Star Wars Exhibit

Yesterday we checked out the Star Wars exhibit at the Houston Health Museum.  Alyssa and Jackson were downright giddy when we went into the exhibit hall.  For the first 20 minutes, they walked from exhibit to exhibit, pointing out each item. "Look, it's a storm trooper.  Look, it's R2D2.  Oooo, look, it's a battle droid." (and so on)  

Jackson was pointing out the Princess Leia outfit to Alyssa.

We even got to sit in a mock up of the Millennium Falcon (which I'm not sure was worth the 30 minute wait), play with robots (that looked like R2D2) and make a land speeder out of legos and magnets (which hovered just like in the movie).

Jackson loves these destroyer battle droids.

It was really great to see the kids so excited.  But as Darren and I learned taking the kids to the Natural Science museum, they lose interest long before we do...even with it being Star Wars (their current favorite).

This was really neat. 
You moved the pieces around on table,
and you created Star Wars (this was Tatoonie) on the screen.

T-Ball

Jackson started t-ball and yesterday was his first game.  

Go Ironbirds!

So far, he's THAT kid...out picking daisies while (almost) everyone else plays ball. Well, he's not really picking daisies, but it is only because there aren't any growing on the field. Jackson really didn't stick out that badly, most of the kids were a little confused or distracted from time to time, but it was definitely little frustrating (and really cute) to watch.  His coaches were very nice and redirected him every time he seemed to forget why he was out there.  

According to Darren, compared to his 2 previous practices, this is the most focused Jackson has been.  I'm confused as to Jackson's lack of focus, because when you ask him, he says he's having a great time at tball.  Seems contradictory to me, but I guess as long as he's having fun (and especially if he improves his focus throughout the season), it will have been well worth it. 

Unique Beings

Last weekend, I felt like we were just managing the bad mood that was being passed from kid to kid.  This week has been much better.  I feel as though I've been able to appreciate the kids for the neat, unique beings they are.

Alyssa is studious and she's strong.  We took a family bike ride on Monday after a good day at school.  Alyssa took a turn too fast and slid off the sidewalk and into the drainage ditch.  I was watching and it scared me.  But she got up, cried for a minute, and then got on her bike to finish the ride.  So strong!

Jackson is energetic and funny (both intentional and unintentional).  Coming out of a friend's house on Thursday, he jumped out from behind the bushes to scare me.  He loves to surprise people. And some of the things he says are just too funny, though he doesn't intend for them to be.  If we ask him to do something he doesn't want to do, he'll slump his shoulders and mumble "you've got to be kidding me".  It is hard not to laugh out loud at it.

Matthew is sweet and easy going.  Matthew got his 2 shots at his 18 month appointment on Thursday. He cried for two seconds and was perfectly fine when I picked him up. He's just my sweet baby Matthew.

It has been nice to enjoy the kids this week.  Hopefully it will continue over the weekend, which seems to be when the bad mood comes out to rear its ugly head.  Hoping it stays away this weekend!

A little blurry, but couldn't catch all 3 kids still today!

Neuro & 18 Month Check

We are still adjusting to the craziness of the new schedule.  Fitting in doctors appointments used to feel nutso, and now it feels doubly so.  

Yesterday, after my morning class, Matthew visited the neurologist for the first time.  A new specialist!  We made the appointment because of Matthew's increased sleeping/decreased liquids but as our pediatrician recommended, it would be good to have a neurology evaluation anyway.  The doctor was really sweet, and Matthew took to him immediately.  He told us some things we already knew--yes, there is a neurological component to Matthew's duplication (developmental delays, hypotonia) and he confirmed that yes, Matthew will walk (we knew this from Mattie's actions of late, but it is always nice to hear a professional say it). The doctor also recommended blood work for Matthew, a sleep study and an EEG--all scheduled in the next couple of weeks.  It will either shed light on what is going on with Matthew, or give us peace of mind that whatever is going on now shouldn't be of concern. 

We ran from that appointment to our pediatrician's office for Matthew's 18 month 'well baby' visit.  It might have been a 'well baby' visit, but Matthew is still fighting some runny nose crud left over from the croup last week.  No major changes-- Matthew is in the 13th percentile for height and a fraction of a percentile for weight and head.  Matthew is doing great at being Matthew!  After 2 quick shots and 2 tears, we were on our way to pick up Jackson from a friend's house (thank you Kirsten!) and pick up Aly from school.   Just in time!  

Look What I Can Do

Darren found Matthew like this earlier today, while I found him like this just a few minutes ago. I guess we need to start putting the gate up at the bottom of the stairs!

 

Happy Labor Day

We've been enjoying our long weekend with family and friends. 

Unfortunately, I think the 3 kids are sharing 2 good moods.  On Friday, Jackson and Alyssa had the good moods, with Matthew being really fussy.  It took a while to figure out why, but I'm pretty sure it was because of the steroids he was on to fight the croup. Steroids always seem to give Matthew ants in his pants.  Thankfully the croup is gone and Matthew only needed 3 days of steroids instead of 5. 

On Saturday, Jackson and Matthew had the good moods, with Alyssa being prickly. I think she is just tired.  At the end of 2 great, but long, weeks of kindergarten she seems to need a bit more sleep.  Today she slept in (until after 8am) for the first time since she was a few months old. 

Yesterday, Matthew and Alyssa had the good moods, while Jackson was whiny.  I have no idea why, just that he woke up on the wrong side of the bed yesterday.  I'm crossing my fingers that we have found another good mood for today, so all 3 can be in a good mood at once.  Oh, that would be a fantastic end to our long weekend! 

Good news from the weekend--the Aggies won!

Matthew's Mixed Bag

This week has been a mixed bag for Matthew--

On the plus side:  
--He's taking more liquids.
--He's sleeping less (though that may be because we are really messing with his schedule).
--He had a pretty good 2nd day at daycare.
--He had the best blood draw ever on Monday and his C02 levels in his blood rose from last week to this week.
--His leg seems to be healing some.

On the not so good side:  
--His C02 levels are still lower than the nephrologist would like, so he has to have another blood draw in a month to check again.
--He had a rough first day at daycare.
--He still isn't putting a lot of pressure on his right leg, which is keeping him from standing and cruising.
--He woke up this morning sounding like Darth Vader--he has croup.  We went to the doctor to get a round of steroids, which is called for with Matthew's subglottic stenosis.  Now we pray that we can stay out of the hospital this go around.  

Definitely a mixed bag for baby Matthew this week.  

Matthew was motivated to stand for the Target bag,
which was full of baby food for him!