the latest

I realize I haven't given you the latest on what's happening in the Carmona house....Allow me to briefly update you.

Caden:
We are finally spending a lot of energy potty training, since he will start preschool at the end of the month. He is all registered to go to the local private preschool near our home. For months now we "dabbled" with the whole potty training thing. But since he MUST be trained for school we are doing mostly underwear. he's doing pretty good considering all the distractions he (and I) have.

He will get hearing aids soon I hope...his speech production seems to be getting more muffled. Doctor checked him out this week and his ears look good. I thought perhaps it was fluid build up from swimming. I think the aids will help him tremendously.

Braxton:
Mr. braxton is becoming more and more independent. He wants to feed himself, walk by himself, etc. etc. He is progressing well, developmentally. He is still about 3 months or so behind his brother, but the gap is slowly closing.

He now signs
*bath
*hi/bye
*more
*mom/dad
*finish
*plane

I hear him voice "mama" too :)
He uses his leg braces still....I need to be sure to put them on him the moment he gets up--but who wants to wear shoes all the time. Sucks, but if it's going to help him stop toe walking then so be it. I'm starting to think there's more going on. I'm thinking there something going on with his hip, because he will often hold his hip when he walks. We are STILL waiting to see the physical therapist....with some health insurance changes, things have been a bit in shambles. Hoping by the end of next week we can get it all figured out.

Xander:
Both xander and braxton are very stubborn....hard headed little boys. This is always a bad thing....i think it has helped xander learn sign a lot quicker. he is determined to get what he wants and we try not to give in unless he signs it. Before (2 days ago before) he would scream and yank on us to pick him up. now he quietly points up and looks at us. It's cute...and helps with the noise pollution ;) We are working on "up please". He knows tons of signs...however only does 1/2 word utterances. He and Braxton will be going to CSDR again this fall to the DHH parent infant program. I know they will make huge strides in language this year. Xander, too, says, "mama" at times.
Xander has a hernia in his private area...so we are going to a specialist to get that checked out. HE often pushes down there and one doctor said "its just a guy thing". we could tell he was uncomfortable....and it turns out it wasn't "just a guy thing!"

In a couple weeks the twins have an appt at the high risk clinic at Loma Linda, where they will have more extensive developmental/physical testing done. They turn 2 AUG. 18th!! Crazy... at age 2 a lot of things change. They don't adjust their age anymore...the gaps that are present are now looked at differently. Not just a "preemie" thing. So we'll see what they have to say. Of course I am already thinking about this appt, but trying to remember that what ever they have to say is not written in blood. They've been wrong before! :)

Mom:
I will be teaching another ASL class this fall at CBU. I'm looking fwd to it, as it gives me a little adult time...a sense of balance from the everyday tasks of being a stay at home mom. Which....as some of you know, can be daunting at times.

Dad:
Phil continues to work hard at his business, RISE interpreting. I'm very proud of him--it has to be a hard task being a dad/husband; trying to balance work, time with wifey, kids, etc. He's doing it... One of my favorite sights is seeing all three boys tackle Phil to the ground and hearing all 4 of them laughing out loud.

till next time....