Bear is 22 months!!!

Bear is 22 months old TODAY!!! The poor guy has a cold and has been coughing and sneezing today, and has slept a lot. It amazes me how time has flown by and we will be celebrating Bear's Second Birthday in just two months. Bear is meeting so many goals in his therapy sessions and continues to use more signs (eat, more, all done, yummy, and night night) We are working on a few more (milk, help, thank you, and please and some animal signs) He doesn't use many sounds, but seems to know what we are talking about. He smiles and laughs at the kids and always wants to be doing what they are doing. Bear loves music and can sign the whole Patty Cake song and parts of The Wheels on the Bus song. He loves Jesus Loves Me, Row Row Row Your Boat, and the Itsy Bitsy Spider songs (and watches intently when I sign these songs!
I haven't updated on Bear Progress in a couple months, so I will try to now; he continues to get Therapy three times a week. (PT, OT, and Speech)
The following blog update was written last year and explains Bear's birth and diagnosis. http://hisheritage.blogspot.com/2009/02/we-got-call-from-bears-baby-4.html

We are happy with Bear's progress, he is walking along furniture and walls, and almost ready to let go. His PT told us the other day that he WILL walk, but he is still trying to work on his muscle tone, so it may be a few more months.
Bear recently saw the Genetic doctor who tested him for a few more things, which came back normal (blood work). One other thing they were looking for was a tumor in his spine that could be causing his stiffness (increased muscle tone), but the x-ray did not reveal anything. The x-ray of his wrist showed 12 month stage bones, which concerned the Doctor. After looking at his results she wants him tested for another syndrome, Cockayne Syndrome. After much prayer, we have decided against this test for a couple of reasons. The test is thousands of dollars and at this time don't feel it can change his quality of life. We will continue to pray and ask God for clear direction on testing. If Bear presents with others symptoms then we will most certainly get this test.
He meets with the Metabolic doctor in December to get his growth hormones tested again. They were low a year ago. He will also go to the Allergist to get skin testing for his food allergies. He has only been blood allergy tested.
One thing we will be work on in the next few months is getting Bear on table food. He isn't able to eat table food due to him having the Tactile sensory disorder. If he touches things such as; shaving cream, play-doh, cotton balls, table food, baby food, rice, baked beans, bananas he gags and projectile vomits. The Speech therapist is looking into getting us a Feeding Specialist. It is costing us $40.00 per week to get him jarred baby food, so I have started to make my own baby food. (YES, the first time and he is baby #4) :-)

UPDATE: TEIS approved the Feeding Specialist, so we will get one more hour per week of therapy (It will now be 4 hours per week)!!!! AND I made lots of homemade baby food for him today with the help of my friend Carmen (and her baby boy) We made the boys Tropical chicken, lentils and chicken with veges, sweet potatoes, and Jambalaya (not spicey). I guess that classify's us as SOUTHERNERS!! :-)


Bear climbed the steps (see his brothers and sister cheering him on!!)
Learning to slam cupboard doors

Kids doing Devotions, Bible reading, and singing with Daddy on Skype.

Sweet boys at the Civil War Reenactment trying to stay warm

Bug's Assembly and Goose on 10 News

The boys had a fun week at School last week. Bug's class did their presentation and recited a poem about Reformation day. Assembly is twice a month on a Wednesday morning from 8:10am-9am They had a guest speaker, Bug's teacher's Pastor's Church!! Goose will be having his class presentation in December for Christmas.
The weatherman came to visit the 3rd (Goose's class) and 4th graders. He was so excited to be on the "News" at 6:30am on Thursday morning. He set his alarm for 6am and at 6:43am he saw his school picture. (below!!) We had to take a picture of the TV!! He really enjoyed the Weatherman and learned a lot. His weekend project was to make a emergency kit. We have yet to make it, but I am sure Goose won't let us forget!! :-)


The poem the 1st graders recited. Bug's was the highlighted part!! (some of this is in Latin)

Bug, Annie, and Blake and all the 1st graders

Bug leading the 1st graders to Assembly

3rd and 4th Graders with Weatherman

Civil War Reenactment

Our family enjoyed the Civil War Reenactment at the Battle of Fort Sanders this past weekend. Despite the cold temperatures this time of year, (46 degrees) we had a great time. The boys especially loved watching the Blacksmith make a horseshoe and getting Abraham Lincoln's signature.

View of the tents from the parking lot.

October 2009 family update

Wow, it has been awhile since I have done a blog update!!!

Science Center (funny hair) We don't know this person personally!

Ooma and Papa's camper in our driveway

Goose at the Science Center

Bug did very well in his dental surgery and even lost a tooth!!!

Bear is now 21 months old and so close to walking!! We received the results of his recent bloodwork and it was normal. The Geneticist wants to run a few more test; a liver function test, and x-rays of his spine and wrist (he does a lot of fisting when he crawls)

We had a slight emergency on Thursday night. Bear is putting EVERYTHING in his mouth!! He had grabbed a ceramic jar with a candle in it, and dropped it. A piece broke off, which he put in his mouth, so I had to fish it out. In the process of fishing it out, it cut his mouth and he bled everywhere and lots of it. The poor thing was bleeding so much, he was gagging on all the blood. It was very scary, and I couldn't get the bleeding to stop to see where he was cut. I sent Goose (our oldest) to get our neighbor, Kim (Daddy was away at a Men's retreat with Church). Thankfully she calmed me down and we both agreed that he needed medical help. Kim took my kids to her house. On my way, I called our good friend Joy (she is an ER nurse and her sister is a Nurse Practioner and both were there). Once I got to Joy's house, the bleeding had stopped and they were able to see where the cut was. He had a big slice in his bottom lip and a small cut on his cheek. We put orajel on his cuts and gave him motrin. He slept well all night long!!! and thankfully did not get sick from all the blood he swallowed.

We enjoyed our recent visit with Ooma and Papa. They brought their camper all the way from Upstate NY and were traveling to San Diego to see Patrick's older brother and travel for a month. The kids love to stay overnight in the camper and also eat most meals in there too!! So much fun to be with Ooma and Papa!!! We had a lot of fun together, but it rained almost everyday they were here. We spent one day and the Oakridge Science center. What a great place!! Then we went to the Outback Steakhouse for dinner. Yummy gluten free dinner!! (they have a gluten free menu) Our first meal out since having to be gluten free.

Patrick and some friends from our Sunday School class ran in a 5K race on Saturday, to support the boys School. He did an awesome job, finished in 32:43 http://www.runfortheclassics.com/

We are excited for Julie's parents to visit us in on November 6th.