Kids

The kids are alright. Everything that is going on has been affecting each of them differently. Avery and Sydney are affected emotionally because they see my Mom be sick and they are scared, like the rest of us. Colby and Rusty can sense what's happening but aren't really phased by any of it. Of course Shelby has no clue. Avery and Sydney are in counseling though. I wanted to give them an outlet to talk to someone that doesn't have any emotional ties to everything. It's been going really well.

On a positive note Avery has been playing football, basketball, he's in cub scouts, and he plays the drums in band. He got his report card a couple weeks ago and it was terrific. He has some really good friends and he's really enjoying school this year. He has a great teacher that really motivates him. He still has chronic hearing problems and it seems like he may have epilepsy. His neurologist has been running a lot of tests to figure it all out. Overall he's doing well.

Sydney is taking dance every day, she started volly ball in September and has been doing well. She is still in girl scouts and she auditioned for a musical and made it so she'll be performing at the state fair with her dance school and then in the Snow Queen at Herberger theater. She is also doing well in school and has a wonderful teacher. Recently she contracted a virus in her stomach and that caused her some problems but it looks like everything is clearing up finally.

Colby is doing great. He just finished his first season of basketball. He loves kindergarten and his teacher. We are now going through the process of figuring out how his apraxia effects his learning. He has been struggling academically and his teacher is working really hard with the IT team to figure out the best ways to teach him. We focused for so long on his speech that we didn't focus on his learning as much. I think he processes everything great it's just getting it back out is where the trouble is. He is doing really well though and he try's very hard. He has a lot of friends which is wonderful because we always worried about him socially but he's doing well. He is amazing.

Rusty, Rusty, Rusty...he's doing great. It was a good decision to put him in preschool because he is thriving. He has friends, he's challenged, and his behavior is improving all the time. The kid is just non stop energy. He is always climbing, or running, or jumping everywhere. He only has two speeds, run and sprint. He played basketball with Colby but it wasn't his favorite thing. He just likes to run and then wrestle for the ball. He is the biggest love bug who has a temper.

Shelby is doing great. She says Mama. She crawls at lightning speed everywhere. She gets all over the house. She always wants to stand and tries to stand on her own all the time. She gabs a lot and she is really developing her princess role in the family. She can play the water works like no ones business. I will go running to her thinking she's hurt and as soon as I pick her up she stops. She has her siblings wrapped around her finger, especially Colby.

Overall everyone is doing well. There's always a lot going on but we're making it work.