Family Pictures

Today we went and got our family pictures taken. They turned out great. I have been really impressed with Sears and their quality. We got a great family shot, a couple of just the boys, one of Brett with the boys and then I with them, individual shots of the boys and then one of Brett and I (which we haven't had taken since our wedding). The boys did fantastic and in some pictures were to into saying "cheese" that their little cheeks went up into the eyes.

We are getting a good winter storm tonight. Hopefully it will subside for tomorrow so I can go to a baby shower in Syracuse. If not, it looks like I'll be spending my day outside with the boys shoveling!

Here is a sneak peak at our pictures!!!!

A DOOZIE of a night

That would be a Kidoozie's kind of night! Kidoozie's is a hair salon for kids. The waiting area is filled with video games, coloring station, train station, funny mirrors and chalkboard. When it comes time to get your hair cut, you have a choice to sit at the airport, the race track, or the pink jeep. All the while watching your favorite movie on DVD.

So we went tonight for haircuts. Brett has done them since the boys were born. However, our schedules didn't allow that this time. So I treated them to a fun hair cut experience. Dylan and Cody went first. They loved it. Dylan sat in the race car and Cody in the airplane. Then it was Tyler's turn....well that didn't go as planned. He sat in the plane for a minute but after she put the cape on he wanted out. So we tried it again and this time he about flew out of the plane when she turned the clippers on. So.......I got to hold him, while he kicked and screamed and she cut his hair. It surprisingly turned out good. While one cut, another one got out a thing of bubbles and kept them entertained. He did finally cooperate during that. I felt bad but they were quick to reassure me that he wasn't the first kid to cry getting his hair cut. They all turned out great. Good thing because we are going tomorrow to get family pictures taken. Wish me luck!

Cody's Speech

As the school year is coming to a close in a few months, so is our certification with CPSE. So Tish and I have been gearing up for this. Cody has made huge improvements in his speech - mastering the /f/ and /v/ sound. Tish tested him the other day and he only had 16 errors, testing age appropriate at a 4 year 1 month level. Exactly his age. Yeah. We feel based on this test score - he won't qualify for speech. That is why I am taking him to Syracuse on Monday for a speech evaluation with the team ST. Dr. Tatum told us once that if we can make Eileen happy then Cody is doing great. So we'll see what she says. She knows her stuff - so I am sure she will give us good advice. If she agrees with no more services at this time - I am OK with that. Cody after all has been seen by a speech therapist since he was 8 weeks old.

Tish asked my opinion of intelligibility with understanding Cody. I gave it a 95% of the time but I'm his Mom and that's my job to understand my kids when nobody else can. My sister said 90%. So I called Mrs. Testani (the pre-school teacher) and had a really nice talk with her. She said Cody is doing great and that she never has a hard time understanding him. She said he has mastered not only speech but is really excelling at everything he does. (good to hear). I told her my concerns with speech and she did give me the option of having Cody go to the school ST once a week for a speech class with other children. While that is a good thing to know about - my goal all along for Cody is not to have to be pulled out of school for special services. I had to when I was younger and really remember hating it. She asked if he would need more surgery (very common question as everyone thinks he won't ever have more) and I explained yes but I just don't know when. She said the cleft or his scars have never been mentioned by anyone is school. (also good to hear). I told her Cody and I had our first chat about it very recently. She just told me that if there was anything she could do - to let her know. I appreciated that!

So after talked with the teacher at school today - I had a moment to myself at work and just closed my eyes. It's been 4 years of so many wild emotions with Cody. A year ago even I wasn't ready to give up speech. I would be OK with it today. He is one tough little boy and has gone through a lot. Tish comes twice a week and he never puts up a battle - just goes with her to "practice his words".............. Thank you Tish - you have no idea what you have done for me and for Cody. And Dylan and Tyler for that matter as she never turned her cheek to Dylan when they were young - she just included Dylan. Now she is helping Tyler over come his speech hurtles. I will update Monday after seeing Eileen.

Update

The concert went great. Brett said that Snoop sang lots of his old songs and the place was packed. Better yet, he met up with some friends who just so happen were friends of the bartender and the beer was coming free. He's happy he went.

Tanya's surgery went well. She was home around 1 and wasn't in any pain. She was tired and felt loopy so she treated herself to an afternoon nap.

The boys went back to school today after a long week off. This morning wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. Dylan only told me once he didn't want to go! Once there they were excited to see their friends. I on the other hand needed an extra push out of bed this morning as I had to get up earlier.

Cody was tested for speech today by Tish. I'm anxious to hear how it went. She said she thought he would do well. We go to Syracuse on the 3rd for an evaluation from Eileen on the cleft team. Good chance he won't need speech anymore! Yeah!

Concert

Tonight, Brett is at a Snoop Dogg concert. He was excited to go. Anxious to hear him in person, see what he's like, if the music has changed. When I first heard that Snoop Dogg was coming to Binghamton I immediately flashed back to our high school days when listening to Snoop Dogg in Brett's car was nothing out of the ordinary. Obviously, our music taste have changed over the years but I'm glad he went and I can't wait to hear how it went.

Tanya is having surgery tomorrow to remove a polyp on her ovaries. While I'm sure things will go well and hopefully she won't be in to much pain - I will be thinking about her lots tomorrow. I would be lost without my sister. She's the only person in the world that I can talk to on the phone for an hour about nothing. We ALWAYS have something to say.

Sleep Over

Tonight we have a visitor - Karly Jane came to stay the night with us all. She loves it and so do the boys. She first stayed the night with us when Connor was born. I think that was her first night ever sleeping somewhere without her parents. Since then she has really wanted to stay again. Just before New Years I promised her she could stay again but with school schedules and family schedules it's hard. The other night she asked if she could and reminded me I did "promise", so tonight is the night! We were at Tanya & Shaun's earlier today so Brett could change the brakes on the Explorer. I surprised her and told her she was coming home with us and to pack her bag. After a little re-packing by her mother we were ready to go. They had a blast once getting home, watching Scooby and eating me out of house and home. The best part - they are all sleeping, snug as a bug in bed! Hopefully having the best Sleep Stories!!

TGIF

Weekend pictures from Cuba!




I am SO happy it's Friday. It has been a long week at work. Especially with the weather the way it has been and my poor travelors stuck all over country and trying to get them home requires me to spend a lot of time on the phone with the airlines. UGH! With any luck - tomorrow is the day and they can all land safely.

Earlier this week the boys and I went to Target as I was shopping for a new bedroom set. I had found one I liked at Walmart but then it went on clearance and they didn't have a King. So I found another but the comforter alone was $80 and I didn't really want to spend that. So at Target I found a pretty set, a whole bed-in-the-bag for $45. That's the ticket. Then of course we walk out with a couple new DVD's and Tyler's new best friend, Spiderman! The thing is as big as he is. And it goes everywhere with us! Spidy even got his toenails cut the other night :)

New Bed Set:

Tyler's New Best Friend!
I'm so ready for a mommy break. Brett has worked all week and so that has left me to a whole week's worth of nights by myself. It wouldn't be bad but the boys have taken late naps this week meaning they aren't tired until almost 11. Maybe tomorrow I can sneak out and do something myself.