Speech Therapy-Visit 1

Yesterday was Brian's first speech therapy appointment. I wasn't sure what to expect, but I was excited to get started! Jessica, his therapist, mainly spent the time getting to know Brian-by observing and playing with him, and by asking me questions. I think the next few appointments will be this way and then hopefully we will get into some real work! She mentioned that there is an observation room with a window where Brian can get his therapy with me watching, but not being in the room. I think this is a really good plan and I hope we get to do it. I just think he would do better without me around.

She gave us a few things to work on. She wants us to incorporate some signing in hopes of fading out the repeating of language that he tends to do. One of the signs she asked us to work on was "open" and he had already said "open" spontaneously twice by the end of the day yesterday, so that has clicked. Or it may have been all of the Easter eggs he had to ask us to "open" over the weekend. Either way, it's progress and I'll take!

I'll get an Easter post up soon. I had to use Mom's camera for part of the day and I don't have those pictures uploaded yet.

Today I am waiting at the lab to get my glucose test. I chugged the orange drink in maybe 30 seconds and I have another 25 minutes or so to wait to get blood drawn. Then I will be heading upstairs to my OB appointment. I am 28 weeks, so I am thinking we are heading into the every two weeks zone!

The Sqeaky Wheel

On Friday we went to see Dr. Arjmand for Brian's ENT follow up from his surgery (tubes and adenoids) and what was supposed to be a follow up from his hearing test last week. The hearing test didn't go so well by the way. Brian put his arms wayyyy up over his head and locked his shoulders therefore blocking his ears. It's a little hard to put earphones in the ears of a two year old in this position. Thus, we will be retesting on our 9 year wedding anniversary in June. And as previously stated, his audiologist is moving away, so we will be switching to an audiologist, Tommy, on our side of the river, which will be much more convenient.

As for the ENT appointment, Brian's ears look good and so does his throat. I asked Dr. Arjmand's nurse about speech and whether or not she had a good way to get him in faster. She said, "the squeaky wheel, gets the grease." Enough said. I can be that wheel. No problem.

I also asked Dr. Arjmand and he said to tell them I can come any day, any time. So, as we were leaving, I called the scheduling center and guess what?! We start speech THIS Tuesday at 8a.m. I am so excited to get started!! We will be seeing a speech therapist named Jessica on this side of the river! 8a.m. is a little earlier than I would like...I am hoping Brian can get up and moving and be ready to work by then. But it does work out well because I can get to work by 9:15 or so. Wish us luck!

Best Laid Plans

A week ago today we were busy getting ready for our flight to Chicago. We were supposed to leave at the crack of dawn to board a charter plane and were going to arrive by plane really, really early at Midway Airport. Thursday even President Obama landed in Chicago grounding our plane.

Thus, Friday morning we left by car for Indianapolis. We stayed in a hotel (with Hard Rock room service!!) and played at the Indy Children's Museum.






Then on Saturday we made our way to Chicago. Brian had fun playing with his big cousins (and all of their toys)! We got to visit with Patty and her beautiful family. And Brian even behaved during Palm Sunday Mass without his Smurfs! The trip home was easy and relatively quick, so overall a great weekend!

Hooray for The Third Trimester!

That's right, 27 weeks today!!!

Here are my last two belly shots.

24.5 Weeks

26.5 Weeks
And here is a random shadow shot! Love me a shadow shot!!


Just got back from Chicago. Will post about that adventure later this week. Please note, the President of the United States derailed our plans. Yep, we're that important.

A Baby Giraffe

We woke up excited today. The weather is holding strong in the mid 60s and today was the day we were finally going to get to see the baby giraffe at the zoo! It's a little over a week old and we have been waiting for a good opportunity to get over there and welcome that sweet little baby. Remember, little is relative. She is actually 6 feet tall and 125 pounds-yikes! Brian was very excited to see that I was even wearing my giraffe socks for the occasion.

We tried to see her first thing, but she was being shy, so we went to see...what else?...monkeys for awhile before we doubled back to Giraffe Ridge. She was worth the wait!! So, so cute! And, a lady was there taping for NPR and she recorded me telling Brian all about the new baby giraffe (with some prompting for her on what to add -ha ha!) So I might be on NPR sounding like a big dork. "Brian look at her spots, do you see her spots? Isn't she cute?!" Oh my...

Anyway, she is inside for now, so the pictures aren't the greatest, but she is still so, so cute!!

The new solar canopies over the parking lot. Too cool!

It is Zoo Blooms right now at the zoo-totally beautiful! Thanks to Shannon for
taking these great photos and me and (both!) kiddos!

The traditional Brian and a monkey shot. Gotta have one!

And the new baby!!!

Play Doh

I love play doh. It is the best invention. I especially love the party packs that are sold for right around $5. They contain 12 or more containers of the stuff in just the right amount for a 2 year old to be entertained, but not too much of a mess. Play doh is currently my go to item for dining out. It also happens to be what Brian is playing with right now, allowing me to type this post!

Here are some pictures of Brian with his play doh. It takes lots of concentration to play with this stuff!

Wow, What a Week!

Sunday started with me finally "catching" Brian's bug. I knew I had it all weekend. You don't get puked on twice and not get the bug. I was soooo sick. Shawn even took off work on Monday to take care of Brian since I couldn't.

So you know what happens next. Shawn got the bug on Monday night. And he was home sick Tuesday. Wednesday he worked from home.

Thursday we had another house showing. We both went to work and I took Ruben to Barb's house. Before I left he had peed three times. Once in a potted plant. Like he actually jumped into the plant, hiked his leg and peed on it. Now that's talent, folks.

Somewhere in this crazy week Brian flushed a Thomas train down the toilet. I swear we have had a huge discussion about this before. He even learned to say, "No choo-choos in the water" at a very young age. Apparently that didn't sink in. The train did sink though. Almost all the way to the pipes. Thankfully the plumber got it out before that happened. Apparently that would have involved cutting into pipes and possibly walls. Not the thing we need with the house for sale.

I guess this comes with potty training. We taught him to flush the damn thing, so now he has to practice, right?

Speaking of potty training...it's still going well. He woke up dry again today! We had a minor accident at school, but it was very small and he caught himself. Otherwise, no accidents today!

What's the Worst That Can Happen?

So, your house is for sale and you have a showing at 11a.m.

What's the worst thing that can happen?

We found out!

Your 2 year old pukes all over the couch.

OH MY GOSH!

Total panic mode! We tried our very best to recover and hopefully the house did not smell when they arrived. Our efforts involved lots of couch fabric clearer, febreeze, glade spray, hair dryers, fans, open windows, and burning candles.

Oh, and we were pulling out of the garage when they got here. Awesome!

Brian took a three hour nap yesterday and I thought he was better. Apparently not.

He seems completely unfazed by the complete chaos that went on here this morning. He had a cookie and a lolly after the puke.

Maybe the people who looked at the house enjoy the smell of puke??

On a happy note, Brian woke up dry today and has had zero accidents so far!

April Fool's-I Wish!

Brian got his April Fool's joke in early this morning. He woke me up to take him to the bathroom, where he did potty by the way! BUT as I was re-zipping his sleeper he puked buckets all over me. SO GLAD it was in the bathroom and not the bed. Talk about a rude awakening though!

We "slept" on the couch for the next three hours (read this: Brian slept, I was awake), so I am struggling today. Plus I am pretty sure he shared his pukey germs so I am waiting for that wonderfulness to begin!

My mommy is bringing me sprite and I am going to munch on crackers for a bit.

Brian on the other hand is feeling just fine. He is eating a cookie as I type.

Oh the joy!