Can you hear me yet?

Since I pledged to keep this a wee but more updated, here's an update:

Miles has more hearing tests today.  He did really well, but we still left with another appointment.   Argh.  He responded to A LOT more than he did on his last test, so that's really (REALLY) great news!  He still is not responding to high frequency sounds- that are at a low decibel.  SO, back we go in two weeks for some more tests.  At that point we will either leave with confirmation that he can hear just fine and has no hearing loss (at least at this point) or an appointment for "surgery" so they can do a fancy test on him while he's knocked out.  I have high hopes he will respond to whatever they throw his way in two weeks, but am expecting we'll be headed to the OR for the fancy schmancy one.  His developmental (and sensory) issues make it difficult to test his hearing.  Silly Miles....don't you realize that if you just do what they ask then Mommy won't have to take you back??  :-)

Meanwhile, Sam and Maggie are doing great.  I think they like Miles having so many appointments.  This morning they got to hang out with Grandpa (thanks heavens for that long elementary school spring break!!) and even walked to Rite Aid and snagged some goodies.  Some sugary goodies.  They are in heaven.  Thanks Grandma!!!

Pity Picture.

Here are some recent "fun facts" about the youngest in our branch of the Moffat Clan:
- Miles had 6 appointments in a 10 day span two weeks ago. Mommy had an emotional breakdown shortly thereafter.
- Miles averages 2-3 appointments a week right now...he's rarely cries during them and has been a real trooper as a plethora of people inspect his every move...over and over again.
- Miles is having some kind of growing spurt, recently jumping from his norm at the 20% to the 50% of kids his age in size.
- Miles is currently functioning at 9-12 month levels in most areas of his development.
- Miles (most likely) will be getting hearing aides sometime in April. More testing soon....
- Miles soon will be sporting ankle braces to help stabilize his joints so he can learn to walk.
- Miles has ragamuffin hair right now. We're aiming to grow it into something semi-trendy before the hearing aides come along.
- Miles is learning that biting to show frustration is never a good choice. (Sam is learning that causing Miles frustration will result in getting bit himself.)
- Miles is discovering that asking "please" (sign language) will get him almost anything because Mommy is SO GLAD that he is attempting any form of real communication.
- Miles is experimenting with a little walker to help him gain some confidence (and balance!) so he can do it on his own soon....or at least that is our prayer.

So there you have it. Miles has been keeping us rather busy and somewhat emotionally thrashed lately. Eric's parents graciously took the kids for a night last weekend (for Eric's Birthday) and we celebrated our quiet night with a 12 hour stretch of sleep. Apparently we were both a wee bit tired. It was glorious. Hopefully posts will start coming slightly closer together soon...I can't make any promises, but it is my intention to keep ya'll a little more up to date. Thank you for praying for Miles and our family as we learn what it looks like to have a special needs kiddo and sort out what things we can (and can't) help him with right now. It really, truly, means the world to us.
:-)

It could be a messy road....

Yesterday I started Miles in a Dairy and Gluten Free diet. Today I forgot that I didn't have ANY lunch meat nor ANY peanut butter....so I threw the diary free part out the window (sort of) and had to give him nutella (which has milk in it btw) toast (brown rice bread toast that is...) for lunch with his apple and goat cheese. What a mess. What a snotty, sticky, goopy, smelly mess.

BUT, he did eat it - goat cheese included once I spread it on his apple. Good job Mi. Good job.

What we've been up to.

Dinos gearing up for the attack....

Princesses linking arms hoping to fight off the oncoming dinos. (ok, so maybe they didn't link arms....but that would have been a good idea, eh?)

And my quilt! Okay, it's actually going to be the new (and rather large...but bigger is almost always better when it comes to blankets, right?) throw for the couch. The top is about 3 minutes from DONE. Then I get to go back to the fabric store to pick out some batting, backing, and binding. Try saying that three times fast...

Update: Maggie

Maggie and Aubrey had a great time playing together today. Maggie was amazed at every little thing Aubrey was doing, I think that she thinks that she is the same age as Miles (really she's only 4 months older...) so Maggie thinks Aubrey should be not quite walking and not really talking and etc. So when Aubrey actually does speak in full sentances...Maggie is AMAZED. She spent all morning adoring her younger cousin. It was very sweet.

While Sam got the "fuzzy" scraps of fabric, Maggie got the "blanket pieces". She asked me if she could cut them up and I told her "No, because you need really sharp sissors to cut fabric and it hers weren't sharp enough". Next thing I knew she was at her table cutting her scraps to shreds...with her little sissors. Seriously Mags, why do you even ask me? If you are going to do it...just do it. Gee whiz.

Update: Sam

Sam is drawing all kinds of pictures right now. Here is one he told me was (my) Aunt Sandy holding a balloon on a sunny day. "See all the clouds?" Nice drawing (and nice smile) kiddo.

Sam is also in the business of rough-housing with Miles whenever possible. I'm not sure what is going on in this one...but it's an odd pic of both boys, so why not post it, right?!

Here is Sam gathering all the fabric scraps he could today while I was working on my quilt. He got all the "fuzzy" ones he said. I think that means the frayed edges and strings.

Update: Miles

Okay, so I've been a blog slacker. No excuses...just the catch-up! Here we go....!
Miles received a terribly cute Mickey Mouse hat from his G&G Moffat at Christmas this year. He looks adorable in it, I promise. The picture really doesn't do the boy (or the hat) justice.

Miles is also able to stand, holding onto something, using only ONE HAND! Amazing I tell ya! He's getting stronger and better balanced everyday, he is babbling more consistantly, and is signing 2-3 different things now. We feel like these are huge steps for him in communication.

Slobbery kid playing with a book with paper pages....I took it away shortly after the photo was taken. He's recently set the new record for total board book destruction: less than 20 minutes start to finish. It's really an incredible talent...now if I only could figure out how to harness it....

...and lastly, today I got some fabric cut for a quilt that I'm starting. It's nothing fancy, but it will replace our "purple blankey" in the living room, which has matched NOTHING WE OWN and yet as managed to survive in my living room since before we were married. It's time for it to be retired...err...trashed. Here is Miles. Helping.

You might be an Oregonian if....

You might be an Oregonian if your children use cardboard to build a recycling bin for toys....and then spend all morning playing with it.