We went to the library yesterday, and I got a “How to Draw Bugs” book. I mostly got it for myself, since my kids always want me to draw them pictures and I’m not very good. Well, Parker saw the book and spent the next hour drawing on the chalkboard. I think he has his Dad’s talent. He drew all of the bug pictures himself. Nobody helped him at all.

Pretty impressive, don’t you think?

Keaton has been trying to ride a bike with training wheels. Before he used this bike, he was riding a little tricycle. It’s pretty hard for him. Getting his left leg to work right is really difficult for him, but he’s been practicing and can now peddle by himself. He just has trouble stopping. And, his left foot slips off the peddle a lot, so Scott tried strapping his foot to the peddle. It worked pretty good. He’s taken a few spills, so it’s been hard convincing him to ride it some more. But, the therapists said if he would start riding a bike it would really strengthen his scrawny little leg, so that’s what we are trying to do.

Here he is riding by himself. He’s doing soooooo good. Just about a week and a half ago he got another round of botox in his leg. And, yesterday they casted him. The botox seems to be working a little better this time, so that’s good. Scott took him to get his cast on. Keaton has been following Scott around lately….he’s Scott’s little shadow. So, I had Scott take him to get the cast on, because when I take him he always ends up trying to kick the therapist, and screams and cries. But, Scott said he did really good. He just sat there while they put the cast on. I think it was fun for him to have time with just Scott. After he got the cast on, Scott took him to get some ice cream bars. He seemed pretty happy when he got home. So far he’s doing pretty good with the cast. He has asked me to take it off a few times, but he’s been a lot milder than he ever has been. At his appointment with the therapist before he had the botox, the therapist was amazed again at how well he’s doing. He just gets around so well, and doesn’t let anything stop him, which is good, but I think the therapist doesn’t know what to do with him anymore. I think it’s kind of pointless for us to take him to physical therapy. He does his own therapy at home by wrestling, playing baseball, playing soccer, and lots of other stuff. So, I’ve been trying to figure out what to do. I guess maybe take him every 6 months or so to make sure he’s still doing good.

The hard thing with Keaton lately has been all his questions. I expected him to question his differences at some point, but not this soon. For a few days he kept coming up to me and saying, “Mommy, why am I different?” I was surprised and didn’t really know what to say. And, now with his cast, he has been asking me, “Why do I have a cast?” He wants to know why he has to have a cast and his brothers and friends don’t. So other than answering his hard questions he really is doing great.

And here are his broken glasses. He had these for approximately one month. He’s so hard on his glasses. I really don’t know what to do anymore. If anyone knows of any “Keaton proof” glasses, please let me know!!

Parker had another eye appointment. I always get so nervous at those appointments. Before we went he had been complaining that his eyes hurt when he went out in the sun, and his eyes would water really bad. I always think they are going to say he has inflammation in them, but once again they were free from any cells. So, we just keep doing what we are doing, and he gets his meds once a week. It was such good news to hear that his eyes were okay. I was soooooo excited, and I’m praying that it stays that way.

Parker got a slip and slide for his bday from his nice auntie. Since then the kids have been watching the weather everyday to see if it would be warm enough to use it. One day was finally a little warmer, and I gave in to their begging and got it out. I think they loved it, but it was still kind of cold, so they only lasted for a few minutes. You can see Berkley above. That is as far as he made it on the slip and slide. He didn’t really like getting wet.

Scott decided to put a chalkboard wall in our kitchen since our kids are constantly writing on the walls. It turned out really good. In the pic above, Keaton was writing on it for the first time, and below is what it looks like now. The kids have stopped drawing on the walls so much, but Berkley did draw on the chalkboard with some crayons….But for the most part it’s been really good. The kids love the chalkboard and I even like drawing on it sometimes.