Nathan is doing so well! He is almost done with first grade. He does complain it's too easy and he gets bored but still he is doing well. He seems to be getting along with most of the kids at school and has made several friends. He sort of has had a bit of a fall back when it comes to physical therapy. This last report was not as good as his reports have been. His main areas that he lacks in are coordination and balance. He can't throw a ball the way a boy his age should and he can't seem to kick a rolling ball and his balance is not so good.
But we have had victories! Nathan is riding a bike! This is huge! Nathan could not ride a traditional bike. He was not able to balance, pedal, and steer. It was too much to do with his lack of motor skills. But I found a really cool tricycle and now he is zipping around and so proud of himself! So no, it's not an official bike but this proud momma doesn't care! Close enough!
Nathan's progress in the last few years is such that many say they can't even tell he has Aspergers anymore. That is great but trust me... he has it. :) I am glad people "can't tell" but believe me if you were with him all the time you would notice. Just recently he was playing with two boys in the yard and after yelling at them about rules and changing the rules and then threatening to "tell" on them they kids decided they'd had enough and left. Nathan then came and asked me if he could go to their yard!
I explained that the boys left because they didn't like the way he was playing. His reply, "Right, so I will go to their yard." I again explained nicely they left because they didn't like the way he was playing and that he was being a little mean. His reply? "I know so I will go play with them in their yard."
My reply, "Nathan, you don't understand that they don't want to play with you."
He thought this over and replied, "That's why I will go to their yard."
So yes, he is smart and lovable but social things don't make much sense to him.
He brought me a fake flower from school and he said, "Everyone threw theirs out but I gave mine to you."
I said, Oh Nathan! Thank you for thinking of me! How sweet. I love it! So nice for you to think of your mommy."
Nathan said, "Yeah well, I wasn't thinking about you. I didn't know what to do with it so I gave it to you." Ha ha! Oh well!
He has been more affectionate lately. I'm getting more hugs which is so nice!
Nathan's new obsession is chess. He talks about it, plays it on his phone, plays it at Chess club, and plays it with a glass chess set.
Another victory is has been a little more affectionate to me lately. He especially enjoys texting my mom and he seems to really open up with her and tell her how he feels.
Lately he has been doing this strange clap in his sisters face and I have asked him repeatedly to stop and finally I said, "Why do you keep doing that when I asked you to stop?"
He surprised me by saying, "I know I am not supposed to but I can't help it. My Aspergers makes me do it."
Now whether or not that is true or he was trying to get out of a punishment I don't know but he has never said something like that before.
Emma Grace is five and turning six this summer. She is spirited and strong willed and loves to dance and sing.
Emma loves to be a little mommy to Katelyn and Katelyn even calls Emma "Em Mom" sometimes. Ha ha! She is helpful and imaginative. She doesn't watch much TV. She'd rather play with her toys, her friends, or go outside. She is always on the go and sometimes she reminds me so much of myself when I was her age.
Katelyn is 14 months old now! That is crazy! I remember when I could hold her with one hand because she was so small. Now she is on the go. She loves yogurt, she loves when her brother and sister come home from school and she loves any visitors! She is definitely a very social baby. She listens very well and seems bright for her age. She responds to most things we say and surprises us at how much she understands. Her obsession is Mickey Mouse. She likes to watch a Mickey show every morning while I have my coffee. She is definitely a joy even when teething makes her cranky.
Me? I still love to cook and bake. Though lately I am trying to be a little more careful and get rid of the rest of this baby weight! I haven't had much time to write. This blog alone has taken me 2 days to write and several sessions. But when I saw someone "liked" my blog on Pinterest I thought I'd better update it! I still teach Sunday school and our yard always seems filled with children. This has given us the opportunity to take a couple of these kids to church with us.
\\Lately I feel like I have really fallen into motherhood. I know... Nathan is 7 and so by now I should have already done this right? But now I feel like I am a more confidant mother. I trust my instincts, I am not afraid of a little crying when Katelyn is trying to soothe herself to sleep. I feel like I am enjoying being a mother now more than ever.
I am striving hard to enjoy every moment and understanding I can't really enjoy ALL the moments. I love to be a mom but I don't love the dirty diapers and the crying. I don't love teething and I don't look foward to potty trainging another child. But I really have fallen into motherhood....finally.. ha ha!
I am still nursing Katelyn in the morning and at night. Some days I say, "Ok, she is too old and I am done with this. I don't want to nurse anymore." Other days I say, "Well, it's good for her, helps me burn calories, and soothes her when she is so upset so why not a little longer?" I feel like society in general thinks it's weird to breastfeed and even weirder to breastfeed after 12 months but I don't care. With Nathan and Emma I would have cared. I would have scoured the internet and asked friends and doctors but now I am more confidant in my skills as a mom.
I am not a supermom. I end many of my days going to bed at 9:30 exhausted! I lose my patience and I sometimes I yell. But I am trying, like all us moms, to do this right thing.
Chris is doing well and busier than ever at work. It's nice to have him work from home. I make him his lunch and tea and I enjoy having sometime to talk to when he comes up for his lunch.
I think that is enough of an update! I will try harder to keep this blog updated but some days... :)
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