A Turning Point.....

Well, we are still in the process of getting an appointment with the Child Study Center to have Gracie evaluated for ADD. I'm not 100% sure this is something she has but I want to make sure I stay on top of things so that she gets all the appropriate help she needs. However, with her 4th birthday only a month away we have been seeing some very positive and encouraging changes in her and I thought I'd share them.
I've decided to start having her say her own bedtime prayers at night and here's how it went the first night. "God.....God.......God......God.......God......God........God......." I'm grinning from ear to ear at this point." God......God.....God....A-nen!" So sweet! A few nights later we were into a routine...I thought. I knelt by her bed while she sat up in it and said "God" multiple times. But instead, she got out of her bed and knelt by the bed next to me and folded her hands - so I asked her to say "Thank you for mommy and daddy" and she did. Then we started going down the list of loved ones - she even remembered one of her friends then proudly said "A-nen!" That was one of those moments I was sure to soak up because I don't ever want to forget it.
Another new thing that Gracie has been doing is getting herself out of the bath tub. One night she was in there alone while I scurried around the house getting some stuff done and I walked by the bathroom and saw Gracie, dripping wet, trying to reach a towel. My first reaction was to get mad at her for soaking up the bathroom floor until I looked at the tub and saw she had taken the time to put her toys all up and drain the water. That's when I realized she was just trying to take care of herself. Again, I was a proud Mama! She's been doing this every night since.
Speaking of attention.....at our preschool we had the Fire Department come to visit and the whole school assembled in the courtyard for them to give a presentation before each class got a turn to go see the Fire Truck. I looked around the room for Gracie because I was sure she was playing or talking but I couldn't find her. I asked my friend Courtney if she saw her and she pointed her out to me....she was listening. I know that doesn't seem like a big deal to most but for Gracie - that is huge. She was so interested and aware of what was going on. I almost cried.
Saturday Matt played in an ALL DAY LONG softball tournament. My friend's husband was playing also and so she came to hang out and watch the games with her little girl Ava who is about a year or so younger than Gracie. Those girls played together all day. Up until now Gracie hasn't really played with other children real well. She would play amongst others but not cooperatively with them. But she was sharing and they were running in the grass together and "talking" to each other. It was such a blessing for me to see. I had, just a day or two before, said I was looking forward to when Gracie would be able to better interact with kids her age. I think having Zade around and going to preschool where there are a gillion kids her age is helping in the social aspect of things. When it was time to leave the girls hugged, kissed and told each other that they loved each other. I almost teared up...again! On the way to the car Gracie said "I want A.D" (translation: Ava). I'm so glad she's starting to see what it feels like to have friends.
All in all, we're starting to see some real encouraging changes in Gracie and we couldn't be happier about it. I'm so thankful for all that we've gone through with Gracie. We've learned a very valuable lesson through it all and that's to "Be still and know" that He is God. He doesn't expect me to fix these problems...that's why he's God!

Pics of the kiddos!

Gracie lookin' cute in her dad's hat!

Zade wearing his hat - gettin' ready to go to Daddy's baseball tournament!

Gracie and her friend Ava - (a.k.a - "A.D") playing in the grass at the ball field.

Gracie looooooves her daddy!

Batman!

Oh! That face!

Lovely bed time hair!

Climbing all over Daddy is fun!

My little reader!

Havin' a little snack and watching cartoons after school!

Stackin' cans while playing grocery store!

They're starting to play together! It's so cute to me!

There's only a few fights - which I'm sure is inevitable!

Zade is rotten and here's the proof!

He seems so proud of himself!
Ooops! Busted!
Gracie just got out of the bath and Zade decided to get in. And yes, there's still a little water in the tub!

Everyone is always telling me how good Zade is and never believes me when I tell them what a stinker he really is. So here's proof!

Gracie's doctor appointment.....

Gracie's doctor appointment with the psychiatrist was today. She was there to be evaluated for ADD. I'm not real happy about it and still milling it all over in my head so I won't go into much detail. My main frustration is he didn't evaluate her at all. He asked Matt and I a few questions, tried to ask Gracie a few and then after only about 10 minutes said she's a normal 3yr. old. If this is actually the case - then great! But - he has no clue what Gracie is like since he did nothing with her to see how she functions. So - that being said - there is another place that I've heard lots of good things about that specialize in children's needs that I will probably try.
Ok, it's been long day and the kids are EXTREMELY grouchy and so am I so - I'm out for now. I'll have pics later this weekend of our church family retreat.

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the thoughts I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

Today could have been a really crumby day. To start off, my co-teacher wasn't able to come to school today since her little boy was sick. I hate being by myself - for one, Courtney and I like to have fun and be goofy - so if she's not there - there goes all my fun. We keep each other sane despite a classroom of 19 4yr.olds (no offense, kids!) But the day turned out pretty good. The kids behaved really well. Those who nomally have a hard time leaving their folks had great days and my sub was very helpful. But then just as it's time to go home it starts pouring down buckets outside! "Oh, great!", I'm thinking. I have to carry Zade (cause we ain't waitin' around on him to walk when it's raining cats and dogs!), my purse, my lunch, my school bag, and Zade's backpack and hang on to Gracie to make sure she stays focused on our end destination. By the time we got to the truck we were all completely drenched and I still had to get both kids piled into the truck and buckled in while still getting rained on. But - I thought - oh well, so I look and smell like a wet dog - who cares! Once we got home and into dry clothes, we had a really nice dinner w/Matt. He helped me clean up the kitchen as he usually does and then he made sure I did my workout. The kids played nicely in their room and neither of them hurt the other while I was busy doing it. After Matt left for work I gave the kids baths and then they just both crashed and fell right to sleep. All on their own - an hour early! So - I took a bubble bath and read my book. Now, I just got done reading my Bible and came across the verse above. I love it when the Lord speaks right to me and my needs at the time. I spend so much time worrying and wondering why and how this are going to work out - and here God is telling me He has a plan! It's funny, too, because when the kids at school ask me where are we going or what are we going to do now I tell them to sit back and ride. Gee, do you think God is making me eat my words? He takes care of so well, even in the little things. I'm so thankful for my relationship with Him. I'm learning to slow down and make time for myself, not for my sake only but for Matt's sake and Gracie and Zade's sake. They deserve a wife and mother who takes care of herself and is mentally and physically intact. It's a lesson that has been hard to learn but - well worth it. Well, off to read and relax some more! Night, night!

What a busy weekend!

Zade crashing with Uncle Ashley!
Gracie devouring a cupcake at Ramsey's birthday party!

This is a busy month for us - especially this past weekend. On Friday, Matt and I celebrated our 10th anniversary a week early. The kids went to spend the night with my sister and brother- in- law and Matt and I stayed at the Worthington in downtown Fort Worth. It was nice to get away and just relax. Saturday morning we got up, ate breakfast, and headed back out to my sisters where we watched the Texas/OU game with the rest of my family. After leaving there we headed back to our side of town to our friends' house for a BBQ for their son's 1st b-day! We had a great time kicking back and visiting while all the kids played. By the time we got home the kids were completely exhausted! Sunday we had church in the morning then a much needed nap for everyone - me included! Then Gracie and I headed to another bday party at Chuck E Cheese, then back to church! Thank goodness Gracie doesn't have school today so we can chill out! This coming weekend will be busy all over again. It never stops and I actually like it that way.


Gracie has her appointment with a child psychologist on Thursday. They will be evaluating her for ADD. Her PPCD teacher is also having her evaluated by the Occupational Therapist (OT) to see if she needs occupational therapy. It seems sometimes as if Gracie is not aware of her body and might need help reinforcing her joints. I'm so thankful that Gracie is getting the help that she needs - early! God has richly blessed us with all of these resources! Last night after taking her bath Gracie put her underwear on all by herself! This may sound like a small accomplishment to you but if you could've seen the huge smile on her face you would know how proud she was of herself! I love to see her proud of her accomplishments. I'm always proud of her but I want her to be proud of herself.

I also want to thank everyone for their comments and emails of concern and interest in my blogs about Gracie. I hope you all know I in no way am looking for sympathy or attention. I am proud of who Gracie is and wouldn't change our life for anything. My point in telling people is so that she knows I'm not ashamed of who she is - neither the good nor the bad. So many times in life we tend to sweep things under the rug to help our image that we're trying to create. But my motto in life these days is, "It is what it is"..so why try to pretend its something else.

Anyways, here's some pics of our busy weekend. Y'all have a great week! Happy Columbus Day!

Gracie's fieldtrip .....

Gracie- totally bored out of her mind!
At the duck pond!
Digging for worms!
"Fancy Chickens!"

"Wee" -ing!

On Wednesday Gracie went on a field trip with her school. Man, what a day that was. The whole trip was a disaster just waiting to happen. To start the trip off there was a mix - up with the buses. After that was finally resolved we stopped off at Johnson Park to play and have lunch! Then we were off to an "apple orchard". Once there - it was determined that there was a mix up in a money issue (long story). The kids seeemed to have had a good time. The presentations were a little long and somewhat over their heads - but all in all - I think they liked it!

Gracie is sick

It's so sad to see your kids sick. Gracie woke up Sunday morning with a cough that sounds like a dog barking. So I took her in to the doc this morning and it turn out she has strep throat. She's so exhausted from not being able to rest well. Zade so far is okay - just a runny nose. I'm having real bad allergies. We're all just so tuckered out!

"Haaaapy Bir, bir!" to Matt!

Yesterday was Matt's 31st birthday! He's such an old man, now! Unlike myself! :) He got off early the evening before so he was able to wake up early and pick Gracie up from school as he does every other Thursday and they have "Daddy Day". So he was glad to spend his b-day with his baby girl. They had lunch at chick -fil - a and went shopping at Sports Authority. When Zade and I made it home from preschool I went to TACO CASA (his fav) to get him some dinner. Then he had to go to his off-duty job. So, while he was gone the kids and I went to the store to get him a birthday cake. Now usually I make him a homemade cake but when I mentioned it a few weeks ago he said he didn't want one. But while eating dinner he asked where his cake was and had no recollection of ever saying he didn't want one. So, the kids and I got him a store-bought cake and candles and had it ready for him when he got home. Even though it was store-bought - it was yummy. And - the kids LOVED it. On Saturday I will be taking Matt out on a date for his birthday. But all in all I think he had a good day.....I hope.