I think I am going to set this blog to private... I don't care who follows it or looks at it as long as we know you in some sort of way. Just don't always like the idea of a complete stranger coming across the blog and looking at our family pictures. For any of you that read this blog without joining go ahead and do that in case you come back one day and it is set to private.
Might start up a completely separate blog just for all things running and training, but just trying to come up with some ideas for names.
Any ideas on a fun name for the new blog?
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Monday, August 16, 2010
More summer driveway fun
We aren't huge basketball fans or anything, but the people we bought our house from put in a basketball hoop. Every once in a while we play with it and last month we discovered Duncan is a huge fan of basketball. Crazy dog! Who knew a 150 plus pound dog could jump that high.
Our Baby Jack
This blog isn't usually going to have much "serious" stuff on here. This is a place for pictures of our family and any fun things we do, but I do have a more serious topic before I start updating with all the fun stuff. I went back and forth for a while about if I even wanted to write about this. In the end, I figured I probably should so family and friends could keep baby Jack in their prayers. We really haven't talked about with this with too many people and we don't always remember who we have told.
Since the time Jack was 9 months old (he is about 19 months now) we have had to do evaluations every few months at a place called First Words. It shares an office with FSU's Autism Project. Both are wonderful programs through FSU's college of medicine and are highly recommended by local pediatricians. He had some speech and developmental delays from early on and at around 9 months, we were referred there by his pediatrician. Nothing horrible, but just behind. That was a huge change for us, because Logan was the opposite. He was advanced at everything. It is amazing how two little boys, that are only 15 months apart, can be SO different.
Before an evaluation, I have to fill out pages of questions about how he communicates and socializes. Then at the actual appointment a clinician interacts with him and also watches him play. They have all kinds of things they are looking for. They video tape it all, so they can go back and watch it in detail before giving us a lengthy typed out response. He has not done so well at the evaluations. Our main concern was speech, but recently he started using more words. We were very hopeful at our last appointment that we were going to be done with the whole process. Unfortunately, they called me back later that week and said they want to start the process of screening him for Autism. He is showing some red flags that worry them. I could go in detail and tell you some of the weird things he does or some of the really normal things he does too. Some days me and James will just look at each other and say, this child has to have some sort of problem. Other days, he seems pretty normal... fussier than he should be, but normal. It's just all a little bit up in the air right now, we don't really know if we agree or not. We are just going to trust their opinion and start with the next round of appointments. If there is a problem, it is in our best interest to catch it as early as possible.
So that's where we are... this morning I started scheduling all of our different appointments for middle of September. Honestly, we aren't really worried. We are just more anxious and just want to know, so we can move on. We know he will be fine either way and we can deal with it. He is a healthy little boy and we are thankful for that. Hopefully this is all precautionary and everything turns out fine, but you really never know. We love our little Jack and know lots of other people that do too!
Since the time Jack was 9 months old (he is about 19 months now) we have had to do evaluations every few months at a place called First Words. It shares an office with FSU's Autism Project. Both are wonderful programs through FSU's college of medicine and are highly recommended by local pediatricians. He had some speech and developmental delays from early on and at around 9 months, we were referred there by his pediatrician. Nothing horrible, but just behind. That was a huge change for us, because Logan was the opposite. He was advanced at everything. It is amazing how two little boys, that are only 15 months apart, can be SO different.
Before an evaluation, I have to fill out pages of questions about how he communicates and socializes. Then at the actual appointment a clinician interacts with him and also watches him play. They have all kinds of things they are looking for. They video tape it all, so they can go back and watch it in detail before giving us a lengthy typed out response. He has not done so well at the evaluations. Our main concern was speech, but recently he started using more words. We were very hopeful at our last appointment that we were going to be done with the whole process. Unfortunately, they called me back later that week and said they want to start the process of screening him for Autism. He is showing some red flags that worry them. I could go in detail and tell you some of the weird things he does or some of the really normal things he does too. Some days me and James will just look at each other and say, this child has to have some sort of problem. Other days, he seems pretty normal... fussier than he should be, but normal. It's just all a little bit up in the air right now, we don't really know if we agree or not. We are just going to trust their opinion and start with the next round of appointments. If there is a problem, it is in our best interest to catch it as early as possible.
So that's where we are... this morning I started scheduling all of our different appointments for middle of September. Honestly, we aren't really worried. We are just more anxious and just want to know, so we can move on. We know he will be fine either way and we can deal with it. He is a healthy little boy and we are thankful for that. Hopefully this is all precautionary and everything turns out fine, but you really never know. We love our little Jack and know lots of other people that do too!
Monday, August 2, 2010
BAD BAD blogger!
Sorry, I have disappeared for the last few weeks on here! We have just been very busy with life! Everyone is pretty good here... we have just been going from one thing to the next with the kids, work and activities. I will work on updates with pictures and stories over the next few days! :)
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Our New Addition!
My cousin Jessica breeds dogs. She lives up near Thomasville, Georgia on her family's farm. It started out with just Labradoodles, but recently she just had her first litter of Goldendoodles. I know it sounds very funny mixing a Labrador or Golden Retriever with a poodle. I have never been a poodle person and neither was James, so we never imagined wanting one of these dogs. We both fell in love with her recent litter, especially after doing research on the breed and what type of personality results from these dogs. They are really a wonderful mix and are a great pet. I had a Golden Retriever for a long time and she was one of the best dogs ever, until she got a little crazy in older age. We really missed having a dog that could swim or run with us. Duncan is a wonderful companion, but not much of a swimmer or runner! (we have tried both) We had no plans of getting one of her dogs right now, especially since they were sold way in advance. I told my cousin that we wanted to get one in a couple years, when she did another litter. She called me about 3 weeks ago to let me know someone had changed their mind and she had a little girl puppy that needed a home. We drove an hour away to visit her 3 different times. After the 3rd visit, she came home with us! So here is our new baby girl, Lilly!
She is a Golden Retriever and Standard Poodle mix. We can't say for sure what she will look like when she is older, but she will be pretty tall, have shaggy golden hair and shouldn't shed very much at all. She is already a cutie! Our only concern was how she would get along with Duncan, but they are great friends already! She is doing great with the kids and has been a wonderful, easy addition to our family. The only problem she has is with water. She will not stay out of it! Any water or mud she finds, she is in it! I don't really mind her getting wet, but she often comes back to the door all muddy! I am very happy to have another girl in the house and I can't wait until she is a little bigger and can go on some of my runs with me.
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Clearwater Trip - Father's Day Weekend 2010 - Part 2
The only activity we really did on our trip to Clearwater (besides visiting with both of our immediate families) was going out for a boat ride and a then a quick swim in the pool. We even got to stop for lunch at the yacht club. It was Jack's first boat ride and he enjoyed it! Logan enjoyed it also, but it is definitely a lot of work to take 2 kids their age out on a boat! They looked so cute all suited up in their life jackets! Too many cute pictures, so there are quite a few! :)
Friday, July 2, 2010
Clearwater Trip - Father's Day Weekend 2010 - Part 1
A couple of weeks ago we traveled down to Clearwater for Father's Day. It was one of the fastest trips ever, but we got to spend time with family and it was really good to see everyone! We got to visit with James' parents, his brother Bryan and nephew Tyler. We also spent time with my Dad, stepmom Lisa, brother Sam and sister Irina. Below are a bunch of family pictures we took!
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