Collin's Hearing Test

We went up to the hospital today to have Collin's hearing test- and the results are good! He can hear just fine, only mild loss for very high frequencies. That could be related to his age anyway, so says the Dr., and if retested at a later age could turn out that he can hear that as well. So good news, Collin hears and that is not the reason for his speech delay. Bad news, now we need to find out what his speech delay is and hope that it isn't neurological. We were referred to a developmental pediatrician that we will go see and go from there.

We were in a small room with two boxes in each corner (to gauge each ear) with a stuffed animal that played the drums. Every time he recognized the sound and turned it would go off as a reward. It was quite clever and worked really well, he turned to look at the animal when he heard a sound.

Tomorrow is Collin's ECI review so I will have more to say then. What a week for Collin!

Bluebird Blogs Contest

My friend and coblogger has peaked my interest in this contest by Susie over at Bluebird Blogs. And this is my shameless attempt to get a new blog template out of the contest.

I get 5 free entries for posting a blog entry about the contest. Woot! I could use a face lift! I have browsed her testimonials and I am impressed. Pick me! Pick Me!

Happy Birthday Big Sis!

Today is Collin & Cyrus' big sister's 10th birthday! Happy Birthday Gaia! She got tons of loot from her mom and stepdad and then a whole other set of treasures from us (the benefit to having two sets of parents!). So Happy Birthday Gaia!

Hugs to Mom!

Cyrus smiles amicably for his big sister's birthday.
Hey buddy, you have pizza crust on your face...

Collin waves to everyone behind the Baby Paparazzi
trying to get Collin to look at the camera.

Staying Busy

We have been doing all sorts of things lately. We started the "Peapods" program at the library where I used to work (once called the Mother Goose program) for babies up to two years. We do nursery rhymes, finger plays, read a board book, do sign language- it is wonderful! I have wanted to get the boys in there for so long and love it! I have missed working at the library and I miss the people there. We have also been doing Musikgarten where we song songs and play with simple musical instruments like bells and percussion sticks. The boys are a little too young for the program right now, but it runs through December so by then they will be answering the questions and doing all the motions and dances.

They both are so much fun and they need the social interaction and exposure to regulated progam environments (they wont be with mommy all day forever...). I have also noticed they are the most rambunctious kids, which makes me worry that I have given them too much freedom at home. They can go from one end of the house to the other and I leave their door open so they can play in their room. Is this perhaps too much? Should I keep them in one room at a time? What are other parent's thoughts?

Collin had been teething and was feeling pretty bad over the weekend. Poor little guy had fever and low appetite and was very cuddly, needing his mommy. I love that Collin was feeling cuddly since he usually does not sit still long enough to be cuddling with anyone unless Jack's is on TiVo (yes, we watch TiVo, not TV). He is feeling better now and they are into everything together. Cyrus leads the disaster but Collin can climb on anything Cyrus can now, so there is no safe places.

My memory is getting worse and worse and my friend tells me its sleep deprivation. The other day I actually forgot to pick Craig up from he autoshop on my way to my sister in law's. I talked to him on the phone right before I left the house!! This is just madness, and I find myself occasionally forgetting things between the time it takes to get out my notepad in my purse to write it freakin' down! What the @#$%^ people?!? *deep breath* Well, here are some pics while life has been going on (before I forget!!). I love being the Baby Paparazzi...

I am trying to find the picture of Cyrus like this from last year...a comparison.


Cyrus enjoys his homemade ice cream at Grandma & Grandpa's house.
"Cold!" he kept saying, and loved every minute if it!


Mommy and Collin having fun together.
Collin wears his patch without a fight, most of the time.


While Collin was sick I put him in the "backpack" so I
could still get things done around the house.
Doesnt he look pitiful?

Because I needed a change

Those that know me will laugh and shake their heads at my doing this, and to those that do not, just know that I was bored and needed a change from the old stay-at-home-mom feeling. So I colored my hair- again. I blame it on the fact that I am a Leo and my mane is my attention getter, so I am constantly changing my hair style. This was fun and I feel a little Anime, but that's fine. I know it is just a temporary thing. What the hell, right? I do not have a 9 to 5 job that tells me I cannot do it. If you like it, please let me know, and if you don't, well, I don't want to know. :P

Ok, so my hair is red. It was supposed to be magenta/purple, but whatever. I still like it. :)

I colored my previously blonde bangs and some of the center to allow for...

This... I love it!

If I brush it back then it falls all around my head, which I like. While I was doing this I thought it would either look really cool or be a total disaster. My bangs are just about ready to fall off with all the dying I have been doing to them but, whatever. I do need a haircut, so that will help.

And to mention my children, they are doing great. Collin has been a champ with his eye patch and Cyrus has not been trying to pull it off so I have hope that his eye will be strengthened by the new year for his surgery. We got a playgym for them from my sister in law which I am so excited about. It is so cool and they love to go down the slide. Cyrus is walking and talking and being a terrible two-sie but he pointed to Gaia's new hairbrush today and said "Blue!" It was so exciting to realize he had learned the color blue!!! Maybe he is paying attention to me after all...

Collin loves his mew playgym so much he could eat it!

Collin and Daddy smile big for the Baby Paprazzi! Hurray!

It is so much fun to play under the kitchen table...
yes, we do not wear pants all that often at home. I mean,
with that bulky diaper, it must be uncomfortable, right?