Quick Update on Ron...

So for those of you who don't know Ron was having chest pain and pain in his left arm. He had 3 different tests done last week, his stress test come out fine but the other two showed some issues. He had a major test done today (sorry guys I don't know the technical names for all these tests) that showed he has a 30-40% blockage in his left main artery. A 50% blockage requires a bypass. So the last update I got he was recovering from the test fine and will be home tonight. They are going to try to shrink the blockage with medicines if that doesn't work then he will require the bypass. So...not the best news but not the worst either. I'll proabably know more specifics when I see mom but wanted to get a quick update out.

This & That

So Julianna's glasses are still missing! It angers me the more I think about it! She had them on watching TV, the next time I saw her they were gone...vanished into thin air. We have SEARCHED everything and everywhere, even going through the trash that day and have no idea where she put them. I keep thinking they will show up one day...they have to right?

I was voted President of the Parent Committee at Joe's school. I held my first meeting this morning which was on the topic of fundraising. A topic ironically I despise! I'm not good at sales! I hate bugging people to buy things that most likely they don't want and don't need. I'm not persuasive...you get the idea. So as of right now we are selling candles for Julianna's dance class and fudge for Joe's school. I swear the fun never ends!

Most importantly we got a definitive diagnosis on Joe. It's the diagnosis I was expecting. We have gone through extensive testing the last month and he's seen 2 different therapist. They gathered up the info and a specialist sorted it out (it's hell to get diagnosed!) and he has Asperger's Syndrome with a mild (very mild) case of ADD. He is taking medication (the smallest dose there is) of Ritalin and Abilify. It's taken about 2 weeks to get him on the right timing (timing is key with these medicines) and things have been much better! He takes the Ritalin and 1/4 tablet of Abilify at 7 AM and a 1/4 tablet more of Abilify at 3 PM. He was taking Ritalin at 3 PM also but wasn't sleeping at night so I cut that dose. I never thought of Joe as being ADD but I've found out through all these specialist that once you start "treating" (there is no cure) Asperger's the medication causes them to act hyper. So Joe really doesn't have ADD it's just brought on from the medication they use to treat Asperger's. Does that make sense? If I stopped the Abilify he wouldn't need the Ritalin but he also would regress. So they have to go hand and hand.

Allie has said her first word and to my delight it's "Momma" or "Mom Mom" or "Ma"! Usually said when she is crying or angry but I'll take it! I'm so siked about this because Joe and Julie's first word was "Dadda"...it's my turn! Bubba always gets the glory! They do daily news in Joe's class and once a week his news comes home and it's ALWAYS about Bubba! "Daddy works in Houston" or "Daddy watches Monster Fish". Yesterday, I said Joe "what about mommy"? He said "you don't watch Monster Fish". Hmmmm...

Happy 4th Birthday Madison!

Madison at birth 10/26/2004 8lbs 12oz 21 inches long

Madison and I having one of our first talks

Madison's Baptisim with Bubba and I as her God-parents!

Her first birthday party!

Maddie on her 2nd Birthday
2 1/2 years old
Maddie (3 years old) and Allie Summer 08
The latest pic I have of Maddie, Almost 4 starting her first day of school!

As you can see it's my neice (and God-daughter) Maddie's 4th Birthday tomorrow! And so the birthday season begins. This is a crazy busy time for our family as Maddie turns 4, Joey turns 5 of Nov. 3rd and Bradley turns 3 on Nov. 11! It was back to back to back births 3 years in a row! Then I went and had Julianna on the 9th of March right after Jazzmyn's birthday on the 7th and of course Allie bug was born on the 25th of Feb.! We tend to "favor" certain times of the year in our family, lol! Anyway, back to the point. It's just shocking to me that Maddie is 4 already, Joe is going to be 5 (OMG) where does time go? I remember the day she was born. I believe Jackie suffered through 30+ hours of labor to deliver the hefty 8lb 12oz Madison! I was there for every minute of it (my first time watching a birth) and to this day was one of the most amazing events I have ever witnessed! As you can see Jackie topped me on the birth weight (all mine were 6lbs) but Madison hasn't grown much since then, lol! Today she is a tiny 29 pounds. To put that in perspective, Allie is 21 pounds right now at 8 months! Julianna at 2 1/2 is 33lbs! Madison is not big but the girl is mighty! She's got a huge personality and is absolutely hilarious! I hope she has a great day tomorrow and I can't wait to see her! Love you "Maddie Mat" and miss you tons!

"Old McDonald Had A Farm..."

eieio! The post below I stated that last year we weren't satisfied with Old McDonald's Farm and we decided to go to Dewberry Farm instead. Well, we decided to give Old McDonald another try. I satisfied my pumpkin PATCH itch so there was nothing to lose. It was a beautiful day and we really just wanted to be outside. I am pleased to report the kids had a great time! A big perk out OMD is that they have a GREAT petting zoo! Each animal (Lama, Pigs, Cows, Chickens, Rabbits, Free Roaming Deer, Donkey ect. ) have their own pen and you can get right in the pen with them so it's very hands on. After we fed and petted the animals, we picked out yet some more pumpkins (smaller ones) and road a train. Then the kids played on the huge playground they have. Needless to say I'm glad that we went back and gave the place another try! Oh and I forgot to mention that the kids LOVED the poney rides, they are still talking about it a week later. We do live in Texas where horse back riding is a way of life not just a sport so it's likely that riding lessons are in the kids near future. It's something they really seemed to enjoy!

Joe in the pumpkin "patch".

Walking over the train tracks.

Alexandra enjoying the nice weather.

Julianna petting the pigs. Yeah she looks happy there, soon after the pig "oinked" and she started crying hysterically, lol! I tried explaining that it was his way of saying "Hi"!

Petting the cows! Right after I took this picture the cow's tail wipped around the knocked her down!

Julianna riding the poney.

Joey enjoying his poney ride.

A Day at Dewberry Farm

We took our annual trip to the pumpkin patch over the weekend. We decided to try a new place this year! Last year we went to Old McDonald and to my dismay the pumpkins were not in the patch! I'm anal about my pumpkins, lol! I just don't like it when pumpkins are just sitting there, I like going out into a patch and picking our own. So...at Dewberry Farm http://www.dewberryfarm.com/ we got to do just that! They also had tons of farm animals, lots of attractions for the kids, good food, a corn maze and a flower field were you could pick fresh bouquets! We were in heaven! My only complaint...the weather! It was HOT, in the 90's. When I think of the fall and the pumpkin patch I think about back home and weather in the 50's and 60's. I'm not used to going to the pumpkin patch in the summer! Something is not right about a pumpkin patch with the smell of sunscreen in the air! But when you move you have to take the good with the bad. So we'll deal with it. This is always the time of year though when I really start to miss "home". Anyhow, I'll leave with some pics. of the day!

No one looking, no one smiling. We're off to a great start.
The pumpkin patch...just the way I like it!
Allie, eating dirt...lovely!
Taking the perfect pumpkin back
The hay ride put Allie right to sleep
Dining on some grilled corn
Julianna in the sun flowers

Football, Glasses and a Few Random Thoughts...

So my title says it all. I'm starting with football and the REDSKINS! We are on fire and I'm relishing in our victories! I can't help but sing "Hail to the Redskins" every Sunday. For those that don't follow the Redskins we just had 2 HUGE victories against the Eagles and more importantly our rivals the Cowboys! We were underdogs in both match ups which made the victories even sweeter! The hell the the Super Bowl Redskins fans are just as happy beating Dallas, regardless of losses now, we BEAT THE COWBOYS! And we are tied with the Cowboys in the standings, both 4-1! Can't get more exciting than that!

Julianna got her new pair of glasses on Friday. I can honestly say up until today she has done a really good job of wearing them! Right now her glasses are "hiding" and we've yet to find them. Tomorrow morning will be an all out search! She looks adorable in them! I can't tell you the compliments she has received. A lady at the Joe's Crab Shack sitting at the table next to us compared her to Aaden from "John and Kate Plus 8" at least 3 times, lol. We've been telling her that princesses wear glasses and lately she is really into princesses! And it's been working, I can say she's worn them at least 80% of the time, even falling asleep in them a couple times! Today we had a relapse as she has hidden them but I know it's alot for a 2 year old to adjust to so I can't be to mad at her. I KNOW she's sees better in them! As soon as she put them on she walked outside and said "Look at all the cars"! My poor baby wasn't seeing Cars? Her vision is 20-1000, which is HORRIBLE! So she needs to get used to her glasses and wear them! It's vital!
Okay...A few random thoughts...The house is completely decorated for Halloween! I must say I've gone a little overboard! But it's my kid's favorite holiday. Yes, they love Christmas but no where near as much as they love Halloween! Joey started his "Play Therapist" last week. The first visit went good. Our goal with that is to get him to "come out of his shell". It's a very relaxed environment and he seems to like it so far. He is doing MUCH BETTER at the Little Gym! I am so thankful for that. As a mother it breaks my heart to see him struggle. It is such a relief to see him interacting with the other kids. Yes, it may be harder for him but I know now that he CAN DO IT! Allie is on the move! She is not crawling yet but is a wiggle worm! She won't sit still! She gets down into the crawl position from sitting so I know it's coming soon! She is starting to develop some attachment disorder. All kids go through it but for those that don't know Julianna had it BAD! She had the worst case her therapist had ever seen, so this stage with Allie is worrying me. She cries when I walk out the room and wants me to hold her constantly. I know it's a "stage" I just hope it doesn't get to the point it did with Julianna, I'm keeping my finger's crossed. I of course don't ignore her, I do give into her. I have a hard time with what is "caring" for her and what is spoiling. I don't believe you can spoil a baby...maybe that's where I run into problems?

But seriusly how do you say no to her?

In an Effort

to keep this blog as current as possible I'm putting up a couple new pics. I downloaded tonight. Enjoy :)

Joe waiting for the bus on picture day

Ready for Little Gym

My Little Ballerina

A busy Wed. night for Mom

Joe's first homework assignment, a poster about his life