seems my life is so busy that it's weekly updates instead of daily!!! LOL - I apologize for that.
We went back for the second round of testing last Thursday - it was another all day event and Jake didn't do as well this time.....it started off good - but by mid-morning when they started the speech and language part of the testing - he shut down! He was having no part of it - kept wandering off - getting upset, wouldn't do the work...........so, she let him take lunch early. She told me that he wasn't interested because this is the one area that he struggles the most with - his language....which, for those of you around him - know that speech is his one definite struggle. The testing requires alot of repeating back what you've heard - saying long sentences, etc. and he just shut down.........so, we went to lunch and she came up with some easier exercises for him to do - when we returned from lunch - it seemed to go alot smoother..........
Mark and I go this Friday for our consultation with her to find out her results. I know for sure that she is going to recommend more speech therapy at school - right now - he only goes for 1 hour a week - which seems like a lot - but he really needs it more. I am also looking into private speech therapy. I don't think our insurance pays for this - so it will be our expense - but when it's your child - you will do anything. We had him in private speech the first 3 years of his life - but when he started in the Public school setting with the preschool program for children with disabilities - they wanted us to halt the private so that they wouldn't' be overlapping.........turns out - that wasn't good advice - so, we will see. She said that she can make a good case for our insurance company and they might take it since it is from a medical reason (ie being born so tiny) but, we all know how insurance companies can be.....so, I'll keep you updated on that.
Friday night - we hung out with our neighbors. We have been blessed with a great street of people! During the summer we find a driveway and all pull our chairs and just visit. The hurricane brought us a lot closer - I know more of my neighbors now than I did before it.........it's a great feeling knowing everyone that surrounds your home and that we are all looking out for each other.
Saturday - we got up and took jake to the beach in surfside. We like to go to Freeport vs. Galveston because you can pull right on the beach - your vehicle is close enough to see it....we took a tent and stayed for the majority of the day. It was awesome. If you are ever down there - there is a little dive (seafood) called Red Snapper - it is so good!!! We go there every time we are at the beach - they have the best fish or shrimp Poboy's around!!! It's worth the trip just for that.
Sunday - Father's Day!!! I have a great husband - he is a wonderful father. Jake was so cute when he woke up - telling his dad Happy Father's day and giving him his present. As most of you know - my husband is not into "things" - so buying him stuff is very hard! He is one of these people who likes to buy for others - but doesn't want anything for him self......it's very hard for me because I like to buy! So, when we had Jake - I told him - you are going to have to come up with little things that you want because Jake is going to have to buy you something for Christmas, birthday's and father's day........so, guess what he wanted for father's day....it's very simple!!!!! Ready??? A new TAMU hat.....ROFL.............I told you he was not into things......so, that is what he got!!! LOL
My father, Carl Patrick, is away at the Mississippi Camps cooking for the kid's - so I called him and wished him a Happy Father's day. What a great man he is. I haven't always appreciated him in the manner that he deserves - when I was a teenager/early adult - I knew more than him (isn't that how it always is?? LOL) and I was very angry that I had lost my mom - so I withdrew from my family for several years - but thank goodness that God is merciful and I came to my senses (and he placed a great man in my life who married me in all my junk! LOL) I appreciate my father and love him dearly. We will celebrate father's day the week that we are on vacation with them in Oklahoma.
Ok - I think that has caught me up. Oh wait - I have some good news as it relates to me and my health. For those of you who know me - you know that I almost died when giving birth to Jake and as such, I've had thrombophilia for the past 6 years - which is blood clots...........well, I went in this past week to the hematologist and guess what - all my blood is back to normal!!!!!! I am now on the lowest scale for clotting.....whoo hoo!!!!! Now, I don't necessarily have to be so "aware" of sitting in one spot for too long or not flying long distance. I still have to take a baby aspirin - but that is it! They explained it like this - when you have the HELLP syndrome during pregnancy - your blood platelets drop (which mine did ) and it causes you to have clotting......however, after several years goes by - sometimes, your blood will "fix" itself and go back to being normal..........it sounds bizarre - but it happened to me.....they ran like a gazillion test and they all came back normal!!!! God is so good!!!!!!!!!
My thyroid on the other hand is going crazy - so I'm doing some testing to figure out what that is all about - maybe just need a change in medication.....Mark and I just laugh - if it's not one thing it's another....but - life is good - I'm still alive!!!
Hope you all have a blessed week.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Jake's first day of testing
well, we survived Jake's first day with the Clinical Neurophyc testing......got there at 9:00 and we are home at 4:00.......it went great during the morning session - but by lunch - he was OVER it. We took a break at 10:00 for a snack - then lunch at 11:40 - 12:15 and then he was so done.....but he persevered
the testing is intense for a 6 year old. Nothing painful - just continuous work and Jake has such a hard time staying in his chair and focusing (unless you have a drum set or a guitar - then he will focus on you for HOURS!). I could hear them in the room - she was extremely patient with him - ask him all the right questions and I kept hearing her say "great job Jake". However, with every question came the drumming on the table.....and, of course, a song to go with it. I was cracking up! She handled it very well - after about 4 hours of it - I was ready to pull my hair out and hang myself with it. I guess because I've never been in a classroom setting with Jake - I never realized what he does during the day - but, it is definitely annoying - no wonder the teacher kept telling me that the "Jonas brothers' have to stay home with me.......for those who don't know- they are a teenage band who - I assume - must have went to school with Jake and they must have had concerts during school....LOL.....so, every morning - I would have to tell Jake that the Jonas brothers were staying home with me and they would be ready to rock when he got home from school - but I guess he was practicing at school during the lessons and disrupting everyone else....ROFL
The doctor didn't even budge - I am sure that she is used to dealing with kids who have all sorts of issues - so the drumming was nothing. She did tell him a couple of times to stop playing the table or to come sit down so they could finish.......it wore me out!!! LOL. We have another day of testing on Thursday and then we will know her findings.
One positive thing already is that she said from her testing today - his IQ is definitely higher than what the school had classified him. She also said that Jake will need more modifications because he can not stay focused - he is too busy and too distracted.....so, we'll see. Karen B - I may be calling to get your advice regarding the final findings too.......your knowledge will be so helpful to me going into next year. Thanks for being willing to help me.....I love you!
I think in one of my postings a while back I told you guys that I was being considered for the NICU Family Advisory Council at Texas Children's Hospital and I just found out that I was accepted!!! I'm so excited........this will mean that I will help them work on initiatives for parents who have children in the NICU - ways to help them cope, services that TCH needs/wants to provide for them - etc. Orientation is June 25th and then I start on the board in September. I'm excited about the opportunities that this will afford me.........
My scripture reading today was Proverbs 16 and it talked about how we can make plans in our head - but God is the only one who can/will cause things to happen. I know this was in his plan for me and I'm looking forward to walking this path.
love to all
k
the testing is intense for a 6 year old. Nothing painful - just continuous work and Jake has such a hard time staying in his chair and focusing (unless you have a drum set or a guitar - then he will focus on you for HOURS!). I could hear them in the room - she was extremely patient with him - ask him all the right questions and I kept hearing her say "great job Jake". However, with every question came the drumming on the table.....and, of course, a song to go with it. I was cracking up! She handled it very well - after about 4 hours of it - I was ready to pull my hair out and hang myself with it. I guess because I've never been in a classroom setting with Jake - I never realized what he does during the day - but, it is definitely annoying - no wonder the teacher kept telling me that the "Jonas brothers' have to stay home with me.......for those who don't know- they are a teenage band who - I assume - must have went to school with Jake and they must have had concerts during school....LOL.....so, every morning - I would have to tell Jake that the Jonas brothers were staying home with me and they would be ready to rock when he got home from school - but I guess he was practicing at school during the lessons and disrupting everyone else....ROFL
The doctor didn't even budge - I am sure that she is used to dealing with kids who have all sorts of issues - so the drumming was nothing. She did tell him a couple of times to stop playing the table or to come sit down so they could finish.......it wore me out!!! LOL. We have another day of testing on Thursday and then we will know her findings.
One positive thing already is that she said from her testing today - his IQ is definitely higher than what the school had classified him. She also said that Jake will need more modifications because he can not stay focused - he is too busy and too distracted.....so, we'll see. Karen B - I may be calling to get your advice regarding the final findings too.......your knowledge will be so helpful to me going into next year. Thanks for being willing to help me.....I love you!
I think in one of my postings a while back I told you guys that I was being considered for the NICU Family Advisory Council at Texas Children's Hospital and I just found out that I was accepted!!! I'm so excited........this will mean that I will help them work on initiatives for parents who have children in the NICU - ways to help them cope, services that TCH needs/wants to provide for them - etc. Orientation is June 25th and then I start on the board in September. I'm excited about the opportunities that this will afford me.........
My scripture reading today was Proverbs 16 and it talked about how we can make plans in our head - but God is the only one who can/will cause things to happen. I know this was in his plan for me and I'm looking forward to walking this path.
love to all
k
Monday, June 15, 2009
Camp!!! Wow - what an experience..............
Hey everyone - hope your week last week was great! Mine was entertaining - to say the least!!!
Started off with Monday and Tuesday hanging out with my best friend from Pittsburgh - she was my roommate for many years before we both got married and she moved away........that was 10 years ago and we can still act crazy like we have seen each other every day! Isn't that what great friends are like? Even though there is many miles between us - it's like we are never apart. Love that!
Wednesday - I said goodbye to my sweet husband and little boy - and headed off to camp with 67 other people (mostly kids). Jake stayed with my sister Carla for two days and then went to Nana's house for the last day......my husband leaves for work too early - so I had to have someone who could stay at my house with them and take care of Jake while Mark worked....worked out perfect with Carla....of course, she spoils him rotten.....he loves Carkey.
We rented a bus for the kids and I got to drive my car!!!! Yay for small things - huh? Can you even imagine the noise on the bus - all those excited kids screaming and yelling - can't wait to get to camp. We take them to Victory Camp in Alvin. The church that it is affiliated with is Living Stones....it's a great location - they have SO much stuff for the kids to do. When we got there - it was check-in, then unpack (dorms were great! Nothing like old Lufkin used to be....remember the days before they got the make over??). After check in - it was orientation and then dinner (which was GREAT - fried chicken, mash potatoes and the works - best camp food I ever had (except when my dad was the cook at Lufkin - then their food rocked too! LOL) Free time was after that and that is where the kids can go and do whatever they want.........so, off we went.....they had rock climbing, pole climbing, zip line, swimming, water slides, go carts, sports, high rope, all kinds of stuff!!! The first night - my group went to the go carts.....and yes, I did it - of course, I got the one that drove like a grandma - so I was barely moving and all the kids were passing me up!!!!! Oh well - it could be because my go cart was carrying more around??? LOL. The kids were so excited to be there - it was like 1:30 in the morning before we got them settled down and asleep. I so remember those days - giggling and the monitor looking around trying to see who was laughing while they were suppose to be sleeping!
Thursday was up and at 'em - didn't take long to get the kids up. Breakfast was at 8:00 - it was good! Then, off to activity one - which was the zip line..........ok - I did this - but it took LOTS of prayer to get my behind up there. If you don't know what a zip line is - it's a cable that is high in the air and you get on it from one side and "zip" across to the other. Here's the deal.......you have to climb this narrow set of stairs up to the top - the whole time - they are shaking and swaying to the wind and then you get on the platform - and it is HIGH and it's shaking and moving. You are tied to a line - then you have to sit down and scoot to the edge of the platform.....your feet are dangling off - it's HIGH....did I mention - it's HIGH.....did I mention that I am not fond of heights??? Anyway - you sit there until you see the guy down at the bottom wave a flag and then you all go at the same time............I kept asking the guy up top - now, are you sure that this cable isn't going to snap with my 9000 pounds on it??? He was cracking up. He's like "ma'am - this cable can hold up to 5000 pounds......that still didn't make me feel any better. I was praying and asking for forgiveness for everything I had ever done - everything I had ever said ugly and everything ugly I was about to say when I threw myself off that platform!!!!! He starts to count - 1, 2 and on three - we had to go.....I heard three and I closed my eyes - wanted to puke - but instead I threw myself off that platform and OMG - it was amazing!!!!! My heart was pumping so hard - I thought it was coming out of my chest - but I did it - I conquered a fear and I was so excited!!!!! I even did it again!!!!!!
Started off with Monday and Tuesday hanging out with my best friend from Pittsburgh - she was my roommate for many years before we both got married and she moved away........that was 10 years ago and we can still act crazy like we have seen each other every day! Isn't that what great friends are like? Even though there is many miles between us - it's like we are never apart. Love that!
Wednesday - I said goodbye to my sweet husband and little boy - and headed off to camp with 67 other people (mostly kids). Jake stayed with my sister Carla for two days and then went to Nana's house for the last day......my husband leaves for work too early - so I had to have someone who could stay at my house with them and take care of Jake while Mark worked....worked out perfect with Carla....of course, she spoils him rotten.....he loves Carkey.
We rented a bus for the kids and I got to drive my car!!!! Yay for small things - huh? Can you even imagine the noise on the bus - all those excited kids screaming and yelling - can't wait to get to camp. We take them to Victory Camp in Alvin. The church that it is affiliated with is Living Stones....it's a great location - they have SO much stuff for the kids to do. When we got there - it was check-in, then unpack (dorms were great! Nothing like old Lufkin used to be....remember the days before they got the make over??). After check in - it was orientation and then dinner (which was GREAT - fried chicken, mash potatoes and the works - best camp food I ever had (except when my dad was the cook at Lufkin - then their food rocked too! LOL) Free time was after that and that is where the kids can go and do whatever they want.........so, off we went.....they had rock climbing, pole climbing, zip line, swimming, water slides, go carts, sports, high rope, all kinds of stuff!!! The first night - my group went to the go carts.....and yes, I did it - of course, I got the one that drove like a grandma - so I was barely moving and all the kids were passing me up!!!!! Oh well - it could be because my go cart was carrying more around??? LOL. The kids were so excited to be there - it was like 1:30 in the morning before we got them settled down and asleep. I so remember those days - giggling and the monitor looking around trying to see who was laughing while they were suppose to be sleeping!
Thursday was up and at 'em - didn't take long to get the kids up. Breakfast was at 8:00 - it was good! Then, off to activity one - which was the zip line..........ok - I did this - but it took LOTS of prayer to get my behind up there. If you don't know what a zip line is - it's a cable that is high in the air and you get on it from one side and "zip" across to the other. Here's the deal.......you have to climb this narrow set of stairs up to the top - the whole time - they are shaking and swaying to the wind and then you get on the platform - and it is HIGH and it's shaking and moving. You are tied to a line - then you have to sit down and scoot to the edge of the platform.....your feet are dangling off - it's HIGH....did I mention - it's HIGH.....did I mention that I am not fond of heights??? Anyway - you sit there until you see the guy down at the bottom wave a flag and then you all go at the same time............I kept asking the guy up top - now, are you sure that this cable isn't going to snap with my 9000 pounds on it??? He was cracking up. He's like "ma'am - this cable can hold up to 5000 pounds......that still didn't make me feel any better. I was praying and asking for forgiveness for everything I had ever done - everything I had ever said ugly and everything ugly I was about to say when I threw myself off that platform!!!!! He starts to count - 1, 2 and on three - we had to go.....I heard three and I closed my eyes - wanted to puke - but instead I threw myself off that platform and OMG - it was amazing!!!!! My heart was pumping so hard - I thought it was coming out of my chest - but I did it - I conquered a fear and I was so excited!!!!! I even did it again!!!!!!
They had service mid-day where they played games (always gross ones that the counselor's and kids were involved in - like the game that NCC took this year was chocolate pudding (which represented a mud slide) and candy inside the pudding and they had to find the candy with only their mouths and spit into a can........OK - it's gross - but the Kids LOVE IT!!! They love seeing the counselor's all gross and nasty - the teacher that did it had chocolate from head to toe!!!!! Then they would move from the game to praise and worship - then a sermon and altar - what an amazing thing to see all these kids worshipping - it's a sight to behold! We wore them out on Friday - so they went to bed a little earlier than the night before.
Friday was another fun filled day - HOT, HOT, HOT....but those kids didn't even notice......repeat of Thursday - more activities......
Saturday - home to my sweet boys.............Jake was waiting at the door for me - there was no down time - I hit the door and he was all over me! They were heading out to the pool - Mark was trying to be a sweetheart and tried to get him to the pool before I got home so I could unpack and relax a little - but I got home before they left and that was all it took. Jake started begging me to go with him..............so, of course, I did. I dropped my bags, changed my clothes and off we went to spend more time in the SUN!!!! LOL.
Today - Monday, Jake started at Pastor Mark's school (Mother's day out). He told me last night that he didn't want to go - that he was going to be bored....(like he knows what that word even means!!!). This morning - he was rushing me because he was so excited to be back at Pastor's Mark's school. He loves it there and he will go to Vacation Bible school there too the week we come back from vacation.
I spent my first day by myself at the gym, grocery shopping and just hanging out in the silence. Tomorrow Jake is going to the lady that I talked about in my previous postings regarding his diagnosis at school. He will be there for most of the day - undergoing lots of test (fun test - but nonetheless tiring). Please pray that he will stay focused.......I'm very interested in what she has to say. We go tomorrow and Thursday.......
will keep you posted.
love you all
k
Saturday, June 6, 2009
Ok - I can't believe it's been a week!!!!
I can't believe it's been a week since I have posted!!!! Believe me - I have lots to say - just no time to blog...........
Let's see - I left off last Friday - so, we've now gotten out of school.......woo hoo (if I say it enough - I will be excited - correct?)LOL. Jake is so excited to be out of school. His end of the year program was so cute - I videoed it - haven't learned how to put on youtube yet - but I will so you guys can see it....too cute. His school doesn't do kindergarten graduation - which I'm glad of since he will be repeating. We haven't told him yet......not sure how that is going to be.
Since he has been out of school - we have done nothing but go to the pool. Thank goodness our pool has lots of things to entertain him because otherwise - I'd be in trouble! It has slides and all kinds of fun things for the kids (at the pool for our neighborhood - we don't have one in our back yard). He is getting more and more comfortable in the water - so he is doing really good. The first couple of years - he would just cling to me!!!! Now, with his floaties or his life vest - he does great. And yes, Grammy - I put lots of sun screen on him!!! LOL
Our anniversary came and went with no catastrophes this year.........we haven't gone out to celebrate yet - but we still have a couple weeks left in June...LOL. We did buy cards for each other - so we did acknowledge the date - LOL. Carla laughs at us and tells us we are "old married people" even though we've only been married for 7 years - but we did date for 10 years prior - so my goodness - it feels like we've been together for 100 years!!! (in a good way - lol)
This week is going to be busy too. Tomorrow (Sunday) is church of course, then after that - I'm heading towards Pasadena for an impromptu gathering of some old ACA friends at Pappasitos - Peggy DeLosSantos is coming in from Colorado and a bunch of us are getting together - I am so pumped - some of these people I haven't seen in 20 years!!!! (wait - am I old enough to say that!!!! Good night nurse!).
Then - after lunch - my best friend, Vanessa and her husband Brad are coming over for dinner. They live in Pennsylvania and they are here for the week. We will have dinner and then Monday and Tuesday - Vanessa and I will hang out. The bummer thing is they are here the week that I'm going to camp with the kids from church...........yes, I said I was going to camp with kids..........unreal - I know!!!!
Wednesday I am leaving with 80 something kids from New Covenant church and we are going to Discovery Camp in Alvin for 3 days......yes, before you even ask - I HAVE lost my mind. I'm sure it will be fun and I'll do things that I haven't done in years - and, maybe, I will post pictures of it....and, maybe I won't..............blackmail for years to come - I'm sure!!! LOL
Jake will be staying with Carla and Nana - should be interesting.....poor Carla.........she isn't use to having someone over night............this might send her over the edge.
So, if you guys don't hear from me before I leave for Camp - I will definitely be posting afterwards.....so, look for an update around June 15th.
Love to all
Karen
Let's see - I left off last Friday - so, we've now gotten out of school.......woo hoo (if I say it enough - I will be excited - correct?)LOL. Jake is so excited to be out of school. His end of the year program was so cute - I videoed it - haven't learned how to put on youtube yet - but I will so you guys can see it....too cute. His school doesn't do kindergarten graduation - which I'm glad of since he will be repeating. We haven't told him yet......not sure how that is going to be.
Since he has been out of school - we have done nothing but go to the pool. Thank goodness our pool has lots of things to entertain him because otherwise - I'd be in trouble! It has slides and all kinds of fun things for the kids (at the pool for our neighborhood - we don't have one in our back yard). He is getting more and more comfortable in the water - so he is doing really good. The first couple of years - he would just cling to me!!!! Now, with his floaties or his life vest - he does great. And yes, Grammy - I put lots of sun screen on him!!! LOL
Our anniversary came and went with no catastrophes this year.........we haven't gone out to celebrate yet - but we still have a couple weeks left in June...LOL. We did buy cards for each other - so we did acknowledge the date - LOL. Carla laughs at us and tells us we are "old married people" even though we've only been married for 7 years - but we did date for 10 years prior - so my goodness - it feels like we've been together for 100 years!!! (in a good way - lol)
This week is going to be busy too. Tomorrow (Sunday) is church of course, then after that - I'm heading towards Pasadena for an impromptu gathering of some old ACA friends at Pappasitos - Peggy DeLosSantos is coming in from Colorado and a bunch of us are getting together - I am so pumped - some of these people I haven't seen in 20 years!!!! (wait - am I old enough to say that!!!! Good night nurse!).
Then - after lunch - my best friend, Vanessa and her husband Brad are coming over for dinner. They live in Pennsylvania and they are here for the week. We will have dinner and then Monday and Tuesday - Vanessa and I will hang out. The bummer thing is they are here the week that I'm going to camp with the kids from church...........yes, I said I was going to camp with kids..........unreal - I know!!!!
Wednesday I am leaving with 80 something kids from New Covenant church and we are going to Discovery Camp in Alvin for 3 days......yes, before you even ask - I HAVE lost my mind. I'm sure it will be fun and I'll do things that I haven't done in years - and, maybe, I will post pictures of it....and, maybe I won't..............blackmail for years to come - I'm sure!!! LOL
Jake will be staying with Carla and Nana - should be interesting.....poor Carla.........she isn't use to having someone over night............this might send her over the edge.
So, if you guys don't hear from me before I leave for Camp - I will definitely be posting afterwards.....so, look for an update around June 15th.
Love to all
Karen
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