Life with a Really Cute Kid

DFW Kids Deals

2011-02-15T22:57:00.003-06:00

Check out DFW Kids Deals - A deal site dedicated to moms by moms in the Dallas Fort Worth metroplex. Get daily deals from local businesses, featured businesses, products and services for children, maternity clothing, mom's items, baby items, dad items and more!

http://www.dfwkidsdeals.com

Hello World - How Life Has Changed...

2010-09-17T18:27:00.003-05:00

Hello world and followers, it has been almost a year since I've posted on this blog. Both good and bad things have happened. Well, wait, let's not call it bad... just yet. Last December 2009, we had a geneticist appt with Cole. Our speech pathologist recommended this due to Cole's global delays and other issues. After over a year of speech therapy the poor kid could barely say a word and he tended to "lose" all of the vocabulary he gained. There were signs that something was wrong. I always thought something was wrong. Well in January 2010, we were given the diagnosis - Fragile X. What this means is that Cole's X chromosome does not make specific proteins necessary for full cognitive ability. This explains all of his delays and the tantrums and eating problems and crying for hours on end. Had I read an overview of Fragile X two years ago I would have known this was the diagnosis without a 40 day wait on genetic testing. But I didn't. Fragile X means that Cole is and will be "mentally retarded". That's an awful word... I use it in jest... I need to stop using it now... and I want to.

Google Fragile X for more information.

All that said, he's actually doing pretty well. The nanny is now only a good friend and occasional babysitter and Cole attends a daycare and also goes to KISD Early Learning Center every day for 3 hours. He's doing well. He almost seems " normal" for a 2 year old but he's 3. However I've stopped worrying about these things for now.

If you know anything about Fragile X... it's that it follows a spectrum.. much like Autism. Cole appears to be on the high functioning side for a Fragile X baby. He's doing well, loves to play, read, loves school, making art, playing, still is a huge fan of water in any form and couldn't be sweeter. I'm happy that we're able to mainstream him part of the day with kids who do not have disabilities.

So far so good. While I HATE Fragile X and hate the fact that my son's life will be HARD... I also look forward to it as a journey and feel blessed that I was chosen as his mom. I can't imagine life without him... I really can't. Even his worst moments bring me more fulfillment than my previous "Cole-less" life. I look forward to the future with this baby... to the people I will meet and the joy he will bring to others and the enlightenment he will (and has) brought to my own life.

It has been a good year. Cole is doing well and collectively we are dealing with the blow of the diagnosis... family, friends, etc... I am grateful for meaningful and lasting relationships I've built over the past year... that will impact the rest of my life. I'm grateful for my son being physically healthy and capable and HAPPY. God, this kid is happy.

All in all... all is well. All is actually good. This morning I thought about how I'm actually lucky to have a son with special needs... I desperately need to learn to be more compassionate and accepting.. and this, my friends, is the ultimate lesson.

I hope the year has been good to you.

C

Random Early November Pix

2009-11-10T09:05:00.001-06:00

More Halloween 2009

2009-11-02T21:31:00.001-06:00

Halloween 2009

2009-11-02T21:28:00.003-06:00

Go Bears! (my new favorite shirt - thanks gramma Joan & grampa Pete!)

2009-09-20T14:51:00.002-05:00

Swimmin'

2009-08-20T19:02:00.001-05:00

Before the meltdown on the boat...

2009-07-03T22:40:00.001-05:00

Cole on a boat...

2009-06-28T18:11:00.001-05:00

Early 2nd B-Day Celebration with the Sieberts

2009-06-09T14:01:00.001-05:00

I finally met my cousins!

2009-06-09T13:59:00.001-05:00

Go Blackhawks!

2009-04-23T13:31:00.001-05:00

Crazy Stockyards Easter Bunny

2009-04-12T20:00:00.002-05:00

Happy with my new haircut

2009-04-12T19:59:00.002-05:00

Be My Valentine

2009-02-15T18:27:00.001-06:00

They sent me home from daycare wearing THIS ?

2009-02-12T19:51:00.002-06:00

2009-01-19T19:45:00.000-06:00

Birds!!

2009-01-19T19:42:00.003-06:00

2009-01-03T22:32:00.000-06:00

2008-12-25T14:48:00.000-06:00

2008-12-25T14:47:00.000-06:00

2008-12-25T14:46:00.000-06:00

2008-12-25T14:45:00.000-06:00

2008-12-25T14:44:00.000-06:00

2008-12-25T14:43:00.000-06:00

2008-12-25T14:40:00.000-06:00

Who is this guy?

2008-12-07T11:57:00.002-06:00

I'm clean!

2008-11-10T20:24:00.003-06:00

Cold weather = new jammies !

2008-11-10T20:21:00.002-06:00

Halloween 2008

2008-11-01T17:26:00.001-05:00

2008-11-01T17:24:00.001-05:00

Halloween 08

2008-11-01T17:23:00.001-05:00

HOA Festival 08

2008-11-01T17:20:00.001-05:00

Bee Happy

2008-11-01T17:15:00.001-05:00

More Halloween

2008-11-01T17:13:00.001-05:00

And More Halloween

2008-11-01T17:11:00.002-05:00

A Favorite

2008-10-30T20:52:00.000-05:00

Looking Fancy

2008-10-15T20:54:00.001-05:00

First (Professional..) Haircut

2008-10-05T16:03:00.001-05:00

First Professional Photos!

2008-09-24T19:52:00.000-05:00

Cubs Win!

2008-09-22T08:55:00.002-05:00

I'm 15 months today!

2008-09-20T17:25:00.003-05:00

2008-09-20T17:23:00.001-05:00

2008-09-14T22:43:00.001-05:00

Signing with Mommy

2008-09-13T22:38:00.002-05:00

Rockin' my new apron - send recipes !!

2008-09-05T20:33:00.002-05:00

Grace has a new boyfriend

2008-09-05T20:32:00.000-05:00

Unhappy - Forced to Pop a Wheelie

2008-09-05T20:31:00.002-05:00

2008-08-23T22:36:00.000-05:00

...Almost Killed Me

2008-08-20T22:04:00.001-05:00

I am now OFFICIALLY a Texan

2008-08-20T22:02:00.001-05:00

I - L - L ....I - N - I !!!!

2008-08-20T22:01:00.001-05:00

The Dog Days of Summer

2008-08-15T21:12:00.004-05:00

No photo evidence, but I crawled today!!

2008-07-20T16:27:00.002-05:00

Hanging Out by the Pool

2008-07-06T13:47:00.003-05:00

In my crazy striped shorts from the Sieberts

2008-07-06T13:45:00.000-05:00

Cruising in the Kitchen

2008-07-06T13:43:00.001-05:00

My first birthday (my favorite so far)

2008-06-22T10:23:00.004-05:00

Sam (nee Chief) partied with me...

2008-06-22T10:21:00.001-05:00

Flag Day - celebrated a bit late this year

2008-06-22T10:20:00.002-05:00

Happy Birthday to Me !!

2008-06-20T10:51:00.003-05:00

Writing my first song in my favorite new outfit...

2008-06-16T20:08:00.004-05:00

A new camera!

2008-06-08T14:34:00.004-05:00

The old Nikon finally crapped out on us. It gave us 4+ years of quality service. So with our new camera we've upgraded from 3.2 megapixels to 10 megapixels & the body is about 1/2 as large. We also have some new pool toys. Including this one:

Memorial Day

2008-05-26T17:07:00.003-05:00

Happy Memorial Day! It is HOT, HOT, HOT here. One day it was 68 degrees and I wore a jacket, the next day it was 99 degrees and it has not cooled down since. Our pool is already about 85 degrees. Here are some pictures of the baby in Grama Joan's outfit getting ready to swim:

Grace got 'em all cut

2008-05-24T16:54:00.001-05:00

Pool time

2008-05-21T23:26:00.004-05:00

Baby's first pool experience. My two little sick boys in the pool! And our water loving dog, Murphy.

Maria Chapman - Shaohanna's Hope

2008-05-21T23:07:00.002-05:00

I wanted to write a note that little Maria Chapman, the daughter of Christian musician Steven Curtis Chapman and the founder of Shaohannah's hope died today in a tragic accident. She was 5 years old. For those of you who do not know, the Chapman's and Shaohannah's Hope do a lot for the adoption community, including funding adoptions, creating awareness and helping adoptive parents. This is a horrible tragedy. For our praying family and friends, please send some their way.

http://members.shaohannahshope.org

11 months!

2008-05-20T23:25:00.006-05:00

Today baby is 11 months! As a special treat, we gave him tres leches cake with milk which he promptly choked on... (picture to follow). But he liked it and wanted more. He then had a tantrum and was up 1.5 hours beyond his bedtime.

Oh my goodness, it was 99 degrees yesterday and 91 today. For some reason, we block out the severity of Texas summers each year. We conveniently forget how hot it will be. And our AC has been on for about 4 weeks now. Tomorrow baby will be going into the pool for the 1st time.

Let's see. At 11 months, little man is still not crawling. We have hit some type of plateau and he is pretty much not doing anything that we want him to. I'm pretty confident he can crawl and probably do much more but he doesn't want to do anything that I want. He is going to be a very stubborn child and adolescent. I can already picture it now and am very scared. He is very strong willed. I am very strong willed. Baby and I already have fights and he wins most of the time.

We started part time daycare and as of today, all three of us are sick. We are not "good" sick people. For the past 8 years, everything revolved around us. Previously, we thought having a cold or sinus infection was the end of the world. Now, we have to take care of a sick child while being sick, or even sicker. Oh my.

Why didn't anyone warn us about this???!!!

Other than that, baby has a very distinct, strong personality. He is a very strong willed - as was already mentioned and a he is huge flirt. If he sees a woman, he works his charm on her... we can't go grocery shopping or even to the park without someone falling in love with him.

He is the light of our life. But... he is a cranky, bossy little dude.

Husband is 40 years old on Thursday. Happy Birthday!!! Enjoy your strep infection!!!

Thank you Sieberts, for my new undies!

2008-05-15T19:19:00.000-05:00

Grace the vacuum cleaner

2008-05-15T19:17:00.000-05:00

Mother's Day

2008-05-11T15:49:00.002-05:00

Today we planted our garden with the baby! We started our heirloom tomatoes in late March and today planted them outside. Magnum Beefsteak, Austin red pear, arkansas traveller and brown berries. As well as three plum tomato plants that came back from last year... We also have cilantro, mint, dill and chives which should keep away the mites, bugs and squirrels. Oh and two cucumber plants that came back from last year as well!!!

Can't wait til this kid can pull weeds!!!!

Ready for my millionth doctor's visit.

2008-05-03T18:30:00.000-05:00

Post Park Photo

2008-05-03T18:00:00.000-05:00

Another picture with G.B.

2008-05-03T16:32:00.000-05:00

Thanks Peggy for my cool chair.

2008-05-03T15:34:00.000-05:00

Lovin my chair

2008-05-03T14:35:00.000-05:00

Sleeping Beauty

2008-05-03T13:37:00.000-05:00

Updates!

2008-04-30T22:40:00.015-05:00

Mark my words - I will be crawling very soon.

2008-04-29T20:10:00.002-05:00

New Haircut Mug Shot

2008-04-29T20:09:00.002-05:00

My First Banana Cookie Got the Best of Me...

2008-04-29T20:08:00.002-05:00

Thanks Dave & Carrie!

2008-04-23T13:05:00.004-05:00

I love my Cubs uni

(but I look better in south side black & white)

6+ weeks home / 10 months 2 days

2008-04-22T18:49:00.003-05:00

Earth Day

2008-04-22T17:28:00.002-05:00

Some photos from our yard on Earth day!

2008-04-22T17:02:00.002-05:00

Grandparents Rogers

2008-04-19T11:35:00.003-05:00

Thank you!

2008-04-19T11:29:00.001-05:00

Every day a box or gift arrives at our home! Thank you all so very much for all of the wonderful gifts, toys, clothing, furniture, decor and well-wishes! I continue to be amazed every single day by the generosity of our family and friends... We love you all so very much....

(ps. I haven't finished thank you cards yet).....:)

Home 5 Weeks....

2008-04-18T11:47:00.002-05:00

So we have been home for five weeks as of this Wednesday! Everything is going good. Baby is a great sleeper. Goes to bed around 7pm, wakes up around 8:45 a.m. and goes down for a 2.5 hour nap.... He's a great eater and has gained about 2 lbs since coming home. He's coming along well developmentally and is improving in all areas daily. He's quite the happy child.

Haven't had time to update lately as we have had guests in town for the past two weeks and we spend a great deal of time with pediatricians! This week he went to the doctor just about everyday!!! In good health other than a couple of minor things. He's cutting his top two teeth and fussing about that, but all is good!!!

new hoopty with grama joan

2008-04-14T12:24:00.001-05:00

Gampa Millas

2008-04-14T12:22:00.000-05:00

new hoopty

2008-04-14T12:21:00.000-05:00

Grandparents Millas

2008-04-14T12:20:00.001-05:00

with my new moussed up do

2008-04-14T11:50:00.001-05:00

Home Three (3) Weeks

2008-04-01T20:08:00.003-05:00

Tomorrow morning marks being home for three weeks and we have been with our babe for almost a month now. I think we are all settling in okay, except the happy baby that we brought home has been having a lot of screaming fits, which I'm writing off to Colic, the most recent ear infection and perhaps some grieving for his foster family. Other than that, everyone is doing well here.

The baby is now on a schedule that suits us - to bed between 7 and 8 p.m. and wake up between 8 and 9 a.m., which works great for me. The middle of the night wakings are minimal and really, he is a good kid. He just cries alot. The good thing about the crying is that it exhausts him so bedtime is easy.

Tomorrow starts the EI PT and whatnot so that will be exciting.

If you are a loyal reader of the blog, you may have noticed that comments have been turned off. Sorry, but we're trying to maintain some anonymity -- the blog is not as private as it once was, there are more readers - which is great, but we are trying to preserve our privacy and focus the blog solely on the baby.

I love my new baseball hat

2008-04-01T20:04:00.000-05:00

Going to watch daddy hit baseballs

2008-04-01T20:00:00.004-05:00

:(

2008-04-01T19:59:00.000-05:00

One of the first self-feedings! A few Gerber fruit puffs. Mmmmm......

2008-03-31T20:41:00.001-05:00

Diggin on the frog

2008-03-26T15:37:00.002-05:00

Home Two Weeks!

2008-03-26T09:50:00.001-05:00

And Missing Daddy!