Amazing first pony experience for Princess P

Well we're still going strong with no tv,and my wee ones have actually stopped asking for it,or gesturing for it as the case maybe! The boys too are doing well,accept in the van they feel there they should ask for a video.We have taken them out to a park almost every day this week,as well as they've played outside more this week.Without the option of tv they're choosing outside play.They ask us to go to parks,as we've found some really wonderful ones around us that they love to go to.They have the added plus of being great for the younger ones as well.We also got some great library books to keep us going trying to really get the mind tvs working for these guys.I wish for them to experience books the way I did,I use to feel I was in the book,the writting was a vivid picture in my mind for me.I wish they could enjoy it as much.
We went for a picnic hiking outing this afternoon.We packed the lunch up grabbed them from class and headed out.We decided to stop at a friends farm and visit with ponies and her new foal!The boys enjoyed the farm environment as a boy should,dirt, animals,tractors,mud and room to run and dogs to run with!Does life get any better?Two of the boys were abit nervous especially the noises the horses make are loud in the barn,and unfamiliar so papa took them outside and walked around and visited with ponies outside.They all handled it well.My lil'wild guy proved to be pretty brave and inquisitive,which was great!They got to brush a pony if they wanted,and sit on her too! Wild man took advantage of this and then decided he'd join papa and his brothers and off he dashed.Now let me play out the princesses response to this visit.
Once she was out of the van on her feet and noticed we were heading towards animals in the distance,she was trying to get in full run mode while yelling excitedly and pointing.I don't know if she realized what they were from the distance,but I can tell you as she got closer her excitment did not diminish! When we realized there were a few yearling foals in a small paddock close to us we walked over and an older pony there to babysit no doubt greeted us first with a muzzle thru the fence,well Princess P grabbed the big soft nostrils in each hand and pulled her face in for a full cheek on nuzzle!I just melted,she was not afraid,no fear at all she even let babies wuffle her hair and cheeks! I was speechless and in awe of this small person who I love so much and didn't think I could have anymore emotion for and yet I was over come that my princess seems to have my love of animals and horses!!!YIPEE!!!!Since my own days in Pony Club,I watched my friends with their parental supports and not having any just couldn't wait for the day I could be a pony club parent! I may actually get my dream.I know I'm insanr to pray for bankruptcy,but I can't help it,other horsey folks will understand,I'm elated!
Oh and that wasn't all,let me continue...with perma grin already firmly inplace we walked thru the barn with Ms.B the owner and a friend to her new foals stall.Well when the door opened and P saw not one lovely pony,but TWO and one her very size I literally had to restarin her,and she threw fits trying to get INTO the stall!!! It was amazing,poor Ms.B trying to get the foal closer and keep kids safe and momma pony happy!It was a site,but it sounded awful but was actually quite sweet as all she wanted was to get close to that baby pony!I could have cried I was so happy she isn't afraid of those big heads with those huge nostrils blowing warm sweet horsey air on her.Horse people will get this and understand.Next Ms.B brought out a pony for the kids to pat and brush and of course P took to it like she'd been doing it all her life,did you all remember she's not even 2 yet? Just checking,anyway,wldman and P brushed and then he asked to sit on her and he did this was not acceptable to P she wanted to be up there,and said up!Well she put her up there and then wildman decided he should go see papa and the brothers,so off he shot,and P decided since it was just her she should be able to move! She started squeezing her lil'legs and rising up and said out,she wanted to go for a ride!Ms.B was as impressed as I was I think.When brushing the pony,P stopped and hugged and kissed the ponies front leg,after all that's all she can reach at her height!Ms.B said I've got goosebumps that's so sweet!She kept getting under her head trying to touch her lil'pony nose,but they were both just too small to reach each other.It was one of the most precious times I've ever wittnesed.I'm sure it's happened before that a wee girl or boy has so loved horses so much at first meeting,but I can't recall ever seeing it.I do know it felt akin to my first meeting with horses.I hope she has this love forever!
Ms.B took the kids for a ride on her polaris mule tractor thing,and well it was a huge hit!The boys and P all enjoyed themselves,and the boys both asked to come back!Yay!I think we'll be going back routinely on foal watch as she's got a few due very soon!Then we said our thank yous and good byes and headed off for a snack and a walk in the woods!It was great weather for it and the babies walked the whole way,as they got tired P got independant,so just a little letting go and watching for the right moment to take the hand again,but it was great to be out with them and have such a nice after noon.They all enjoyed themselves,with really only one small melt down,only one boy got a trail map and so the other wanted to get one when we got back ok no problem,accept that what he meant was he wanted to get a map and go back out so he could pick which way we go!!!!Small melt down,but luckily some of the junior cub scouts were still near the tables and it took his mind right off of it and we all headed out together to the parking area!We had to promise to come back soon though! I love spring and I LOVE my twintastic life,thanks great spirit for a wonderful day without TV!

No TV for a Week,WHAT?!?!?!?!.......yup!

Well I know that next week is the week with out tv thing,but my oldest will be with his dad,and out of my control,so we moved it up to this week!DADADADUM! He's not very happy,he is a video game junkie!Literally he has no ability to control his time playing,and he gets very angry when you make him get off,he gets over it well though,but his initial response is crazy.I did expect a hard time from him though so I'm just staying strong and we'll get through it.I'm actually getting more flack from the little kids than I expected though so now I'm extra glad I'm doing this.
Papa played outside with the boys and baies after the boys came home from class until he took Nono for his speech,the good news is next week is his last appointment.I guess she feels he's met all her goals for him and that's great!D man went fishing with his friends after school,and that lessened his gaming drive.We took the lil'kids to one of their favorite parks to play,and as they snoozed in the van we took that time to look at a couple more properties.We'll hopefully be going for a couple showings later this week,we'll see.
I got a surprising snap from papa when after I put the boys to bed I came down to find him playing chess on line,we told Dman no comp or vid games and here he was playing- which is really wierd as he never does this.I mention he shouldn't and he yells you do these things just to crucify me!What a choice of words!The man who says he doesn't watch tv was at a loss with out it and thus spent the most time he has on computer.He made me say we can use comp for email & educational reading & researches.I was ok with no comp as well. This being only the first day,I'm pretty sure they all just are trying to adjust.I know it's really for the best as we apparently ARE watching too much TV! I read alot to my snugglesaurus boy,and he and princessP and I danced around alot in the morning.I even banned the video in the van for the week.The kids wanted to watch it as soon as they got in!Praying for nice weather all week so I can make it through this trial for my family.I have a few trips loosely set in my mind,and good projects we can all work on to keep us busy and am hopefully getting the book Tale of Despareux for week long reading to cap off with movie rental for sat eve with the littlies as D man will probablly be gone by then.On his way to sit for a week in front of a tv playing video games until his eyes pop out his dad WILL let him!Well atleast this week I can give his brain a much needed break from the constant bad stimulation!Hope you all have a great week,and I'll try to keep you up to date.

Some Easter fun pics!

We had a great day just the children and me,poor papa had to work,and he wasn't happy!We all the children and I worked on these.YES,even the grumpy D man! He did a great job,and was pleased with his outcome.I'll get a pic and post 'cause I'm so proud of him! Anyway,the little boys got in bed with me,and I read them a wonderful book called The First Easter,we picked it up at Wally world,but it was actually a great book to try to really explain the day's meaning to 4yr old twin boys with sensory issues.Not scarey,nice pics,and fairly easy for them to grasp.We read it again at bedtime,and I read it at bed time tonight again,it's getting them asking questions and sparking those neuropathways to keep firing.We rested in my bed a bit then drama king wandered down and saw the baskets and that was that!
He yelled to his brother as he shot up the stairs man that kid can move!The easter bunny had come and we gotta get the CANDY!!!They devored their goodies,well not really they played with their toys,had their egg hunt & found their new movie,watched it while I dozed.Gave D man his basket after waking him up,and then opened their baby bro & sis character eggs to make it easier for them! Aren't hey the sweetest,thinking of the babes that way! LOL When I was in the kitchen after the babies came down and had their basket,I heard giggling and attempts at coercing their lil'bro to look at me!look at me,you baby!!!I wandered in to find drama king had found my mobile phone and was snapping pictures with it.They amaze me,it took me almost a week to figure it out and they just know what to do,go figure!I figured I'd add his handy work cause well it's pretty good for a 4yr old and a mobile phone!
I think they have way more fun than I do sometimes,and I'm glad ,as it reminds me to value and cherish my little monkeys daily and I DO! We had a lovely ham dinner,with lemon cupcakes decorated with whipped cream & springy sprinkles.I capped the evening by finishing watching Seven Pounds!Enjoy the silly pics,and hope you all had a great day!

Lukes journey III

Here are surgery photos, in his room after surgery,his sister waiting for him,day after surgery,his nurses were amazed at how little bruising he had.Hanging with Princess P,and finally a smile!
Getting out of the bed for a ride,sleeping with his blankey & pouchy,tearing up the hallways around midnight.
Starting to take the bandages off,mumma help!!!
look at that lovely rounded head,finally free of my drooping visor!Fianally eating when sister got there.
Showing sister girl around the unit,finally busting out!Aaaah the real world,strolling around the back yard,and getting some papa love!

Luke's journey II

this is a pretty good shot of the shape of his head about 3 weeks after his birth.
good examples of the differences in their head sizes
awaiting his MRI,last pick of his mohawk just before sugery,and a birthday pic that shows his head shape pretty good.

Lukes journey

From when we first brought our youngest son home,we knew we were blessed,but we knew also that something wasn't quite right.There was nothing wrong,just something not right.You know that nagging feeling you get as a parent.Having had to battle for action with our doctor previously with the boys we were not shy about questioning him at every visit.We were told everything is fine,he's growing well and meeting his milestones we'll watch him,but there's nothing wrong.As he grew older we noticed that his head although it was getting larger as it should wasn't rounding out as it should,we did the rubbing during the first weeks of home life,and we changed his position often as we'd read to insure we weren't accidentally causing the shape some how.Some research into infant head shapes lead us to craniosynostosis.This is a condition affecting the skull,where the sutures fuse to early,making the skull not grow as the brain does.The result is abnormal skull and malformed head shape.
When correctly diagnosed if surgery is needed it can repair the malformation and allow normal brain growth without any neurological issues.Our son went undiagnosed until he was a year old.There are different areas that can fuse,and so different titles given,our little guy had saggital synostosis,the midline suture along the top of the head.He had a ridge at birth,which only got more prominent as he got older.Family didn't want to touch his head as most family love to kiss little ones on the head,people avoided his and most cousins questioned why he was like that.We had no answers at first.He also had a pretty severe hernia that needed repair,and underwent repair surgery at 3 months of age.Due to the hernia he was in pain often that he could barely move without screaming.I guess that could be part of why his skull issue was over looked by the doctor.We questioned at every visit though.We found it amazing that he had the exact same kind of hernia as his older brother,who was also a twin,and carried on the same side and was also the heavier twin.Pretty wierd huh? We didn't think about taking pictures of his head to see differences as we never saw changes,until we had surgery.
When we went to the twins 12 month appointment,we again questioned why the shape hadn't changed,and we agreed his head was growing,but it was growing in strange areas.His forehead was expanding as was the areas over his ears,and the back of his boat shaped head was becoming more pronounced also.The doc gave us one of those pat on the head type of ok,lets try an x-ray to shut up these parents. That x-ray lead to an MRI which of course lead to a neurosurgeon and surgery.We were very worried as the info we'd found to read up all talked about most children having this type of surgery before they were a year old.Our little guy was already a year,the neurosurgeon didn't think he had any neurological damage yet though.He did exhibit some behaviors we felt were maybe not so normal,but were informed they were nothing to worry about yet. He likes to rock back and forth in his high chair(slam himself back)he walks on his toes,and likes to lick windows and metal railings,also shopping carts,he also rocks back and forth when sitting on the couch,and when in a rocking chair he rocks so hard that it makes a slamming sound and moves backwards across the rug(we have a glider type rocker).I question more things these days due to our older twins who have lead poisoning and sensory issues.There are more posts about that on going journey elsewhere in the blog this is just for Luke,but wanted to mention why I question the docs so much!