Pencil Me In

I don't know how you other Mamas get the job done, but I have found that I cannot get through the week without my planner.  There is no way I would have made it the past three years without it.  It helps me keep track of all of Jude's appointments and therapies which DOUBLED as of yesterday completely over loading my September calendar.  There are appointments and therapies penciled in EVERYWHERE.  **One thing I have learned is to never ink in any of Jude's appointments in my planner unless I wanted to own stock in White Out.

But the plans of the LORD stand firm forever, the purpose of his heart through all generations.  
Psalm 33:11


In October, my sweet Baby Jude (as so many of you and my family members call him) will be turning THREE!!  Well up to that point he has been receiving therapy services free from the state known as Early Steps.  However, once he's three, he will "age out" of the program and the school system will then take over.  This is going to be a little hard for this Mama because I love all of Jude's therapists through the program and will hate to say goodbye.  I have also heard that therapy through the school system is not rehabilitative therapy, which is what Jude needs.  To add to this, I've talked with someone from our school system and the Family Service Coordinators are misinforming a lot of parents.  You see, I was informed by my FSC that when Jude ages out of Early Steps that he will be able to immediately start preschool and receive his services at the school and choose between a 2-5 day-whole or half day program.  NOT SO... at least not in my school district.  Jude will receive homebound services until he turns 4 by the cut off date which is September 30th.  Well, Jude's birthday is October 12th.  So that means that Jude will be almost 5 when he will start preschool = TWO YEARS AWAY.

Now I am not in any rush to send my baby off to school, but I do think a half day educational program somewhere with other children would greatly benefit his development.   I have him on a waiting list at the LSU Speech and Language Preschool, which would be the perfect preschool for Jude.  It is taught by Speech Therapist in graduate school.  Which means that the teachers aren't there to babysit and get a pay check; they are being heavily graded.  But Jude is still a little young for the school, so we would have to rely on our school system to fill in the gap with their therapies.

Well, for those who don't know me, this Mama doesn't like to rely on the unknown.  Therefore, Lane and I have decided to take Jude back to private therapy (therapy that you or your insurance pays for) at Woman's.

This week Jude was evaluated for Speech, Physical, and Occupational therapy.  We were so blessed to get all of his same therapists he had before.  So we will start next week with therapies through Early Steps and private therapy at Woman's.  Once Jude ages out of Early Steps we will try to schedule each therapy twice a week and see how he handles that.  We will also add in aquatic therapy which he will LOVE.  And that is the plan until the end of the year.

All of Jude's therapists remarked on how much progress he has made since seeing them last.  They also remarked that his personality is much stronger and more outgoing.  Which is a plus and a minus for them because he will now throw temper tantrums when he doesn't want to work or things aren't going his way.  It's definitely going to be interesting.

We will also be getting a new piece of equipment that will teach Jude to walk.  It is called a Gait Trainer.  I'm sure he'll hate it at first, but once he sees the benefit of getting around, he will grow to love it.  That is our problem with walking.  Sure, Jude is not quite strong enough yet, but he resists his leg strengthening exercises because walking holds no value to him.  So hopefully this will help out.

Well that's it for now...   I just wanted to give you a quick update on Jude's current social life ;-)  I hope y'all have a wonderful day.

XOXO,
Angel

FALL in love...with Gatlinburg!!

Now that summer is officially over, it is time to get in that fall frame of mind.  My personal favorite time of the year..  (my hubby even claims that I love him more in the fall)  Well.. if you are a fellow Louisiana resident, you know there ain't nothin fall about this weather.  But thanks to fellow blogger Kellie of This Blessed Nest,  I am inspired to resist this Louisiana heat and start celebrating fall with her during her Fall Festival..  (Check it out by just clicking on the button to your right.)  So in response to her call to all who love fall, I will be making a series of posts as to why I (and the rest of the family) love fall.

I love fall because you get to take beautiful fall vacations like the one my family and I took to Gatlinburg, Tennessee last year.

I had never been to the Smokey Mountains, and I must tell you: I WILL go back!

Every place we went was decorated from top to bottom in autumn decor providing plenty of beautiful photo opportunities...  a scrapbooker's dream.  I even managed to get from behind the camera and in front of it.  A feat nearly impossible for a mom ;-)

I just loved this photograph of Jude with the pumpkins.  He had just started sitting unassisted and that made taking random pictures of him so much fun.  And a Christmas tree made of pumpkins..  who thinks of these things.  I guess only Dollywood during the Harvest Festival.  It was beautiful... decorated with fall foliage and pumpkins and gourds everywhere.

Not only were the attractions decorated, but the whole town was in full Harvest Festival swing.  There were beautiful trees of red and gold all along the quaint streets of Gatlinburg.  I just loved parking and walking up and down the streets to see everything and visit all the boutiques.

There were activities for every family member, including my courageous husband who went zip lining.  I love this picture of him zipping through the trees.

I loved taking pictures of all the rustic churches and wooden farmhouses bordered by beautiful fall leaves.  I by no means claim to have any type of photography skills, but I thought these pictures came out gorgeous!

You can't go to Gatlinburg without going to Cade's Cove, or so I'm told.  The pictures we got from there were beyond gorgeous.  I hope to go back to Gatlinburg soon.  It was a great time with family members we adore and had a blast with.  And the perfect fall vacation.  It's easy to FALL in love with Gatlinburg.

Well.. that was the brief tour of one of the reasons I love fall so much.  I'm obsessed with it as you'll see throughout the future posts.

XOXO,

Angel

making a SPLASH

I cannot believe that September is almost here!  I must admit that I am kind of sad to say farewell to summer.  Even though we didn't travel much, it was still a fun summer.  Thanks to Lane (and our awesome family), the backyard became the ultimate Watts vacay hotspot!!   Jude spent lots of time this summer in his little splash pool, and we enjoyed watching him have a blast.

The baby pool, or toddler pool I should say, was a fantastic Christmas present from Lane's parents.  It was a perfect summer activity for Jude, especially since the pool had a large canopy to protect our little fair redhead from the harsh Louisiana sun.  

On a side note...  I know I have mentioned this before, but I had never really wanted a redheaded child with fair skin.  But since I love Jude and all that he is SO MUCH, I also love his auburn hair and fair complexion.  I hope the rest of our children will be blessed with such beauty.

We weren't the only ones that enjoyed our favorite vacay spot.  My parents and nephew came to visit for a cookout.  With the economical purchase of a $5 slip and slide, our backyard was a happening little water park.  Jude and Seth played and splashed while we barbecued.  

Summer is a gift to us given by God...

Thou hast set all the borders of the earth: thou hast made summer and winter.
Psalms 74:17 

Jude loves the water, and I will miss watching him SPLASH and play!

Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you.

Ezekiel 36:25 

Don't worry!  I will not be sad for long.  I know that with the new seasons will come new memories and awesome experiences.  And just like I know autumn and winter are on the way, I also know that spring and summer will return because He promised!

While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.
Genesis 8:22

Hugs and Kisses,

Angel