Summer ramblings.....

I have been promising a run down of our summer trip & ventures.....so here goes the shortened version (& I apologize for the delay).
We left for Texas June 23 driving almost to Nashville. The kids did so good. We were do thankful to have Grammy riding w/ us as she kept Hayden entertained---she insisted on sitting beside him, passing him books, puzzles, toys, snacks, showing Hayden 'big trucks'---& there were LOTS of them! Our travels took us on through Tennessee & Arkansas Wednesday. Shayla especially enjoyed the hotel pool. We made it to Texas Thursday afternoon, grateful to see my grandma who was quite sick & my cousin who was getting married.
It was a good to be w/ family, spend time w/ my grandmother & try to relax while being helpful to my aunt & her family.
The wedding was beautiful on Saturday night---but oh so hot!

We left for Alabama on Tuesday morning driving through Texas, & Louisiana, stopping at the edge of Mississippi/Alabama. We made it to our friends house early Wednesday afternoon--our kids were happy to spend time at a 'kids house' complete w/ sandbox, tree-house, swimming pool. It was so good to spend several days w/ our good friends in Alabama relaxing & being lazy. We REALLY didn't want to leave on Saturday. But I had to be back at work on Monday, so we left. We managed to drive ALL the way home---it was a 12'ish hour drive home, & we made it!! The kids made, but just barely, :).

No time was wasted as the following Tuesday Hayden started into his summer school program. He did really good enjoying the continuity/consist routine for a month of summer school. We have struggled the past several weeks w/out school, augh! But thankfully, school resumes next week.

Shayla has enjoyed a completely carefree summer. She has been camping w/ friends, mastered riding her bike, become a 'brown bug' i.e. gotten a tan to die for :) & loves staying up last & sleeping in too. She is now having troubles getting in the school mood---early to bed & early up.

Each evening we are outside running off steam. Hayden has been ping ponging more. We tried taking him off one of his seizure meds, but that wasn't successful; not to mention he was WILD, more than usual! So he is back on that med. & his behavior is some better or at least more tolerable. Hayden is climbing all over & up things---NOTHING is safe, he is consistently wanting us to swing him by his legs. One good thing Hayden is sleeping in his own bed, wahoo---but most nights he wakes once or more, that is hard but he is in his own bed & we are happy about that!

We are starting the search for a new doctor for Hayden...we need one who will be there more for him & us. This past year I have done a lot of the leg work---I've played mom, nurse (which I am by profession), doctor in some ways & advocate. I just want to be mom & advocate not having to do all the leg work, etc. It was a major act to get a test ordered & completed this past week, augh! I don't like it; I want the doctor's to do the ordering & making sure all parts in place...so we are going to make sure this next doctor is on the same page as we are.

Tomorrow Hayden turns 3! I can hardly believe our baby is going to be three. It has been an amazing year....we have had lots of struggles, many hard weeks but we hung in there & Hayden is an amazing little boy---he has taught us so much & opened so many hearts this year. I still stand in awe that we were chosen to be his parents----thank you A & A for your gift to us!!

Pictures later---it's late & the camera need downloading, but my eyes are ready for night-night.
xoxo, Amy