A few more Christmas Pictures

Christmas Morning, Merry Christmas!

Christmas Cookies

Well, it's Christmas Eve and us elves are busy making Christmas cookies so that Santa will have a snack before he goes onto the next house. Elves Emma and Evan had a great time.

Emma's Furry Foot Rest

This is Bernie and Emma enjoying the fire. He is an ornary old dog and I was so surprised that he would allow her to do that. He loves her though.

Winter Wonderland

Here are a few pictures of the winter wonderland that has been sent our way. At least we know we will have a white Christmas. And yes, Evan's face is frozen in that pose. Smile.

The kids were out with the neighbors while daddy shoveled.

Clothes I Have Made In My Spare Time

I have a friend who buys all of these really cute embelished outfits for her girls. They often cost upward of $80.00 an outfit depending on the style. SO, I thought why I can't I do that in my spare time. Well, the top outfit I created for Emma to me weeks because I only had a few minutes a week to work on it. The second outfit I made as a gift and it actually only took about an hour or so. Let me know what you think? I am wondering if I started trying to sell then I might be able to afford more therapies for Evan.

Music Therapy

Evan continues to make significant progress with Maude, our music therapist. He just loves music and her. She says that he just makes her week with all that he does at each session. He is now humming a kazoo and trying to figure out how to blow a whistle (we are quite a way from that one but will keep trying). Maude is even teaching him how to properly strum a guitar. How I wish we could afford to take him to see her twice a week.

New sign that Evan tries to say the word as he is signing.

Cookie, Good, Guitar, Ball, 1,2,3, Go, Vroom, Bounce and Jump. I am sure that there are more that I am forgetting but I think you are getting the picture that this is the therapy that is helping Evan to progress.

Oh Listing Tree, O Christmas Tree

Well, a picture is worth a thousand words. As every busy mom knows we try to get a thousand and one things done each day. Well, today was the day to decorate the Christmas tree that my husband so lovingly put up for us over a week ago. With everything else going on this was the first day we had a chance to do it. I am so afraid that it will fall into the window that I had to stop about 3/4 of the way done to await some adjustment from Doug. Hopefully the whole tree won't tip over and break the ornaments.

This was such an icky day for driving and a beautiful day for looking out the window from inside. The snow has been falling fast here since about 2pm and it's just beautiful.

Emma's Sassy New Doo

All about Emma's Sassy new doo. She wanted to have an entry just about her. This is Emma's new haircut that she has has for two weeks. It is an exact copy of her friend Sara and it is just so cute on her. I love it!

Evan's Accomplishments this week

Evan is my special boy that has been struggling with everything from speech, social interaction and age appropriate behaviors. Well, in the last month, after starting music therapy with Maude Dammonn, a God send in our lives, Evan has made some huge progress in the last week.

Evan has increasingly been seeking me and Emma out for attention and interaction. He loves playing with Emma, loves music and mostly making noise.

Evan now has a good list of meaningful signs that have really only been using consistantly in the last few weeks:

• more


• eat


• milk


• help


• open


• music


• thank you


• please


• play


• all done


• go


• he waves "hello" backwards like a baby

The best part about these signs is that he tries to say them as he signs them. I am so proud of him and his progress. It is truly something to be thankful for. This Wednesday we go back to Shiner's Hospital because our pedetrician thinks that Evan's palate repair has ripped. I will let you know.

I was told people are interested to hear.....

Well, I was told that people are intersted to hear how we are doing so took the advise and started this blog. Today is the day after Thanksgiving and we spent the whole day at home working (Sue), working (Doug actually had to go to work) and playing (Emma and Evan).