Long overdue ... I"m back to the world of blogging. I was incredibly upset over everything that happened with Tyler going to see the surgeon and then busy over Christmas that I just got away from it- got more into keeping current with emailing... Tyler is well. The surgeon did recommend surgery by the time Tyler is 6, prefferably now or we can try casts but he's not confident it will work. Gary's mom also works for an orthopedic surgeon so she talked to him and said that in Tyler's case he belives surgery should be a last option. He also said (and belive me- Gary's mother in law found research to back it up) that often kids who have the surgery still walk on thier toes. Since Tyler does not have pain and physically CAN walk flat footed when he wants to, we are working with him to stand and walk on his flat feet and also on some stretching. We hope to take Tyler in the next couple months to see this doctor, continue to work with him including stretching and look into physical therapy. I'd like to then take him back in about a year and see if he thinks there is any reason to pursue the surgery. If there is, the man we saw in Akron is the best in the area and we'll do it. I just hate for surgery to be a first option when we've been told for 3 years not to worry about it. Something just can't go from "no big deal" to "let's put your kid under and cut the back of his leg open". Grace is officially "mobile". She's scooting all over the place on her bottom and also rolls around to get where she wants. We call the scooting "stealth" because neither of us have actually seen her do it She just tends to end up several feet away from where we left her in seconds to minutes. She tried to grab Tyler's pizza off his breakfast tray (we had pizza and Little Einstiens picnic) today. She's very interested in what we are eating too. Everyone always said she'd be the quiet one because Tyler will talk for her but she's showing us that this is highly unlikely. They both talk pretty nonstop. Since Grace suddenly is fine with being on her tummy she's gotten closer to crawling in the past two weeks. I really thought she'd never do it but suddenly she's not very interested in sitting and playing. She's getting down on her tummy from sitting, reaching stuff, rolling to stuff or scooting. She still occasionally gets so excited she falls backwards but not too often. I'm just amazed and how quickly things can change. She can stand holding only one hand and loves to bounce when she's like that... once she figures out how to pick up her feet we are in some serious trouble! She'll be our kid who's into everything and since she's observing all her brother's attempts to avoid athority I expect her to also have a bit of an attitude... on top of just being a woman! I"m babysitting one day a week now. The boy i watched last year and his sister. matthew is 3and Samantha is 10 months. She army crawls which I'm sure is where Grace has gotten the idea to chase after Tyler's cars and trains and try to get into our desk. They are both good kids and so far I've gotten all of them to nap at the same time for at least an hour and a half. This gives me time to get dishes done and colapse on the couch for a few minutes. So far no attempt on cleaning or anything else has been made on those days. Playing with them is really fun but so far I keep them pretty seperated since the boys don't like having to be careful and the girls want to eat all the boys toys! Tyler is still doing really well with the underpants. I keep him in diapers when he sleeps because he's just not showing any signs of being ready to be dry through the night. He's dry about half the time for naps. I swear the kid pees as many times a day as me but sleeps as hard as his dad so I expect bed-wetting to be an issue so i'm not giong to worry about it until he's older. Now that he's been in underpants for several months i finally, today, put him in the preschool class at church. he was th eonly one in there. Oh well. I actually felt bad afterwards b/c his teacher could have enjoyed the service with her boyfriend had Tyler not been in there, but it was time and Tyler did well. He did a craft, had a snac, played, did a bible story and even learned a verse. He was very excited that he got to take some snack up to the older kids and share. :) I was very relieved to be able to put him there and feel like he got something out of it. he's going to learn to follow directions from another adult, and hopefully learn more about Jesus and the Bible not to mention how to sit still at a table. I hope to also find out from this if he's going to benefit from going to "real" preschool or if he'll be fine with me homeschooling him. Gary's district (where Tyler will likely go) now has all day every day Kindergarten which I don't preferr- I like having a choice of a few days a week or every day... ugh. I have some pretty strong opionons about education and what i feel is best for my son so we'll see what the Lord brings. I have thought about homeschooing as much as through third grade but I really do want Tyler in school starting in First grade...now maybe Kindergarten... that's a ways off though. :) Either way I'm glad for him to be learning something in church other than bad habits of other kids :) LOL! Gary and I FINALLY got our will done. The main thing we wanted was to be sure the kids were taken care of and to adress a power of attorney and healthcare power of attorney. I"m so relieved to have it done and official. We've been going to do it since before Tyler was born... talk about procrastination! I'm ashamed to say we had nothing before this. It was easy, took only a few emails and an hour of signing (and visiting since we know the attorney we used) and a relativly small fee for the peace of mind. I"m relieved too that one of my bestest friends is single, happy and SAFE. Hours and hours and days and years of prayer have been answered- in God's perfect timing! Gary's still doing indoor soccer and we got to go to his game last night. I like the 6:00 games much better than the 10:00 games. Keep in mind this is PM! I like to be able to take the kids especially when, like last night, Tyler is well behaved and cheers. Between yelling for "daddy" "Spencer's Daddy" and "Pastor Dan" he provided a good bit of entertainment! Also Sue (Dan's wife) was there and she loves to hold Grace (I mean who doesn't?) so it was easy to feed her and watch Tyler at the same time. You'd think more was going on, and it is, but I think I've bored you to your limit so I will resume dancing and singing praise songs with Tyler! Have a blessed week! 06 Jan 2008 Grace update Grace is growing like a little weed. She's into and almost out of 6-9 month clothes already. I find I change her sizes a bit late b/c I'm so shocked when things still "fit" i don't realize that they fit BETTER in the next size up! In December she really found her voice even more than before. She mostly made just noises but she also finally got hugging, kissing, raspberries and discovered her tounge. She also discovered her fingers more and more. She plays a lot and sits up without help very very well. She only falls occasionally now and always when either rocking too hard back to front or when reaching for a toy. She just kind of leans forward until she's on her belly and then kicks her legs out and rolls over. She learned last week how to nod her head up and down which is hysterical b/c it makes it look like she's saying "yes" to everything- especially with her cute little closed-mouth grin she's started. Today was the big day though- she said her first word. After months of prodding she finally said Da-da and it's just amazing! She said it at the mall tonight (you know she's my child!!) How funny though that I"m sad b/c it's our last first word in our house. :( I'll get over it- don't worry. DOnt' worry, Tyler is doing well too- growing and learning and changing and challenging me every step of the way. 20 Dec 2007 Thursday oiy. Today Tyler has an appointment at Akron Children's to see an orthopedic doctor/surgeon. His toe walking, though adorable, could be a problem and we're getting it checked out. Results of this visit could range from "he's fine" to needed therapy, braces, casts or surgery. Please just pray for him and us. I'm very nervous (surprise surprise!) but don't want to make him nervous. I may never finish my last blog so in a nutshell we've all had the flu this week and it's horrible. Tyler's had the worst diapers known to man- in fact he had to be bathed in the middle of the night last night b/c it had gotten all down his legs and dried in the night. Why do they not wake us up to tell us? I mean he's THREE! You'd think that would bother him. ugh. Grace has thankfully stopped vomiting/ spitting up but still is waking in a 2 month old routine and eating little, Gary claims to be back to normal but I predict he'll have it again Christmas morning b/c he's running himself ragged. I can't seem to beat it b/c I'm running myself ragged too-not to mention my weak stomach and taking care of two kids secreting various bodily fluids at all hours of the day. Thank the LORD we have a working washer and dryer! We hope to leave tomorrow after Gary's work to go visit with my family through Christmas eve night, return for church and have Christmas morning us, and then afternoon and 26th with Gary's family. Pray for us as we travel and if I don't get back on here- Merry Christmas! We love you and are praying for you all. God Bless and thanks for your prayers!! UPDATE: Tyler needs casts, 2 sets 3 weeks each, and/or surgery.