Little Conductor

If you've been reading this blog for a while, you know that Luke LOVES music.  It was the only thing to calm him when he was little and the songs that ALWAYS worked were written by Randy Travis.  Everyone laughs at that…but it is so true.  We've had vacations where we forgot the Randy Travis CD and had to go to the nearest Wal-mart and hunt the music section for Randy Travis. 

This past Friday there was a concert at Illinois State University for kids with Special Needs.  It was wonderful.  It was well thought out, from assigning each child a “concert buddy” to providing special shakers that attach to the fingers. 

Before the concert started they had various students with their instruments for the kids to come to and “explore”.  Luke really liked the trumpet and helped make a note or two.  He wasn't really sure about the guitar, but sister sure liked it.  She got to strum it with a pick.

Then the concert started, at first Luke just sat and stared at the band and lifted his eyebrows at each high note or when the band got especially loud.  When we tried the shaker with him that attaches to the fingers, he found a way to take it off and throw it….of course.  It was wonderful though seeing the music through his eyes that night.By the last few songs Luke was refusing to sit and standing while holding on to the chair in front he would point and move a hand towards the band.  Then I grabbed his hips and he started swinging around both hands, like he was conducting the band. If you'd like to see him "conduct" check out the video below the pics.

Follow the leader?

I’m not sure what most siblings do when they play together.  I know some chase each other around and that most siblings fight over toys.  Well Luke and our daughter definitely fight over toys and sometimes they chase each other.  Although the “chasing” is more like our daughter running in circles with Luke crawling in one direction…like he is trying to catch up….then when he is “lapped” he decides to just sit still and laugh at his sister when she continues running in circles. 

The other day I saw a unique “game” they were playing.  I’m not even sure it was a “game”….but was funny to watch.  I was in the kitchen and our daughter was saying “come on brober” and they were both laughing.  So I look and what do I see?  Our daughter has a hold of Luke’s shirt and Luke is crawling beside her.  Our daughter was pull/dragging Luke around…reminded me of someone walking a great big dog or something. 

I’m not sure if she was trying to play some kind of “follow the leader” or what.  The kids have sure been creative in their playing lately.  (7-27-12)

Even more miracles

God continues to amaze me through Luke.  As I’ve mentioned in the past, every “small” milestone for “average” kids….is a HUGE milestone for a child like Luke.  Each time he meets one of those milestone markers I am reminded how blessed we are to have a special child like Luke, who continues to get stronger and meet those milestones.  It may take him longer…but he is meeting them!

Some may think this the things I’m about to mention are not miracles…but anyone who has gone through the process of a special needs child or even someone who has had something happen like a stroke and had to re-learn all these “skills”…those of you out there…you know how BIG a miracle this is…especially when you work at it for so long and finally one day..it just “clicks”.

Two weeks ago, I got the kids downstairs and started our morning routine…getting medicines together first.  Well when I was ready to feed the kids breakfast I called for the kids and our two year old daughter says “oh no…mommy…brober..upstairs!!” 

I thought…surely not.  I was proved wrong!  I went to the staircase and sure enough…there was Luke waving at me from the top of the stairs!  When did he start doing that on his own?!  He has been able to crawl up stairs for a couple years…but usually only when coaxed and NEVER alone!!

I thought that was a miracle…then today happened and I was reminded again how God is working in our little guy.  I picked him up from school and his aide apologized for his messy shirt…which had some Blueberry Yogart on it.  Then she told me that he ate the yogart ALL on his OWN!!  I was so happy to hear this.  We’ve been trying to get him to this point for SOOO long!  Luke typically throws his spoon or fork…or plate with food…he has NEVER held onto a utensil long enough to eat an entire food item…like yogart or applesauce. 

To test out this new “skill”, I got out some pear applesauce for supper and gave Luke a spoon.  I had to hold the applesauce cup…but everything else was all Luke!  It brought tears to my eyes!!  Luke has made another step towards independence.  It may have taken him 4 ½ years instead of 1 ½ like our daughter….but he has done it!  I pray this skill will continue to develop and in the near future Luke will be able to feed himself an entire meal!!

Sun?

You think you know your kids, but they are always changing.  With Luke, its hard to even know about those changes since he can’t tell me…”mom, I don’t like green beans”…instead we get them thrown at us..or on the floor (even better).  This idea carries over into every aspect of Luke.  I’m learning his “preferences” because of his responses, i.e. when getting home from school he screams at me and hits his shoes…until they are finally off (including socks) and then he is “off” down the hall and perfectly happy.

Well, Luke started to do something at the old house a couple weeks before we moved.  I’m not sure if he was trying to tell me something or if he was just being a silly little guy…like usual.  In Luke’s old room there wasn’t a lot of space, which meant that the options for where to place his bed were only 1.  So his bed was against the far wall , the bad part was that he could reach the window curtains.  So he would often look outside and see what was going on or stay up and play with them.

A few weeks before selling the house, I found a new site for several mornings in a row.  I would walk in to Luke’s room to get him up in the morning and I would find the window curtains pulled all the way back and Luke would be in his bed with a blanket over his head.  It was so funny! 

I’m guessing that Luke would play with the curtains for a while at night causing them to be pulled back…but when morning came and the sun decided to peek in…Luke would cover his head so he could keep sleeping.  Silly guy wanted to see outside at night…but not in the morning I guess!

Weeeeeee!

Luke’s sense of humor continues to amaze me, especially since it has been rubbing off on his little sister.  Yesterday we were on our way to grandma and grandpa’s house, which is in the country.  As I was driving a long our daughter would tell me everything she saw, but Luke was quiet.  Then I hit some hills, and it started a cycle with the kids.

Every time I went over a hill, our baby girl said “wweeee!!”  Which then led Luke to laugh and then of course our daughter had to laugh too.  It was a cycle that seemed never ending (they did this at least 10 times).  Soon I found myself laughing with them.  Who can resist such easy fun?

Later on the way home from the grandparents house, by which we went a different way, they began to laugh and our daughter would say “wweeee” when I turned corners, i.e. getting on the interstate.  I’m not sure I understand that one, but as long as they were happy…I was happy.

The latest NASCAR Track!

If anyone wants to buy tickets, I can get you great seats at a new NASCAR track.  It’s a unique location….our new house!!  What I love about the new house is all the space we have so that Luke and our baby girl can have plenty of space to walk and play.  We are finally getting rid of most of our boxes which allows Luke to use his walker in the house!!

We let him have his walker in the old house…but only for a short period of time since he needed someone to follow after him and help him when he got cornered or aggravated because he ran out of space.  Now, at the new house Luke can walk in most places on the first floor…which is so great! 

What has really made me laugh lately though is our daughter.  I think she likes the space even more than Luke!  One day I heard pounding feet and looked to find our daughter running in a large circle around the staircase and wall to the living room.  She also likes to play “peek-a-boo” with Luke.  So she runs  in circles and passes Luke saying “found you brother…found you”…..all while Luke laughs at his silly sister who is running by.

She does it so often now that I’ve decided it must be the latest NASCAR track!  So if anyone wants to cheer themselves up they can come on over and watch our daughter race in circles.  (video 7-27-12)

Can't Believe it!!!

He all!!  You have probably given up on me doing a blog ever again.  It has been so long..and we’ve been so busy!!  We sold our house and moved into the new one in late June…and we are finally to the point that we are “mostly” moved in.  There are still projects to be done…but we can take a breather once and a while.  So I will endeavor to begin writing my blog again.

Just to prove how crazy busy we have been, I have to share what happened just this weekend.  The kids have been to the grandparents on and off, along with all the doc appointments and doing things on the new house.  Anyway…Sunday morning as my husband was feeding Luke, he said “I think Luke lost a tooth”.  I couldn’t believe it….I said “no way”. 

But sure enough, when I looked close Luke lost a tooth on the front middle…and not only lost one…but one is growing back already!!!  Luke’s first permanent tooth and we have no idea where the baby tooth went.  I’m hoping he didn’t swallow it!! 

No matter how busy we are, I’m going to have to start paying closer attention!!