Family Update

Well its been a few months.  I am now 25 weeks pregnant with our 3rd and final child.  It's a Boy!  His name will be Lucas Michael De Gorostiza.  Alan is excited because he got to pick the name.  Katie was a bit upset at finding out we were having a boy and went through I do not like boys stage.  Two days ago she told me and Alan that she loves boys now and loves Lucas.  She loves to tell him stories and give lots of hugs and kisses.  Alan is excited about getting a baby brother and cannot wait to meet him.  My husband is excited about our growing family is wanting to be home so bad with us.  He just has over 3 months left on his deployment then we will see him again.  I am hoping he will make it to the birth of Lucas if not my mom will be here.  My mom is the best.  I love how much I can depend on her and I love the way she listens.  She is the best mother anyone could have.  She has given up so much of herself to helping others and I admire her for that.  As a mom, I had the best role model anyone could have asked for. She taught me strength and gave me courage which helped so much.  I am so glad that she taught me to never give up no matter what others say.  Will be glad to have her here for a month with us.  The kids are so excited that Granny is coming to stay with us.  They would love it if she would move in with us but I think her husband would not like that very much.

As far as the kids go they are doing great.  They are staying busy and keeping Taxi mom busy too.  Alan has adjusted well to his new school and has made many friends.  He is 6 now and loves 1st grade.  His teacher is a wonderful person and I love how cooperative and communicative she is.  It's nice to have someone who wants the best for Alan as much as I do.  Alan is playing soccer now and doing awesome.  He is aggressive in a good way and gets that ball.  He has scored several times over the season and I just love it that he loves playing soccer.  He started Taekwondo in September and loves it.  I am so happy he loves it.  I thought he would not like it but again he shocked me and loves it.  He wants to do Boy Scouts too but I told him lets wait till we move to Virginia and he and his dad can do that together.  I do not believe I would like to go camping in a tent pregnant.  I would do it but it would be nice for him and his dad to have something to themselves.   Again, Alan is doing awesome.  Report cards come out next week and then I have a conference with his teacher.  The teacher said he is doing great which is all I need to hear.

Now my little princess.  She is 4 now and a little princess she is.  I would have loved our baby whether its a boy or a girl but when the sonographer said its a boy I was even happier.  Once princess is enough in the family.  She is the perfect middle child too.  I know its a stage at least I hope it is with all the drama but I love her so much.  She is such a big help to me and I know when the baby comes she will be even a bigger help.  Alan will help too but she is such a little mommy.  She takes care of her brother and I a lot.  As for school, we just had a conference with both her teachers and they both say she is doing well and should have no issues starting kindergarten next year.  Moving to VA, next year will allow her to start Kindergarten unlike here in SC she could not.  I think she is ready and she is all ready talking about how much fun it will be.  My kids truly love school which is nice.  Katie also plays soccer and is taking Ballet and Tap.  She is doing well in both and just loves to dance.  I am hoping when we move we can find the same avenues for both kids.

We have had a rough week last week and I am hoping this one continues to be a good one.  So far so good.  I am doing good.  I actually got involved in Alan's school with helping a new friend with the carnival.  It was a lot of fun but tiring.  The school did extremely well on the fundraising and I am glad I was a part of it even though it was a small part.  I love being involved in the kids school.  I am hoping Alan's teacher will allow me to come in and volunteer some time in the classroom.  I just love seeing my son learn and interact with all his peers.  It is so rewarding seeing how far he has come.  I cannot believe we are coming up on 4 years since Alan's diagnosis.  Everyday I wake up I thank God that he has made such a huge improvement.  He has worked so hard to be where he is today.  He is the hardest working child I have ever seen and has an abundance of joy and energy to keep going.  By the end of the school year we have decided to end ABA for him and let him just be a kid.  I am hoping we can stop Speech as well.  I was told almost 4 years ago that he might never talk or function as an individual and now he just simply amazes me.  To go from hearing that to hearing he will be able to function as an individual just makes me ecstatic.  I remember that day when the doctor said that and I turned to her and said you do not know my son or my family.  He will rise above this and he will talk, socialize, play, and function as an individual.  We will never give up on that.  Of course he went a little faster than I could keep up with.  He took off like a comet and has not stopped yet.  I know he will continue to fly and will continue to shock me but I love it every time I get that little surprise.  

Open House

Well we attended the Open House at Howe Hall AIMS.  I really love the school and everything they do there.  Alan was super excited about meeting his teacher and seeing his classroom.  He was a bit shy but not as bad as I thought it would be.  He did say hi and at the end said by and would see his teacher next week on his birthday.   I really like his new teacher and feel this year is going to be awesome.  As long as he is excited and ready I am.  Going to miss having my kiddos around all day but Alan loves school so much it would be shame to keep him home.

I also went to Katie's school and met both her teachers.  I really like them both and feel she is going to have a great time this year.  We have her meet the teacher tomorrow morning and hopefully she will not be too shy.

Been Awhile

Well let's say it has been quite a while since I posted on my blog.  Lots of things have happened.  We are still living in Charleston, SC until the end of the school year.  Currently selling our home which is not going so well but I am sure we will sell it eventually.  Other than that we are doing great.

I am currently 14 weeks pregnant with our 3rd child and due February 2, 2012.  Alan and Katie are excited and both are looking forward to their new baby brother or sister.  Alan wants a brother and Katie wants a sister.  I am sure they will be happy with either one.  Alan has decided on two names Ethan or Lucas and Katie has decided on Joy or Ally.  Of course we parents will choose the final name but at least they get a say in the choices.

Alan is doing great in everything.  He still continues at home ABA and speech and doing awesome.  We are hoping one more year and he will be finished with both.  He will be attending an Art Infused school this year which we are totally excited about.  It's a lottery school and his number was not picked during the drawing in May 2011.  I received a call on our way home from vacation in June saying there was a spot open and of course I took it.  His best friend also got in as well so that will make the transition go smoothly.  He will be in Mrs. Miles 1st grade classroom.  He is fully mainstreamed with only pull outs for speech.  So excited that we dropped all other services and moved them to indirect for the teacher and to keep an eye on his progress.  He is super excited about the new school and his new teacher.  We go tomorrow to open house and he keeps saying he is so excited to meet his teacher.  So happy he is taking this big change with ease.  Other than that he is doing awesome.  Writing and reading up a storm.  We started the Magic Tree House books and we are on #10.  He loves these books.  I cannot believe how much he has grown and improved.  He is turning 6 next week on the 16th.  We are throwing him a Star Wars Water Slide Party.  Again he is super excited.  I am such a lucky mom to have such a wonderful loving son.

Katie is doing great too.  She is starting school on Monday and will be attending St. Timothy's 5 days a week.  Trying to prepare her for Kindergarten next year.  We might be moving north and she can attend Kindergarten because their age cut-off is September 30th.  My baby girl is turning 4 on September 10th.  I have no idea where the time has gone to.  She is doing great.  She is into Barbie's right now and really excited about the baby.  I am such a lucky mom to have such a wonderful daughter.  She has been a blessing.  Even though she has her Princess moments on a daily basis but that is just a girl thing.  Not looking forward to the teen years but I am sure she will keep us busy.

I am going to end my blog.  I could probably go on and on about everything that has happened in the last few months but I won't.  The summer was awesome.  We did so many new things and it was so nice to enjoy everyone one of them.  The only drawback is my husband is not here to enjoy them with us due to his deployment.  Such a wonderful and devoted Daddy.  We miss him everyday and look forward to the homecoming.  We love you!

Katie's Show Day at the Little Gym

Well my daughter finished her 20 week class at the Little Gym just like her brother.  She has come a long way since starting this class.  She can now do her forward rolls, high balance beam, and high bar.  She can also hang by herself from the bar and put her feet up.  She has also gained confidence in this program and I am looking forward to seeing her start the next class and and learn even more. 

Here she is doing some of her routines:

 

Alan's Show Day at Little Gym

Alan received a medal after his 20 week class at the Little Gym.  When we first started at Little Gym he had a hard time attending, following directions, and usually went off by himself.  I watched over the last 20 weeks how much Alan improved in these skills.  He attended and listened very well.  He stayed with the group about 99% of the time.  He enjoyed himself and interacted well with his peers.  He became confident in himself with all the routines that he teacher taught him.  It still amazes me to remember when we first put him in a class like this at Gymboree where he always wanted to be by himself and never participated with the other children.  Now he is becoming a little social butterfly.

On Show day, January 15, 2011, Alan surprised me yet again.  He usually gets really shy or shuts down when a lot of attention is brought to him but he did awesome this day.  He came running in when his name was called and showed all the parents his favorite move which was a forward roll.  He then proceeded to each station show me and everyone else in the room what he could do.  I was so proud of him.  I am proud of him either way but it brings joy to my heart to see him just fly.

Here he is with all his friends doing a train while holding on to each others ankles. 

Here he is doing his high bar routine.  Loves the height.

Doing his balance beam routine.

Here is his class with his teachers.  He loves both his teacher especially Ms. Gabby who is next to him.

He will be starting Karate next week at the Little Gym.  I am hoping he takes to this so we can put him at a regular Karate place.  I think it will really help him build up that confidence.

January 2011

Well its a new year and I am looking forward to it.  Alan has been talking up a storm which is great.  He talks a mile a minute as they say.  He loves to say my name over and over and over again, did I mention he loves to say my name again and again.  While sitting at my computer he has said my name at least 10 times and I just sat down.  I love it and so happy he talks to me.  It is great to watch both of my children play together.  I love their pretend play.  It does not make sense to me at all but they play so well together.  I only have to break them up once or twice a day but that's typical.  Alan was recently diagnosed with mild asthma and the doctor feels its due to this bad winter we are having.  She put him on medication and he has stopped coughing and sleeping so much better.  I hope this 7-day treatment works he he can stop the medications.  He surprises me every time.  Due to his oral sensory issues he still has problems tolerating certain foods and objects on his face.  So when the doctor prescribed a nasal spray I thought for sure he would bolt at it but nope after a few days he now asks for his nose medicine.  He says "It makes my nose feel better".  Now he asks for his "breathing treatment" to help his cough.  He tolerates the mask very well which shocked me, but that's Alan always a surprise.  I just love him so much and so happy of all the progress he has made. 

My daughter is doing great and she has been a great help with us all.  She keeps us on our toes and is a joy to watch and be with.  She is an awesome sister to Alan and a great little girl to us. 

We have decided to try and have another baby.  We have been debating this for a while because we wanted to make sure Alan would be okay.  I did not want to have another baby if Alan or Katie needed more attention.  So, now that Alan is doing great and Katie is doing really good we have decided to add one more child to our family.  I am super excited about having one more baby.  I think three is a perfect number.  Alan wants a baby brother and Katie wants a baby sister. I am sure they will love him or her either way.  I cannot wait to see their reaction when we bring a baby home.  Not pregnant yet but we are planning and looking forward to it. 

Joe is currently in pre-deployment stages so its going to be hard over the next year with the kids missing their daddy and I missing my husband but we just have one more year and we are done with the ship.  I am hoping this next year goes fast and we get to be a family again in the same house and state.  Looking forward to moving to a new place.  I am hoping we get Dallas, Texas since that will put us closer to family and closer to where we want to retire.  Not looking forward to seeing the kids lose their friends but we will make more and that will be a good experience for them.  I will make it a grand adventure for the kids and try and make it as exciting as possible. 

Well thanks for reading and take care,

Ketzie