Cole's Prayer Today

Cole's pray at lunch:

Dear God, I need Your help to obey Mom. Obey Dad. I don't need Your help to obey satan. God, You are my hero. And, You love me. I need You. Amen.

Stats

Kaylee
56 lbs - 90th percentile
51" - off the chart

Chad
67 lbs, 6 oz - 90th percentile
54 1/2 inches - 95th percentile

Our Family

It was a busy weekend for our family.  Mommy attended a concert that lead her to getting home way past her bedtime.  Daddy rode in a 100 mile race where he faced sleet, hail, and rain - and just happened to beat his record for this route in 5 hours and 3 minutes.  We served at church with preschoolers on Saturday night and then traditionally with our friends kept CFL hopping.  On Sunday, we prepared and celebrated Kaylee's 6th birthday.  Fun times, but we are tired :)

Cason

Mommy thought I had another bad ear infection.  Turns out it isn't my ears.  She is now blaming it on the four teeth coming in.

Weight:  29 1/2 lbs.

Height:  33 1/2"

Kaylee's 6th Birthday Party

We had a great time with Kaylee's 6th Birthday party.

We began with a pumpkin carving contest.  Each child had a pumpkin and chose an adult to help them.  The pumpkin faces ranged from basic to very detailed.  Kaylee and Marianne carved three stacked pumpkins.  Very cute.  Kaylee said that she was very glad that she picked Marianne as her partner and will do it again!  Kaylee chose the winning pumpkin which was a princess.  (Surprise, surprise!)

The kids had fun, but I think the adults did the majority of the work!

After pumpkins, the kids roasted hotdogs, we ate cake, and the kiddos played in the front yard while the adults stayed warm around the bonfire.  

What We Love and Don't Like

Kaylee:

Special Interests:  Babies, school and teaching, jump on trampoline, ride my bike, talk on the phone with Grams, play soccer

Favorite Color:  Blue

Favorite Food:  Pizza

Favorite Activity:  Going to school

Fear:  Really loud thunder


Chad:

Special Interest:  Peyton Manning, football, Wii, bike riding

Favorite Color:  Orange

Favorite Food:  Pizza, graham crackers and frosting

Favorite Activity:  Watch Football

Favorite Activity at Recess:  Play Kickball

Favorite Thing at School:  Math

Fear:  Thunder

Cole:


Special Interests:  Trains, reading, guns and swords

Favorite Color: Blue

Favorite Food:  Quesidillas, chips, burritos

Favorite Activity: Play with trains

Fear:  Monsters

According to Chad..

Question:  What is the difference between a school and a hospital?
Answer:  A school sends kids home when they are sick and a hospital keeps kids when they are sick.

Question:  What is the difference between a cat and dog?
Answer:  When a dog chases you, your run away.  When a cat chases you, you go towards it to pet it.

Question:  Why is not okay to rob a bank?
Answer:  Because where would you put all of that money?



These are answers that Chad gave the speech pathologist during testing in August.

Welcome October!

Now that work has slowed down, I hope to update more often.  Otherwise my kiddos scrapbooks are going to have major holes in them.

Cason:  Happy, happy, joy, joy.  There is rarely a moment when I am not happy.  And if I am a grouch, there is something wrong.   A few weeks ago, I was fussy wussy.  Mommy took me to the doctor and I had a very bad double ear infection.  Meds and ear drops fixed me up.  And in a few days I was back to myself.

I'm still not talking much at least so others can understand me.  I would prefer to make sounds without opening or moving my mouth but the parents aren't going for this.  Slowly but surely I am adding a few words at a time but we will see if the pediatrician is satisfied with my progress in a few of weeks.  I am a big flirt and laugh a lot.  When people talk to me I hide my face but immediately turn for more.

I greet people that I feel I know by walking up to them to give a hug.  I have no trouble going to my church classes and my teachers remark on how easily adjusted I am.  They all say that they can tell I am number four of the family!  I give great kisses that make my Mommy squeeze me tight and giggle with glee.

Last night I said, "Daddy mowing."  Then when I woke up with a full diaper and a horrific diaper rash, I cried out, "Momma, Momma."  

Cole:  I have added a not-so-fun activity to my week.  Twice a week for 10 weeks, I am receiving allergy shots.  Testing confirmed that I am severely allergic to cats, dust mites, mold, and pigweed.  Immediately the allergist upped my allergy medicine to morning and night with the addition of two nasal sprays two and three times a day.  So far the allergy shots have made my allergies much worse but we are hopefully that it will get better soon.  I hate the shots and fight them hard.  Twice a week, Mommy is learning what it is like to wrestle a steer calf.  Thankfully, I get to play Angry Bird and watch PBS Kids while waiting after each shot.  We are praising God that I have not had any reactions to the shots.

Last Monday, I was getting my clothes on before we had to leave for school.  I said to Mommy, "It looks like Jesus is really living in my heart."  Mommy asked, "Why?".  "Because I am obeying," I said.

Obedience continues to be a challenge for me but I ask God every time that I pray for Him to help me obey Mommy and Daddy.

Kaylee:  I was awarded the top color in our behavior chart. This is my daily goal and I become disappointed if I don't meet this.  My teacher wrote on my chart that I am a "role-model for other students."  I talk continuously about school - what we are learning, what kids say, and what my teacher tells us.  This gives me even more material for my imaginary school and baby play.  I spend a lot of my free time making things for my teachers and friends at school.  I enjoy writing notes to everyone and struggle to figure out if the /k/ sounds is represented by a "c" or a "k" in a word.

Cason and I are very close.  We play games from his crib and my bed since we share a room.  If I am lying on the floor, he comes over and lays his head on me.  If he gets hurt, I am sure that he wants hugs from his "sissy."

Chad:  Speech therapy is once a week but we are praying for openings soon so that I can meet with Miss W more than that.   With four severe areas, it is a lot to cover in one hours time.  Miss W said my last session was the best that I have done!  Mommy and I spend time each day reading and covering specific activities from therapy.  My afternoon time goes quickly between playing a little while, getting ready for the next day of school, therapy work, and eating supper.

My behavior and compliance has been much better the last few weeks.  Miss W is taking me through several Autism/Asperger's activities to help me better understand people and things around me.  This has dramatically helped me as I am starting to understand why there are rules and the need to obey those responsible for me.  While I still have a ways to go, we are all thankful for this progress and the small amount of peace it has created.

Daddy and Mommy:  Saturday is the big 100 mile bike ride for Michael, although he has ridden a few 90+ mile joy-rides last month.  The weather is not looking favorable so he will have to decide what to do as it gets closer to the time.

With the addition of rain to the past month's weather, Michael has begun mowing again.  It is so wonderful to have green grass again.  Fall also brings about bonfires in the front yard.  We have already had one get-together and look forward to several more with friends.

Work has slowed down to where I am only working about 15 hours a week instead of 40 hours.    This has been nice as I am starting to catch up on things around the house that have been placed to the side for the last four months.  Then I will begin maintenance on some much neglected items on the website and begin some new additions.

Keeping up with Chad's therapy has taken a lot of time and energy but we are thankful for the forward progress no matter what the speed.  We are learning how to pack a boat load of items into the 3 1/2 hours after school.  This hasn't been an easy transition but we are all learning our new "normal."

With Mommy's Bible study ending, Daddy is starting back to into his accountability group and we have resumed Community Group.  We praise God for amazing friends who support us through the hills and bumps of life.