Next...

The hearing screen was just...neat! The audiologist put Jacob and I in a little room with speakers on the right and left sides of the room. On top of the speakers were these black Plexiglas boxes. The one on the left had a duckie and the one on the right had a doggie. Momma had to be very quiet and a sound came through like thunder, they judged his reactions and either the duckie or the doggie would move. They kept doing the left, but he wanted to see the doggie. Jacob was a very good boy though!

She also repeated a test that was done in our pediatricians office. I can't remember the name of it...

According to the Audiologist, Jacob's receptive hearing is good. She said she was a little surprised based on this other test that I can't remember the name of. She said it's his expressive or communicative hearing that needs some work. They will send these results back to our pediatrician and his office will be contacting us to schedule the referral to the ENT.

I also spoke to Early On this morning. They also found Jacob's expressive communication to be a little delayed. They are coming out on Thursday 1/31 at 3PM to establish an "Individualized Family Service Plan" with us. Translation: he does qualify for services at this time. I don't know if they will be coming out to work with him or if they are going to give us exercises to do with him or how it's going to work. It may also change after we meet with the ENT.

My Jacob was a trooper today. I was so proud. The Audiologist gave him a puppy sticker that he's proudly wearing on his sweater and he got a lolli-pop from Momma.

I'm okay, he's okay, we're okay. It's not life threatening and he can hear. We'll get through it. We'll do what we have to do. We'll be fine but, if you want to call and talk to us...we'd like that too!

Postponed...

Early On called and left a message - when the public schools are closed, they're closed too. They won't be out today and will reschedule for a later date.

We also heard back from the Dr. today. Jacob has an appointment with an audiologist . It's January 28 at 9:30 AM. I'm very interested in what she's going to do to test a 2 year old!

I just wanna sew, sew, sew...

We had Jacob's recheck with the pediatrician this morning. They checked both ears and there still is fluid - the eardrums appear to be thicker which means fluid is present - right ear was worse than the left. The Dr. is ordering a hearing screen and we'll go from there. Jacob is also 33.5" tall and weighs 28 lbs.

Early On comes back tomorrow afternoon to give their formal report. My instincts are telling me that it will come back just like before - "Yes, he's a little delayed in some things in his age group but, he did score some requirements above his age group therefore we can't help him at this time." I hope my instincts are right.

Both of the boys are much better today. Jeremy worked through his bug by sleeping most of the day. Jacob took a 3 hour nap and seemed to be back on track. When we were at the Dr. today the nurse said that there is a nasty bug going around...just like what we had and that just when you think it's done, it gives you one more punch. Nice.

I ran away for an hour or so yesterday . I hadn't left the house since Friday afternoon and I needed a break from those pukers. I ran to the dollar store for a lap desk for Jacob (he likes having picnics) and down to the fabric store to finish a quilt that my sister's and I started over 2 years ago. I have the quilt blocked, framed, and pinned. I bought my fabric to make the binding while I was out. I have to do the quilting and bind it and she'll be done! Then what can I sew?

I've been a sew-aholic lately. I just want to sew, sew, sew. I want to make more sheets, finish these quilts (I have 3 going BTW), make a baseball quilt and more, more, more. I find myself wandering the fabric stores in a daze - "ooh, look at all the pritty colors..."

Duh, duh, duh, duh, DUH!

This past week I have been nothing but one big DUH! I forgot my niece's birthday. I talked to my mom this morning and then called her back to tell her Happy Birthday. Geez!

I guess you could say I have a few things on my mind: a new job, Jacob's ears, Jacob's evaluation appointments, our lack of a front yard, the means to pay for a new front yard....and more. We're at the tail end of some of it now, and I promise, I'll get my head back straight.

Jacob was sick all of Friday night, through the night, threw up again Saturday AM, and threw up in his bed again last night. He's much more normal today but still isn't eating much. I heard once that the best relief comes once you've given it away. Jeremy wasn't feeling so well when he left for work last night. He started throwing up this morning. I hope I'm not next...

Congratulations to our friends over at Here we go...! Adam Matthew is beautiful!

"It looks like a crime scene... "

The city came and well, they did what I asked...I guess. I don't think we have to worry about anyone not being aware and getting hurt. They did take the broken sidewalk too.

I had the urge to draw a body outline in the sand yesterday. Not resembling a human, of course. Something like a pig or a cow. Why not? It would give everyone that stares as they're driving past a real eyeful.

Jacob's evaluation went well yesterday. They did say his gross motor skills appear to be a little off as he won't kick a ball or stand on one foot. As for his speech - Jacob looked at one of the girls who had put a toy car back into her bag and said "Where's your car?". So much for speech delays! The speech therapist said that she couldn't give us even a guess as the scoring is quite complicated. She did say that every time she has given someone a guess, she's been wrong.

I worked a half day from home yesterday for Jacob's evaluation. I was on the way home from my hair appointment and called home. Jacob had thrown up all over himself and his little boy bed. We cleaned everything up and spent the day cuddling, crying, and throwing up. He didn't sleep well last night. He threw up again this morning. He's napping now and hopefully is better this afternoon.

Oh, what a mess...

I had said earlier that my front yard is gone, I wasn't kidding. I no longer have a front yard. From the curb to the house, all I have is wet clay mud. We lost 2 sections of sidewalk, my tree surround is smushed, my flower beds are destroyed. We don't even have so much as 1 blade of grass left. We're talking rent a bobcat, truck in some dirt, and more grass seed than you have ever seen. Oh, and did I mention, some of our neighbors yard is gone too?

Now - let me say this...Our plumbers were fantastic! They did everything they could. They tried so hard not to damage anything. They worked and dug at the sidewalk and tried to save it but the pipe just wouldn't come loose. Besides, they estimate that we lost hundreds of thousands of gallons of water and a lot of it was in the front yard. When they were digging, they were pulling up buckets of mud and muddy water.

I still have to get a hold of the city to mark or resolve the raised and broken sidewalk. Which they can't do anyway until probably spring - I just don't want someone to trip and lose their teeth! Once the sidewalk is fixed, we will be spending a lot of time putting our yard back together.

**UPDATE** I did contact the city. They are sending a guy out to look at the sidewalk and see what they can do to make people aware. They are going to give or deny us permission to remove 2 trees (I figured, as long as we're all torn up, we might as well get the trees out too!) and they will also work up an estimate to repair our sidewalk. He also said, that since it was our contractor, it's our responsibility. - even the easement. I also have a call in to the plumber to see if they can at least come back and level us out.

If anyone out there can run a bobcat, hold a shovel or a rake, needs firewood, or can volunteer some time to watch a child - your help would be appreciated!

Now for the good news...Lake Harper is GONE! Our basement is almost dry, dry from the lake and dry from the cleaning we had to do after the mud came in.

I am possibly looking at a change in my job. I'm not going to post too many details about it yet. Should your curiosity motivate you to call me, we'll talk about it. I will say that I am excited, it is an advancement, and a change in my merit.

Jacob's big evaluation is tomorrow morning at 11:30. He's been...yesterday my word for it, out of complete frustration was a$$hole...but, let's say just say challenging - for the past 2 days. Very whiny, tantrum-y, going limp, throwing himself on the floor, etc. Very unlike my Jacob. We're hoping 1- that it's frustration from a lack of communication, 2- this bug that he's trying to catch, 3- lack of sleep, 4- the pressure in his ears is bothering, or 5 - all of the above. He's been waking up at 5 or 5:30 AM and takes a short nap, then to bed at 8. I'm crossing my fingers that he cooperates with the therapist...

Oh - and to my very good friend and his wife over at "Here we go..." - I'm praying for a quick and easy delivery of a healthy, beautiful baby and good health for his momma too. Good luck guys!

Big trucks and diggers!

The plumbers are here (and my front yard is gone)! Jacob is having a hard time deciding what to do. They came with 2 big box trucks and then...another flat bed truck came and dropped off a mini-digger! We also bought a Lion King II movie from eBay and we're watching that too. So we go from front window - where the digger is, to the kitchen window for the 1st big truck to the TV to watch the lions. It's a busy, busy day!