The Christmas Train

Close to Pryor, OK is a little place called Dry Gulch where they have a Christmas train every year. A friend at work told me about it, so we went last Saturday. It's a neat little place, and we enjoyed it! The train takes you from the story of creation through Christ's resurrection. Then, Tori got to ride a carousel and a pony, we rode in a horse-drawn carriage, and the kiddos got to visit Santa. Adrion was not intimidated at all by his first encounter with big scary Santa! Tori and Adrion have actually seen Santa twice already--here and at G's work. They'll probably see him at least two more times still before Christmas...I can't remember that many Santas being around when I was a kid!

Here's me, Tori, and Adrion with the train lit up in the background.

Here's Tori telling Santa she wants "Fur-Real" Smores pony that "eats a carrot, moves her head up and down, and combs her hair really pretend". This was news to me and G who were under the impression she was not interested in this pony. Needless to say, we revamped the Santa list.

Here's my G and my little man sporting their stylin' winter hats.

Here we all are on the train.

And I just like this one...the roses in the background are from G for our 10-year anniversary! Love you, my G.

And tonight Tori and I are off to see the wizard with my drama kids! The season is getting busy!

10 Years

Yesterday was mine and Garon's 10-year anniversary! We had reservations at a cottage in Eureka Springs that I'd made several months ago. However, when the time came, I wasn't ready to leave Adrion, so we sent my parents in our stead! So, they are up there now, and I hope they are having a wonderful time!

We opted for dinner and a movie rental. Thanks to Nonna and Pops for keeping Adrion and Candace for keeping Tori, we enjoyed a yummy dinner at the Ribeye then came home with our movies. It was nice! I love my Garon so much! Our 10 years have been very roller-coastery with the challenges life has given (and some that we have chosen), but through everything our love has always been the one solid piece. I am so thankful and blessed. I love you, G.

9 months old

Today is Adrion's 9 month, Pops's 56th, and Emma's 3rd birthday! Adrion's most recent accomplishment is pulling up to stand. He started trying about a week ago, and now he's a pro! Here he is two different times that I found him standing this morning... :)

And here he is just being cute.

Buzzing Tori's Brain

One of Tori's favorite games to play with her animals is to "buzz their brains". I'm not exactly sure what that means, but Tori says it means they're dead, so they buzz their brains. Hmmm....anyway, Tori got her brain buzzed finally, too. She had her EEG a couple of weeks ago, and it was a little abnormal in the right frontal lobe. I'm not exactly sure what that means either except that that's the lobe that deals with communication and sensory stuff--interesting since those are Tori's main difficulties. Anyway, we are now headed to Little Rock on Friday for an MRI. She will be sedated and get an IV for the "contrast" imaging. I don't know what result will come from the testing, but I'll be glad to just make sure that everything physically is okay. So keep us in your prayers!

Halloweeny Pics

Adrion's 2 teeth as promised...

Enjoying his first pumpkin full of Halloween candy...

Supergirl (with fangs) and Yoda :)

My Bitin' Baby

Shortly after Adrion hit his 8 month mark, he cut his second tooth. His first seemed to make no difference in any way, but when that second one came through--man! All of a sudden he was a biter! One of his favorite snacks now is pretzels. He likes the stick kind to hold in his little fists and gnaw into stubs.

Other things he's doing--sitting, waving hi and bye (shocking to me b/c Tori was so much later doing that), constantly saying "bwap", and GROWING! He's 19 1/2 pounds now.

Something he's NOT doing anymore--nursing. I'm proud we made it to 8 months, but when in came the biting, out went the nursing! :)

Here's my sweet little man! This pic was actually taken right at 7 months, so I'll have to post a two-toof pic next time...

Restless

So we're working on the best direction for Tori. Because of that, I'm waiting on a few different things to happen:

• UAMS in Lowell is supposed to be calling to schedule an EEG (hope I got that right--it's the brain scan) to make sure she isn't having petit mal seizures when she "zones out".


• I'm waiting on the OT at County Line to re-evaluate.


• I'm waiting on UAMS in Little Rock to schedule a developmental eval. (Right now, Tori's diagnosis is educational only, but I want a medical diagnosis as well for the sake of some extra things that necessitate the medical community's involvement.)


• I'm waiting for December so that I can send Tori to Alma where there is extensive knowledge/training/implementation of services for kids on the Autism spectrum. Because of school laws from the state and district, that's the soonest I can move her. (I won't elaborate on why because it infuriates me and I'll get mean.)

Needless to say, all of the waiting has me restless. Meanwhile, I have to try to focus on the 80 students that file in and out of my door each day and try to keep a heart for that purpose, too. After having to deal with my district on this whole new level special-ed-wise with Tori, I have become very discontent. There are major holes in the system, and students are falling through the cracks.

I'm trying, though, to be still. All of these things are out of my control. I have done all that I can for the moment, so I have to practice patience--a fruit of the spirit that was not built into my DNA...and not only that--I have to keep serving the kids I've been given the very best that I can.

I'm just trusting God to show us the way. Wherever he leads, I will follow. And Garon is my rock. We love each other, and we love our kids, and that's all that matters in the end. I'm so thankful for my life and all of its blessings, so I'm done worrying for the moment. One of my students made me a picture last week that said "There are plenty of things to think about, but nothing to worry about". :) To end tonight, here's a picture of our Gabby with not a care in the world...