update on everything!

I've been so horrible about posting to my blog and just recently a really great friend (thanks Andrea!) reminded me that I need to post some pictures at least.

Trent's Therapy - he was seen in IA city by their team of physicians and clinicians and his official diagnosis is "severe speech and language delay with autistic tendencies" That does not label him as autistic for our insurance (which is a blessing) but does allow the insurance companies to pay for his therapy more. We also learned that Trent is severely consitpated and he's on a laxative twice a day to try to eleviate his little problem. If this doesn't get him on a more consistent schedule we may have to schedule him for a colon resection to repair his bowel, otherwise he'll just keep on like he is.

Calla - Calla is walking and talking!!!! I can't belive that she's already 15 months old, Wow! She walks everywhere and is even running a little bit and she says the following words really clearly: daddy, mommy, bye bye, hi, thank you, baby, puppy and kitty. So much more than Trent at her age but I guess it's true that girls develop faster than boys. She's a great eater and usually will finish her dinner and Trent's! I sometimes wonder where this child came from???

Brian - Brian lost his job at ADM in March and so he's been looking for work ever since but in the mean time he's staying at home with the kids. They drive him crazy sometimes but I think it's good he's spending time with them. He's applied a bunch of different places and now were just waiting on hearing from anyone.

Me - well, I started a new job at Mercy Medical Center in March as the volunteer coordinator for the hospital and hospice program. It's really wonderful and I absolutely love the people and the organization. It was sad to leave the Red Cross and all my friends but I'm so happy I did. I made the best move for me and my family. Also, I started selling Creative Memories scrapbook supplies and you can order directly from me at my website and ship it to yourself. go to www.mycmsite.com/thompsons and you can start shopping!!!!

Update on Trent's therapy

Many of you know that Trent has been seeing a speech and occupational therapist twice a week for his speech delay and some sensory issues that he has. Recently our pediatrican recommended that we take Trent out to Iowa City to be seen by the clinicians at the Center for Disablilities and Development. This was a huge blow to Brian and I because we believed that he was getting better and developing normally now that he could finally hear what we were saying. I'm starting to look at this appointment a little different now, that it's going to give us a better perspective of how to help him and how to make him the best Trent he can be. He will be seen by 7 physicans that day so we will need lots of prayers that both he and I can make it through it. He'll see psychology, psychiatry, neurology, audiology, medicine, occupational therapy, and nutrition. It's a long day of testing and I'm not sure when the appointment is yet but I'm praying for the best and hoping for a good outcome.

Bath Time!

Once upon a time Trent used to hate getting a bath and I mean hate it! He wouldn't sit down, he'd cry through the whole thing and now that Calla and him can take a bath together it's hard to get him out even when the water's turned cold. This night we had a bubble bath and both of them were splashing and playing in the water it was so cute that I had to get pictures of them to torture them later with! Haha!

Calla's 1 - can you believe it?!

Here are some pics from Calla's first birthday party on January 3rd. Her actual birthday is January 4th but since that was a Sunday we had the party the day before. As you can see she absolutely loved her cake and would have eaten the whole thing if it hadn't broken apart and landed on the floor. She was quite the little princess that day and everyone certainly spoiled her rotten! Her 1 year check up was on Thursday and she weighs 20 lbs 12 onces putting her in the 28th percentile, she's 29 inches tall putting her in the 40th percentile and her head circumference was still a tiny 17 3/4 inches putting her in the 5th percentile. I can't believe my little peanut is 1 already!

A year of reflection...

Wow, I can't believe that 2008 is over and now we are two days into 2009. Where has the last year gone? I just can't believe how fast all of this is going. A year ago I was anticipating my c-section and hoping and praying that everything would be okay with Calla and worrying about how this was all going to affect Trent. At the time I had no idea the challenges we would face this year not only with Calla's health but Trent's development too. So, mostly for myself I just wanted to reflect back on this year of ups and downs.
January - We welcomed Calla Christina-Patricia Thompson into our lives on January 4th, 2008 at 8:08 a.m. weighing 6 lbs 8 oz and 19 3/4 inches long. She was beautiful from the beginning and after much worry for the last few weeks of my pregnancy she was perfect. We came home from the hopsital on January 6th and Trent was a little freaked out. I'm not sure he realized that this baby was here to stay. Later on in January we all got bronchitis and it was a rough couple of days. Calla was 2 weeks old and managed to not get sick but everyone else was.
February - We spent a week at my Dad's toward the end of February just trying to relax and enjoy my kids before I went back to work.
March - March is always a crazy month for me at work but since I was still on maternity leave it didn't seem as nuts until I went back to work on the 10th and was only back at work a week before Calla was diagnosed with RSV and spent 11 days in the hospital. I was so thankful for my great family and friends for supporting us during that time. It was so scary to see her so small and yet so so so sick. I couldn't thank my Dad enough for taking Trent during that time so Brian and I didn't have to worry about him getting to daycare and being home or with someone different every night while we were up at the hospital. I think Trent liked spending the time with papi and memaw but he definitely missed us.
April - April 4th was the Red Crosses 4th annual Luau and we spent the evening at the Frontier not only working but having fun with our friends. And thanks to a wonderful woman at the Frontier we were able to spend the night there as well. April 13th was Calla's baptism and everyone came to see her be baptized and we really enjoyed having our family and friends surround our little girl with the love they have for Jesus.
May - We had noticed that something wasn't quite right with Trent back in March when he still wasn't talking very much. I finally convinced our pediatrician that he needed more testing and after multiple ear function tests and ultrasounds and a recommendation from a speech therapist we finally got in to see the ENT and were told he needed ear tubes put in.
June - Trent had his tubes put in on June 18th and boy if I wasn't convinced he needed them before I was after. Just seeing the amount of stuff flowing out of his ears for 2 days after the surgery was amazing. No wonder he couldn't hear! The next day we went on a river cruise with my entire family to celebrate my grandparent's 50th wedding anniversary. It was a wonderful time and we created a ton of memories!
July - Trent started seeing an occupational therapist as well as a speech therapist. The therapists started to notice that he had some sensory issues that were preventing him from learning at his optimum level. Calla turned 7 months old and was sitting up on her own.
August - I turned 27 and everyone seemed to be healthy and happy!
September - Brian turned 34, Calla started to crawl and Trent started 3 year old preschool. His teachers were Dana Edfors and Chelsey Tinderholt. He loved being a part of the big boy room and I loved knowing he was getting some kind of structured learning.
October - We celebrated Halloween - Trent was Elmo and Calla was a ladybug. Trent continued his speech and occupational therapy. Calla started pulling up on stuff and standing.
November - We celebrated Thanksgiving with all of our families by making the annual trek to everybody's house on Thanksgiving day. Trent and Calla both had a blast playing with all of their cousins and eating off everyone's plates full of goodies!
December - Trent turned 3 and boy did the attitude ever come out after his birthday! He is talking more and saying things independently now rather than just repeating after us. Calla started standing by herself for little bits of time. She's not walking yet but it will be soon. We spent Christmas at my Dad's and had such a fun time there for 5 days just enjoying each other and a great Christmas experience.

Now as I look forward into 2009 my hopes are that Calla continues to develop and grow normally and Trent can make huge leaps and bounds with his speech and occupational therapy. I love watching him learn something new all the time, I hope he can potty train sooner rather than later. I pray for good health for my entire family and good fortune for all who need it.

Playing in the snow.

Typically Trent has not liked the snow and has even cried when we tried putting him in it or even not letting us put him down. We thought we would try again this year because we have soooooo much snow right now. Calla wanted to go out but we wouldn't let her.

Trent and Daddy getting all bundled up to go out in the snow.

Trent and Daddy playing in the snow. Although it doesn't look like it he really didn't like being out in the snow and wouldn't bend down to touch it.

Trent pooped on the potty!

Trent pooped on the potty for the very first time today and here he is with Papi Steve getting his treat after he went. We have been working very hard at potty training and this morning he woke up dry and went pee and then this afternoon he went poop. What a successful day!

Random photos

Just some random photos from the last few days. Calla looking pretty, Calla and I going shopping and Grandma Anne and Trent in their new Ignition sweatshirts!

Christmas in Cedar Falls

We spent our Christmas in Cedar Falls this year and it has been so much fun and so relaxing for everyone. Brian, the kids and I drove to Dad's house on Christmas Eve in the blowing snow and got there and got everyone settled. After the kids went to bed I went to my Dad's Christmas Eve service and then put our gifts out and waited for Santa. Trent even put out reindeer food for Santa's reindeer!

Papi Steve helping Trent open one of his gifts.
Trent and his presents.

Brian opening up his presents.

Calla eating breakfast on Christmas morning.

Daddy and Trent on Christmas morning. Trent had Lightning McQueen pancakes.

All the presents under the tree on Christmas morning.

Trent's 3rd birthday party

Trent's third birthday party was on Saturday the 13th and he turned 3 on Sunday the 14th. He had such a blast at his party. All our family and friends came and helped him celebrate with a Cars themed party. It's hard to believe that my little man is 3 years old. It makes it seem like he is such a little boy now rather than a toddler or a baby.

Here he is the morning after his party playing with his new Mater pillow!

Trent and Aunt Juju made a Lightning McQueen out of playdoh after the party was all over. He loved it!

Here he is blowing out the candles!

A picture of the table full of goodies and his cake. That's also his 3 year preschool picture. He looks so grown up with his faux hawk!

And his cake - no I didn't make it but I know how to pick a great place that can!