Charlie's New Blog

Charlie has a new personal blog and he is using blogger...yes! Go here to check it out: http://charlie-wallace.blogspot.com/

Ps- This picture was taken on that day we got free Chick Fil A chicken strips when we wore a sports logo. This night is the reason I was not able to take my three hour glucose test last week. I got so caught up in things that I ate the strips and lemonade and then felt like I was going to throw up afterwards. I think I might have failed the test the next day. Plus Charlie had meetings that next day and it was not a good day to bring Jackson to work with him. Anyway, I am taking the 3 hour test at the hospital tomorrow morning at 7:30 am no matter what so keep me in your prayers. Pray I pass (I really cannot overeat this pregnancy...unlike with Jackson. I get so full whenever I eat, and I am still exercising so I will be very surprised if I have gestational diabetes)! No to mention the fact that I only failed the test by 8 points and when I was pregnant with Jackson I failed the test badly and still was able to pass the three hour test. Some doctors would not have made me take this three hour test, but my doctors said if I did not take the three hour test they would treat me like I have gestational diabetes....no fun.

New Outside Toys

Jackson's 2nd birthday is next Friday...time has flown! Jackson has already received some early birthday presents. We got him this little slide at a consignment store in Lexington called "As Good As New." Mimi and Pawpaw got him this cute outside picnic table and sandbox for his birthday (I think they got it at Sam's). He loves having something to sit on outside. My parents got him this soccer goal and ball which he loves (they got it at Walmart) Needless to say, Jackson never wants to come inside now, and cries and cries when we have to go in. It is killing my allergies but I am so thankful for all these fun outside toys! What are your favorite outdoor toddler toys?

Happy Labor Day!

We have had a great Labor Day Weekend so far. First, me and Jackson went to Spartanburg Thursday while Charlie went to the game with a friend. It is the last weekend the pool was open, so Jackson had one last time to get to go to the pool there. He loves the pool and we have a hard time getting him out of it. We had a great time and came back yesterday. Today after church, we met Charlie family out to eat for lunch. Jake (Jackson's first cousin) and Jackson got to have some quick fun together at lunch. Hope yall have a great Labor Day weekend!

Update on Jackson 23 months

Jackson's hearing is perfectly normal. Babynet came last Thursday and did a complete evaluation on his development in all areas. He did great in all sections except the speech area. He failed two sections in the speaking area. We chose Bright Star provider. . . this is the group from where we will get the speech therapist from. Right now all that has been determined is that he has "speech delay."

Pray that

• We get a good speech therapist and Jackson responds to the therapy (if we do not click with the therapist we can always try other therapists)
  
• That things move along faster (since Jackson did so well on all other tests he is not a high priority for them).
• That Jackson will just be able to correctly repeat words he is trying to say. He should be saying minimum 20 words a day and he only has about 5 to 10 words that he uses daily.

PS- I have my 3 hour glucose test Tuesday so pray that I pass it! All these tests that both me and Jackson are having are getting a little stressful but we rather be safe than sorry!

Curtain Climber

I was told by a few moms when Jackson was a baby that he would be a curtain climber. Well, his new favorite activity to do is to climb up and down the video rocker. Yes we have a video rocker because someone in the house plays a certain college football game all summer long. Jackson really could do this for hours. We hope to transition to a big boy bed at the end of September. Any advice on how to do this successfully, I am all ears!

Also, Charlie and Jackson went and kicked the ball around yesterday and Jackson can dribble the ball with both of his feet and then aim the ball to the target and kick it very far. It really is crazy to watch and I will have to get video of it soon. We are going to get a soccer goal soon because at church he successfully kicks the ball in a goal. I think he is a little young to be playing soccer this well and we have not taught him any of this. He loves soccer and golf already (he could watch golf for hours). Are any of your little ones loving to play soccer at this age?

Babynet is coming tomorrow to evaluate Jackson speech and I will hopefully have an update about that either tomorrow or the next day.

Video of Jackson Laughing at 23 months---The Joys of Being a Parent

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Thanks for Your Prayers----Everything Went Well (Updated)

Wow, it has been a crazy day!

First, Jackson woke up at 6:40...I guess he did notice that his morning bottle was gone after all (we took it away Monday morning). He ate his food very fast this morning! Jackson went to work with daddy which he loved (they have childcare on Tuesdays at the church)

Second, the glucose test went well. I never felt like I was going to throw up or pass out like I did last time. I will find out the results tomorrow and post them here on this post. Update: The nurse called today and I failed the test by 8 points...ahhhh! I scored a 138 and 130 is passing. I did some research and 138 in some cases is passing. So now I have to go to the hospital next Tuesday for the 3 hour test (I know I only have to drink the terrible drink 1 time and then they draw my blood every hour for 3 hours....so sad). It is just frustrating because I failed by such a few points. It is depressing but I am not concerned with me...I am just concerned with Abigail.

I am measuring 24 weeks and cannot believe I only have 4 more weeks until I will be considered in my 3rd trimester. Her heart beat was strong and she was moving all around for the doctor. I forgot to mention that last week I was 23 weeks pregnant and Jackson turned 23 months old...crazy!

Third, Jackson's hearing test went well. His hearing is normal in every way. There is no scar tissue damage but he does have a ton of ear wax in his ears which the doctor said was almost impossible to get out of toddlers' ears. I was so glad Charlie was there with me because I was so exhausted and could have never held him down in my lap for that long. He did great in the sound proof booth and I actually think he had fun during that part. However, when we put the device in his ear you would have thought we were killing him.

I am real excited about Babynet coming to the house next Thursday. I talked to the coordinator and she said they will just observe him and ask me questions for a couple of hours. They will be able to evaluate where he exactly is on his language development and I have heard of families that have had unbelievable results once their child starting working with them.

It is just hard for me sometimes because if there is a problem I want to fix it and move on. But God is teaching me to completely trust Him and rely on Him. I am on His timetable not my own. I am completely praising Him that Jackson's hearing is completely normal...we are so blessed!

Pray for Me and Jackson Tomorrow

Here is a picture of Jake (Jackson's only first cousin) and Jackson having fun playing together last Saturday.

Tomorrow is a big day for me and Jackson.

First, I have my glucose test tomorrow morning at 8:30. With Jackson, I failed this test (my sugar levels were high) so I am praying that I can pass it tomorrow. I am going to be sure to eat plain foods tonight. So if you can say a quick prayer for me that would be great (I almost passed out during this test when I was pregnant with Jackson).

Second, Jackson has his hearing test tomorrow at 3 pm. I am praying that that all is well. It is the hardest for me when doctors say that everything is fine. I am just not a patient person and God might just be trying to teach me more patience when it comes to Jackson and his speech. I really have a feeling that the more recent double ear infection that lasted six weeks caused scar tissue damage to his ear - especially after doing some research online and talking to the doctor. However, he might just have his own little language for a while (at least he can throw a spiral football across the room and he is not even 2 years old yet....haha). I will be glad if someone can come to the house and help him speak better. Hopefully, I will have an update on how things went tomorrow night.

Ps- Today we got rid of the morning bottle. It went really well. He ate an entire container of yogurt and lots of cereal this morning. We have three more weeks until his 2 year old birthday and these last two bottles have got to go before then. We are going to give him two more weeks with just the night bottle and then the night bottle is going as well. He did fine, but when we went to Gold's Gym they could not give him his nutter butters because there was a child in there who had a peanut allergy. He was hungry, so of course he cried for a good while and they had to come get me out of the class. So far, the only repercussions of getting rid of his other 10 ozs has been one night where he woke up in the middle of the night and played in his crib for about an hour, as well as one instance of him being so hungry that he ate a piece of Millie's dog food...gross.

He refuses to drink milk out of a cup. Any advice on how to get him to drink milk out of a cup this I am all ears! The doctor said she did not care if he drank any milk she just wanted the bottles gone. He will drink juice out of a cup all day long, just not milk or water at all.

Video of Jackson at Saluda Shoals Park

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Fun at the Saluda Shoals Splash Park

Today, we had another great play date with First Baptist. We went to Saluda Shoals Splash Park and the total cost was $13 for all three of us which is really not bad (it is a huge park with so much to do). If you have not been there yet, I definitely recommend it! At first, Jackson stood back from all the activities, but then once his Sunday School teacher got there, he really warmed up to it, and before I knew it he was running through everything not scared at all. He was so brave (you never knew when the water was going to spray up at you). He is like his mommy and loves the water. Before each playdate, I think that he is too young to enjoy some of it, but he surprises me every time and loves it (probably enjoys doing something fun and different).