My Husband

Father's Day isn't until next month, but I wanted to write this post today to let you all know how special my husband is to me.

I don't need to wait until a special day to tell the man I love just how much I appreciate and love him very much. So, for those of you who aren't into gushy, gooey, lovey kinds of words...consider your self warned and don't read this post!

As for the rest of you...let me tell you why I love this man:


He is my best friend: he is always there. He has seen me at my worst and at my best. He has stuck beside me through more than anyone I've ever met, and I know I can confide in him with all of my heart and soul.

He is my lover: (ya-ya) he is always patient, especially during these post-partum months when all I want to do with my free time is sleep.

He is the father to my children: he is a large child, role model, and disciplinarian all wrapped up in one. Our children know they can go to him for roughhousing, as well as comfort and they both long to be with him when he's not around. (Especially if he's out "jeep'n")

He is my husband, my soul mate: "for better or worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health" we promised to love and respect each other for all the days of our lives. Yes, we've only been married for 6 1/2 years, but lets face it, we've had a roller coaster ride.



From our children being hospitalized for various reasons to all of the medications we've had to do at all hours of the day and night, he's always been there.

For every phone call he's received from an incredibly frustrated wife because the kids are being loud, the bills have piled up, and the sink is no where to be found, he's always on the other side listening.

For every night he comes home from work to a disorganized house, whiny kids, exhausted wife, and dinner still not ready, he drops his bag, removes his tie, rolls up his sleeves and digs right in to help.

For every time he hugs me even when I don't want to be...I love him.
For every time he lets me calm down, and work things through...I love him.
For every time he takes the kids, so I can have a few moments...I love him.
For every time he tells me to do something for myself...I love him.
For every tear he has wiped away...
For every time he helps me back up when I've fallen...
For every thing above and so much more...
I am thankful for, blessed to have, so grateful for the love he has for me.

I LOVE YOU, MICHAEL!

Late Mother's Day Thanks . . . Again

Well better late than never.

Once again I am writing this from work so I will try to get some pix up tonight.

I went back to last year's post about Mother's Day and a few things have changed. We did not spend it in a hospital (thank God) and now we have three children.

A few things have not changed. Michelle is still an amazing mother. She stays at home with 3 children, going from the moment she gets up until the kids are in bed. And even then Rebekah is still nursing. She goes from playdate to therapy to doctors appointments, and that's all in one day!

She works harder than I do. I know I've spent the day with just the boys and I am drained at the end of the day. She takes care of 3 everyday. I don't know where she gets the strength. It amazes me everytime I come home. Plus she has me to put up with me as well!

So from you three children "We Love Mom!".

Happy Late Mother's Day!

Love,

All of us!
(with a little help from daddy)

Some New Stuff...

Okay, so I've written this post a couple of times now, deleted and started over. I just haven't figured out a way to put into words what I'd like to say. I've decided to take the say-what-I-have-to-say route and go from there.

First off...Ethan was diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome last Thursday.
Secondly...he needs to have his adenoids removed and that is scheduled for the 15th of June.

There...I said it.

Now a definition: "Asperger Syndrome (also called Asperger Disorder) is a neurological condition that affects social and emotional interaction. It is a developmental disability, which means that it is most likely present at birth and affects development throughout life." - Asperger Syndrome and Your Child: A Parent's Guide

Within Asperger Syndrome (AS) there are various levels of severity. These levels are based on four essential qualities that characterize children with AS. They are impaired social interaction, impaired communication, repetitive or odd patterns of behavior or interests, and unusual responses to stimulation and environment. Ethan has a mild form of all of these. Some are easier to notice than others and if you aren't around him often, you may not even notice. Most times AS isn't diagnosed until children reach the preschool/kindergarten years because that is the time that their social world really begins to expand.

Now, Ethan wasn't enrolled in a 3yr. old preschool for several reasons. 1. three years old is too young to start "school" in our opinion unless there is a developmental reason; 2. we want to home school our children; 3. we were expecting our third child at the time and didn't want him to connect his leaving for school with the arrival of his sister and 4. he isn't potty trained yet!

However, we have a meeting on the 18th to determine where and when he will go to a developmental preschool. The Developmental Pediatrician who diagnosed Ethan, wants him in a program that is 3 half days a week so that he can be part of the social aspect of school, but still receive the therapy he needs. He is to continue his occupational therapy with Jessica through Easter Seals, and receive therapy from a behaviorist, and a speech therapist while attending school. The speech therapist will help him with language pragmatics, (non-verbal cues, body language, personal space, etc.) as well as communication, (how to ask a group of kids if he can join them in a game, respond to questions with appropriate answers etc.) The behaviorist will teach him appropriate ways to act and respond in social situations.

I could go on and on with all the info. there is on this topic, but as it is it has taken me several days just to write this. So, I will refer you to a website: www.udel.edu/bkirby/asperger/ Go to the menu bar on the left of the site and click on "What is AS?" It gives you more information than I could as I'm still trying to understand it all. I will warn you though, for those of you who don't know, AS is considered part of the autistic spectrum. So everything you read will in some way be related to autism. Everyone we've told so far has taken the news differently. Thankfully we have a great network of support from friends and family.

As for the adenoids...well through a sleep study we found out that the snoring that Ethan does, wakes him up several times throughout the night. Because of this he doesn't get the obvious rest he needs, which can then lead to behavioral issues. This doesn't mean that once his adenoids are removed he will suddenly be this well behaved angel of a child...but as his doctor stated..."it certainly won't make things worse to have a child whose had a good nights sleep!" Because Ethan will need to be taught so many of the behaviors he should have learned over time, the better rested he is, he will not only learn new things but also be able to retain them.