The first update of 2012

Well the boys are getting big, as you can imagine. Logan just turned 3 and Gabriel coming up on 16 months.

Logan is very hyper and active child that very much enjoys throwing, kicking, punching and wrestling around. I think with this I would like to him into some kind of team sport or martial arts classes to help him focus his energy, and help him learn to control his need for wanting to do those kinds of physical motions.
As for his other interests he likes his cars and really loves his action figures he has collected over Christmas and his birthday. They are mostly super heroes. He especially LOVES the one that my friend Cindy Farden and her two Kids got him which is a talking one that came with a "web", which clings to smooth surfaces and 2 pieces that shoot out of his palm that look like little plastic webs.
Logan is the Daddies boy of the two will just curl up to him at just about any second and refuses to ask me for anything unless Dad is away even if Dad is busy.

Now Gabriel on the other hand he is more on the calm side, likes mild jumping and spinning in circles. LOVES to talk on the phone too.
He is the Momma's boy, will cuddle with Momma just about anytime Mom wants, Unless of course he is in a super excited mood then he just laughs and giggles and wants you to chase him. He loves making ppl proud of him by doing such things as getting his own clean diaper aka the Butt change and will take his diaper to the garbage as he tries to say it. Ends up sounding more like garba or gar.
As of right now Gabriel says ( what I can remember anyway):
The word How he says it
*Garbage *Garba or Gar
*Butt change * Buttcha
*Cup *Cuh
*Mine *My ne
and his all time favorite
*Bath *Ba

So far Gabriel has 3 top front teeth 2 top molars coming in and 2 bottom front teeth


Well that is it for now, plus I need to make dinner hope to update you guys more a little later this week.

The 22nd of June Calleigh PT

So on the 22nd I was able to go with to Calleigh's Physical Therapy ( PT) appointment. I wanted to see what all they do and how they help Calleigh get to where she is now. So Kim graciously let me join in. I used her phone to take some photos of what I saw at this therapy session. The strap around her waist ( shown in below photo) helps to keep her legs from going out to the side which helps her to stay up on her knees better. In this photo they are using her juice to get her to crawl to.

Her therapy sessions last an hour. And in the hour the therapist does different things, to help Calleigh with muscle tone stability. And even to hold herself in moving objects. I did not get a photo of that but it was neat. To me looked like fun. but Calleigh wasn't so sure.Below you can see the strap I was talking about better from the front. Here Miss Kate ( her therapist) and Kim ( her mother) are trying to get her to stand up. Well as you can see on her face she is not happy about that.


As you can see they finally got Calleigh to stand. It took some time but with a little coaxing from mom with a sippy filled with juice, she finally did it.

Calleigh is just about 3 1/2 months younger then Logan. Making her just over 14 months to his almost 18 month. Because of what is called Prader-Willi- syndrome, she has poor muscle tone and has worked hard and on special formula to get to the weight that she is now. Her therapy sessions help to get her using these muscles and to get her up to where she needs to be age wise for her physically. In the whole time I have known Calleigh she has been a surprising little girl. And Wows me every time I get to see her.

This is my Niece Calleigh and she has Prader willi Syndrome.
Maybe sometime soon I'll get to go for another Therapy session. Its really neat how they work with her and some of the other things ( not pictured) are used for things that we take for granite with our bodies. That this little one works hard to accomplish. I love you My little princess niece Keep up the awesome work.

Love your Aunt Stephanie

So today's 24 week photo shoot went much better. Thank you Kimberly for doing another set. I wore all black and it helped alot. we didnt get any newer belly shots but Im sure more will be to come. I have set myself up as a guinne pig sorta speak for My sister in law to practice her maternity shoots on. Since she is just starting out and getting her portfolio started.

Today we were supposed to go and get the supplies for that so that I could get started on it. I have a time limit for the 15th to get it done. I am excited to do it for her though. It will be fun. I actually wasn't expecting her to even ask me for that. I have actually been excited at times that I think im being a pest. But hey when you have a time limit you need supplies ASAP.

Well here is a sneak peak at what we got today for our photo shoot with Kimberly. More are to come the end of the month that will have daddy and brother involved and daddy son pics. Cant wait for those.Our Portfolio hunting trip was postponed till tomorrow cause we had a late start today and so it was one or the other. I really wanted a re-shoot for my 24 week shots cause of how washed out I was looking. I also figured that this would give Kim that little extra to choose from for her Portraits to print for her portfolio. So tomorrow morning ( now this morning) we will drop off the photos to be printed in a package then go hunting for supplies. Then on the way home we can pick them up. Then I will start on it tomorrow night.

I guess I am excited to do this cause with me being family and her using her time for the photo shoots and editing. I am able to thank her by doing a good job on a portfolio that will help her gain Paying clientele. I also offer her my hairstyling services at no cost for same reasons she does her photography for me. Family ties.

Well I really have to go I have laundry to get done dishes to do and a table to clear off for my project that is to start tomorrow after work.

So today ( yesterday morning) I had my 24 wk photo shoot with my photographer/ sister-in- law Kim. We have some good pictures although I don't care for how my shirt made me look washed out.
this does not have anything to do with her photography just my lack of thinking lol. Well here is a sneak peak. A newer hopefully better shoot to come tomorrow.

Logan's First time with Water-wings

Today, my sister Amber came out from Peoria for a visit and we decided to go down to the pool for a swim. I have tried Logan in the full ring floaties with no luck, just kicks, screams, and him just flat out wanting to climb out of it. So today, also being his 17 month bday, I decided to take his water-wings that we had gotten from Tonna's ( My adopted mom) neighbor down to the pool with us and try those on him to see how he liked them.

At first he was fine putting them on, then he realized what was happening so I then ended up having to have Amber help me get them on him. I had to have her hold his arms out like a t shape so that I could blow them up. I did the back side she did the front.
Once they were on it was just getting him into and used to the water. And he was not having that at all, there for a while.

Chris, my soon to be brother in law, took him for a few so that I could get used to the water. At first Logan was uneasy about me letting go of him. Then he saw and wanted to get to the wall and was fine. The best part was when a set of cute 2year old twins came to the pool, Logan totally didnt even realize no one was holding him and was set on them and getting to Mommy.

Below is what should be a movie, first time I've uploaded to blogspot from Picasa 3 so not sure if it will come out as a video or not but i hope so. If not its still a great pic of him by himself

The Home-front

Things on the home-front have been smooth sailing for a couple weeks. Its been such a nice break from all the DRAMA that was headed our way constantly. I don't feel so tired like I was when we had all the DRAMA. Most likely cause drama causes stress and stress causes sleepless nights and just plain makes ya tired even with sleep.
Logan is back to his own room and after a couple nights of little hassle he now know it as his play area and his safe haven for rest. He even stays quiet sometimes just so we let him be in there after his naps. He lets us know when he is ready for us to get him.
Him back in his own room only means one thing. Were back in our own room too. And have been sleeping like babies since we got it back. Which is probably another good reason why I'm not as exhausted even if only going on a few hours of sleep.
Back to Logan. We now have all 4 of his K-9 teeth in view. So the worst of the teething seems to be done for now. Now we just wait for them to finish coming down / up. After that we should be done teething for a few months to a year unless he gets his 2 year molars early.


As for our apartment, things are going better. Laundry is much easier to keep up on and get put away. Cause I don't have to worry about getting it all put away while Logan is awake. I can get it done and folded and depending on if he is asleep or not depends on if his clothes are put away first or last. If he is asleep I can get the majority of the laundry folded and put away then all I have to worry about is Logan's which isn't very much and doesn't take that long.

With the good changes in when chores are done I have more time to spend with my family. Cause I can get chores done while Logan is asleep and have the time that he is awake to play and spend time with him and Jeremy. Which always makes for a happier Mommy/Wifey

Gabriel and I have our Dr appt. on Tuesday morning at 10 am. I can never wait to hear his heart beat. Its soo exciting every time I hear it. I get my monthly weigh in and every thing is checked out. I cannot remember when it is that I start going bi weekly to the appts but with less then 4 months left I know its going to be soon. Luckily I have a day off that I always have off so that I dont have to guess as to when I can get in for my appts.
In 4 weeks I go in for my Rhogam shot. For those that dont know what that is... I have what is called -RH blood factor and It basically makes it where my body will attack the baby. This is were the Rhogam shot comes in. It basically tells my body that its OK not to be alarmed. I get this shot 2x once at 28 weeks then again after the baby's birth.


For a better explanation go to this site It will tell you what you would like to know,

http://www.drspock.com/article/0,1510,4429,00.html

Well as for now I am off its late and my boys will have me up early LUKILY tomorrow is MY FRIDAY!!!!

sometimes goodbye is a second chance

What I feel about not necessarily my parents like it says in the song and not even about certain in-laws. This is geared towards all the DRAMA that shouldn't have even been started. f

My eyes are open wide
And by the way, I made it
Through the day
I watched the world outside
By the way, I'm leaving out Today

I just saw Hayley's comet,
shoo-ting
Said ,"Why you always running in place?
Even the man in the moon disappeared
Somewhere in the stratosphere"


[Chorus]
Tell my mother,
Tell my father
I've done the best I can
To make them realize
This is my life
I hope they understand
I'm not angry, I'm just saying...
Sometimes goodbye
Is a second chance

Please don't cry
One tear for me
I'm not afraid of
What I have to say
This is my one and
Only voice
So listen close, it's
Only for today

I just saw Hayley's comet, shoo-ting
Said ,"Why you always running in place?
Even the man in the moon disappeared
Somewhere in the stratosphere"


[Chorus]
Tell my mother,
Tell my father
I've done the best I can
To make them realize
This is my life
I hope they understand
I'm not angry, I'm just saying...
Sometimes goodbye
Is a second chance

Heres my chance
This is my chance

Tell my mother,
Tell my father
I've done the best I can
To make them realize
This is my life
I hope they understand
I'm not angry, I'm just saying...
Sometimes goodbye
Is a second chance

Sometimes goodbye
Is a second chance [x2]

Second Chance by shinedown