October in Overdrive

Here are highlights from October for this fun toddler. I will be adding to her loving list soon but wanted to note that Marci can spell her first and last name - without help! Pretty amazing considering she is not yet 3... She is also loving Yoga! I'll post some pictures in my next post... Ohmmmmm


Marci's loves motorcycles... must run in the family!
(Below) enjoying my friend Tracie and some flannel board stories...

Can you find me in the pile of stuffed animals?

(Below - the next few are at the Pumpkin Patch in Syracuse.)

My friend the cat... below - your kidding me right?

(below)You want me to put a rope around this tire? oops.. I mean cow?

Marci loves her daily walks with KC. Here she is at the park across the street from us.... feeding the ducks below...

This was funny... notice the tiny phone on KC's bed, she was talking into the small receiver...




(below - our first snowfall in the middle of Oct..)

I know - she's still her her pj's... but they were fleece! She kept saying 'I see snow'... remembered that from one of her memorized shows...

Marci is showing Will how to spell a word. She really enjoyed this visit with the Vidrine's! YIPEE!

(below - at the pumpkin patch again...)

Marci loves this toy magazine for some reason.. it is now missing most of the pages.

Can you believe she actually fell asleep on a tramp during the day?

Marci loves to play 'mommy' to her babies... here she is feeding them after their bath...

One of Marci's friends Heidi, lives on a horse ranch and invited her to come and see the horses! We didn't get her to enjoy getting on the horse this time but maybe another day... Thanks Heidi!

Marci had 2 Halloween parties she attended this year. This day she was a sailor...

On Halloween she was a motorcyclist! Daddy and Mommy dressed in leathers to complete her look...

September in Pictures!

Well, by now many have given up on me and who would blame them. I put blogging high on the to do list but it always falls to the bottom by the end of the day. Between therapy, play, work, play and just life... So over the next week I'm going to post pictures of adorable Marci through the months. I hope someday I'll stay current but until then, I'll photo blog! I'll try to catch up on some upcoming post but for now... here are some pictures to start...

(Marci - still an avid reader, catching up before bedtime...)

Marci at her easel... crayon in hand!

Marci lining up cards.. usually she can line up her animal family according to type!

Just relaxing .... and riding...

Lining up Noah's ark animals....

Scatter Brained Mommy

Once again I have let enough time lapse before posting a new blog. I am so good at making lists and more lists to keep myself organized but somehow that to do's don't make the connection to my brain! Between Marvelous Marci, playing, behavior moments, working, therapy, play groups, behavior and me time (just kidding - not much of that!) my blog time has been cut out of my lists. I will try to do better - REALLY!

I hate to admit it... especially since I've always been proud of being a positive person.. but I think I'm fighting off depression - I think it's due to heartbreak and the pain I feel for my sweet daughter. I hate to be depressing in this blog but I have to air out some feelings.... I feel so guilty as this disorder is not about me, it's about MARCI! I always have selfish thoughts - envious of the mom who can just take their toddler to the store without meltdowns or to the park without leaving in tears or the ability to walk through any door - be it a store, church or home and not have your daughter throwing a fit... To be able to play with and around other kids. I've mourned the loss of people I thought were friends but now are distant and thankful for those who have given prayers and a shoulder when it's been sorely needed. I miss having time for me, for Marci research and the money and time for therapies that are needed. I am thankful for all of those wonderful mom's, kids, people who have gone before and forged this path that we are embarking on. For all of those that have shared advice, support and hope. I'll get off my pity pot for now and will share some fun photos of Marci over the weeks I haven't posted... we've enjoyed carnivals (for autism...) boating and just being there... Enjoy!

Playing in the sand at the Autism Carnival....

Cool bubbles!

Boating at Pineview....

Marvelous Marci

Forgive me yet again for not keeping up to date on my posts. I'm going to refer to my fabulous sis-in-law - Michele's blog (Five Men, Three Ladies and A Cat) for a catch up on our Bear Lake activities... I will still post hopefully tomorrow with more on that and life in general but for today, my heavy heart is going to use this post to journal out our latest Marci update.
As most know, Marci and I have been seeing many therapists (OT, Speech, etc.) and also have gone through 5 evaluations on sweet Ms. M. After requesting tests on her for Autism and finally getting the 1st back out of several... my suspicions have been right. My beautiful girl is Autistic. The first therapist to return our first "A" test today was great to explain the complexity though. Marci was tested at 2 years old for a test that goes for 2-10 year olds. It does not allow for conversation on the brightness and genius of Marci. She said (and other therapists agree) that with all of the work we are doing now and Marci's incredible mind - she will outgrow most of this phase. What 2 year old counts in 5 languages, can sound out words in books, memorizes movies and books and has an amazing memory?

It has been a tough journey so far and we have many more miles to go. I'm told that by the time Marci is 5, if we continue to work like we are, she will be able to relate in social environments so that is our goal. I have never cried so much as I have the last 2 months for my sweet girl. She is amazing though and we will overcome this. I'm so grateful for the gift of her, for her beauty, her laughter, her amazing mind and for her ability to love so deeply and melt this mom's heart. Thank you God for Marci. I'm going to start a loving list (thanks to Jenna on this idea!) and will post on her progress. I'm so grateful to all some dear friends who have gone down this road and are so willing to share their advice, stories and their shoulder. I have been a terrible friend and have not being keeping up to date with everyone and for that I apologize. I will try to do better and will promise to update this blog several times a month if not more. Keep my sweet girl in your thoughts and keep looking to this post for some fun stories... I promise...

Today Marci's loving list - watching her sing over 40 of her favorite nursery rhymes at the desolate play park and shaking, dancing and 'beating' to the beat. Also for giving me hugs every 10 minutes (I think for taking her to a desolate play park!)

Me and My Friend

Another exciting week has passed without much to report. I thought I would post a few of Marci's latest trips with a friend of hers who will be moving this month back to Colorado. We will miss you Emma! (We'll miss her Mom, Andrew and Daddy too...)

Here is a few pictures of our zoo trip with the MOPS group.

Marci and Emma loved the monkeys. This was the better picture and somehow reminded us of how much we miss Uncle Paul.... :-D Are you here yet?

Riding the giraffe.. Marci does her 'diva' impression well doesn't she?

At the treehouse:

After a few hours at the treehouse.... Marci fell asleep in the doll house room...

I'll try and post another update this week. Marci has several appts/evals this week so keep her in your thoughts that this will be a good week. We'll be heading to Bear Lake on Friday for our parental figures 49th wedding anniversary 'party'. I should have some 'blackmail' pictures from that event!

Catching Up...

Yes, believe it or not - Marci's mom has decided to dust the cobwebs off her blog space and update the site with a few words and pictures! I have been blog-stalking my favorite people (you know who you are!) and have been hoping that their blogging prowess would rub off on me... alas it was not to be. I have however graduated with an MBA in procrastination... Without further delay - I will catch you up on our activities with some photos and then I'll make a promise and try to keep it for staying updated.... (Forgive the typos and poor grammar.. my mommy mind has gone to bed!)

April - past post (hopefully posted by now) show Marci's last days with Aunt Michele, Uncle Paul and Duke... we miss them so much! We keep wishing on the stars....

May - Lots of playdates and play therapies that kept us hopping! Marci loves to be outside and walk KC, play in her pool and just be 'one' with the yard.. Marci's latest 'brag' is she has 'memorized' counting in French, Japanese, Spanish and Swahili (sp?)... Marci has one of those minds that memorizes quickly and she's learned from a CD she listens to... she doesn't know what she's saying but hey, I'm still counting it!

June - Kenny, Marci and I spent 2 weeks in Louisiana visiting family and working.

Marci had a wonderful time doing all of her favorite things and entertaining everyone with her dancing, singing, reading and just silly 2 year old things.

We spent a week with Jeanne (Marci's Nanny and Kenny's favorite sister) and then a week with MawMaw Alda. We loved spending time with family and loved all of the great Cajun food and the incredible hospitality. On our way home, while sitting on the Dallas tarmac for 2 hours, Marci demonstatrated her newest skill, reading! Yes, Marci can sound out some three and four letter words in her book now!

We picked up a new friend there!

July - it's been a month of catchup on appointments, work, dear friends who I'm horrible about keeping in touch with, family time and blogging! We also spent a nice long weekend up at Grandma and Grandpa Smith's and celebrated Grandma's birthday!

As you can see, they live in a beautiful setting and we enjoyed being with them and the outdoors. Grandpa let KC and I tag with him and Tip on their morning walks. It was spectacular. If anyone would like the photos of our walks let me know. Someone who takes care of the trails carves faces on the trees they cut down from the path.. very fun! We also wrote our names and notes in the geocache.com can under the bridge...

Kenny took Abby (our neice who came with us), Marci and I rides on Grandpa's 4-wheeler which was fun.

Last but not least for this trip was Marci at the piano. Marci loves music and has an unbelieveable ability to dance, lead music and sing - right on beat (maybe not on tune but hey... she's 2!) Here are some parting shots of my marvelous maximum Marci!