Snow Days

Wow, what a cold February! I hate snow, cold weather, and blistering winds. Come on sun and summer. I am so over this winter thing!

Life at our house has been nothing short of an adventure since the twins were born, but the last year has definitely been the most difficult to date. The twins are sneaking up on 3 this year, and I am in denial that they are already this old! Seems like just yesterday they were those teeny 4 and 5 lb. babies in NICU. I cannot fathom that three years have gone by already. Time sure does fly by when you are have fun or running around like a chicken with your head cut off!

Let me update you on Alex: We have been doing the music therapy, amogst our other therapies) now since the last time I updated you. I have tracked his progress, and we have done the therapy religiously each and every day. Here is what's new: Alex stops while walking and balances himself without having to grab on to something or shuffle his feet to keep from falling. He literally can just stand there and look around. This is pretty big because of all his balance issues. To go with the balance, his sitting Indian-style or with his legs out in front of him has improved greatly. He used to have to put his hands down and lean on them for support, but now he can just sit there without the extra help. I think that this is from the music therapy but also from the spinal surgery. I think he is just figuring out that he can do this!

Alex has also started to have an interest in books. He use to just push them out of his way or swing them around in his fingers, but now he acutally turns the pages whether he is with me or sitting by himself. He looks at pages, laughs, and goes through the books. I love it!

Alex has started to wave when you wave to him or ask him too. He will sit and stand on command...I know I am making him sound like a dog! He will go to the bathroom to take a bath or brush his teeth when I ask him to show me where to go. He finds his chair in the kitchen when I ask him to show me that as well. There seems to be an overall understanding of what we are saying that is improving. It is not great, but there are signs of life in that brain of his...and that is big!

Alex has also found that he doesn't need his pj bottoms on, nor his diaper, when he wakes up in the morning or from nap. The problem is the poop-painted walls when he has a bit more than pee in his diaper. Matt and I have had 3 major clean-ups in the past few weeks, and it is disgusting.

Elle has taken on her brother's idea, and started to get naked during bed-time as well. She takes her clothes off almost everday and sleeps in the nude. I think we might have a problem on our hands! I bribe her with M&Ms to keep her fully clothed by morning, but that doesn't seem to work.

Mom: "Elle you need to keep all your clothes on tonight; and if you do, you will have M&Ms when you wake up. Can you do this??"

Elle: "Sure, Mommy."

I don't think she knows what I am saying nor what "Sure" means!

Elle's speach is improving dramatically. Her words are getting better, and she is super funny. She is a bit mean too. Apparently she pushed a little girl down at school the other day. She didn't seem all that upset about it! She has an independent streak to her that is a mile long. She likes to do things herself. She tells me to "get out" or "go away" if she is really consentrating on her task. We started the whole potty training thing, and she has decided it is not for her. We are taking a break, and will try again during spring break. We will see how it goes then:) She misses her daddy a lot during the work week, and we are tying out the whole Skype thing to keep us all connected when Matt's away. They seem to like that.

So this is what they are doing, but I wanted to update you on what we are about to endeavour with Alex. We are currently in the process of testing him for special ed services through Arlinton ISD. He is getting an audiology test on Friday, and will be evaluated by a team of therapists in April. If he qualifies, which he most definitely will, he will start half day classes at Little on his birthday. He will get the whole last month of school to start classes, and will start again in once school starts back in August. Here is the cool part!! Alex will be at the same school my mom teaches at. He will go from 8:15-11:15, and then he will go on a buss (Oh, yes! I said BUS) to CLC (their current pre-school) for the remainder of the day. He will have an assistant with him at all times to help him go from point A to point B, and we will have some pretty intense schooling for my little man. This is a big step for us! A bit scary, but will hopefully open up a whole new world to us.

That's the Twincident report in a fairly large nutshell. Hope the start of the New Year has treated you with wonderful moments. If not, please remember that faith, hope, and love are what can uplift you when you are down, worn-out, or in a tough situation. Just a little faith goes a long way! Thank you God, for giving me my faith! I am not sure what I would do with out you!