A New Year

Well 2014 was a year for sure.  Let's see - where to start:

• new job for Jer
• diagnosis of kleefstra and cochlear implant surgery for Jamesey
• 1 hospitalization and 1 near miss for Jamesey
• 1 discovery of Disney Kids channel for Anna Monkey (specifically Doc McStuffins, Jake and the Neverland pirates)
• 1 new love of  rollercoasters for Anna Monkey (she adored trailblazer at Hershey Park)
• we found out that another little baby to love is on the way - due May 26
• new position for me at work

Just a few things that are going on.  But 2015 is a new year, full of promise.  We're excited for Jamesey to really begin talking.  Christmas break heard the first really consistent mamamamama's from little man as well as a few dadada's.  His speech and hearing teachers are so encouraged and are so hopeful for him.  We feel blessed to have them in our lives for all the time that they invest in him and in us.  2015 will see renewed efforts with sign language (when his CI's are off we need a way to communicate with little man - the most common times his CI's will be off are bath time or going to sleep).  We'll have continued visits to CHOP - early December was our most recent visit & while there we met with a team that focuses on developmental disorders.  I think far and away the most encouraging things to hear were that his muscle tone is SOO good and that developmentally he is beginning to catch up.  At this point he's still significantly behind (real age he's 19 months, developmental age he's about 10 months and hearing age he's 4 months old).  We're prayerful about his future and oh so hopeful for our cheerful little man.  He truly is one of the happiest little guys you will ever meet and his smile chases away any gloomy thoughts.

Anna is doing well.  We joke (seriously) that we have a threenager on our hands (a three year old who acts like a teenager).  She loves to be active and the days that she doesn't get a chance to run around are some of the toughest ones on all of us.  She's really not one to sit still for long.  She adores her little brother.  Recently she has been a little upset about a new baby brother coming when she's been asking God for a sister.  I'm not worried though - she'll be as in love with another baby brother as she is with Jamesey.  Daily she adds words that amaze us and asks questions that floor us.  She really is a precocious rascal and we adore her.  Jamesey clearly loves her and his eyes follow her and look for her in the room (although her squeals and shouts seem a little rough for him when his CI's are on).  She's a great helper and loves a challenge (or to challenge us - sigh)  :) Wouldn't change it for the world!

One new change (aside from Baby #3) that we're facing in the new year is a home change.  We're not sure yet when or where but we've made a decision to move.  There are some significant changes happening to the neighborhood (developments) that will increase traffic to a level we're not overly comfortable with.  So...we're looking...it's a process that has some emotion attached to it for sure - this isn't what we saw in our future.  We've been in this house for 7 nearly 8 years and really thought we'd be here for a while.  But...we're confident that God will take care of us as he has through the rough spots and that we'll come out on the other side smiling.

Life is never boring but one thing is for sure - the prayers of our family and friends are making a difference in our lives.  Thank you for praying and emotionally encouraging us through a rough year and through the growth to come.  We don't know what the future holds (for Jamesey, for Anna, for baby 3, for each one of us) but we are so thankful for you.  I'll keep you posted on Jamesey progress but we're prayerful that this is the year that he becomes a chatterbox and a little speed demon getting into everything.  We're looking forward to seeing more of Anna's personality emerge & to meeting this new little person.  We're excited to share this year with you!  Thank you for continued prayer...Stay Tuned!