WHAT?

Before the holidays Tod and I were getting a little frustrated with Jacob. Whenever we would ask him to do something he wouldn't do it or he would give us a look and say, "what?" We decided that he had a case of the "6 Year Olds" or just not paying attention.

Last Thursday I took him in for his 6 year old well visit and he failed the hearing test. Hmmm. My dear friend Katie Peter pulled some strings and waved her magic wand and got us an appointment with the Charlotte ENT Audiologist yesterday. Once again he failed the extensive hearing test. Dr Rainey said that she believes it is fluid in the ears, but wants us to see the ENT so they can look in his ears and give us a diagnosis. We go on Thursday.

I feel like such a bad Mommy! Now that I know he has had some hearing loss over the last few weeks I can see all of the warning signs and red flags that have been right in front of my face. He truly hasn't heard me when I've been talking to him. I just thought he was distracted or was just ignoring me. Yikes!

I wrote his teacher today and told her what was going on. She responded with "So that's what has been going on with him!" She also noticed him behaving differently and seated him closer to her so he can pay attention and hear her instructions. Mrs. Carroll is wonderful and is committed to helping him until we figure out what is going on.

I'll post an update later this week after we see the ENT. Wish us luck!

Blog Blog Blog

I've neglected my blog! I decided to make this entry my "random" entry. Lots of little things.

I took Jacob snow tubing after Christmas. We went up to Jonas Ridge. We had great conversations on the way up there. I don't get a lot of one on one time with him these days. After watching the brief safety movie we set out for our first ever tubing experience. We hooked up to the tube lift then waited our turn to zip down the mountain. We were able to tie our tubes together for the trip down the hill. It was really fast! After the second run Jacob decided he had enough of tubing. I finally figured out that he was a little scared of the lift. So....I had to carry both tubes up the hill. It was exhausting. We tubed for about an hour and a half. Lots of fun.

Yesterday was super windy. After dropping Brady off at school, I get home to find our recycling all over the place. I'm all sweaty from going to the Y and a little embarrassed to be seen by my neighbors. Well, I had to suck it up and clean up the neighborhood. Our newspapers were flying through the air and beer cans were clanging down the street. After rustling up all of our recycling, I casually looked around to make sure no one saw me. I didn't hear any laughter, but you never know.

Also, we had the top of one of our really tall trees snap off late yesterday afternoon. The boys and I were playing a game at the kitchen table. We heard a loud CRACK followed by an even louder BOOM! We ran out to the deck to see the damage. The top just snapped off and it came withing 3 feet of the house. No damage to our house, retaining wall, or landscaping. Just lots of firewood to chop!!

I will try not to neglect the blog anymore!

It's Really Over?

I can't believe the holidays are really over. We have had such a fun Christmas and New Year. I just can't believe it is over!


The Monday before Christmas Tod's Mom, Dad and brother came. Then on Christmas Eve my Mom, Dad, and Grandmother arrived. And on Christmas Day my sister and brother-in-law came. We had a full house! But it was loads of fun. The boys loved being the center of attention through the entire week. It was like we had a continuous Christmas.


Tod's brother, Sean, built us a BEAUTIFUL dining room table. He is so amazingly talented. You can see all of his work at ww.odonnellwoodworking.com. We couldn't be happier with the table. It is perfect.


Speaking of talent...Tod's mother painted us an incredible picture for our kitchen. She took a picture of the woods behind our house then painted this...


Just amazing! Every day I'm still in awe of this picture!

The O'Donnell clan left on Christmas Day and we had a "shift change". The Johnson clan (my family) spent the rest of the week together. One of our traditions over Christmas is my Mother makes Gumbo. It is so delicious! We didn't have many leftovers!!

We played countless games of Apples to Apples, Mexican Train Dominoes, and Darts. Who knew my Dad was such a good dart player!?? We shared lots of laughs and enjoyed each others company.

We spent New Year's Eve at a neighbors house. The boys were with my parents so we had no worries. I am so happy that we found the perfect neighborhood for us. Lots of fun families.

2008 brought us many new challenges, and moved us to a new place. I'm not sure if we are ready to find out what 2009 has in store for us. At least I will have the holidays to look forward to!

Christmas Shows

Jacob and Brady both had their Christmas / Winter shows this week. And, yes, I cried at both. I'm such a sucker.

Brady's Christmas show was the traditional Christmas story. The 4year old and 3year old classes did most of the show then they brought in the 2year old classes at the end of the program to sing about 3 songs. Brady is not going to be the "performer" in our family. He pouted most of the show. I think he was completely overwhelmed at all of the people watching and the camera's flashing. He looks so sad!

My Dad got a good picture of Brady when he finally noticed us in the audience. When the program was over he jumped in my lap. I took him to his class and he cried. Broke my heart, but knew he would be fine in a couple of minutes.

Jacob's Kindergarten performance was a Rockin' Winter/Patriotic show. They did a touching tribute to our troops, sang the National Anthem, and did a Pledge of Allegiance Rap. Very cute. As most of you know, Jacob wants to be a rock star when he grows up. He played this blow up guitar like a true rock star. I think he really thought he was playing.

After both of these shows I am totally in the Christmas spirit! Merry Christmas!

Marshall And Mr. Higgins

We are dog sitting this week while our neighbors are at Disney. Marshall is a lively Jack Russell and Mr. Higgins is an adorable Terrier. The boys love taking them on daily walks. Jacob walks Marshall and Brady walks Mr. Higgins. (Brady calls him Meester Higgie) And I get to follow them and clean up. Fun. No, It really is kind of fun watching these pups for a few days. Doesn't make me want to get a pet, though. Our fish, Beta, is enough responsibility for us!

Half Marathon

I can't be any prouder! Tod ran in his first half marathon this morning. He is so amazing. On Thursday he came home from work and told me that he was thinking of running in the Thunder Road Half Marathon. I said, "Wow. When is it?" Tod said, "Well, it is on Saturday." Huh? He has been running about three days a week and doing a long run on Saturdays for a while now. Tod has raced in many 5K's, a few 10K's, and a 15K, but nothing this long. He took the train to uptown early. I bundled the boys up and we met him at the finish line. We saw him round the corner and I shouted, "There he is!!" Jacob ran up and gave him a big high five and we cheered him to the finish. He finished in a very strong two hours.

Tod has always told me that if you set your mind to something you can accomplish it. You may not get it right the first time or hit a bump along the way, but as long as you keep focused you will be able to succeed in whatever you do. He makes me want to be a better person. I'm proud of you, Tod!

Next stop....NYC Marathon??

This week...

Not too much has happened this week. I have been sick with a cold/ear infections/cough for about 3 weeks now and I am sick of being sick! The ones suffering the most are Tod, Jacob and Brady. After being sick for 3 weeks I decided that it is time to stop being sick.

Yesterday the boys and I went to Stanly, NC to visit my friend Karen and her daughter Riley. We had such a fun afternoon. Riley is such a little spitfire. Her curly brown locks and extensive vocabulary makes her the cutest two year old I've ever met! We did have to drive through torrential rains to get there, but once we arrived a beautiful rainbow appeared. The kids were just as awe struck as we were.

Here is a picture of our back yard. Steele Creek floods every time it rains.

I do need to ask my friends for prayers today. Jacob's teacher's son is at Levine's Children's hospital today with digestive problems. He may need surgery. Also, my neighbor is having surgery today. He is having his malignant gallbladder removed, lymph nodes, possibly part of his liver and surgery to repair his colostomy. It is going to be a long day for him and his family and they need your prayers. Makes me feel bad for complaining about my cold!

Tonight we are going to drive around a look at Christmas lights. Always puts me in the Christmas spirit.