Catching Up

Hey Kids!

I'm back from a whirlwind week in Michigan.  (Sorry for the only posting once this week, but it was all my schedule would allow).

Last Sunday, my mom and I loaded the boys in the van and headed out on an eight hour drive to Detroit.  It has been six months since our last visit to Michigan for Nancy Kaufman's Summer SPEAK and we decided it was time to head back so that Colten could be reassessed and receive some additional therapy at Kaufman Children's Center.  We also needed to have Cooper evaluated.  Oh, how I wish I could either a.  Move to Michigan  b.  Pick up the KCC and drop it in Rochester, NY.  It is so nice to get answers when uncertainty seems to loom around every corner.  It is so nice to know your child is getting EXACTLY the right treatment at the right time.  It's amazing to see how much progress he can make after only a four day intensive program there.  Ah-mazing.

I'll be posting about our trip in full detail later.  I'll give you all an update on Colten's new speech and occupational therapy goals and explain the issues that are beginning to emerge with Cooper.  Right now I'm still processing all of the information.  It is A LOT to digest.  All I have to say is God only knows we would be without Nancy Kaufman and the KCC.  I am so thankful that she came into our lives and that we have the means to make sure our child(ren) get the best care possible.

She gave me answers and hope when I had neither.  She helped me son find his voice.  She is a rockstar in my book.

It looks like we'll be making this trip every 6 months.  It seemed like the perfect amount of time to revamp Colt's program.  And as overwhelming as it is to think of being the mother of two special needs children, it's comforting to know that Cooper will be getting intervention as early as possible and that this time we will have a plan.  We can skip the months/years of uncertainty and move right to action.

All around, I think we are in a good place.  And I wouldn't trade these little beasties for the world:

We were eating pasta - maybe next time I should wipe my kid's face before I take his picture...

Back to regular programming on Monday!

Have a great weekend!

xoxo

Jenny

I'm all over the place!

Seriously though - I got around this week (it's not what you think).

Get your mind out of the gutter!

Sunday I was featured in the first ever Sunday Spotlight over at Traffic Jelly.  Then my mug reappeared there on Monday.  Wow!  What an honor!


This week, the Kaufman Children's Center posted my piece that originally appeared over at Jake's Journey about my son Colten's struggle with apraxia and our experience at Nancy Kaufman's summer SPEAK program.

And then yesterday I popped up at Turn Around and Say Hello.

I just feel so privileged to not only have my writing recognized, but also feel this profound amount of support and appreciation from two women I have never met, but admire greatly.  Lucky for me I have a shopping date with one of them scheduled for when I get home.  As for the other one... How do you Nebraskans like sub-zero temperatures?  I hear Rochester is a great place to visit after football season.  I'm sure they have great deals on flights in the winter.  I mean, honestly, who wants to come here?  I'll tell you:  no.body.

As for the rest of you thanks for reading and keeping things positive.  With the the negativity out there on the internet its nice to "meet" people who keeps things kind, friendly, and uplifting.  Kudos to you.

Tomorrow's Friday... get excited!

xoxo

Jenny

Settling In

How can it be Wednesday already?

Settling back into my "real" life isn't all that easy.  How does anyone with two (or more) children get anything done?  I haven't cooked a meal since I've been home.  Dinners have been as follows:  Taco Bell, Chinese, pizza delivery.  Unpacking, catching up on yard work, laundry, and blogging seems an almost impossible task.  And in the midst of all of that I'm trying to organize my junk for a garage sale in September.  Aaaaaahhhhhh!

If living in our Michigan apartment taught me anything, it is that we have way too much STUFF and need to de-clutter, unload, and sell STAT.  You would be AMAZED at what you DO NOT NEED.

Speaking of Michigan, the rest of our trip was just as wonderful as the start.  Colten continued to make progress and gain confidence.  I am in awe of his hard work and perseverance as he learns (and struggles) to speak.  Phrases are starting to pop out spontaneously and I can't believe how much he's grown.  We will be forever indebted to Nancy Kaufman and all the wonderful SLPs and OTs at her center.  I don't want to share too much about our experience, because, as I mentioned in an earlier post, I'm guest blogging for Tori Starling over at Jakes Journey.  I'm hoping to get that piece done before I leave for New Jersey next Friday.  Say a prayer for me.

Without further ado, here are some highlights from the rest of our trip.

You can't be married to a football coach and be living 40 minutes from Ann Arbor and not go see this:

Lucky for me, it worked out that we were in Ann Arbor for their annual Art Festival.  So I got to peruse some art, ogle some handmade jewelry, enjoy Oberon wheat beer from Kalamazoo, and people watch (by far the BEST part of any street fair).

Think:  Blue Moon but better.

We also went to the Hands On Children's Museum in Ann Arbor.  They have $5 admission on Thursday nights after 5pm.  What a great place!  So much to do!  Colten had a blast!

Don't worry that's not a real alligator.
The boy LOVED the magnetic fishing exhibit!

There was so much to do in the Detroit metro area, but we loved the Detroit Zoo so much we went twice!

Steve managed to snap a photo at the exact moment
that the wind changed and I got blasted with water.

Carousel

Dora and Diego 4D Aventure

Train Ride - Me and the Hubs

Coopy Scoops gets his Choo Choo on.

We fell in love with the people of Michigan.  What a warm, hospitable, and welcoming place!  We met the sweetest little family at the playground one day.  Colten and their daughter Cassidy hit it off, us parents were chatting, Aubry and Cooper were drooling at each other (literally).  It was such a nice way to spend the morning.  Then this sweet, sweet family invited us to Cassidy's third birthday party the next weekend at that very same park.  And if you know anything about the Sanzos you'll know we went.  I mean who misses a party?  I am still in awe of how nice it was for them to include us and how funny it was to introduce ourselves to their family as some random people they met at the park.  At first they thought we were kidding, but then we were like "no really..."  :)

Partying it up with Coopy.

Watching the birthday girl open presents.

There are so many things that I will miss about Michigan.  And while I won't miss the traffic on Orchard Lake Road, I'll miss just about everything else.  I'll miss our little apartment (even with the leak in the laundry room and the lack of internet).  I'll miss getting to spend every day with my husband and our sweet boys.  I'll miss never feeling overwhelmed because there was always someone there to help.  I'll miss Kaufman Children's Center being across the street.  I'll miss Colten being able to play with precious little boys who are just like him, and not like him all at the same time.  Even at three I think he learned how freeing it can be to realize that you are not alone, that there are other people just like you fighting hard, and harder, battles.  I'll miss Falafel King and Olga's.  I'll miss Whole Foods and $3 bottles of wine (and $12 maple syrup).  Lucky for Steve I drink WAY more wine than maple syrup!  I'll miss the amazing, strong mamas who became my instant friends.  Those ladies who are fighting alongside me in the trenches against Apraxia, who celebrated every word and validated every struggle.  Who I know in my heart of hearts will be my friends for life.

What an amazing trip it was.  What a blessing to be able to do this for our child.  I will cherish these three weeks forever, for they will always be, in my mind, the beginning of Colten's recovery.  And I know, I just know, we'll be back - and that my baby is going to be okay.

Love y'all,  (you can thank my new southern girlfriends for that)

xoxo

Jenny

Michigan Trip Update

Just a quick update today!  Colt is doing great in therapy (progress is slow but he's already saying new words and is much more confident imitating.)  His schedule is pretty intense, but we're doing fun stuff when we can.  He even found time to squirt down a grandma in white pants at the spray park (I was mortified).  Hey, that's what she gets for walking into the line of fire!

This little guy is six months old today: (crazy right?!)

He's getting big, but not too big to enjoy a impromptu dance party with mommy.  

Saturday we went to Greenfield Village.  Colt got to see a real roundhouse and ride on a steam engine.  He had a blast despite the heat and I enjoyed watching the model T's putter by while ragtime music filled the streets.  I am such a geek when it comes to that stuff!  I could have stayed all day!

Sunday I snuck in some "me time" and escaped for a MUCH NEEDED pedicure.  Check out this sad state of affairs:

I can't believe how fast time is passing by.  We're already into our second week.  It has been such a great experience.  We've fallen in love with Kaufman Children's Center and Michigan and we're thoroughly enjoying all the time we get to spend together as a family.  It's going to be hard to come home to our usual routines!  Cooper isn't babbling yet - so something tells me this won't be our last trip. Deja vu all over again!  At least we'll know what to expect, right?

What about you?  What are you up to on your summer vacation?