BACK ON TRACK!

It's been SO LONG since I have made an entry!! Aidan is at school & Emmie is napping. I am making this a priority today. Here's an update.....

I had the swine flu over Thanksgiving....NOT FUN!!! I don't wish that on anyone!! It was awful. Thankfully, Eric was home & we were with my parents, so I had a lot of help. Pappy (my stepfather) & I had it at the same time. We both felt like we were dying!!!! So glad that is over!!

Eric came home for 4 days at Christmas & it was wonderful to be a family! Aidan's most favorite present from Santa was a recycling truck & some "emergency vehicles". (I think Aidan is going to be a firefighter when he grows up.) Aidan bought Emmie a pink school bus for Christmas & she loves it. The bus is for an 18 month old, but Aidan had his mind made up.

Eric is back in Seattle training & getting ready to go overseas. We don't have a definite date yet, but he should be leaving in the next week or 2. We talk every day or every few days. I miss him terribly & I feel like half of my soul is gone. Saying goodbye after Christmas was awful. So mch happiness & then so much sadness. It is very difficult, but I am taking one day at a time, focusing on the positve & enjoying my time with the kids. I am going to start putting packages together for Eric. I am sure Aidan will love doing that with me. Once Eric is set up overseas, we will start doing the webcam too.

My friend Julie has been kind enough to organize meals for me..."Meals on Wheels!" She got together with a few of her friends & they have been dropping off food every week. I am so appreciative of this gesture. It is wonderful not to have to worry about what I am going to eat for dinner. It is so important for me to sit down with Aidan at night & have a meal together. We both need that.

We recently had Emmie's Early Intervention IFSP (Individual Family Service Plan) meeting. Basically, every 6 months the team (me, Early Intervention Service Coordinator, Emmie's therapists) meets to check on Emmie's progress & make any changes to her goals/therapy. I decided to increase a few things. Emmie will now get Speech 1x/wk, PT 2x/wk, Special Education 1x/wk & OT 1x/wk. This is ALOT, but I feel it is important. I want to give Emmie everything I can to help her succeed. I also feel because I am home with Emmie, I want to have as much "hands on" time with her therapists. I want to learn as much as I can so I can integrate more into her day. Emmie is now sitting up on her own, reaching up over hear head, tries to clap her hands. She has 2 teeth & I can see the 3rd one coming. My sweet little Emmie Grace...she is the best!!!

I took Aidan to the pediatric opthamologist the other day. Eric & I have been noticing his left eye turning in. Aidan is severely farsighted & because he is trying so hard to focus, his eye is turning in. I must say, after hearing that, I felt like I was kicked in the gut! I know it's only glasses, he is healthy & it is so minor. After everything we have been through: Aidan's special needs, Emmie's diagnosis, the deployment, dr. appointments, meetings....NOW THIS! It doesn't seem to end. Aidan may need a patch or eye drops to help correct the eye, but we are not sure yet. He will go back in 2 months for follow up. I took him to pick out his glasses yesterday & he did great! He wanted blue ones, so that's what he got. He was so patient while the optician measured his eyes & fitted him for the glasses. We had to order them because the prescription is so strong. We should have them next week.

So, that's a brief summary of what the Lautenschlagers have been up to!!! I don't want to overload you. I am happy to be back. I am going to make an effort to keep up with my blog. It's hard to keep up. I hope you will all continue to read the blog, make comments, keep us in your prayers. Thank you for sharing in our life!!!