Back on track.

This week ends our spell of appointment-free weeks. With all of the free time over the past few weeks, ha, I've been focusing on being more goal-oriented about finishing my coursework. For those of you unaware, I am once again in school! (surprise, surprise) This time, I am taking online courses to become a medical transcriptionist, something that, aside from Colin's issues, I know nothing about. But, it is a job that I can do at home to provide a little extra income. Thus, the lack of blogging! Something had to go! But, I'm back. I'll try to be more dedicated to updating. Honest. And, thanks to those diligent friends of ours who let us know you really are reading it...feel free to post here as well!

Colin received his second report card of the year and all is well, especially after realizing he missed 12 of the 55 days this quarter. I think he's trudging right along at a great pace. He had his first visit to the principal's office last week. He has been pushing the limits both at home and at school lately, which is fine. A phase, I'm sure. His crime: crawling under his desk after being repeatedly asked to stop. The funniest thing is, his teacher told him to take a walk to the principal's office and when he got there, to decide if he was ready to go back to class and follow her rules...if not, he need to talk to the "man." Colin chose to talk to the head honcho. (I personally think he was being nosey and wanted to see how the big man spent his day.)

He still will only wear the BAHA sporadically, which is fine. I still have my heart set on this super-dooper, one of a kind doc to open his canal soon anyway. :) If not, then we will push it a little harder. To that note...I am having all of his CTs and MRIs sent this week to said doc, along with profile pics of our boy and audiograms...time will tell. This amazing man has agreed to take a look at all of his information, FREE OF CHARGE, so that we don't have to make a special trip for a visit until we know if he truly is a candidate. Blessings, little blessings!

Next week we head back to orthopedics with the new ortho. doc to re-x-ray and see if his curvature has changed, thus determining if he'll return to wearing his brace 24-7. Please pray that things remain unchanged and that I find guidance to make a good decision about what to do next if they don't. I really don't think that the brace has made a difference for him in the past, and the research I have done tells me that this is typical, and I'm finding it hard to follow the advice of our ortho. docs...I honestly don't hold the most confidence in any of them. We lost our primary doc to retirement a year or so ago, and nothing has felt right since. His treatment has changed entirely, along with their speculations on where it will go over time.

Chloe took her first unaided steps yesterday! Colin was ecstatic! He wanted to "practice" again with her tonight. So funny and cute. She has also taken to sitting in his lap at any given opportunity. He loves it. She loves it. I love it. It usually ends with her applying a good smack to his head before toddling off to find something else to occupy her time, but it is so darn cute, if at least for the moment.

And, for those of you unable to view the video below: Chloe has said "Dad" forever. It is the only word she says consistently. But,now, when prompted to say "Mom," she replies with a determined "uh, uh!" She knows what I want to hear; she's just not ready to satisfy my Mommy craving in that way yet. Such a little diva!

Chloe's First Words: Dad and Mom?...Uh, uh.

Chloe has finally mastered another word in addition to "Dad," which she mastered well before her first year...thought I'd share this moment with you.


Oh, she is her Daddy's girl!

Quiet.

I haven't posted because, well, things here have been pretty quiet, minus the crazy screaming kids, the barking dog, etc...but, really, things are incredibly calm and normal. Colin won't wear his BAHA. He says it doesn't help, and we're not pushing it. He's just been working away at school, homework every night. He is reading so well now. It's pretty cool. Not just because he can do it, but because he is so proud of himself for doing it. Chloe is all but walking. She can get around really well with the walker and has stood by herself on more than one occassion, that is, until she becomes aware, and then she immediately hits her knees. She's just scared at this point I think. She is becoming increasingly independent. Such a little diva...not a princess, although she looks like one! Princesses like to be waited on...divas just want what they want when they want it. That's our Clo. She wants to feed herself, she wants to comb her own hair (with, by the way, the same fork she feeds herself with), she wants to climb the stairs herself (both up and down), and the list goes on. I forgot how quickly that transition from baby to independence is. But, it is so much fun, too. And, you can tell she's getting older, because she is no longer a baby and her older brother has become sharply aware of the fact that he has to share with her...and neither of them are kean on sharing right now. We've had to pull her off of him a few times...she's a little bit of a bull. Can't imagine who she got that from. :)

Happy Birthday, Alicia!

We celebrated Jeremy's sister, Alicia's, 24th birthday last night with a Western party. It was a blast! Jeremy even got in the spirit with a great shirt and killer belt buckle. I'd post a pic of him, but I'd like to rest peacefully tonight. :)

Happy Birthday, Alicia! We love you!

The Flu, Again

Colin this time. Ugh! He woke up with it yesterday. I predicted it Saturday night as we drove home from Chuck E. Cheese...100s of finger-lickin', game playin', runny-nosed kids. I'm pretty sure that he doesn't even have to come into direct contact with the germs, they seek him out. Anyway, he is feeling better today and I am in sanitation mode. If I wasn't a germaphob before (which I'm pretty sure I was), there is absolutely no doubt I am now. Please do not be offended if I ask you to scrub down next time you come to visit! :) I am not a big fan of cold weather, but mother nature...bring it on! I want snow and ice and cold temps to kill it all. Thanks in advance! And, I apologize to those who would prefer to skip winter altogether! I am tired of colds, and the flu, and tummy aches, and laundry...especially laundry.

BAHA at home.

So far, so good. He really took to the BAHA (Bone Anchored Hearing Aid) well. I think at this point it is actually called a BCHA (Bone Conduction Hearing Aid) because it isn't bone anchored yet. Anyway, he could tell a difference right away. Upon testing, they noted at least a 20 decibel increase in his ability to hear with it on. As we walked out into the parking garage, he was talking to me about the cars, etc. and turned around quickly because her heard his own echo. He said, "d'you hear that? That was an echo!" And he spent all of last night stomping everywhere he went because he could "really hear his feet now." The band is going to take some getting used to. After 4 hours on, he was complaining of it itching. But, all in all, he is excited about it. We are going to wait until next week to start having him wear it to school, so that he can get used to it first. Taking it step by step.

Adjusting to early starts.

Jeremy has been adjusting fine to getting up early and heading off to work. The early commotion in the house has created an early start for all of us every day this week, and it's taking it's toll. I don't think I am adjusting quite as well. This morning started with Colin waking at 5:50. ugh. I miss 7:30 mornings. We'll head to Children's today for the BAHA. I am so excited to see how he does with it. I am still planning to make appointments for second/third opinions regarding opening his inner and outer canals, but for now, he can at least get a feel for the BAHA to help aid his/our decision on having an abutement placed for long-term use. I am actually looking forward to the rest of January without ANY appointments...weeks without appointments! None, not one. Will be so nice...now if we could just keep these kids in bed a little bit longer in the morning. My world would be perfect. :)

Missing little ears and dimples and such.

This morning as I checked Colin's back after he woke (which by the way, still looks great), the realization hit that the little sacral dimple he had, which sat a few inches above his bum, is gone. It was removed during his spinal cord release surgery. It was actually caused by the dermal sinus tract they found after the went in to release his cord, so when the incision was made to remove the tract, it removed the dimple. Something, as strange as it sounds, I will miss. I had grown quite fond of it. Just one more part of my baby that has changed. I miss his little ear everytime we hug. I used to rub my lips on it when we cuddled and rocked at night and I have actually cried a time or two or three over the loss of that soft little ear. So, I cry for things I miss and am saddened by the scars my baby will always bare. My little soldier and his war wounds.

Colin's Back and Other Stuff.

Just a picture of Colin's back...healing really well. I was too lazy to download pics yesterday...so here it is. It healed so quickly! Crazy. If only our skin kept that elasticity, etc. as we aged. :)


We head to the Audiology clinic Thursday for his BAHA aid. Excited to get that underway. I think for now, we are just going to try it out at home, over the weekend, etc. and let him get used to it before heading back to school with it.

Jeremy started his new job yesterday and is really excited about the potential there. I'm excited for him. They actually gave him his schedule for the whole year yesterday. That was so neat. To know exactly what work will look like for an entire year. So predictable. I can't tell you the last time that things felt so stable for us.

I have a request for prayer for my mother. She had surgery last week and is not healing as well as expected and it is worrying me greatly right now. Please pray for quick and exact healing for her and for reduced pain. Her pain management hasn't gone well through this process either. So hard to see your parents in pain and discomfort and scary situations. Thanks.

Free!

To jump, run, and play! Colin's neuro doc cleared him today. 3 weeks early. She said he has healed excellently and can go back to normal activity as he feels fit. So, we brought out the moon shoes! Thanks, Aunt Sherri! They are a ton of fun.

We'll head back again for a recheck in 3 months and then a followup MRI and appointment at 6 months. So...yah!

Happy New Year!

Can't believe I haven't posted in a full two weeks!!! Crazy! and I thought I was addicted! We had an absolutely fabulous holiday! Got to visit with friends and family and more family and other family and then some more friends. Had so much fun, ate entirely too much, and the kids were spoiled as usual. Decided to just post some pictures from it all. Hope everyone we weren't able to see enjoyed it all as much as we did! We love you and miss you all!

The Carnahan Clan!


Our baby doll!


Colin with the "goods" from Santa...Chloe was still snoozing.


Colin giving baby sis a ride in his favorite gift! Thanks Grammy and Pap!


Chloe learned quickly that stockings held good stuff!


Chloe's favorite holiday activity: Sitting on the boxes holding her toys. Perfect little seats!


Chloe's favorite gift: Her own kitchen! Thanks, Aunt Robin!


The coolest big red box ever! Both of the kids took turns in it! Thanks, Aunt Sherri! (For the gift, too!)