I just have to take a minute to send a serious shout out to my dear sweet husband (who probably won't even read this). Yesterday was my birthday. I turned 29 for the first time! I keep thinking of Grandma Thornock who has been 29 a few more times than I :) Anyway, back to my birthday-- First of all, I got to stay in bed later than usual, as he got up early to attend to the kids! When i finally dragged myself out of bed at 8:30 ( I know, how sad is it that 8:30 is sleeping in for me), I came into the kitchen to bacon, sausage and eggs and a belgian waffles cooking on our brand new belgian waffle maker. The old waffle maker that we had I got my freshman year of college before I moved away from home. Which makes it more than 11 years old. It cooked its last waffle a long time ago. We had been debating getting one for a while. And I got to wake up to belgian waffles without even asking for it!
I knew that Justin had things planned for me, but he wasn't telling me anything. turns out he planned a very nice romantic dinner for the two of us at home, without the kids. The girls went to a friends birthday party, and Collin conveniently went down for a much needed nap (he was sick all weekend). Justin and I enjoyed a candle lit dinner all cooked by Justin, including 5 courses! It was wonderful. We picked up the kids and came back home and spent a couple hours hanging out and then once the kids were all soundly tucked away in bed, we enjoyed watching Push.
I feel so utterly spoiled by Justin. He has always been a hopeless romantic. There has never been a time when I doubted his love for me. He is the perfect husband. I couldn't ask for a more perfect match for me. So, to Justin, my dear, I love you, and thank you for all you do for me!
Jaidi's Photo Gallery
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Good News
It occured to me today that all though we got good news this week, I hadn't posted it on the blog...
I am ecstatic to report that Collin had a CT scan and a hearing test this week and both came back clear. He passed his hearing test and the CT Scan was clear. Though Collin is still behind on his walking and talking, there is no problems with his brain that is causing it. There were worries with his head size that hydrocephalus and a couple other issues could be present. But that CT scan was completely clear.
I had many people tell me that their kids didn't walk til they were 18 months. Collin not walking was not the problem in itself. The concern arose because of his head size and the changes on the growth chart percentiles. When his head size jumped a bunch of lines and then continued to, it was a cause for concern. His head growth has normalized now and hopefully it will continue to.
As of right now, we are going to begin working with ECI, specifically for his language development delays. Next Tuesday we will meet with a speech therapist with the Early Childhood Intervention program that works with children with devlopmental delays. Hopefully, she will be able to help us figure out why the delay is occuring and get Collin talking and hopefully (in a round about way) walking (though she is not specifically going to be working on that.
On a slightly different note, Collin has grasped onto signing pretty well lately. There are very few words that I know how to sign, so it is very little. But as of right now, we can identify him saying more, all done, thank you, and drink. He has also begun waving hello and goodbye, giving hugs, and blowing kisses. It is a work in progres...hopefully, we will both be able to pick up some more sign language. It has helped us give Collin what he wants. It is nice to be able to communicate back and forth with him.
Does any one have any tips on good places to go to learn sign language for free (ie websites, or books, or something). I have a couple more signs that I have learned and I am working with Collin on, but for now, our signs are limited!
Anyway, I just wanted to share our good news for the week. We couldn't say how happy we were to hear the news that his CT scan was clear. We were not interested in having to have him go through Brain surgery to fix any problems! :)
And I have to send out a special thank you to all of you that prayed for Collin. I cannot begin to tell you our gratitude. Prayers are clearly answered. I cannot attest to that even more in my life this week. So thank you for your prayers, and please let me know if I can ever return the favor!
I am ecstatic to report that Collin had a CT scan and a hearing test this week and both came back clear. He passed his hearing test and the CT Scan was clear. Though Collin is still behind on his walking and talking, there is no problems with his brain that is causing it. There were worries with his head size that hydrocephalus and a couple other issues could be present. But that CT scan was completely clear.
I had many people tell me that their kids didn't walk til they were 18 months. Collin not walking was not the problem in itself. The concern arose because of his head size and the changes on the growth chart percentiles. When his head size jumped a bunch of lines and then continued to, it was a cause for concern. His head growth has normalized now and hopefully it will continue to.
As of right now, we are going to begin working with ECI, specifically for his language development delays. Next Tuesday we will meet with a speech therapist with the Early Childhood Intervention program that works with children with devlopmental delays. Hopefully, she will be able to help us figure out why the delay is occuring and get Collin talking and hopefully (in a round about way) walking (though she is not specifically going to be working on that.
On a slightly different note, Collin has grasped onto signing pretty well lately. There are very few words that I know how to sign, so it is very little. But as of right now, we can identify him saying more, all done, thank you, and drink. He has also begun waving hello and goodbye, giving hugs, and blowing kisses. It is a work in progres...hopefully, we will both be able to pick up some more sign language. It has helped us give Collin what he wants. It is nice to be able to communicate back and forth with him.
Does any one have any tips on good places to go to learn sign language for free (ie websites, or books, or something). I have a couple more signs that I have learned and I am working with Collin on, but for now, our signs are limited!
Anyway, I just wanted to share our good news for the week. We couldn't say how happy we were to hear the news that his CT scan was clear. We were not interested in having to have him go through Brain surgery to fix any problems! :)
And I have to send out a special thank you to all of you that prayed for Collin. I cannot begin to tell you our gratitude. Prayers are clearly answered. I cannot attest to that even more in my life this week. So thank you for your prayers, and please let me know if I can ever return the favor!
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Prayers for Collin
I know that this is not always the venue to ask for prayers, but right now, I feel like it would be best to ask. It isn't a huge deal, but it could end up being.
Collin's development has been delayed. It is very likely it is simply because he is a boy and he develops a little slower than our girls. And that is perfectly fine. But regardless, he is not 15 1/2 months old and doesn't walk or talk. He has mastered walking as long as he is holding on to something. When holding onto a hand he walks very wobbly, but if you let him go, he immediately drops to the ground. His talking consists of mamama, dadada, nanana...none of which is specific to anything. Obviously there are a lot of factors in all of this. It is very possible that he has a large heavy head (which he does) and as such, he can't hold it up well enough. But it is also possible that there is something else all together.
Here is where the prayers come in. Justin sat down with Collin's pediatrician because of his concerns for Collin. They came to an agreement that if Collin is not walking unassisteed by the time he turns 16 months, then we will do a CAT scan to make sure there are not other problems inside his skull. We hope to not have to do the CAT Scan at all. So we ask for your prayers for Collin's development to catch up just a little bit.
Again, it is possible that this is nothing. And I realize that there are plenty of kids who don't walk until they are 18 months. There is concern though, given Collin's delays and head size and shape. So please keep Collin in your prayers, and maybe throw in a prayer for peace for his mom and dad too! We could use it a little!
October 4, 2009 is the day Collin hits 16 months.
Collin's development has been delayed. It is very likely it is simply because he is a boy and he develops a little slower than our girls. And that is perfectly fine. But regardless, he is not 15 1/2 months old and doesn't walk or talk. He has mastered walking as long as he is holding on to something. When holding onto a hand he walks very wobbly, but if you let him go, he immediately drops to the ground. His talking consists of mamama, dadada, nanana...none of which is specific to anything. Obviously there are a lot of factors in all of this. It is very possible that he has a large heavy head (which he does) and as such, he can't hold it up well enough. But it is also possible that there is something else all together.
Here is where the prayers come in. Justin sat down with Collin's pediatrician because of his concerns for Collin. They came to an agreement that if Collin is not walking unassisteed by the time he turns 16 months, then we will do a CAT scan to make sure there are not other problems inside his skull. We hope to not have to do the CAT Scan at all. So we ask for your prayers for Collin's development to catch up just a little bit.
Again, it is possible that this is nothing. And I realize that there are plenty of kids who don't walk until they are 18 months. There is concern though, given Collin's delays and head size and shape. So please keep Collin in your prayers, and maybe throw in a prayer for peace for his mom and dad too! We could use it a little!
October 4, 2009 is the day Collin hits 16 months.
Residency Applications
Applications are in! Well actually, they have been in for a little while now. We submitted 40 applications. 35 of the programs have downloaded all the available documents for the application. NOw it is a lot of the waiting game. A lot of the programs don't send invites for interviews until NOvember. We have heard that there are some that invite the end of September, beginning of October. But there is no guarantee when invites will come. It is crazy to think though, that in about 8 months, Justin will be graduated and officially be Dr. Clayton. It has such a nice ring to it! Dr. Justin B. Clayton. Wow! I can't wait for that day. we have our favorite programs, and we have our not so favorite programs, but they are all in places we would be more than happy living. I have worked on gathering information on each of the locations. We have cost of living comparisons, and houseing comparisons and lots of other info. As Justin gets interviews, the list will continue to grow. There are some things that I am holding off doing too much research on until he gets interviews. Schools for the kids, locations to live in the city, jobs for me...those can all be researched once our list is being brought down a little bit. But I am excited. It is a new adventure in our lives. Thinking about all the places we could end up is wonderful. Boston, Rochester NY, Rochester MN, Lebanon NH, Dallas/Fort Worth TX, Houston TX...and so many more. All of them are wonderful places and I look forward to the upcoming months and to finding out where we will end up.
I can't tell you how proud I am of my dear Justin. He has worked so hard for his career and continues to do so. Aside from working to do well in his classes he has worked his butt off for his family. I carry so much gratitude for him and all he has done for me and for our beautiful children.
I love you forever Justin, Always and forever!
I can't tell you how proud I am of my dear Justin. He has worked so hard for his career and continues to do so. Aside from working to do well in his classes he has worked his butt off for his family. I carry so much gratitude for him and all he has done for me and for our beautiful children.
I love you forever Justin, Always and forever!
I am so Behind!
There is a lot that I could blog about today, but mostly, I want to share the pictures from the completion of my most recent project.
It took me a couple of weeks to get the sanding all done. It started out as a dark brown dresser, but it was old and beat up. I sanded all of the finish off and replaced the side panels. Once everything was done and put back together, I stained it with a beautiful maple finish. After a few coats of laquer, that is the finished product. It is no sitting in Collins room, filled with clothes. It is my big accomplishment. I am pretty proud of it, if I can gloat for a minute.
Anyway, the project was a lot of fun and has led me into other endeavors. I am currently working on drawings and stuff for a new headboard. Actually, just a head board, since we have never had one. I am kind of excited about it. It is going to be one of those cushioned head boards and it will have a wood frame, probably stained in maple like Collin's Dresser. The measurements are all done, and I think I have figured out all of the designs and everything. My good friend Julie is going to make one form her house too, so we are going to work on it together. My only challenge now is choosing a material that will coordinate with my blue bed. We will see how material shopping goes. I guess we will see how it goes...
It took me a couple of weeks to get the sanding all done. It started out as a dark brown dresser, but it was old and beat up. I sanded all of the finish off and replaced the side panels. Once everything was done and put back together, I stained it with a beautiful maple finish. After a few coats of laquer, that is the finished product. It is no sitting in Collins room, filled with clothes. It is my big accomplishment. I am pretty proud of it, if I can gloat for a minute.
Anyway, the project was a lot of fun and has led me into other endeavors. I am currently working on drawings and stuff for a new headboard. Actually, just a head board, since we have never had one. I am kind of excited about it. It is going to be one of those cushioned head boards and it will have a wood frame, probably stained in maple like Collin's Dresser. The measurements are all done, and I think I have figured out all of the designs and everything. My good friend Julie is going to make one form her house too, so we are going to work on it together. My only challenge now is choosing a material that will coordinate with my blue bed. We will see how material shopping goes. I guess we will see how it goes...
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Dearest Husband
So Justin is still in Utah. If you read my last post, you know that the kids and I just got back. Unfortunately, we had to leave Justin behind. This is a sorta cheesy picture of Justin and I that we took while we were together for a day in Las Vegas. This is actually the day that he left Vegas for Utah. It has been a bit of a difficult time having him gone. I have been with the kids with hardly a break, except one evening last week at Michelle's. I have spent every waking moment with the kids--Whom I love will all my heart, but sometimes don't us mom's just need a break. Anyway, back to Justin...I miss him terribly. I don't know how people do this frequently. My sister's husband spends 4 days of every week (I think) out of town for work. I haven't seen Justin now for more than a week...and I hate it. We don't get to talk as often as I'd like because he works long hours during the day and goes to bed early for his early mornings. With a 45 minute drive, and needing to be at the hospital by 6, you have to get up pretty early...I think he said 4:30 the other day. Anyway, as result, I don't get to talk to him much. It has been hard. But the kids have been pretty good. School starts on Monday and it will be good!
Justin, I miss you and I love you. I can't wait til you are home again...9 more days! At least its single digits now...
Still not sure if the 6 month deployment in the air force medical corp is worth the Financial benefits...Still need more time to think on that!
Monday, August 17, 2009
MobJet
i was introduced to this new website...It seems kinda cool. Anyway, I thought I would share with you. It is kind of along the lines of a twitter type thing, but I like it better!
You can follow my Jet by sending a blank email to: get.jaidiclayton@mobjet.com
Hope you enjoy! You can post more than 140 characters if you want...Its Cool! And Videos and pictures and anything else!
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