April Recap

Hi! It's almost May. Whoa.

I'm going to guess that the thing people are most interested in is our job situation. So, here is the deal:

In spite of the somewhat misleading headline that you might have seen on Joe's Facebook page, he did not actually get his job back. Our dean, his department head, and my department head scrambled to cobble together enough work for us at the university to pay our bills and keep our health insurance. While I in no way want to diminish their efforts, for which we are incredibly grateful, it is not the same as if the decision to cut Joe's position had been reversed. We'll be working very hard for considerably less money and a large chunk of Joe's responsibilities are... well, we're not sure what will happen to them because apparently people are under the impression that magic elves are going to take over that work or something. All of this boils down to a few things: 1. We're very fortunate to have our immediate bosses who care enough to stretch budgets and shuffle schedules to give us a safety net for the next year. It's great to have some time to job hunt. 2. Joe is applying to positions left and right. If (when) he (or possibly me) is offered something full time and reasonable, he'll accept it and we'll be off to our next adventure. So, stay tuned. There are a few possibilities that may become reality over the next few months.

Other news in our household was, of course, Z starting at the elementary school. He's settling in well over there and I think Bear is enjoying his solo time with mama. It's definitely very different than when he was in Birth to 3. I miss the visits from his SLP and being able to constantly get her feedback, but the lead teacher at his class is great and I'm grateful that, for now, I can drop him off and pick him up so I can touch base with her on a regular basis. We've taken the plunge and gotten him a weighted compression vest for school because his last daycare felt like they got good results with it and his current teacher has agreed. Pricey! But, if it helps, then I want to give him every tool I can to help him succeed.

On that note, I want to give a shout-out to a college friend of mine, Catherine, who posted on her Facebook page about her son's Asperger's diagnosis and the importance of loving, supporting, and accepting your kids just as they are. Z's special needs are challenging sometimes, and I get really defensive about them because I don't want anyone underestimating him, judging him, or pitying him. He is smart as a whip and infinitely creative. So, yes, sometimes his differences can be difficult or discouraging, but he is only 3 and I am supremely confident that he is constantly becoming an even more amazing person.

Z and I are also enjoying going to our weekly swim class. It's great to have that one on one time with him and get to play with him. He loves the water so much! The teacher was very impressed by his confidence in the water and his steps toward learning to swim. I'm really glad we decided to do this together.

We've had some spates of illness over the last month, which has made things feel even crazier than they already had been feeling. Sometimes I wonder if we'll ever feel like we're having a normal month again. Maybe in like... ten years... maybe...

Little Bear is 11 Months!

Wow! I can't believe my baby will be one in just two short weeks (because I'm woefully behind on this post)




The GOOD!

Bear is getting more confident on his feet. He is a big time dancer. As soon as he hears a beat he likes, he starts bobbing along. He loves touch & feel books, which is great because I was afraid he was going to hate books forever! He is getting good at drinking from a cup and is repeating more words and sounds.

The BAD!

Hmm. Biting. He's started biting. Not maliciously but it still hurts.





The AWESOME!

Holy moley is he a cutie. I just can't even handle it sometimes. And I've loved being able to take him outside and seeing him discover the outdoors.

My Big Boy is Three!

I can't believe that my chubby little baby is such a big boy now. He's HUGE. Luckily, he's still very snuggly and I savor the time we snuggle in the rocking chair together.

When Z was turning two, people kept saying, "two is rough but three is WORSE," and they were all CORRECT. Z makes us crazy on a regular basis. He has very specific ideas of how the world should work and when it doesn't work that way... well. Life might as well end. Some days it feels like it will be a miracle if we make it until he turns four.

However. He is a sweet boy. He is loving, creative, and has an amazing imagination. He still loves books more than anything, loves music, loves playing in water, going down slides, singing, having us chase him, and swimming. He's tenacious and crazy. He has an infectious smile and a hilarious sense of humor. One of my favorite things of all time is when he lets loose and dances.

Anyone who has followed this blog knows all of the anxiety I have had about Z's development. Over these last six months while he's been in Birth to Three, he's made huge improvements and I'm so thankful for his SPL Laura and all that she did for us. Now, he has started school. School! We visited last week and it was shocking to me that I was going to leave my little boy at this big school!

Dear Z,

We love you so, so much. This has been a very big year for you with lots of huge adjustments. New brother, leaving daycare, going back to a new daycare, starting Birth to Three, leaving daycare again, and now starting school. I know sometimes all of the pushing we do with your language is frustrating, I know sometimes you wish you could send your brother back, and I know that sometimes all you want is to be able to change the Laws of Physics (they can be so annoying). Life can be tough for a little guy like you. However, watching you learn to cope, ask for help, and problem solve is amazing. You are so special and unique and I can't wait to see you grow more over this next year.

XOXOXO!
Mama

March Madness. Seriously.

Hi. Here is a quick update on our lives. 

The biggest thing was that due to further budget cuts to the College of Arts and Sciences, Joe's position was (foolishly) cut by the upper administration (who have no idea what they have done). We were completely shocked by this and are honestly still reeling a bit. I can't tell you what is coming next because we aren't sure yet. It's been very overwhelming and stressful. 

The silver lining has been seeing all of Joe's colleagues and students rallying around him. It's pretty amazing how much he has done, how many people he has impacted, in less than two years. I'm very proud of him and I know that any university or company will be lucky to have him. 

The other thing is that Z qualified for speech therapy in the River Falls school district. He will be able to go to the elementary school just up the road from us (3 minute walk) four mornings a week from 8:30 - 11 am. I think this will be great for him. He's made massive improvement with his SLP visiting one hour a week and, even though he does well with me, I think seeing the other kids, getting that much stimulation, and getting a little break from his adoring brother, will be a great learning opportunity for him. He's actually scoring within a normal range now for expressive language, but we still need to work on receptive language, which is going to include having his hearing retested. I do sometimes think that he can't hear well, though he is certainly not deaf. 

April is going to hold a lot for us. Our department heads are scrambling to try to keep Joe and I around and we will find out the results of their efforts within the next week. Joe is applying to positions like a machine and we might hear from those at any time. Z will start school on April 20, which will be a big change. He and I are also enrolled in a therapy swim class that starts in April, mostly for some mommy and Z time, but also because his SLP recommended it to me. My parents are coming for a visit and to help me while Joe is gone for four days at a conference, which I'm looking forward to (my parents, not Joe being gone).

I think that's it in a nutshell.