Update.

Hey all- writing again because again its been forever since I have blogged! Nearly 3 months!
First off, I am now 24 1/2 wks pregnant...we are having a girl which is really exciting! Pregnancy wise, things have been going great...except the the restriction on me lifting things..10 lbs is supposed to be the max.
Camden is going to be 2 here in a couple of weeks, which seems unreal! He acts like a 2 year old however! He is a good boy for the most part, says sorry if he does something naughty..lol..getting really good at throwing fits tho..hope that stage is over soon!
This blog is about Carter, mostly..and there are some things to be said about Carter. ;)
Carter has been doing pretty well in preschool...Has an aide named Laurie who is great with him. I am sure her job is stressful at times because Carter can be quite stubborn and not listen. He can put up such a fight at times. She uses pictures to show Carter whats going to come next at preschool..to kind of mentally prepare him when they go from activity to the next. She also uses a star system...its like a countdown basically where she starts with 5 stars and then removes them one by one (attached by velco) and when all the stars are gone its either the start or end of something...i think it works ok for him.
We had an IEP for Carter a few weeks ago and last wednesday he did his first 'full' day..which was form 9-3...he did really great..even took a nap for a while (which was the part that worried me!)--Ms. Linda called me that afternoon to tell me that he had fallen asleep to Mozart on a cot...holding a plastic cow with his fingers in his mouth..(?)...Anyways, I was happy to know he did good that extended day. Today is another full day at preschool (his 2nd)..and I am praying right now that he is doing ok because he put up quite a fight going..which makes it so hard to leave him.

Medicine wise- We just got done transitioning his 'brain stablizer' medicine from Topamax to Neurontin...I hope that he doesnt have dizziness from the neurontin..which is the #1 side effect. We requested to switch his medicine because the topamax caused him to overheat while outside. With summer coming up, we couldnt have that. I also read that is could cause a 'decrease in growth'---and he is already on growth hormone medicine! So that needed to change!

Growth wise- Carter started his genatropin (growth medicine) on December 6th and I am happy to report that he has now grown a total of 2 inches since then!! The Dr. said to expect 3-4 inches the first year! I guess we are on track for that!! PTL! His weight has been really hard to watch though...that boy hasnt seemed to slow down..and he doesnt always eat much!! I always think that people probably think that all I do his feed him-which isnt the case. We go back to the pediatric endocrinologist May 17th and when we go, i am going to request they recheck his thyroid again as well--it was borderline last time. He may just need something as simple as thyroid medicine..that is my hope!

Health wise- the last few months have been rough for Carter...it seems it has been non-stop sickness...he has had multiple ear infections...as a result of those we took Carter to an ENT yesterday and found out that he has to have tubes put in his ears here in a couple of weeks...Hopefully those will help!! I say with all the surgeries Carter has had to go thru, this one should be nothing! (Hope so anyways!)..Please pray that this surgery is successful and that Carter is sick a lot less going forth!!

Learning wise- Carter is flourishing!! He is always saying and doing things that surprise me (in a good way!!)..He sings lots of songs from preschool- is meeting some goals set at preschool- saying sentences which show his comprehension..Finally starting to learn some colors! It has always been 'blue-green'--now he is saying black, gray, orange-and appropriately! Next year we are planning on him attending preschool full time! This is my hope anyways..This past year has been a 'preparation' year...I am awaiting another IEP meeting- which is supposed to happen here in the next week or two- to set up schedule, transportation, etc for next year.
The baby (GIRL) is supposed to come August 8..Cody is going to take a week off from work then to help me out after my planned c-section...and then Carter will start preschool a week or two after that..I am hoping Camden is my big helper when baby comes. He seems to take to babies very well...even kissing my expanding stomach now..knowing there is a baby inside.
Thats about all I have for now..please keep Carter in your prayers!
Thanks and God Bless!!

Livin and Lovin Life!

I realize it has been a while again since I last updated this blog about my Carter...so I apologize! We have celebrated Christmas and the New Year and nearly a month since those things has already gone by. I have a few things to put in this ;)

Carter has been doing great in preschool, first off. He really seems to love to go there and it seems like every time we pull into the school lot he says "Mrs. Linda", and "schoolbus!"..I really think that he is going to like to ride a schoolbus someday! He really love the recess and gym time there, playing ball with other little kids gets him really excited! By the time I pick him up @ 12:30, he is usually exhausted though...and napping for me soon after that!

Growth: Carter as you know started the growth hormone medicine in early December...and we are happy to report that he has grown a 1/2 inch since then!! Yay! Cody always jokes around and says he hopes Carter grows 4 inches and 2 shoe sizes, and really that would be Great!! Hopefully the growing will continue! Little brother Camden is already @ 33 1/2 inches! Carter is now 39 inches, ptl!!

Life has been going on here at our home...I broke the news to our families at Christmas that we are expecting again..so our third and final Van Schepen baby will come early August this year! Carter will be full time in preschool (my hopes)...a few weeks after baby and so that will leave Camden to be mommy's little helper with baby (another hope! ;)).

Carter is so smart..He continues to amaze us everyday with some of the things he either says or does! My mom was just telling me last night how Carter and Hanna played hide and seek while at her house..she said it was so sweet...Carter would come looking for Hanna, saying "Where is she?? Where did she go?"...and then he would peek while counting to 10 when Hanna was hiding...I thought, thats my boy! ;)

Thanks for reading!