This is My life

My Out-of-Sync Child...

I have made some comments here and there about our dear, sweet, crazy Caleb. I have mentioned that he has some delays and some other quirks.  And to be honest, we didn't quite know how else to explain it.

Caleb has been "different" since he was born.  Starting with the need to be swaddled TIGHTLY as a newborn to his speech and toilet training delays, things have always been a little bit harder with Caleb. At first, we just assumed that he was different than Alaina (as all siblings are).  Of course we questioned a few of the really strange things -- like sleeping 16-18 hours a day until he was two -- but we weren't really concerned about him until he was almost three.  At that point, I remember looking at a developmental checklist, especially in regards to speech, and I became quite concerned.  We contacted an early intervention program in Nebraska and got started with an evaluation.  I had seen a *few* signs of him being on the autism spectrum, but the therapists that visited our home and worked with Caleb determined it was simply a speech delay.  We were going to start weekly therapy with him but then we moved.

After we got to Florida we were busy with our new jobs, getting settled, and me being pregnant (with a VERY hard pregnancy).  It wasn't until the spring that we finally started down the early intervention road again.  By this time Caleb was talking a lot more but still showing some other issues. We got started, but the Florida program is so backed up that our full-evaluation appointment wasn't going to be until November (as in two months from NOW). 

After we found out that we were moving to Indonesia, a few people mentioned their concern about us moving without knowing what was wrong with Caleb and to a place where treatment options would be severely limited.  Although we understood the concern, we felt that if we were being called to go Indonesia, then Caleb was called too and that he would be cared for -- even if it was no one but the great Healer Himself.

Over the summer I was visiting with my sister and we were talking about our boys.  Caleb and Ashton are just one month apart and show some of the same "quirky" behavior.  My sister mentioned the book THE OUT OF SYNC CHILD.  I don't really remember if she explained much to me, but it must have been enough for me to be interested enough to find this website.  After reading the website I immediately ordered the Out of Sync Child and two other related books.  When they arrived I broke into them right away and it didn't take me long to know that I was reading about my own child.  It was surreal to be reading about stuff that we had witnessed in Caleb -- things that we thought were either just quirky or just "Caleb."  But no, reading this made so many things finally start to make sense...

-- why Caleb needed to be bound so tightly to sleep when he was a baby
-- why he drooled excessively even when he wasn't teething
-- why starting at six months he insisted on being upside down ALL THE TIME
-- why he wasn't talking until he was three and even then only his family could understand him
-- why he couldn't (can't) do things like get himself dressed
-- why potty training just wasn't happening
-- why he likes to crash into things on purpose
-- why he could spend forever spinning on the tire swing in Florida and not get dizzy
-- why he can't seem to figure out when he is hungry and when he is not
-- why he sucks his thumb
-- why he constantly rubs the ear of his Elly
-- why he sometimes puts toys and other things into his mouth even though he is four
-- why he can't stand to hear a vacuum and covers his ears and runs away
-- why he doesn't draw or color
-- why he is addicted to just a few foods (spaghetti, pizza, Thai Sticky Rice, cereal, watermelon, and anything sweet)
-- why he switches back and forth from his left hand to his right, even at age 4
-- why he touches everything new that he sees
-- why he runs everywhere
-- why he talks SO LOUD at times
-- why he loves big bear hugs but wipes off kisses
-- why he loves to be tackled and tickled
-- why he can sometimes be rough with other kids and animals (rough, not mean)

and on and on and on....

From reading, I was pretty sure that Caleb has SENSORY PROCESSING DISORDER.  This is an often-misdiagnosed problem in kids -- in very basic terms, the route from the brain to the senses and the senses to the brain is all messed up.  Messages get muddled and therefore the brain and the senses (how we take in every single piece of information about our world) can't communicate well. The things that we take in through our senses (sight, smell, taste, touch, and sound) get all muddled up before reaching the brain.  Then then brain sends out messages to the senses (that is hot -- don't touch, that is loud -- go somewhere else, you are full -- don't eat anymore, that hurts -- don't crash into that) and they get lost somewhere in transmission.

Most of the kids with SPD struggle with TOO much information coming in from the senses.  Little things that wouldn't bother other people REALLY bother them -- the seam of socks, tags in clothes, people touching their arm, music playing, lights and activity.  Just imagine that the everyday sensations we have (and barely notice) are multiplied numerous times over before they reach our brain.  So instead of hearing light music playing it registers in the brain as LOUD.  Or if someone touches you lightly on the arm and it HURTS.

Although this is the way many of the SPD kids struggle, in most of the senses, Caleb presents in the opposite way.  He doesn't get ENOUGH sensory input.  Most everyday sensations aren't felt by him at all or if they are felt that are bothersome (for example, he doesn't like kisses and wipes them off -- he doesn't feel the kiss -- he feels less than that, sort of like a bug landing on you...what do you do to that bug?  Try to wipe it off and get rid of that feeling of it lightly touching your skin). Because Caleb doesn't take in as much sensory information as he should, he seeks MORE out on his own.  He needs MORE sensation in order for his brain to register a NORMAL amount of input.  A big bear hug that squeezes him half to death just feels like a normal hug.  Crashing into a wall and falling on the floor is FUN.  Spinning and spinning and spinning brings him sensory input that his brain needs.

It might not seems like a big deal but imagine what it would be like to

-- not be able to feel your tongue well enough to make proper speech sounds.  In your brain everything sounds fine but when you say it you can't understand why no one understands you.
-- to not be able to know when you are hungry or full -- you go some days without eating at all and other times you eat so much that food is literally falling out of your mouth
-- wind and other light touch is bothersome
-- only be able to taste things with a strong taste
-- to not be able to develop fine motor skills because you can't feel everything enough and your senses can't communicate and perform complex patterns of movement?

____

The other problem that SPD kids have is INTEGRATING their senses. It is bad enough that they can't bring in sensory input to their brain without it getting messed up.  But then to add to that, they can't make their senses work together. 

Imagine you are at someones home and you see a pretty sculpture.  It has bright colors and it looks fun.  If you look at it you know what it is -- you know that it is a sculpture, you can tell from the glossy appearance that it will be slick to the touch.  You can tell that it would be hard and if picked up it be broken easily.  You decide you want to feel it so you pick it up using the right amount of strength -- enough so it picks up but not so much that it goes flying out of your hand.  You hold it and it is just how you imagined it.  You hear your host calling your name to come to the kitchen so you gently set it down and go on your way.

Now you could do all that because your senses were working together.  You could use your sight to know how it would FEEL.  You knew it would be slick, hard, and how heavy it would be.  You knew it wouldn't make noise.  When you picked it up you instinctively knew how much muscle strength it would take. When you heard that it was time to go, you knew to set it down gently.  Your senses communicated with each other.

SPD kids struggle with this.  Their sight can't talk to their touch sense.  Their can't tell what something will feel like by just looking.  Their hearing and taste and smell and tough and sight don't work together they way they should.  Can you even imagine what that would be like?

______

So, that's my Caleb.  I am learning little by little.  I only know enough about the problem to know that Caleb has it and to want to HELP him.  Like I said, most kids who have SPD struggle with OVER-stimulation, not UNDER-stimulation like Caleb. But he is in good Hands and I am confident that we can't work with him to succeed.  Did you know that the brain can rewire itself?

After arriving in Indonesia we met a family who has two (maybe three) kids with SPD.  Their kids are older so it was interesting to talk with them and also to see how it manifests itself when kids are older.  The mom and I chatted a few times about looking for diagnostic and treatment options.  We talked about maybe going to Singapore.

When I was in Singapore a few weeks ago I actually found a clinic that specializes in SPD.  I was thrilled to say the least. I thought, "what an amazing blessing!"  When I got home I started to look into getting some more information on the clinic.  My hope was that we could get diagnosed and then do some therapy at home mixed with a trip to Singapore once every few months.  As I was google-ing away, my spirit was prodded.  "Don't you think I can do more than this" He asked.  My spirit said okay, here we go.  Into the google box went "sensory processing disorder AND bandung."  Up popped the name of a therapist who works as a consultant in Singapore. I read about her -- "hmmm, different clinic but still in Singapore...hmmm...graduated from the same college in the US as Jason...interesting...but wait, what's that?  She has opened her own clinic in Bandung?"  A fruitless search later for an email contact called for desperate times. I searched for the name on Facebook, got a hit, and wrote to her.  She wrote back within the hour and gave me her phone number.  We chatted.  We set up an appointment for a visit.  After the visit Caleb had a full evaluation.  Yep, I was right.  SPD it is. 

The therapist is AMAZING.  She graduated from the same undergrad school as Jason (Calvin College) and went on to earn a number of post-graduate degrees.  The clinic is AMAZING.  The evaluation was AMAZING.  Caleb LOVES her and LOVES the clinic (what kids wouldn't love a "doctor's office" with a ball pit, inner tubes, crash pads, trampolines, bins of rice and beans to play with, shaving cream on tables that you get to write in, monkey bars, spinning swings, etc. etc. etc.

And you know when she opened her clinic?  AUGUST.  OF THIS YEAR.  AS IN RIGHT WHEN WE MOVED HERE.  And you know when she said she felt prompted to open a clinic in BANDUNG?  In JUNE.  AS IN RIGHT WHEN WE FOUND OUT THAT WE WERE MOVING HERE.  RIGHT WHEN PEOPLE QUESTIONED OUR DECISION TO MOVE BEFORE KNOWING WHAT WAS WRONG WITH CALEB.

And the best part?  We can afford it. According to my friend (the one with two kids with SPD) therapy in the States (which insurance won't cover) would run about $2000 a month.  I guess that might be fine unless you are in full-time ministry and your salary barely reaches that much. You know what the same therapy, given by a US trained therapist, costs here?  $120 a month.  Yes, our Father loves us and LOVES Caleb and will take care of him.

This post has been long enough -- very therapeutic for me to write and I am so glad I will have a record of the beginning of this journey. But I didn't want to leave you hanging with lots of questions -- yes, it is somewhat treatable through sensory training.  Especially at age four, the brain isn't done growing and developing and it can be rewired.  According to the therapist, the more we can get the neurons in the brain to fire the more the brain will rewire.  An example of this (from my totally UNtrained making assumptions mind):  EVERYone noticed a huge language explosion in Caleb a few months after we got to Florida.  And not only did he start talking more, he started playing more, doing more, acting more "normal."  Looking back on it, this all totally coincided with us buying our season passes to Disney.  Can you think of a place that would offer MORE stimulation than Disney World?  Can you imagine going once or twice a week for seven months? Can you imagine how much all the sights, sounds, smells and feel of the rides could benefit someone who NEEDS LOTS of sensory input? Yea, Florida was good.

Caleb will begin weekly therapy in the middle of October.  We will also be doing lots of stuff at home with him.  School will provide even more help to him.  He is loved, he is cared for, he was created just as He wanted him.  He was knit together in my womb and all his days were laid out before Him.  He is fearfully and wonderfully made and I am thrilled to be able to call him mine.

Feeling Like a Grown Up...

So yesterday we attended our first-ever "parent-teacher" conferences.  Way to make a person feel old.  How in the world did *I* get old enough to have not one, but TWO parent-teacher conferences.  How did I get so old that I am getting reports cards for my children?  Seriously, when did this happen?? Most of the time I honestly don't feel old.  Sure, I may have four kids and am starting to plan my TEN year anniversary (Dec 2009) but still, old enough to be getting report cards?  Wowzers.

The thought of being old set aside, the conferences went well.  Alaina's was short and to the point -- what can the teacher say?  Um, she does everything perfectly?  Um, she answers every question and I love having her to depend on if no one else answers?  She excels at everything and she shows excitement in everything so I can't tell what she likes best?  Yea, that was pretty much it.

Caleb's was a bit longer, but went really well.  Caleb has some developmental issues (I really need to devote a whole blog post to that -- maybe tomorrow) but he is doing so, so, so well.  We are ALL so encouraged to see his progress and his we are so fortunate to have the great preschool teacher we do.  His biggest issues are social boundaries -- he likes to hold hands (and dare I say kiss?) some of the kids.  He also likes to body slam people (not out of an ill-intent -- he just likes to crash into things and doesn't realize that not *everyone* likes it).  But he is loving school and doing much better than we thought he would.  I had tears in my eyes as his teacher showed me a picture he colored (note to self, get this scanner working or get a new one!) I'm just proud of my boy!

******

In other news, a few weeks back I worked on some new 2-page spread template sets. I LOVE LOVE LOVE 2-pagers.  There is just something about opening my albums and seeing one cohesive story right in front of me.  I love all the room to share more photos or more of "the story".   So, since my internet was halfway decent this morning I loaded up these three new sets.

And just because a few people have asked in the past:  I put my 2 page spreads in my post-bound albums (and they look like one page).  However, I always make my templates (and my own 2 page spreads) so that nothing is cut down the middle.  No pictures will ever be on the 12 in line and I never put my titles there either.  So, if you use a D-ring binder you don't have to worry about the pages not "going together."  Also, I always include the templates in two formats: 24x12 and 12x12. 

YOU CAN CLICK THE LAYOUTS TO MAKE THEM LARGER.

Just looking at these makes me really hope I can scrap this weekend!  I MISS it! Have a great day!

Two sick kids and a mindless novel...

Well, I lost my whole post.  Can't decide if I should blame it on my internet or on my MacBook hard drive which seems to be acting up.  Surprise of the century -- I can't blame it on Typepad.  At least not this time.

Anyway, Alaina an Caleb are sick with fevers for the second day.  I spent yesteray with them and reading a book that would allow me to stop and start without much brain power.  It was probably good for me -- with language school my brain has been on overload. The little break was nice.

Anyway, since I already lost a whole post I can't go back.  Hoping the kiddos do better today!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Just wanted to wish my dear friend Erika a happy 30th birthday! 

The Weekend...

I would have posted earlier, but Typepad had me locked out of my own account.  Not really sure how that happened since I have had the same username and password for three years,  but oh well.  They told me to clear my Typepad cookie (whatever that is) and for whatever reason in worked.  I no longer received my "invalid user login" message.  So here I am.

We had a really nice weekend together.  Weekends are something new to us as a family...we are used to having just one day off and on those we were usually so tired that the idea of doing NOTHING was totally appealing.  But this Friday night - Sunday thing is totally new.  And totally wonderful.

Friday night we started out by going to the playground for a bit so the kids could play and so that I could practice a bit of my Indonesian.  The kids love going there and I love the cool air and the pretty sunsets. My camera hasn't been out much lately so the kids actually ASKED me to take their picture...goofy smiles and all.

It is dark by 6:00 pm so we headed home while we could still see and so that we could start dinner.  This is the gorgeous view we get every evening on the way back to the house

Friday night we feasted on bacon, eggs, and pancakes.  I grew up LOVING to have "breakfast for dinner" and the love continues.  I don't actually eat breakfast but I LOVE breakfast food.  And since our house helper doesn't eat pork I would never ask her to clean it up, Friday night is the perfect night to indulge.

Saturday morning started with the kids playing with a froggy that Jason caught and saved for the kiddos.  They had a blast trying to catch it and wait to see where it would jump next.

Loved watching the kids run and squeal and hide whenever the frog hopped...

After the froggy fun, we headed into town for a little shopping, a little playing, and a lot of pizza eating.  We made our usual stop at the pet store looking at dogs, getting prices, and talking about what we might like to get at some point.  We'd love a big dog (a Golden Retriever) but the practicalities of it turn us off a little bit.  The house where we stayed at  our orientation in June had a little dog and while I would have sworn I HATED little dogs, we all LOVED that one and got us thinking.  We're not ready to become dog owners yet, but it is fun to look.  The kids were disappointed though -- they want a pet of some sort.

I was dead set against getting a cat due to our last experience with cats -- Alaina's allergic reaction to fleas and our neighbors who insisted that our cats were not allowed outside (as if it was their decision to make...ahhh, the need to be in control over everything and everyone.  Anyway...)

When we got home from the mall we went up to the school to play games with the other staff members.  I came home early after getting a call that the rest of our furniture was arriving.  While waiting for the family to return, Katie and I sat outside and found this little gal just sitting there.  After 20 minutes she hadn't left so of course I had to get her some milk.  She was SO tiny.

A few hours and she still hadn't left and her mama still hadn't come for her.  It wasn't hard to be convinced to let her stay.  So, meet the newest member of our family -- KC (Casey, Kasey, all depending on who you ask).  I named her before the rest of the family got home.  To be honest, I didn't know if it was a boy or a girl and KC worked for either.  Katelynn was on my lap when the kitty first came and she was petting it and squealing so I just called it KC for "Katie's cat."  Having a name chosen sure beats fights over what to call it.  The kids LOVE her and I have to admit she is the sweetest little thing and she has totally made herself at home.

Sorry about the funky light in the next few...it was early in the morning and the sun shines directly in our front door and windows.

And although the three older kids love her to pieces, the kitty herself adores her namesake.  Or at least her bed.  On the first night this is where we found her...

Welcome the family, KC.

Sunday morning started with me going out to take some pictures of Alaina. I got awkward poses and crazy smiles for the most part, but for a few the real Alaina came out of hiding.

These are her favorite kinds of pictures.  She is always asking, "Can I jump??"

Later in the morning we attended a Fellowship that was in Indonesian and near our home.  I didn't understand most of it, but it was good to be able to pick out some words AND to be able to meet some of our neighbors in a different setting.

The afternoon was spent studying for language class and getting some things done around the house.

Yep, weekends are a good thing.

Um, yea....

Seriously, does it get any cuter?  It seems that miss Katelynn has found her tongue.  I never knew it could be so much fun or so dang cute.  She sat like this for about 20 minutes, finding out all the things her tongue can do.

Okay, carry on with your day :)

Triple digits...

Multiple choice question:  What has reached triple digits?

a) the temperatures here in Indonesia
b) my fever
c) my inbox

If you guess all of them...you are wrong.  If you guessed C, well, then, I owe you something.  A gold star, maybe? Come to think of it, I probably just owe you an email ;)

I just want to apologize if you are waiting on an email from me.  My inbox (ie UNread items) has reached the triple digits and our internet has been bad, bad, bad lately and I have barely been near the computer.  I WILL recitify it all this weekend and I WILL get back to you.  Just be patient. 

I can't believe how much they days just melt into one another...Monday becomes Tuesday and Tuesday slips into Wednesday and so on.  We have been super busy but all is well in the Phillips household.  The kids are loving school, we've gotten some househelper situations resolved, I've spent 16 hours in language school in four days, Jason is busy with soccer season, Alaina started violin lessons, Caleb got an evaluation by an occupational therapist and will start weekly therapy, Katelynn is teething and still refusing most solids, most of our new furniture arrived, we're trying to get the house painted, we're still waiting on our shipment...and la la la.  Crazy, but so so good.

Often, as I am riding my fun little electric bike around, I feel the cool wind blowing and I look at the mountains and the flowers in the fields and I just think how incredibly HAPPY I am to be here.  Our life is full -- full of good things and good friends.  The busyness WILL get better and we will look back and see what a happy little life we have made.  So, so good.

I have so much to catch everyone up on -- and I will this weekend -- but for now I will just leave you with a few LO's I did last week.

Papers by Shabby Miss Jenn from ART CLASS, stitching by Syrin, Staples by Shabby Princess, Alpha by Gina Cabrera (L), and Stamped alpha by Nancie Rowe Janitz.

Papers and ribbon from the STAND UP AND SCRAP kit, stamped alpha by Nancie Rowe Janitz. Yea, that's us...back in January 2002!

Because of her...

From the day that we arrived in Indonesia it was very apparent that language was going to be an issue.  Unlike where we lived before -- both in India and in Malaysia -- almost no one here speaks English.  Even basic words and phrases are no known or understood.  And rather than our previous experiences where if you are a foreigner they assume you don't speak the local language, everyone here assumes that you do.  Constantly people are rattling off anything and everything in Bahasa Indonesia and assuming that I understand.  Which I do not.

So, I knew something would have to be done about it.  And when I found out that an amazing language school was opening a satellite campus across the street from our school, I knew it was something that I wanted (and needed) to do.  There were a few obstacles though -- getting Caleb home from school every day (the class goes until 12 and he gets done at 10:45) and the fact that Katelynn doesn't take a bottle (four hours is a long time to go between feedings).  I was trying to work it out but feeling okay with waiting a month or two to start.

Then comes the little girl pictured above.  She lives next door to us and is sweet as can be.  Last week sometime I was outside watching Alaina play with her older sisters and she came up to me and starting talking (in Bahasa Indonsia, of course).  I didn't understand a thing.  But she just kept talking.  And then she would look at me in a dissappointed way because I was not responding to her.  She would ask me questions and all I could do was stare blankly at her.  She went from looking confused to looking sad.  She just thought I was ignoring her!  Since she is so young I couldn't even attempt to tell her "I only speak English."  As she kept talking and kept looking sad my heart just broke.  I eventually just had to walk away and go inside because I knew it wasn't registering with her that I COULDN'T talk with her. My heart was broken too.

And so I decided that any and all obstacles would be removed from my path and I WOULD start language school as soon as possible.  As soon as possible meant this week (a new session starts once a month). I found a ride for Caleb, am coming home during my break to feed Katelynn, and now am completely immersed in a language that I don't understand, but hopefully soon will.

Class runs for four hours every day and works in one-month units (yes, Vicki and Kelly, IMLAC opened a satellite campus out here in Kota Baru...please tell me that I CAN do this!)  It is intense, but thankfully Bahasa Indonesia is supposed to be one of the easiest languages in the world to learn.  I have my doubts about *my* ability and am convinced I will be the *one* person that this program doesn't work for, but I will be plugging away, trying to make sense of it all.

The whole program goes for nine months but a lot of people just do the first three months -- it is enough to get through every-day-life kind of stuff.  I haven't made a decision yet -- we'll just see how it goes.  I want to make sure that my life is balanced...not too much of any one thing. The time away from home (and then the time needed outside of class) will be hard, but oh so worth it. Just look at the sweetness above!

Calendars! Get your calendars!

I  have a tendency to procrastinate. I have been this way since I was little and it is something that I am really trying to work on.  The holiday season is awful for me -- I always say I am going to be like my mom and be DONE shopping by October.  In reality, my last trip to the store us usually on December 24...always a "few things" left to get. 

So, procrastinator that I am, is just giddy to be almost done with my 2009 calendars.  I didn't quite ever start my 2008 ones, so I should receive a gold medal for this one ;) Especially since I finished a regular wall calendar AND two different options for a CD calendar.  No applause necesssary :)

(click to make larger)

And here is one of the pages up close

And then there are the CD calendars.  Yes, I do mean plural :)  I couldn't decide between and "mix and match" kind of style, or one cohesive style.  I like both and will probably gift some of each.

And here is YOUR chance to make your own!  One thing that I love about the wall calendar set is that there are 12 different page options.  The date overlays are separate .png files so that YOU can choose which page style fits best with which month and the pictures you have.  You can truly make it yours.

Why not get started on your calendars this weekend?? GET YOURS NOW.

____

I, however, am thankful that my calendars are done because this weekend is jam-packed.  Well, at least until tomorrow afternoon.  It has been a logistical nightmare trying to work everything out when there are six people who need to be in many different places at the same time and none of us have transportation.  I *think* we have it all sorted, so hopefully it will all go smoothly. 

The other people...

...in my family

I have shared quite a bit over the last few weeks about how I was doing, but not so much on everyone else in the family.  So, here’s an update.  I’ll go youngest to oldest, because, well, that’s how things always went in my family :)

KATELYNN:  My sweet, sweet little one.  Love this girl!  She turned six months on Saturday and I am torn between being sad that all the little-baby time is gone and being excited that all the “other” stuff is beginning.  I love watching as little personalities emerge.

Katelynn LOVES people...as long as someone is right in her face, she is happy and smiles non-stop. This, of course, delights all the Indonesians who can’t get over how “fat” she is and how happy.  Our Ibu loves her to pieces.

She still isn’t huge fan of solids but is taking sweet potato without too much of a fuss.  She also got her hands on a dinner roll last night and she just shoved it in her mouth.  She still doesn’t take a bottle, and other that she thinking biting me is something to smile about, I don’t mind.

LEVI:  Oh my sweet, sweet, little goofy, antagonistic Levi.  I ADORE this boy...so much more than words can say.  He just has the sweetest and most hilarious personality.  Currently his favorite things to do are: 1) repeat the words, “I neeeeed you” all day long, 2) play with this deck of I spy cards (he carries them around everywhere with him and especially loves the two frogs and the two puppies)

 3) going with mom to pick up Caleb from school, and reading book.  Lots of books.  He is amazing us with his vocabulary and his insistance on telling us who or what is to blame when he gets hurt.  “Cabe did it.”  “Window did it.”  “Floor did it.” 

CALEB: There are no words to describe this boy -- he is his own little person and each of his little quirks becomes more endearing to me every day.  To my surprise, he is LOVING school. He especially loves “playing basketball,” which is what he says when he talks about PE class (funny, since they don't actually play basketball in preschool PE).  He insists on his PE hat being cocked to the side.  Soooo adorable!

 

He also LOVES LOVES LOVES our Ibu.  When his teacher asks him what makes him happy, he says, "Ibu."  When we get to the house and she isn't there he says, "Where is Ibu?"  I tell him she went home."  Then he says, "But I miss her." Funny thing is, he doesn't actually interact that much with her when he is home.  He does, though, like to help her clean.

We are going through some other stuff with Cabe right now -- we finally feel that we are on the right track to understand a lot of his developmental problems and other quirks.  It has been an amazing few months where feel like we are finally understanding our son and learning what makes him tick.  I will share more in the coming weeks -- way too much for this post. I will say that he is one AMAZING kid and he is accomplishing so much!

ALAINA:  Oh where did my sweet baby girl go??  She is not a baby in any way -- she is a young girl starting to be a bigger girl.  She is smart, responsible, outgoing, fun loving, kooky, and incredibly thoughtful.  She has her moments of being whiny and impatient, too, but I fear the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree on that one :)

To no surprise, she just LOVES school.  Her teacher tells me she is always the first (and often the only) one to answer questions.  She is enjoying reading, PE, and her one-on-one tutoring in Indonesian class.  She is also SUPER excited to start violin lessons soon at a local music school.

When she isn’t at school (which I realize isn’t very much -- she is gone from 7:30-3:30 and then goes to bed by 7:00 pm!) she loves to go to the playground, work on “homework,” and play with the neighbor girls next door.  The two older ones speak some English and she has a grand ‘ol time playing jump rope with them. 

She is also really happy to have another “yellow haired” girl in her class -- a new family just came last week and they have three blondies. She loves to make up games for her and her brothers to play.  Every morning the three of them play outside in the front yard.  I just love to watch them.

JASON:  He is really enjoying his work and I am so proud of him for all he does.  He manages a full teaching load as well as athletic director duties.  And on top of that he does his best to come home at 3:30 each day and spend quality time with the kids. I love seeing all the fun and creative stuff he is doing with his classes and was impressed that he even thought to take his camera in one day!  I’ve trained him well ;)

And as for me, I am doing well.  Keeping busy and LOVING my new role as "just" a mommy.  I am finding so much enjoyment from taking care of my little ones and the house, cooking, taking the kids to the pool, and just taking a rest from the past few really busy years.

AND I am happy to report that after six weeks in Indonesia I have found a decent place to get a piece of pizza...even if they do think that I might want to add chili sauce to my left overs.