Friday, August 30, 2013

It's Been a Rough Week!

We've had a rough week in the Chandler House. 

I started my week off with a cold or something.  I started feeling funny on Sunday night with sneezing and a runny nose.  By Monday afternoon, I had a headache and was blowing and blowing.  Not a fun way to start the first week of school!!!

This first week back with students hasn't been bad just not good.  The district has set all these expectations on counselors telling us that we need to have more face time with students.  Imagine that!!!  I am supposed to meet with students!!! I kind of had my hopes up that I would actually be able to do more of what I love, you know, meeting and talking to students.  This first week has dashed my hopes of that.  There is just SO much to do in my 20 hour week that unfortunately seeing students get pushed aside.  I so hate that!!! 

I haven't spoken about it on the blog, but Jackson isn't walking independently yet.  Pretty much anybody that knows us, knows this has been a point of concern for a couple of months.  When we went to J's 15 month well check, Dr. Hull told us we should call Early Childhood Interventions at 16 months if he wasn't walking.  I dragged my feet a bit thinking he would be walking any day.  Finally, at 17 months I called ECI to set up an appointment.  

Boy, has it been a SLOW process!  Just this past Thursday almost two months later, J was evaluated.  They not only evaluated him for his mobility for walking but his speech which became a concern at his pre-evaluation a month ago.  Evidently by 18 months old, J should have between 25 and 50 words in his vocabulary.  J only has about 3 or 4 words he uses consistently.

So yesterday, a speech therapist and physical therapist came to evaluate J.  It was quite an entourage that packed into my tiny living room.  Not only the coordinator, speech therapist, and physical therapist, but two ladies doing observations.  It was pretty intense two hours.  I won't go into all the numbers and stats, but needless to say J is behind in his development.  He has some speech as well as a motor delay.  He qualifies for services through ECI, so starting next week, we will begin meeting with a speech therapist once a week for an hour.  In a couple of weeks, they will pair us up with someone to help him with his walking and fine motor skills.  

We'll just say this latest news has shaken us up a bit.  It's hard finding out something isn't quite right with your child.  It makes you second guess yourself and wonder where you went wrong.  Should we have done this...should we have done that...  You know. 

It's funny how a rough week forces you to really stop and reflect.  Regardless of all the stuff that's been going on we have so much to be thankful for. After all, we have this amazingly wonderful happy and healthy baby.   We have the ability to have specialists come into our home weekly and work with J.  My job is part-time and allows me to be with J way more than most working moms get with their babies.  Our life is pretty good. 

Plus, who has a baby boy this cute???


LOVE this Bath-loving baby!!!
 
 

Cara Box- August

A couple of months ago as I was starting this blog, I stumbled across one of my now must read blogs, Wifessionals.  Kaitlyn writes daily about her life as a newlywed and mommy-to-be.  When she started her blog a year ago, she came up with this really cool blogger gift exchange known as the Cara Box.  The way it works is Kaitlyn gives each blogger two different bloggers to get to know.  One blogger you put a box together for while the other puts a box together for you.  It's a win-win!  You make two new friends.  You give a gift.  You get a gift.

Am I ever so glad I did this!!!  The bloggers I was paired with were Erin and Megan.  Both are super sweet and I have enjoyed getting to know them both via email.  Erin was the one I gifted.  I had so much fun putting her box together.  I have to admit it was a little scary buying gifts for someone you just met on email.  Luckily, Erin really liked her box.
Megan was my gift giver.  What a sweetheart!!!  She went all out with her gift.  Here's what she gave me.
The lid of the box all my goodies were packed in!  Super cute!!!


Megan's sweet note.
 
The goods- Halloween cupcake baking kit, a book for J, a planner, journal, clipboard with notepad, bookmark, and Boston magnet.
 

I have to admit I was difficult to buy for.  I mean my blog is all about my family.  Many blogs are more personal with lots of little factoids about the writer behind the blog.  Not mine,  at this point, it's pretty specific.  It's a scrapbook of my family.  Megan did an amazing job and really thought out her box.  I can't say enough about this experience.   I am so glad I stepped out of my box (no pun intended) and signed up for Cara Box.  Not only did I get a really cool box of goodies, I made two new friends.


 


Cara Box


 
 
 

Saturday, August 24, 2013

Our Week + J's First Cowboys Game

This week flew by.  Being the last week before school starts, I've been ultra busy trying to get even more stuff done at school.
I haven't said to much about it, but Aaron lost his job 3 weeks ago.  The reason I am saying anything now is because he actually interviewed and got hired for a new one and starts this Monday.  Prayers answered and a huge sigh of relief on that. It's amazing how God is looking out for us.  For that, I am so grateful!  It's so good to be one of His. 
Another positive note is the fact that Aaron has been able to spend so much time with Jackson over the last 3 weeks.  It has allowed me to work more than 50% (more like 80 to 90%) and not feel so guilty.  I don't mind leaving J with Daddy more than two and a half days a week, but I HATE having to take more time than that with RaRa and Meema.  I know that have other things to do besides watch J every day.

This is some of the things we've been up to lately-

Sunday lunch at BoomerJacks
Where a random waitress told us that J was the cutest baby she had ever seen in her life!

Monday afternoon walk at Foster Park

 
 
 

Swinging.
 


Never a dull moment when Mommy's cooking.





My view on our evening walks.  LOVE!!!

 The only picture I got at GG's birthday party, and GG isn't in it!  I realized I didn't see J anymore, so I peeked around the corner and saw this.  Doc was watching J play!!!  So sweet!!!

Flipped J's car seat to forward facing.  He loves looking out the window now.

 Love his legs in this shot!!!


J's First Dallas Cowboys Game

Yeah, I didn't get the memo that big bags aren't allowed anymore, so the parking attendant gave me a gallon size bag.  Can you say airport security?  What a pain in the butt!!!

Fascinated by the Jumbo screen!!!

Love his hair and hair cut!!!

Some reading material.  I don't think Daddy will like this in a few years.  He's going to expect you to pay attention and talk stats.


Fun with the free giveaway!

Nice play!!!!  Love J's paci!

Family photo as we were leaving.
Overall J did pretty well.  We almost made it to half-time.  Luckily, it was a preseason game.  That's the only way we would've done it with J.  I can't see Daddy missing a regular season game to leave for bedtime.
 

Wednesday, August 21, 2013

Walk Down Memory Lane

This afternoon Aaron and I decided to clean out the "man cave" closet.  It really is kind of our office/ collect all room.  I rarely clean it because I don't use it much. Plus, it's always one big mess.  Aaron was so proud of himself because yesterday while I was at work he "cleaned" the cave.  When I began investigating the "clean".  What I found was everything was just shoved in the already overcrowded closet.  So today I spontaneously got to work in the room I really try to avoid.  We ended up spending 2 hours in there with a large trash bag.  By the end we had one large bag full of junk and papers we didn't need.  As I was cleaning, I came across a bunch of old pictures I had completely forgotten about as well as some CDs full of pictures. 
Here are a few of the pictures off the CDs I came across. Some I'll be honest I had never seen, and some were long since forgotten.  It was such a nice treat to reflect and remember some wonderful memories.

 
 
At our rehearsal dinner-  We are soooo young!!! (March 2, 2007)

I know my grandmother's eyes are closed, but I had to include it.  Wish she were still here to meet J.

 
 
I had never seen these of Will and me.  Kara snapped these after the ceremony.  I so remember her taking these, but I had never seen them until today.  Notice the strong resemblance between Will and Jackson.

 
Off a CD, GG gave us with some pics of our wedding.  Look how cute Will, Maddie, and Bailey are.  They were babies!!!

Love this one!!!  I wonder what they are talking about?
 
 
 
Honeymoon in Maui- Mr. Cool!!!

Oh my goodness!!!  I look so young!!!
 
We went to visit John, Katie, and Ramona in Austin. (summer 2007)

Ramona styling with her sunglasses.

Love this picture of two great friends.
 
At Yellowstone- Summer 2007 (I look so back to nature.)

Best parents EVER!!!

Georgia's wedding- Aug. 18, 2007 in Gainesville, GA
Old college friends back together.

 I had completely forgotten about our horrible apartment neighbors.  We found this awful blob of who knows what stuck to our door one evening and the numbers on our door spray painted white.  Aaaww... the joys of apartment living.

Ringing in 2008

My team of seventh graders went to Mission Arlington to serve the community. January 2008
 
Off a CD, Ali gave me.  I think November 2009? I had never seen this.
Aaron's 30th Birthday Bash- I threw for him!  January 2010
 
 
Pics that Ali took from my TCU graduation December 18, 2010

Great parents and hubby who supported me through it all.  I still love that Jessica Simpson dress!!!

Being hooded with my masters

Wow!!! I look super interested!
Pics a coworker of Aaron's gave him from his work baby shower.  His office went all out!!!  Such a wonderful shower!!!
 
Feb. 3, 2012- 3 days before J made his debut!!!
 
 
That's all!!! What a fun trip into the past (pre- Jackson)!!!