Spring is coming!

Well at least I hope so. The kids really need time outside and I try to let them get out there in the evenings but I don't feel too bad if we don't make it out because I know they are outside at school. Thank goodness!

I have let them eat dinner outside a few times and they love it. Our backyard needs a huge spring cleaning so for now, we play in the front. They love bubbles, sidewalk chalk and popsicles. If life could stay that simple forever, what life we would have!

Jonathan starts T-ball on the 29th and I am so nervous. He is excited so I am trying to run with that. He is really just becoming such a big guy. He adores his brother, has good manners and can be so polite and can talk your ear off! Then if he gets tired, all of that goes out the window. He is now loving school and is doing so good. I see improvements in his writing and the things he is learning...wow! I can't believe my baby is getting so big.

Zachary is moving along. He's got this little budda belly so most of his shirts are starting to get too small but then his pants, are just so long on him and quite often Jonathan and I will sing, "Pants on the ground" to him. He is trying to learn his colors and go potty on the big potty. His speech has taken off. His motor skills are coming along too. We are working on jumping and he loves this. He will say, "hop" and take your hand and hop and both feet come off the ground! He still has not mastered the steps but is trying so hard. His little head is full of knots from his daily falls and his tantrums where he headbutts stuff...one day he'll learn that that hurts and he'll stop, right? He loves school too and he loves books. He will bring books to me and say, "read" and this is all new to me so I am loving it. In April we will meet with his First Steps team, a representative from the special school district and from our school district to determine how we will handle his needs when he turns 3. He will graduate from First Steps and the SSD will take on his needs, if he should need any therapies.

As for sleep, we have none. Jason and I figured out that he sleeps good the first 3 or 4 hours and then he is up every 1-2 hours crying, screaming and hitting. It is miserable and April 15th can not come soon enough. We see his geneticist who is now a behavioral development pediatrician and she is going to discuss a sleep study and all sorts of stuff. Everyone is puzzled as to why he does this when he is in bed with us! He searches for my face and cups my face or will ask for my hand and he is awake because he will talk to me. It is truly exhuasting and is taking it's toll on our family so it is time for us to get some help.

And here is a recent picture of the boys outside...

Happy Birthday Mom!

Today is my Mom's birthday. I miss her terribly and wish she was here. I know she is pain free and watching all of us from above. Yet, it still hurts.

This morning the boys and I said (well Jonathan yelled) "Happy birthday Grandma!" and blew kisses up to heaven. We know she got them.

Then I took the boys to school, did some laundry and cleaning, registered Jonathan for kindergarten (gasp!), went to the grave site with my sisters and then had lunch at the Blue Owl. It was a beautiful warm sunny day and we ALL got along! It was perfect and I was sad for it to end. Mom would have enjoyed it.

The boys are doing well. Zachary goes to see the Pediatric behavioral development doctor on April 15th. She is going to discuss his sleep issues and possible order a sleep study for him. She is his geneticist so she will obviously know his history and have experience with Noonan Syndrome. I adore her and can't wait to see her and see what advice she has for us. Zachary is going through a "mean" stage...hitting, biting and such. Oh joy! He had his orthotics adjusted as he was getting a sore spot on his right foot. His speech is coming along and we are still working on the steps. That is going to be a long time before we get there!!! But he has come this far and overcome so many obstacles, I know he will catch up and do great.

St. John's Mercy Medical Center, where he had his surgeries for the broviac line and where he was for 2 weeks was asking for stories for their new Children's hospital's website. I submitted Z's and it is now on there site. Click here to read it. Although if you've read my blog, you already know his story. I got an email 2 days ago and they want me to come in and record an audio version of his story. I am more than happy to do it because I want the world to know how great of a hospital SJMMC is! I hope one day I can pay it forward and help the hospital out.

Well Mom, I hope you ate lots of cake! Love you always!