One down, one to go....

Degan is about to embark on his "second semester" of kindergarten. Looking back at the first 4 months, it just seems like it flew by. I still remember shopping for that perfect backpack, stressing out about what to pack him for lunch, worrying about whether or not he is he going to make friends? Did I really need to worry about the third one? He is Sarah's I mean Amos son.   Degan we were told is quite the social butterfly and direct from his teachers mouth, "needs to stop kissing the girls." WHAT? Are you serious? He is only in kindergarten, and he is already taking after his dad.. Oops, did I say that out loud?

Degan is learning everything that was taught  to him before he was in kinder in Spanish. He told my mom the other day that he is teaching his mommy and daddy Spanish. Ha. No but really, I think we made the best decision enrolling him in NM International. He is expanding his vocabulary in Spanish each day and yes I will admit he is teaching his mommy and daddy some! We are having to work with him extra with his handwriting, and continue to work with him on English.  I have been trying to be as involved in his education as I have been with Prestyns and try to help out in the class whenever possible. My dad will occasionally take him his favorite happy meal for lunch and eat with him. He is doing really well and has really blossomed.  Now if only we could expand his eating habits, its getting really old making the same jelly sandwich everyday. If something screams mom of the year, it has to be that? I try to send him healthy snacks, but guess what comes home crumbled at the bottom of his lunch box. I cannot wait until strawberries and blueberries are back in season, because he LOVES those.  We have recently threatened the use of the Wii for lunches that come back un-eaten. This has been our best strategy to date and allows me some room to put rolled ham without the bread of course for lunch. Another option could be plain spaghetti noodles, but the downside is he won't eat them cold and they will not allow them to warm the kids food.  How did he get so picky? The only food I WILL not eat is seafood and Amos yeah he eats it all too! 

In other news, Degan lost 2 teeth this past week and is so excited for the rest to fall out. But really he needs to slow down at $5 a tooth this tooth fairy is gonna go broke! The first tooth fairy visit came when he was at my younger brothers house. Nick for some reason was under the impression the tooth fairy paid quite well these days. The next morning Degan found $5 bucks under his pillow.(Just wait Nick, when Riley looses her first tooth, she can spend the night at my house that night, the going rate then should be 25 bucks!  The 2nd tooth he was at home and he was so excited to get another 5 bucks that he pulled it out himself!

Degan has enjoyed spending his Christmas break at Mimaw and Pompo's house and  I know is not looking forward to the 6 am alarm clock come Tuesday!

Degan, we are so proud of the little boy/big brother you have become. You make us laugh so much with your sly comments. We love how you light up Cruzies life and love to hear you talk to him. Thank you for being so patient with your brother Prestyn, you are beginning to understand how he thinks and help us to help him. You have been asked of a lot in the past 2 years and have really made us proud.

Sweet Kisses,

Momma

4 years....WHAT?

Four years ago to the day I remember trying whatever I could to make my body feel what my mind had been thinking..... I had enough of being pregnant. I was ready to meet my baby boy! Well my body did not respond to what my mind was telling it and decided to hold off six more days to bless us with baby "numero dos." 

Prestyn was born 18 months after Degan so we still had somewhat of an idea of what to expect with a new baby.  Little did we know that two years later we would learn the gift the Lord brought to us in Prestyn, would need just a little different care, different love and different attention then we were used too. Prestyn has brought a whole new meaning to my life and without him or his brothers I would not be the mom I am today. On January 5th we will celebrate two milestones. Most importantly it will be Prestyn's 4th birthday. Second, it will be two years since we began our journey down "Autism Street." Both of which are joyous occasions. That start on "Autism Street" was a happy time, it was bumpy at first and needs some patches today, but for the most part nothing has stopped us from making our way.  If we had not listened to our pediatrician two-years ago I would be writing in a different tune.  From that day we have been building our road and would soon realize it was already be equipped with  many speed bumps, bumpy roads, stop and yield signs, and the red and green lights. It was our job to pave the road.  There were also a few neighbors that welcomed us, and we have been working very hard to work with those neighbors all while welcoming new ones.

I try not to let myself ask the question why to often. But when I saw this picture I couldn't help myself from asking, Why? Why is.....

Will we ever know the answer? Maybe, maybe not? Is it because there is more awareness and parents are paying close attention to those warning signs? Is it genetic? The environment? Vaccines?

Then it hits me, even though I may never know the answer I can look into my Prestyn's eyes and be thankful for what he has brought into my life. Do I really need to know the answer as to what has caused my son to be a little different then his peers? No, that's not really important. What is important is that we are doing our best to help him be the best that he can be. 

 Sometimes I just need to be reminded that the Lord doesn't give us more than we can handle. He believed in us and knew our potential as parents. Although initially we were not sure we could handle all that we were going to be presented with, we have learned a lot about ourselves and our abilities. 

 So, happy early birthday to my Prestyn! Thank you for teaching mommy and daddy something new everyday. We did now know what we were in for 4 years ago, but I wouldn't trade it for the world. One day we hope you understand why you cannot eat pizza or "cookie animals" or drink "leche," one day son, you will know why you were in school before you could even talk and riding that yellow bus that you love so much!  Thank you for all the joy you bring into our lives, you amaze us with your abilities and we know you are going to "BE THE BEST PRESTYN THAT YOU CAN BE."  You are amazing and will do great things. Why? Because God made you, happy birthday!

Love,

 Mom