I really wish I could get on here more often to update all of this web site.  There are just so many things I have to do and so little time.  Isn't that the story of a mother's life though?

 

Garrett is still progressing very well.  He is even catching up to where he should be in some areas.  My heart tells me he will never be completely "normal", but I also believe he'll be able to overcome everything with lots of work and dedication.  His life is not going to be easy, I can tell, but I do think he will be just fine eventually.  A year ago, I know I didn't feel that way.

 

Garrett's little brother shows no signs of hypotonia or any development delays.  Rylan is now almost 4 months old.  He just started laughing, and it is so darn cute!  When Rylan cries, Garrett races over to him and tries to help.  Thankfully, Rylan thinks Garrett is very entertaining, so if Rylan can see Garrett, he won't cry.

 

What else is new with Garrett?  His receptive language skills have really taken off.  Tonight, he was having a meltdown.  I told him to come to me and stop crying or I wouldn't take him for a walk in the stroller.  He reluctantly walked over to me, stopped crying (but was still sobbing), and lifted his arms up for me to pick him up.  I told him we would go for a walk when he calmed down.  Five minutes later, he was in the stroller.  Amazing.  I honestly didn't think he understood that much.

 

 

Garrett is still progressing well.  He is now saying "Daddy", "Daisy" (the dog's name), "baby", "bath", and some other words that I can't think of right now.  He is understanding more of what we say, signing more often (only 3 signs so far), and giving non-verbal cues about what he wants.  His most recent thing is handing things to us.  He thinks it's hilarious when we say "thank you" every time he hands us something.  He hands me his cup at meal times now instead of throwing it across the room.  He thinks it's funny to watch the dogs scramble to avoid being hit by the cup, but I'm glad he thinks hearing "thank you" is more funny!

 

Garrett is almost running.  It's hilarous to watch him!  It looks like he's going to lose his balance at any moment, but he only does about half the time.  I'm so thankful he can walk!  It makes going places so much easier.  I have to hold his hand in parking lots, of course, but it's nice to let him walk around in Target or the grocery store without worrying about him losing his balance and not being able to get back up.  I only let him walk into and out of stores and in the stores when I'm feeling extra patient.

 

I would write more but I'm tired.  I also need to wake Rylan for his before-I-go-to-bed feeding.  If I don't do that, he'll be up at 11pm, just as I'm drifting off into a deep sleep.

 

Garrett's little brother is here!  He was born May 24th.  Garrett doesn't really pay much attention to him, but he does respond to his crying.  I feel sorry for Garrett because I can't really spend as much time with him as I had been before Rylan was born.  I'm sleep deprived and trying to figure out some sort of schedule with the 2 of them!

 

Garrett is now 2 years old!!  I can't believe it!  I'm thrilled that he walked before his second birthday and is continuing to make progress in all areas.  He is understanding a lot more of what we say, and he tries to repeat words sometimes.  I'm not as worried about him anymore.  It still breaks my heart that he will never be normal, but I have hope that he won't struggle through life.  I try not to think about that.  I hope he is able to compensate for all of his problems and have a somewhat normal quality of life.

 

Okay, I'm making myself sad now.  Enough of that.  My little man is 2 years old and on his way to gaining more skills.  He's health is great, so at least that's one thing I don't have to worry about!