wish upon a star....

This week we have been faced with strep, tantrums(notice the "S"),fevers,and demands that are beyond our control. Toddlers are so hard! When you first get married kids sound like such a fabulous idea. Not that I don't love mine dearly, because I do! My point is, do we really know what we are getting in to? There should be a child loaner program. You should have to take each age(birth-18) of child for a day. Then be certified to begin the process of thinking your ready to have a child. I would like to sign my children up for the loaner program, do I have any takers???? Just kidding! Wal-mart is definitely tricky with 2 kids. Matter of fact most things are.  Jack is way to independent, and Wil is in his "heck with you mood!" Always a fun life in the Tanksley house.  Curt does pretty well with Jacks demands until they get way out of control...then he brings in the reigns. That's the military in my husband.  I have "some" patience now since I am a mom. I use to have tons more....ya know BC(before children) It's a holiday weekend, and rather than having a blast, I'm counting the days till schools back in. Wil's been home with strep since mid-week, We as parents need a break, and they as kids appreciate that. I know they do, because at night I run a tape in their room that says" you love time away from mom and dad" over and over. I'm hoping they are learning through osmosis!  

Little piggy

I've been doing a lot of driving lately due to the kiddos going to school in Edmond. I've enjoyed my alone time for those few hours. I have jammed to some great tunes, done a bit of shopping,ran those oh so many errands and gone tanning.I did see the cutest thing on my way back to edmond on thursday. Baby pigs!!! See all of their little noses sticking through the holes in the truck. It's adorable.Overall I have been sad to see the boys start back to school, but we have been having better days since they've started. I think it's because we get our "away from each other" time. This week they have began to eat lunch at school.....which I am sure they love. Jack thinks he's such a big boy getting to eat with the other kids. We are having a wii tournament at the house this weekend. I'm going to make homemade guacamole,enchiladas,beans, and rice. I think it should be a blast. Saturday afternoon we will be going to see "chimps in space" with Sam and Kate. The boys are excited....we'll see how long they last in the theatre.  

PHOTO FRIDAY!!

1.JACK USING THE POTTY!

2. JACK OUTSIDE THE AQUARIUM.

3.WIL CHILLIN

4.JACK DANCING

5.JACK GETTING WIL IN ON THE ACTION

6.JACK JAMMIN'

7.WIL ON THE WAY TO SCHOOL

8. JACK HAD TO HAVE ONE TOO

9. MY GREAT HUBBY DRIVING THE BOYS TO SCHOOL

The first day of school.

We made it!  We got to Edmond by 8:30 am. Both boys were dressed,hair combed,teeth brushed,ears on, and bags in hand.  It was a very exciting day for them! I stayed for a bit, but not to long.  They are growing to fast. Jack sang, and signed all of "Twinkle,Twinkle,Little Star." The teachers say he's "so well behaved!" I wish he were the same kid at home. He loves school though and loves to learn. Wil was a bit different. He made his rounds and said HI  to everyone, and then was ready to go. He did very well in speech, and loves his teachers and GA's. He made quite a mess in the water table, and had to change clothes immediately.All in all it was a great day. Yesterday, we did it all again. It went well! Daddy came and saw them at school. Which both boys adored. Then we were of to chuckie cheese for lunch and then to OT/PT. They are doing amazing at school, and I am finally convinced we made the right choice for them this year!  I'm geared up and ready to go!

When the front comes in

This has been an intresting 2 weeks. Austin has been here. He and Jack fight like crazy. Man oh man, I thought I might pull my hair out.  It puts a whole new spin on things, when you add more to already craziness. Ya know PT,OT, music therapy, swim lessons,birthday parties,gearing up for school, church...the list goes on.  There were good moments and bad. But we all survived another summer. Thursday night as the little ones were winding down, a storm came in. I thought I might share a pic of that with you, along with what my husband was doing as it rained,lighting, and thundered. He worked on his truck....crazy guy. He never stops. Well except on this Wednsday. He was sent home from work by his cardiologist!!! He is not a compliant patient! His blood pressure was way to high and he almost fainted. He did nothing for the whole day! I was a little worried and called his doc back, because that just isn't "normal" for him. She talked to him and called in another med. By thursday he was back to "normal." We picked up our hot tub on friday, and have been enjoying it very much.The boys love it more than anyone else. The boys start school in the morning. We have to be in Edmond by 8:30.....it's gonna be tough. We'll survive. Besides that , just getting ready for the craziness to fully begin.

I'm lovin' it!

I have come along many interesting people in my life. Some have made a major impact on the person I am today. As August has approached, I am always thrilled by my dad's birthday. That was until 2 years ago when his mom(my grandma) passed away on that very day.  We had until that time always made huge deals out of any family members birthday. Now we do a little quaint get together, and usually not on his exact birthday. It's a hard day for him as well as the rest of the family. I tell you this just to give you a little background. I always though I knew my grandma growing up, but I don't  think I truly  did. After her passing, there were amazing things I found out about her. Some going through the over 20 years of clutter in her house, and some by important people in her life. I was always close with my cousins, but we could of been closer as an extended family, and less petty. On to my grandma...She was truly amazing. She was almost like 2 people. She had done more,seen more, lived more, than any other person I knew. I only got to see one side of her. She never told us of the magnificent love her and my grandpa shared(we found love letters they had written to each other.) She never told of of the wonderful friends she had, by the time I was a teen she pretty much just kept to herself, and she was generous beyond words. I always knew she was at christmas.  We ALL got an amazing gift bag each year filled with our favorite things.  Godiva chocolates,gift cards,your favorite snack, a piece of jewelry, and always a little bit of grandmas personal touch!(I really do miss those!)No-one was ever left out no matter if you had been in the family a day,a year, or 10 years.  She was generous in tons of ways. She use to make food randomly for the people she worked for. She do almost anything for anyone. She was in a much different place in her life by the time I knew her.  I look back on her life and am in awe of what a GOOD person she truly was under all of her thick skin! She never boasted or bragged,she never was more than just who she was. That means a lot to me these days. I guess now that I'm 30 I can look at those qualities and be amazed. I just didn't se them when I was younger. If I am a quarter of the person she truly was, then I can consider myself blessed.  Plus now I know were all my dad's great qualities come from...I always wondered that.

Strength come in numbers....

Curt and I have always been firm believers in "God never gives you more than you can handle."  This has been tested many times during our relationship. I would truly have to say that the day that each of my children were born was the best day of my life...with my wedding following a very close second. We have always looked at our children as a blessing in our life(even though at times it may be disguised well.) We have seen Wil through many of triumphs they said he may never reach, and have cried over many of things that have arisen with him.  This last diagnosis is one of those. I feel that I am a STRONG person,mother,wife,etc... I also feel that God, Curt and I as a team have climbed over mountains that are by far amazing to get over. I being a stay at home mom have had the pleasure of watching my children grow. We have supported them in any way we could.  Both of my boys were diagnosed early with their hearing loss, and were aided by 4 months of age. We have seen them through sooner-start, many of therapies, tons of school hours, and many of doctor appt. We as parents spend more hours with our child than any professional. Therefore it is with my whole heart that I say. Some professionals know what they are doing, and some haven't a clue.  Some have the best interest of the child in mind, and some don't. Some talk the talk, but don't walk the walk. Some open their mouth before thinking about what they are truly saying. This is not an attack on professionals all together, just some. I can ultimately say that we have been blessed with some of they most brilliant people in their field with my children.  Especially Wil! Without all of his amazing therapist,doctors,nurses,friends, and family. I'm for sure he would not be where he is today. Our feelings have not changed at all throughout Wil's life.We as his parents are his strongest advocate. We will always fight for what we believe will benefit him the most. We spend almost 24/7 with him, and no-one can explain him or teach him more than we can. No matter what your training, how many seminars you have been to, or where you work. We will always take or leave your RECOMMENDATIONS at the door,depending on how we as parents feel about them.  We all need positives in our lives, and we as  parents of a disabled child need those a bit more than others. If you have a OPINION about how we handle things for our children, It's just that an OPINION. As a professional feel free to tell us, and as one of his parents I will trust my gut instinct till the end! That means no matter who,what, when, where, why, or how.

The Aquarium

We just returned from the Oklahoma Aquarium in Jenks.   We had a great time. The boys enjoyed everything there. The sharks were totally amazing, and the boys loved petting the stingrays.   I saw the most gigantic hermit crab!!! There were eels,catfish,seahorses,sharks,stingrays,clown fish, and the biggest turtle I have ever seen. Along with tons of other wonderful sea creatures. We had a great time and enjoyed spending time together as a family.  I am amazed at all the life under the sea. It is truly beautiful, and another one of Gods glorious creations.