Wow! I really am behind on updating LOL

When I started this blog I thought I would do a much better job of keeping it going but then school started and the craziness just keeps on coming!!! : )

The kids school year is almost over and they are both doing VERY well!! Ainsleigh amazes me with how well she has adapted to the school setting and her peers! She struggles with somethings but she is the sweetest little girl!! All of her teachers cannot gush enough about how sweet and enthusiastic she is about doing a good job. We have learned that she is very good with numbers, sequences/patterns, anything to do with art/music (we already knew that), and she LOVES P.E. : ) At the beginning of the school year they had a little dance/performance in front of the whole school and parents, Ainsleigh did not do well!! This semester they had another one, Ainsleigh not only performed but liked it!! We are SO proud of her!! She does have some struggles with letters, sounds, learning words, etc. She did very well in speech last semester at UNT but this semester she had a new therapist and she was struggling connecting with him. She started dreading going to therapy and because of all of my issues I pulled the kids out. I think it was a really good thing for Ainsleigh!

Brycen is doing VERY well!!! He started the school year with no hesitations and no regression. He jumped right back into it and took off!! He knows his entire alphabet forwards and backwards, he can count to fifty (though he will get a little sidetracked), he knows colors & shapes, he is now using the "I want..." phrase to request (though he is not always consistent), and he is doing so many things that he did not do before (i.e. get into/out of the car himself, takes off his jacket/zips it up, etc.)!! After Thanksgiving Brycen got sick and for the next couple of months we were constantly at the doctor trying to get him well. He would get a bug then before he could get over it, he would get another one! By Christmas he had pnemonia and was very sick. When school started up, he had a hard time getting back into the routine of things and behavioral issues became a problem. He is doing much better now and as of his birthday, he now goes full time!!! His teacher fought very hard to get him in full time and we are so blessed because of her!! She truly is an amazing teacher who works SO HARD for our kids!! She inspires me to always keep trying, fighting for my kids and their needs! Brycen had a little adjustment time to the new schedule but he is doing very well!!! : )

It is now Spring Break and we have just returned from another visit to Elijah's Retreat!! The kids had a BLAST!!! We went hiking through the numerous acres they have and the kids loved it!! Ainsleigh felt like we were on an adventure and both kids did really well following the trail. We played on the playground, played games, flew a kite, etc. They truly love that place and we are SO GRATEFUL & THANKFUL for Elijah's Retreat!!!

Though we had a great time on our vacation, it is hard not to realize just how limited our life is when looking at it from the outside in. I think it hit Brent harder this time than ever before. Simple things like having a camp fire and roasting marshmallows was a disaster with Brycen. Ainsleigh loved it and did very well, but Brycen kept trying to run away into the trees and wouldn't stop screaming when we put his leash on. Then he tried going into the fire and needless to say he and I ended up in the cabin. This was just one episode that occurred; there were many others. We cannot do so many things and Ainsleigh misses out on so much because we have to always accomodate for Brycen's needs/issues. We know it is not his fault and we never blame him, but sometimes it is hard to not feel so sad... well sad is not really a good description but how can you put into words the heartache that wells up inside at not being able to do something so simple as play kickball or catch or red light/green light?! As parents we struggle to balance what he is able/capable of doing/handling with what Ainsleigh wants/needs. There are times when she is left wanting and we are too!! Anyway, that is life... we enjoy the good times, cherish them and know the future holds so many great things! I'll try to get some pictures posted soon (no guarantees, haha)!!

New School Year

Sorry I haven't posted in a while, but I plan to make a few posts over the next few days to catch up on all that we did over the summer!!

Last Thursday we went to Meet the Teacher night at the kids school. Ainsleigh is in Kindergarten and Brycen is still in his PPCD class (Preschool Program for Children with Disabilities). Ainsleigh's teacher is Ms. Cherry and she is VERY nice!! Ainsleigh likes her and we chatted about some of the things going on with Ainsleigh so that we could work together to make this a GREAT year. Brycen's teacher is Ms. Tierney and she is the same teacher he had last year, YEAH!!!!! : ) She was SO excited to see Brycen and so proud of his hard work during the summer to not regress! Ainsleigh's classroom is just a few doors down from Brycen's and his teacher is helping keep an eye on Ainsleigh!!

The kids started school on Tuesday and Brycen was excited and happy!! He really loves his class!! Ainsleigh had a meltdown before we got to school and Brent went to work late so that he could be there to help ease her into the transition. She did better once she got to school and she ended up having a GOOD day!!! She told me when I picked her up, though she was crying. I was stuck in the line of cars picking up kids and I didn't get there fast enough for her, haha!! Anyway, the teacher, the principal, and Brycen's teacher all told me she had a good day too!! I had to meet with the teachers, the cafeteria manager, and the nurse about Ainsleigh's peanut allergy and I am VERY impressed at how serious they are taking it and the measure's they are taking to keep her safe! Her peanut allergy is severe and because of her sensory issues it is very hard for her to even be in the same room with peanut butter. Brycen had a good day too!! He did not fuss at all and was very happy to be back in his class (he didn't take to well to the summer school class).

This morning we had a major meltdown with Ainsleigh and it is so heart breaking to see her so upset and not be able to do anything about it! It is going to take some time for her to adjust to the change, but we are very hopeful it will work out!! She was doing much better once at school, so hopefully she will have another good day!! Brycen was happy as usual, haha!!! : ) I'll write more later about the summer and how today goes!!

Fun in the Sun

We had a family fun day outside last weekend due to the nice weather! The kids got to play in the sandbox, swing on the swing set, sensory play with shaving cream, and water fun!! We had such a great time and the kids really loved it!! I wanted to share some pictures we took of their fun!! Brycen is now in summer school (ESY) and he seems to like it. He goes three days a week for three hours each day. Ainsleigh now has a library card at our library and has joined the Summer Reading Club!! We checked out some books and she got to participate in Story Time!! I am trying to set up different activities for each of the kids for the summer so that they have some fun things to do!

Fun in the Sun (cont'd)

Fun in the Sun (cont'd)

A Truly Amazing Gift

I have a link attached to my blog that tells the story of a couple who are truly selfless!!!! They are creating a retreat for families with autistic children so that they may have family vacations that are truly "worry free"!! Please click on the link, Elijah's Retreat, and read their awesome story!!! I am truly humbled and thankful that there are such wonderful people in the world that they would do this for so many families they do not even know!!!

My Sunday Surprise

Texas is a GREAT state to live in and I am proud to be from Texas, but there are some serious flaws!! Now I know I will probably lose my citizenship for admitting openly and on the internet (gasp!!) that TX has flaws, but it does (still love TX!!)....

I was trying to sneak out of the house to go to the store without having an entourage (aka KIDS!! hahaha) go with me, so I quietly put on my shoes and grabbed my keys, phone, and planner (when Brycen sees shoes, he knows that means we are going "out") to head to the store. I eased the garage door open as soundless as I possibly could and stepped into the garage without turning lights on so as not to be seen by the entourage. Just as soundlessly, I close the garage door and flip on the overhead light when I got the biggest surprise that I have gotten in a while..... (look down only if you have a strong stomach)

Oh YEAH!!!! This little surprise was literally about a foot away from me when I flipped on that light and needless to say I startled him just as badly as he startled me!!!!! His head was up, facing me, mouth open...... my reaction: RAN!!!!!!!! Luckily, I had NOT locked the door behind me and I burst in and slammed it as quickly as I could at the same time screaming at Brent, "WHY DOES THIS ALWAYS HAPPEN TO ME?!?!?!?!"... hahaha, his reaction was hilarious - he had not a clue about my little surprise. I quickly told him what was in there and that I was NEVER going in there again!!! hahaha Rewind about three years when we were living in Medina, I wanted to take Ainsleigh (two years old) and Brycen (newborn) onto the patio to play. Ainsleigh ran out ahead of me as I held Brycen in one arm and the bouncer in the other walked through the doorway only to get a movement from the corner of my eye.... can you guess what it was?! Oh yes.... it was a snake, ON THE WALL!!!!! I freaked just as I did on Sunday!!! I DO NOT LIKE SNAKES!!!! Most people don't but I REALLY don't!!! I have gone into the garage since Sunday, but you do not even want to know the precautions I take now. The only thought that constantly runs through my mind is that it was sitting right were Brycen runs to go to his side of the car, my beautiful little oblivious to all dangers Brycen.... I know I shouldn't think about it because it didn't happen that way, but.... I am a mom and I am a worry wart!!! Gotta love TX surprises... : )