VBS After Party

Last week was Vacation Bible School at our church. Chandler, bring the big 5 year old, was finally old enough to go without me working it! Friday night was Family Night. They had a big water slide and two bounce houses.

Chandler waiting in line for the water slide
Chandler at the top... that guy would pick the kids up above his head and rocket (more like throw) them down the slide! I was a bit frightened seeing him to that to my sweet Chan Chan! That's Chan careening down!
Poor little Heathie was too short to go down the slide... Here he is watching Bubba and the other kids slide time and time again.
Because he was standing there with such a sad face, one of the guys said, "Do you want to just get in the water for a minute?" Heath said yes so I lifted in over into the little pool and the guy splashed him a few times. As soon as he got in, he started to cry! I got him out and asked him what was wrong. He said, "I no want to get wet...!?!"

So, we took off his wet shirt and went to bounce in the bounce houses!
Crazy jumpin' boy!
Actually caught a close up through the mesh...

Chandler never came to jump in the bounce house. He spend the whole hour sliding down the water slide, waiting in line and doing it again and again and again! He teamed up with his friend from school, Hayden, and they slide together. Hayden's mom was sweet enough to keep an eye on Chan for me so I could take Heath to the bounce houses.

We had a great time! Chan loved VBS! He felt SOOO big being able to go to church by himself and stay out SOOO late (9:30). My friend, Marianne, brought him home each night since the other three kiddos were already asleep for the night.

Twin's first popsicles

The boys eat Popsicles all the time but this is the first day that I've given the twins one. Dylan did great with it! He held onto it and sucked on it. Hanna did ok but she kept turning it upside down.

Babies loving their Popsicles!

All four eating their Popsicles

Another therapy appointment

Dylan's therapy appointment yesterday went very well. His OT, Amy, brought this exercise ball for Dylan to bounce on. She is trying to get him comfortable with playing on something that his feet do not touch the floor. He didn't quiet like it at first but then after Hanna tried it a few times, he really liked it. Also Amy brought a vibration toy for him. It's the green thing in his hand. It has a soft plastic gator at the top that he can put in his mouth - which of course, he does not. It continually vibrates to hopefully lessen his sensitivity to light touch. It actually seems to calm him down. He was upset when Amy got here for his therapy and as you can see in this picture, he enjoyed bouncing on the ball and LOVES the vibrating gator!! It's so awesome because each week she brings something new for Dylan to try and we get to keep the things she brings!!

Get the camera quick!

After lunch, the kids were being crazy for Ms. Joy so I told them they needed to sit down and watch a movie. I turned on "Prince of Egypt" and told them to sit down and be quite. I gave each boy and baby to be in charge of... :)

Chandler and Dylan

Heath and Hanna - You know I couldn't put Heath and Dylan together! Heath likes to hold Dylan down just to hear him yell. So, just as quick as I grabbed the camera and took the picture, the whole "sit down and watch a movie" was over! Both babies started crawling around on the boys and the quite time was over... even though it only lasted 30 seconds! :) It made for cute pictures anyway... it was a good try!

Chandler and Heath well checkup

Today was the boy's 5 & 3 year old checkups. Neither of them had to have any shots!!! They were both very excited and of course I was relieved!! Chandler is 40 3/4 pounds (50%) and 42 inches tall (35%). He has 20/25 vision and his hearing is perfect. Dr. Stone said that his hearing and vision are both above normal for his age. Heath is 31 pounds (40%) and 36 1/2 inches tall (25%). His eye sight is great too. His hearing test came back with a low score on his left ear but she checked it and said he has some wax build-up that might be causing a false reading. She was not concerned about it. I also asked her to do a urine test on him because he goes to the potty about every 30 minutes - 1 hour. That test came back great too so she said he is probably too busy to empty his bladder completely so he goes more often. So, both boys are happy, healthy, good boys!

Dylan's first therapy appointment

Today was Dylan's first official Occupational Therapy appointment. His OT's name is Amy. She comes to our house once per week to work with Dylan and show me things to help him with his gross/fine motor skills and Independence, along with other things. Today she brought three things for me to work with him with. First we played in a plastic bin of uncooked beans and noodles. This helps him with touch. He was fine to stick his hands in and play with toys in the noodles/beans but he DID NOT like his feet in! He pulled them out as quickly as I put them in! Second, she brought him something called his "fidget toy". It is a blue tube that bends, pulls apart and goes together (it reminds me of the bendy part of a straw). She said it is better than just a regular ol' toy for times when he really needs some distraction (e.i. the car, stressful, overwhelming situations, etc.) The third thing she gave me is two pressure brushes. They are very soft bristle brushes that are used to give Dylan pressure massages. I am to give him one every 2-4 hours (or as often as I can). She said that the reason for this is to apply firm pressure to his arms, legs and back to help him relax. A child with Sensory Integration Disorder responds positively to firm pressure rather than soft, smooth touch. The massaging helps his nervous system relax just as a massage would help an adult relax. And since he has a hard time relaxing, calming and self-soothing, this will hopefully help!

Amy wants him to learn to be independent in climbing and playing at home. Then once he is comfortable with that, maybe climbing and playing in public will be easier for him. So, here he is climbing on the couch cushions and the couch with his fidget toy, which he LOVES!

Amy and Dylan playing

Amy is giving Dylan a pressure massage. After his massage, I have to give him joint compressions. That just means that I have to push and pull gently, yet firmly, on his knees, ankles, shoulders, elbows and wrists. I know the message and compressions sound like alot but the whole process only takes 2-3 minutes.
He had a good visit today and seemed to respond positively to everything.

Twin's 18 month checkup

WOW! Can you believe it?? The twins are now 18 months old?!?!

Here are a few pictures looking back...

Hanna's very first picture. Born: Dec 13, 2006 8:08pm
Dylan's very first picture. Born: Dec 13, 2006 8:09pm
This is my ALL TIME favorite picture!! They were 5 weeks old, sleeping in the pack n play bassinet in the guest room (so Mommy didn't have to go up the stairs 50 times per day/night) when I went in to check on them. They were sound asleep, sleeping nose to nose. They loved each other SO much as infants! They wouldn't fall asleep until they were together.

SO SWEET!!

Hanna eating her cake at her first birthday party
Dylan eating his cake at his first birthday party

And now, as of Friday, June 13, 2008, they are 18 months old! I took them for their 18 month check up and here are their stats:

Hanna: 24 lbs 1 oz (45%) 33 inches (80%)

Dylan: 23 lbs 15 oz (20%) 31 1/2 inches (30%)

Yes, Hanna is 1 1/2 inches taller than Dylan! Dr. Stone said "Don't worry! He'll catch up and be taller later in life!" And they are only 2 oz different in weight!

Dr. Stone said they are both doing great! Dylan is to continue working with his therapists but is growing well - despite all his sickness. And Hanna is right on target. She is a little pigeon toed but Dr. Stone assured us that they would correct themselves over the next several years. She also said that their herniated belly buttons would continue to close up over the next several years too - yeah! I was worried about that.

Enjoy the look back through memory lane with me... I have mixed emotions about them growing up! I'm glad to be finished with baby stages - night time feedings, bottles, formula, etc BUT I will miss having a little swaddled infant to rock to sleep. We are off to bigger, better and a new stage of life with our little ones. Out with bottles and sleepless nights, in with play dates, tea parties and t-ball!!

Dancin' DeeDee

While watching a Baby Einstein movie, Dylan was dancing. He would get up out of my lap and dance. When I would look at him and start the camera, he would bow his head in shyness and run back over to my lap! I did manage to get a few seconds...

Playin' babies

Last night before bed, the babies were acting pretty clingy. So, I turned on a Baby Einstein movie and sat down in the floor with them. They both sat in my lap for most of the movie but then they got their second wind and started acting very silly!

In this picture, Hanna is laughing at Dylan because he does not take a paci. He grabbed hers off the floor and stuck it in his mouth. He knew he was giving her a hard time!
Again, Dylan acting silly with that paci! He kept pretending to get a drink with the paci in the way. You can see in his face - silliness!
Hanna playing
Beautiful girl!
I stole her paci in this picture so she is saying, "AHH" and reaching for it!
Dylan about to tackle me!
Dylan and his best buddy - his cup! :)

ON GUARD!

Heath came down stairs dressed like this and saying, "On guard!!" It was so funny!

We are SO spoiled!!

Ms. Joy showed up at our door at 8:00 this morning with homemade cinnamon rolls! They were SOOO yummy! The kids and I loved them. Hanna out-ate all the boys! She had two whole cinnamon rolls while the boys each ate one. Yesterday we went over to her house to hang out and she made the kids homemade cookies and let the boys pick her only two sunflowers! We are so spoiled by this angel from Heaven and we thank God for sending her to us EVERYDAY!! We love you Ms. Joy.

Yeah! MAIL!!

Mawmaw and Pawpaw sent the kids a package. They LOVE getting mail, especially when they know there's something good inside for them! So, Chan runs inside with it and all the kids gather around!

Chandler and Heath - dying to know what's inside!
The first thing they pull out is a gift for Mommy!! My mom sent me a figurine sculpture of a mom, dad and four kids! I LOVE IT!!
As soon as Heath discovered it was new shirts, it was off with the old, ON WITH THE NEW!! (I'm sorry this picture looks a little like he's malnourished... not sure what's up with his arm placement to make his ribs like that... Looks pretty gross!)
Chandler in his new shirt
Heath in his new shirt
Dylan trying to put his new shirt on too!

Zoo Day at Providence Church

Ms. Joy and Mr. Frank invited us to their church yesterday for Zoo Day. The Ft. Worth Zoo Wild Wanderers exhibit came with some animals and put on a little show and tell. The kids were really excited about going to "Ms. Joy's Zoo!"

My baby boy, Chan, looks SO grown up in this picture!!!
Heathie waiting patiently for the "amals"
Let me explain this picture... I wanted to take a group picture of them but not everyone was excited about it! Heath took the cup away from Dylan so he's throwing a fit and Hanna wants to get up and run away and NOT sit for the picture!
Dylan has the cup back and this is a CLASSIC picture of Hanna and Dylan's personalities! Hanna's a crazy, fun, sweetheart girl and Dylan loves his cup!
Hanna walking around before the show
More please!!!
This picture is from the end of the show... I forgot to add it at the end. Hanna is clapping and having a blast!

I really want that monkey!!! Hanna was scared of the snake but wanted to touch this thing!
Chan checking out the possum.
Chandler got called on stage to touch the alligator!
Chan washing with hand sanitizer after touching the alligator!

A beautiful parrot, which Hanna liked alot too.
Oh, gross.. Frog!
I think Mr. Frank AND Hanna were both shocked to see that frog so close up! Notice Mr. Frank holding Hanna's hand because she was wanting to slap at it!
Chandler tried to get away from it!
As you can see from above, Dylan wasn't in any of the show pictures! He was fussy so Ms. Joy took him to find something else to do. She took him to the back to run around, outside and as you can see... to get a chocolate chip cookie! And doesn't that face look guilty!?!? :)

We had a great time at Ms. Joy's church at the Zoo. Afterward, we went to McDonalds for lunch and Mr. Frank and Ms. Joy went with us. They are like grandparents to my kids!! They love each other so much!