. ;)

We drove to San Antonio on Tuesday, December 21^st.  The trip went surprisingly well.  Logan did fabulous and Corbin always does great in the car on long trips……other than the 35 times he asked “are we almost there?”  We arrived in the evening, dropped off the kids and the dog, and we were off to Alamo Café!  I think I was more excited about going to Alamo Café and Bill Millers than any present I got for Christmas.  I still have dreams about those Alamo Café tortillas and Bill Miller’s hash browns and brisket with BBQ sauce!  Yumo!

Wednesday, we took the boys to visit Nana (Mary) at work and she showed them off to all the office ladies.  Then it was back home for a long nap.  Logan did not sleep well in his pack and play the first night.  After naptime, I think he realized that was his new bed and he slept great the rest of the time.  We decided to stay with Mary and Lou the whole time we were in San Antonio so that Logan did not have to adjust to a new place all over again.  That night we went to Incredible Pizza Co. and Corbin was in heaven.  This place was like Chuck E Cheese on steroids…..ha-ha!  Thank you Nana and Papaw!

Thursday, we woke up early and took the boys to breakfast at our favorite breakfast restaurant, Las Palapas.  We all ate for $13.95.  You just can’t do that in Dallas!  We loved the chilaquiles and Corbin loved his bean and cheese taco with his pancakes…..ha-ha……only in SA!  Logan came home and took a nap while Cliff and Lou took Corbin to the indoor shooting range.  Dad took his three girls to lunch and shopping while Uncle Justin watched Logan and Brian and Joey watched the other three kiddos.  We had a lot of fun and great laughs with dad.  It was so fun to be with just dad and my sisters.  That night Grandma Cose joined us at dad’s house for a slide show that dad prepared for us.  We watched slides of our childhood and some of mom and dad when they first got married.  What a special time.

Friday, Christmas Eve, we went to The Dominion Country Club for family pictures!  EVERYONE was there (Dad’s kids and grand kids and Jean’s kids and grand kids).  It was smooth sailing and not as bad as we had imagined it would be with all the little ones running around!  Then back to the Duncan’s house for a nap and some last minute shopping for me.  We all met Grandma Cose’s house for a Bill Miller’s Christmas Eve dinner!  The best choice for a Christmas Eve dinner by far……and topped off with Brian’s homemade tamales.....Delicious!  We opened all our gifts and the kiddos played their little hearts out. Then back to the Duncan’s for the night…….wow that was a busy day!

Christmas morning with Mary and Lou was wonderful.   We had a big pancake breakfast/brunch and the boys played while we listened to music and watched movies.  It was so peaceful and quiet and we got some much needed rest and relaxation until about 4:30, then it was off to the Axtell house for a Christmas dinner.  Jean did a fabulous job!  The whole clan was there and we ate, drank, and were merry!  The kids played and many visitors passed through as the night went on…..about 7:00 Cliff decided he was ready to drive back to Dallas.  To make a long story short, we finally decided to leave Sunday morning instead. 

Sunday, we got up at 5:00am and did not get out the door until about 6:00am.  We were pleased not to hit any traffic on the drive home.  Logan and Corbin did great and we were home by 10:15am.  I took a power nap and then started cleaning for company and round two.

Monday morning, Cliff’s mom (Brenda), brother (Bob), his wife (Connie), their son (Marshall), and Marshall’s son (Saben- 4) and daughter (Jazmine-10) all came to visit.  Cobin had a blast playing with the kids and meeting his grandma Brenda for the first time.  It was so nice to visit with the family.  The kids played during the day and watched movies at night.  Connie and Bob took them skating one day and one night Corbin slept over at the hotel with the kids.   That was fun for him!  They tried to swim in the heated pool, but froze their little booties off!  On New Year’s Eve, Brenda went back to South Carolina and Bob and Connie watched the boys while Cliff and I went out for a nice dinner.  Bob, Connie, and Marshall took the kids back to Abilene on Saturday and flew out Sunday morning. 

I feel like I need a vacation to recover from my vacation!  What a special time it was with all my family.  I am so excited to be home with my baby and back to our routine!  I love that I can stay home with them and I am so happy to be blessed with a wonderful husband and these beautiful boys!