Our Homestead Happenings

So this is not a post about Caleb's medical condition.  And I'm hoping it won't be an emotional one about said condition. :) Just wanted to mention a few things going on, and maybe even talk about my other children! (shocker!)

We got the opportunity to travel over Christmas and see all of my extended family up north.  (Michigan and Illinois) We didn't go last year so it was great to be able to see everyone.  Of course we had to drive, ROAD TRIP! So that was quite the adventure with 3 little ones.  Allison had lots of crafts and games to work on.  Her dry erase supplies were a lifesaver! Caleb was very content just playing with one toy at a time and since we received a double screen DVD player for Christmas that took care of a lot of the entertaining too! Jordyn was not a big fan of traveling and the trip up there was kinda rough for me because of that.  But by the trip home she was an old pro and I even got to read a couple hundred pages in a book!! Sweet!  Jason drove almost the whole way there and back.

Grandpa and his grandson

Allison decorating the tree

After Dad's 1/2 Marathon

Family Christmas 2011

Big Helper

Sisters

Opening Presents

Repunzel and her hair!

Her very FIRST movie theater experience!

Great Grandma Syswerda

Great Grandpa Syswerda

I would say the most challenging part of the trip was all 5 of us sleeping in the same room for almost 2 weeks! Jordyn still woke up twice a night to eat, Caleb woke up and cried and then went back to sleep 2-3 times a night, and Allison was up as soon as she heard a noise in the morning.  But other than that it was a great trip! :)

I'm giving myself some grace concerning picture taking.  With 3 little ones I didn't really take very many pictures. I didn't get ANY pictures in Illinois! (really bummed) so Aunt Joanne or Sarah if you are reading this will you send me some? :)

Since we have been home we have been busy getting our garden ready for spring.  Jason has done a wonderful job in this area! I am so thankful :) I have really enjoyed starting to grow our own food.  I can't wait to continue to expand our horizons this year in this area.

Jordyn is growing like a weed! She is so awesome, we are so blessed to have her! She smiles and laughs all the time and is a pro at rolling over.  She started squealing a few weeks ago and this week she has started growling.  It's so funny! Her and Caleb both sound the same when they cry and it throws me for a loop sometimes.  She has also discovered her love of toys recently.  I introduced her to Sophie and she gnaws on her quite well! Jordyn love to chew on other people hands and can even hurt when she gets going.  She is still waking up once at night and again early morning (not a big fan) but I don't hate it too much. :) I cherish the time I am able to do this with her since I know it won't be much longer and she is probably our last.

Well here I go....Since meeting with the specialist in October and hearing him say we shouldn't have any more kids I have vacillated many times about not being ready to be done having kids and excited to start a new chapter in our family.  There are many times throughout my day when I am quite sure I can't handle any more, but then wonder if in a few years one more wouldn't be so bad.  I have kept all the kids baby clothes and all of the equipment for subsequent kids, but am now starting to let go.  Starting to empty tubs of clothes, starting to empty closets, and corners of the garage  feels so good!!  So while I'm still not ready to say we are for sure done having kids, I might be getting there. :)

Allison cracks me up all the time with her words and body language.  She is 3 going on 14! Some days it a battle of the wills but over all she is a wonderful helper and such a smart amazing kid! She is getting more independent, playing up in her room by herself.  Counting her money, looking at books, or playing with her dolls.  She still LOVES to be outside and since we have had a really mild winter she hasn't been disappointed.  She never wears shoes or socks around the house and prefers short sleeves and a skirt.  She still loves/smothers her baby sister whenever I am not looking and pushes the dogs out of the way whenever she walks by them.  (so funny)

Last bit of info.  Caleb has started to really communicate this week.  It started on Monday when he told me he wanted to go show Jason a toy dog he was holding.  It came out like this, "Dad, dog." But I knew that's what he wanted.  Each day he has told me something and I can tell he has turned the corner on his communication.  He has understood what we are saying for quite a while, but now he is talking back.  The funniest thing was him telling me that Mamaw is sleeping.  She was taking a nap on our couch and when he saw her he said, "Ma, leep"  I have never heard him say sleep so it took me a minute to figure it out.  He is always so excited when we understand what he is saying.  It's so cute! Tonight he held out his sandwich and said, "do!" He wanted me to feed it to him, me to "do" it.  I'm loving this! (however not the times when I have NO IDEA what he is saying because he has 15 things that start with an M sound)

We have an appointment with the specialist at Children's next week and we are hoping for some results from the muscle biopsy.  That and just to find out where we go from here.  I have no idea what "normal" will look like for us regarding appointments and tests and so forth, so hopefully we can get some of that answered as well. Ok folks, that's it for now!

Love,