What's new in the Hunt World

Remember when Christmas seemed like an eternity away. Each night you would count the days on your felt Christmas tree with the 25 days of Christmas pockets. We had candy in ours, and I sure did love to eat that candy each day. We could have a little special something each day to tide us over for Christmas morning. I remember not being able to go to sleep for hours on Christmas Eve, only to wake up hour upon hour thinking it was time to head downstairs to all the presents. Once it was really time to go (probably 4 in the morning) the living room would be blocked off by towels so we couldn't see in until mom and dad told us we could go find what Santa brought us.

Even though my kids are a bit too young to get that crazy about Christmas, there is still something so exciting to them both. Alex mostly loves the Christmas ornaments, tissue paper in the packages, and the Christmas lights. Elle is enamored with Santa, the lights, the presents, the ornaments, the...everything. She is excited, but has not yet grasped the concept of it all. This is the year that will start it all. This is the year that will have her so excited for next year. I think Alex's has another year until it sinks in!

During this Christmas break, we are really hitting Alex hard with his therapy. My OT, PT, head lady, and nutritionist are coming out this week. They are going to really work on some new tactics for Alex. One of them has already started and I am very excited about it. If you go back to the picture up top, Alex has on headphones. These headphones are not your average, ordinary listening device. They have a bone conductor at the top of his head too. There is a therapy mix that is played for him and it allows the vibrations to not only go through his ear normally, but helps bypass the eardrum all together. It goes directly to the cerebellum and into his cerebral fluid. The vibrations allow the sound to bounce around in his brain helping fire up some of the nerve endings that are a bit slower. I am pretty sure that explanation is close to the real one...if that makes no sense try out this website to fill ya in: http://www.allthingswell.com/tlpbone.cfm

The interesting part about Alex and his therapy is that he sits still for 20-30 minutes at a time listening and thinking. Alex is not one who just sits around. He tends to be on-the-go at all times until he gets so sleepy he just crashes. It was odd to see him sit so still, and to see this look of complete consentration on his face. When we switched from lullaby music to trombones and trumpets, he laughed uncontrollably but still stayed focused and still. I am very curious to see what he does with this therapy.

So far the biggest change has been Alex's ability to wave. It is sort of an awkward wave, but he will do it with both hands and on command. This is one of the first things that Alex has done when asked. We have to really get excited and show him how to do it, but he will respond to it. It has only been a week, but I like the progress.

I am going to post a video tomorrow of him walking and waving. Many of you have not seen what Alex can do, but rather just what I have told you. I think you will like to see him in motion!!

Let's move on to Elle! She is starting to really pick up with her speech. It is a bit slower than the other 2 year olds, but overall we are starting to catch up. Her humor is starting to show as well. She is a pretty silly little girl. Everything has to be two even if it is ten. She has started to let me put her hair in a ponytail, or as she says "Two of them." Pigtails it is. Once I put her hair in pigtails the other day she told me "That's better mommy." She mistook a hula dancer for Jesus, and proceeds to tote him around all day hugging him and calling him "My Jesus!" Her favorite things to say is "I can do it myself," "I don't like it," her numbers up to 10, the ABC's, and Jingle Bells. I put some pictures of her up there too, so that you can take a look at how darn cute she is getting too. Check out that hair! Crazy!

Happy Holidays to your families! We hope that they are filled with joy, good cheer, love, and faith. We thank God for His healing hands, His love, and His guidance. Christmas is a time for remembering what's important in life. So while you are running around shopping for gifts, figuring out Christmas plans with your families, stressing over life's little issues; remember to thank that big guy and His son! This is why we are here in the first place! Merry Christmas!

Some new things worth a mention!

It has been a while since the last installment of The Twincident. We have been busy, hectic, crazy, and having a great time with it all. Matt has been working most of his weeks in Arkansas or Missouri, and we are pushing through with lots of phone conversations and emails. Elle likes to hold the phone and breath into it while occasionally saying "Hi Daddy." I think we need to get some Skype around here!!

An Alex update:

We are really getting our act together here. I see so many great things with my little man each day. First of all, since the surgery he has gained 3 lbs. He has been at 25 lbs. for six to seven months, and in the two months since his surgery he has gained 3 (if not more) lbs. Our nutritionist comes each month. She weights him and measures him. He just wasn't gaining anything, but now we are pack'n on the pounds! We are proud of him...he is starting to get a bit of a butt!

Alex is also becoming more independent. He is walking the majority of the time! He is still stiff and tends to trip often, but he catches himself and controls himself much better. There is a confidence that wasn't there before that is amazing. He still has a few run-ins with the tables and floor resulting in some huge goose-eggs, but we are leaps and bounds from where we were.

Alex is also starting to pat his legs and the table, move his wrists side to side, and make different inflictions with his voice. No actually consonants or vowels besides the 'a' or 'e,' but we are starting to hear some progress.

One of the best things is that Alex is eating Mac'n Cheese, Spaghetti-o's, french fries, and other types of solid foods. We are easing him into it, but his eating is much better.

I would have to say the surgery has been a success!!!

An Elle update:

This is one little spit-fire if I have seen one. She is goofy...self-proclaimed "Silly," and she is such a girl.

The other day at school, the kids went to Chapel. All the kids attend this portion of school at the same time, and Elle decided to walk around all the kids sitting on the floor. When she got to the front, she put her hands behind her back and told everyone "I'm Elle" and sat down.

She is equal parts dramatic, crazy, high-maintenance, and sweet. There are so many times she plays with my hair, hugs me like crazy, or gives big kisses. She is a teeny thing with a crazy afro head of hair, and she sure does love her daddy! She might be a shy one at first, but give her a second to warm up and she will be a one act show.

Her current favorite things to say are "I silly," "I want to do it," "I'm Elle," and "Sure." Sure seems to be the answer for anything now-a-days. If I ask her to sing, she tells me her ABC's or Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star, or she tells me her numbers 1-10. She loves to fall on purpose and say "I fall down" over and over again. My personal favorite is her laugh! She giggles so loud....it's infectious. We could not go a moment with out Mickey Mouse and Santa right now, and she loves a bubble bath! Potty training is next...I need some luck with that!

A Matt Update:

Matt is in and around Arkansas most of the time. He did get to stay with me this week which was wonderful, but he is back to Missouri next week. He loves the job, but hates his time away from us. We keep things ticking here though, and we are so proud of his hard work and dedication to us! We love you daddy!

A Kelly Update:

Still kick'n :)