Maggie is 6!

We celebrated Maggie's birthday with a fun little girl party at Sweet and Sassy Saturday morning, and then with family Saturday evening. It was a great day, and I think she enjoyed every minute of it!

At the Sweet and Sassy party, the girls dressed up like princesses, complete with a tiara and a princess certificate - an up-do and a little makeup. They had a blast!

Then, for the family fun - we had water play and a cookie cake!

Tender Mercies

Yesterday, I took Whit to his annual neurological developmental appointment at Texas Children's Clinical Care building. I guess going into this appointment, I wasn't really sure what to expect... I knew what my heart wanted to hear, but I also knew what my brain knew I would hear. I knew Whit had made progress, and I knew he still exhibited areas of weakness as far as development is concerned.

Yes, Whit has made progress. His developmental pediatrician was pleased with that. As I'm typing, the next word that comes to mind is "however" - but that's not really what I want to type. Because this isn't and "either... or" issue. So, instead, I'll say: "In addition," Whit showed several areas that are still uncoordinated, abnormal, and delayed. The doctor visited with me, evaluated Whit, watched him do several tasks, and then explained his thoughts and concerns. Some of this information was hard to swallow, while I know it comes with the territory of Whit. There are two specific pathways in Whit's brain, along with some areas in between that have been "damaged." This has caused alarm with his doctor, and has him leaning towards "mild cerebral palsy." These pathways affect his fine/gross motor abilities and coordination, as well as his oral motor/linguistic functioning (examples: chewing, stuttering). Also affected are processing and concept abilities. Dr. Jarjour also noted a heart murmur that threw up a yellow flag, but not a red flag. He and Whit's regular pediatrician will keep an "ear" (rather than an eye) on that. :)

Recommendations included continuing physical therapy and occupational therapy. He also wrote us another prescription for speech and language therapy to help his fluency and spontaneous language. (Whit is an excellent and skilled imitator - and making it look like his idea). He also is strongly encouraging us to pursue a PPCD (preschool program for children with disabilities) assessment and follow through with recommendations according to that assessment. Along with those "outside" therapies and strategies, he ordered an MRI to "scientifically confirm" CP. Included with this are also behavioral and developmental assessments to give us a better idea of what is actually happening with his processing and conceptual delays. We will also go back in 6 months for a follow-up visit with the developmental doctor.

When I was hit with all of this, I became apprehensive and I realized much more investment and intervention was upon us. Yet, as I have discussed it with Corbett and my Mom (my best friend and confidant after Corbett) - my apprehension has given way to an unmistakable feeling of peace. And through this peace, I have been reminded of the tender mercies that the Lord has given us in Whit (and Maggie and Chap).

Yesterday, as we were getting ready for an evening out, I told Whit he could wear his sandals without his boots. This gave him the opportunity to put them on himself. I told him if he needed help, he could ask me. So I went to another room, while still keeping an eye on his hard work. I walked through, and asked, "Do you need help?" His response... "NO!"

"Okay, just let me know if you do." Then, as I was in another room - I turned around and saw Chap sitting so sweetly next to him and helping him put the straps into the holes they were supposed to, and then letting them go to let Whit complete the velcro part of the strap. Whit's best language and dialogue are with Chap! I love sitting and listening to them visit and talk. What a sweet, tender "therapist" Whit has in his twin brother!

While at Texas Children's, Dr. Jarjour ordered some bloodwork to check Whit's iron levels. This sent Whit into hysterics! It took a nurse and myself to hold this little 25 lb boy down, and then the technician holding his other arm to draw the blood. Then, were the blood curdling screams that echoed throughout the entire hospital, I'm sure! I was in contact with my mom, who was keeping Maggie and Chap (THANKS TO SHE AND IKIE!) - and when Maggie found out that Whit had to have "a blood draw!" - she became instantly concerned about his well-being! What a tender caregiver and protector Whit has in a big sister!

There are also many tender mercies that I see in Whit! As we were walking to have his blood draw, I was doing anything I could to keep his mind off of what was about to take place. We walked passed a gift shop and I told him when we were done - we'd go pick out something for him. I got no response out of him other than his crying and "I doe-wan bwood-draw!" However, when all was said and done, we walked out of there and straight into the gift shop. His eyes took him straight to a little red truck (just like Whit to choose this!). Then, he looked up at me and looked back at the bowl of vehicles. He grabbed a blue truck - handed it to me and said... "Dat's for Chap!" then, he grabbed a purple van, handed it to me, and said "Dats for Maggie!" What a tender heart to think of them!

After we ate lunch together, I had promised him that we would go see the train exhibit at TCH. Then, came this smile.

That sweet, tender mercy that God gives us in our Whit...

Swimming

Swimming is not one of my favorite past-times. Although, I'll do it with my kids - and it's a nice refreshing break from the heat. Could have something to do with the swimsuit thing, or the fear that I have of being trapped under water!

Anyway, we have been making lots of trips to the pool lately. We've been working on water safety, swimming, and just plain fun in the pool with all three kiddos. (Side note: I'm keeping my iphone way away from the pool. I was working with a family in mid-May on water safety and vocabulary for a little boy that has a hearing impairment and can't wear his hearing aids in the water. He slipped off the step while his mom was in the deep end. So, I jumped in, fully clothed in work clothes.... with my iphone in my pocket, as well as the little boys' hearing aids!) The hearing aids were saved because they were still under warranty. My iphone... well after a few days to figure it out... I was due for an upgrade this month!

So, back to the kids.... and swimming. Maggie LOVES swimming! She is a little fish in the water! We are coming upon her third summer of swimming lessons. Chap is getting more confident. He took swimming lessons last summer, and cried the entire time. Not because of the water - but because of his extreme shyness and fear of people! It was tough to sit and watch him cry, but I knew he was learning stuff - and some of it has even carried over to this summer. Whit - sweet Whit. He is getting better and more relaxed. He loves jumping in (Chap, too) to Corbett. We've still got some safety skills and relaxing his muscles that we're working on. In fact, his physical therapist wants to do aquatic therapy in the coming weeks. We'll see how that goes. :) They all have lessons coming up in July.

A Blast from the Past.... HATS

Whit's first night home, and first time back with Chap after more than 2 months in the NICU.

Maggie, with her coon-skin hat on... keeping her head warm! She had ridden many a four-wheeler ride at Pops' and Bibs' house with that on her head!

Our little cowgirl...

Chap, with his "boogey" in his nose (as Maggie called his NG-tube). This hat was made by a volunteer for TCH.

Oh, how she still loves to dress up!!

See... Some things never change!

Sweet Whit and his little blue NICU hat! A nurse told us that hats are so wonderful for preemie babies, because if their head is warm - they grow more. He wore this hat often!

Cowboy, Chap.

Easter, 2007 (I don't know why this is underlined)

Another cowboy...

Oh, these days seem like an eternity away - but also just like yesterday!

Hero

Our Bible School at our church is coming up in 2 weeks. I am directing a group (somehow... I'm pretty sure I didn't sign up for the lead job, but ended up with it) of kiddos, and needed to get a supply list together before yesterday. So, on Saturday - I had the materials all spread out in our living room looking through them to see what things I could request for supplies. Maggie was sitting with me some of the time and we were talking about the theme for Bible School this year.

Our church is thinking outside the box a bit this year. Usually they use a specific curriculum year after year, but this year they decided to do something a little different. So, the format, plans, supplies, and theme are all a little different this year. The theme is Heroes. Each day, the lessons are centered around 5 different characters in the Bible that are unnamed, but unique and special enough to be mentioned as heroes. For example, the little boy that was used to share his food with the 5 thousand.... he is unnamed, but considered a hero. Also, the shepherds that the angels came to and announced the birth of Jesus.... they were unnamed and used to help announce the special occasion.

So, I was explaining it a little to Maggie - and how heroes don't have to be famous or supernatural. So, she flitted about a little as I continued to work, and then she came back to me with this statement...."Mom, I am a hero!"

"Sure, Maggie. I think you are! How do you think you are?"

"I saved Whit!"

"Really? Tell me more!"

"That one day, I kept him from running out into the parking lot! It was a hard job, and I really tried to block him, but I got the job done and I'm a hero!"

"You sure are Maggie!"

Several weeks ago, we loaded up the kids' bikes in the back of my car and took them to a park that had a large tennis court that they rode around on. Chap needed a potty break, so we parked the bikes and walked across the parking lot and a little pedestrian bridge to get to the restroom. As we were leaving, they wanted to run ahead. I told them they could run to a yellow pole that was positioned on the other side of the bridge (they have succeeded with this task many times before at this same park... they were very familiar with these instructions!).

I know it is going to surprise you, but this child didn't stop!

I wasn't as concerned as I usually would be, because we were the only ones at the park - and the parking lot was empty. However, Maggie - knowing the rules, following the rules, and trying to keep her brother safe.... ran ahead and tackled him to keep him from running into the parking lot! He, of course, reacted rather loudly and in opposition - but I had arrived to the scene by that time.

So, in fact.... Maggie is a hero!

The Graduate

If you ever want to see a bunch of crazies - you put 4, 5, and 6 year olds on a stage - and all of the parents become crazy! Crazy proud!

Our Maggie was one of these kiddos, as she graduated from Kindergarten last night. And, yes... we were one of those crazy proud parents - sitting on the edge of our seats, beaming with pride. We had a few other's there beaming with us, as Oma, Opa, Aunt Amy, Pops, Bibs, and "the brothers" came to celebrate the occasion with us.

Maggie lead The Pledge to the Bible - and she did a super, super job! Being the worrier that she is - I was worried that if she messed up, she might just melt for the entire crowd. But, she boldly and beautifully stood up there and led all of us in the Pledge to the Bible!

She was also the only kindergartener in the entire school (three classes) that had perfect attendance! Her teacher told me this morning, as I dropped Maggie off, that she was worried (knowing what a worrier that Maggie is) - that when the principal had Mrs. Fite announce that she had Perfect Attendance - and then she was the only one.... that Maggie might not know what that means and get worried that she did something wrong. I assured Mrs. Fite that she was very proud of it once we explained what it meant.

She was so excited about this night, and loved having such awesome supporters there!

Tomorrow is their last day of school, and we are all ready for a summer filled with fun and quality time!