Home Sweet Home

We had a fun, crazy, relaxing and cozy Thanksgiving. I am so sad to day that we totally forgot our camera- What who does that?? e haven't been home to UT for a year and a half and we forgot our camera!!! My sisters and mom too lots of pictures for us, so I'll have to post them at a later time.
We had Thanksgiving at my parents cabin this year and then celebrated Christmas the morning after. It was quite the experience. There was a total of 50 people and 4 dogs up there! Luckily that was only for one night. Aden loved seeing all of his cousins. We were a bit nervous because last time we visited, he beat up one of his cousins the whole time we were there. This year they were the best of friends and got into plenty of trouble together! Brynn did great with the big crowd we weren't sure how that would go either. Everyone loved her up. Ryan got her MRI results back from the Dr while I was in UT. Apparently the Mylan (Sp??) between the two sides of her brain is not completely developed. That is all the info he got from the Dr. Naturally I have a million questions! Luckily we have a parent Dr. consult on Dec 11th we should have the results of all her blood work as well.
We really loved visiting and going to our favorite food joints. Aden was happy he got to see snow and play in it. I think he threw a snow ball at my mom as soon as we got out of the car at the cabin! We had a good time, but of course loved to come home and be in our own beds and back into a routine. We got most of our Christmas decorations up already. Not that there is a whole lot in our little apartment, but it is cozy. That is about it. I hope everyone had a great holiday!!!

Ok so Here are a few Halloween pictures. Sorry for the weird layout, but Blogger has been giving me problems posting pictures. This is the 3rd time this week I have tried to post and this time if I tried to move the pictures they just disappear. Anyways Brynn was our little clown and Aden was Spiderman (that is his buddy Gordon). We had fun trunk or treating one night and trick- or-treating on Halloween. I am so sick of candy. I keep finding opportunities to sneak more and more into the garbage. Well since the last post Brynn turned 2! We had a small get to together here with Ryans family. Here a re few pictures of her on her special day.


Once again pardon the layout!!! I'm just working with what I have here!! She had a fun day and got some cute stuff.

We are just pluggin along. Excited to visit UT in just 10 days!! Ryan is totally focused on the LSAT. I will be glad when it is all over with!! I am proud of all the hard work he is putting into his studying.
We are going to do a walk this Saturday to support a friend who's son was just diagnosed with cancer. It is all so sad he is the cutest little guy. I wish I could run it, but I'll have the kids and we don't have a running stroller. Here is the blog site for the little boy if anyone wants to help out in any way. www.hansjourney.blogspot.com . I can't imagine going through that. I am so sick to my stomach when I think of Brynn going for an MRI and blood work on the 17th and that isn't even invasive. I just know she will be so scared when they take her away from me. I hope I am there when she wakes up. Anyway we are doing well. The weather is great here right now. Were enjoying the great outdoors. I hope everyone is well. We'll be seeing some of you soon!!!

Oooops!

So I have been a blogging slacker. I have no excuse. Just plain old laziness. Things have been good. I had a b-day and am one year older. I don't feel any different. Brynn will be one year older on Thursday. I can't believe she will be 2 years old!! I love her more and more. She has the sweetest little smile and a laugh that will make you join in. Aden has been pretty entertaining. He is becoming a little copy cat. I have to be very careful about what I say!! I was complaining to Ryan the other day about feeling "burned out" and out of nowhere in the other room, we hear Aden saying I feel burned out too. Like his whole 4 years of life have been too much to handle or something. What a silly. We had spaghetti and meat balls the other day. Or in Aden's terms "neat balls" He also thinks bobby pins are "Barbie pins". He was in his first primary program his only line was, " the gift of life" we practiced all week. Then the morning of the program I asked him one more time, what is your line? He said, "the gift of movies", then "the gift of hot sauce". I was so nervous that he would say something silly, but he did very good and said his lines without any problem-sigh of relief. He makes me laugh.
The weather is finally cooling off. I have taken up running and it couldn't be more perfect outside. - I also run at the YMCA, but outside is much more fun for the kids. There isn't much more going on for us. Ryan is still studying for the LSAT and has been scheduled to take it Dec. 2nd so send some prayer his way. We are excited to visit UT for Thanksgiving. Aden is supper excited to see snow. I hope he isn't disappointed. Well. I hope everyone is doing good. Thanks for checkin in...

Updates and Pics

Our fishing "trip" I think I mentioned this in an earlier entry. It was a Kids Fishing tournament that turned into a cast and reel in tournament for Aden. I think we casted for him a thousand times he just wanted to reel it in :).














Here are a couple of pics from Aden's party at the park. That is his best buddy, Tegan to the left. He just moved an hour away from us so we are sad. His other best buddy the girl in the pink shirt to the right, Cami is going to move to Colorado soon. Poor kid all his friends are leaving!














OK so here is the story here. Brynn has been sick with a stuffy nose and cough, so I went to Walgreens and bought these suckers that have zinc in them which is supposed to help some of the symptoms. So I give it to her in the back seat of the car hoping it would cheer her up since she has been so cranky. She was sucking on it just lovin it and then suddenly starts throwing a fit. I turned around and saw that her sucker was missing, so I was looking all over in the car thinking it fell onto the floor or behind her in her car seat...hmm I'll give a dollar to anyone that can tell me where it is... Poor Brynn. If ever you are having a bad day, just think of this picture.
FYI, she is now terrified of the camera, hence the crying. I'm going to have to get sneaky.
Oh update on the Dr apt. Apparently she is more severly delayed than we thought. She is at a 10 month old level (she is almost 2). She will have an MRI and chromosone and DNA testing in November, just to rule any genetic defect out. I still think she is autistic, but the Dr said she can not give her that dx at this time because it is too hard to know in a child this young. We'll just keep on working with her and loving her. Take care!!

He is 4!!

Happy Birthday to my little big boy Aden Lee Piekarski!! I can not believe how time fly's! Aden is now 4 years old. We had lots of fun planning his birthday party. It was "Cars" themed at his request. He had a hard time giving his invitations away, because he wanted them all for himself. It was pretty cute. We were all ready for the big day and Aden got sick Wed night. He laid in bed all day Thursday. He stopped throwing up and his fever went away for the most part, so I figured on going ahead with the party. Well I guess he wasn't feeling as well as I thought. He sat in the corner by his presents (at the park) the whole time. He didn't want any pizza or even a cupcake. I felt like I had to hurry everyone along. The poor kid opened his presents and then asked if he could sit in the car. I felt so bad for him. We had better luck with family party. He was feeling a little better. I guess the fact that we were inside and not in the blazzing heat helped. He was so cute after opening his last and favorite present ( big Lighting McQueen), He looked at me and put his hand on my shoulder and then said, "don't worry, your birthday is coming soon." I have to admit I feel so much better now! What a sweet boy. We sure do love him. I need to post some pics... next time I promisse. Hope everyone is well! Love to all....Oh I almost forgot Brynn is going to the specialist tomorrow--they had a cancelation and because of her head hitting, they got her in ASAP!! yippie.

Update

This is a visitor we found on our front door the other day. The picture does not even give it justice. It was about the size of my hand and so bright on color. At first we thought it was dead, so Aden and I got a jar ready to put it in. But it flew away as soon as we touched it. The next few minutes were filled with Aden chasing it around outside and giggling ever time he got closer to touching it. It was fun to watch.
Well Aden went fishing for the first time on Saturday. I have some pics I'll post later. He was so cute. The Kiwanis club had a fishing tournament for kids. Everyone there was so serious about the whole thing. I am sure they were laughing at us behind our backs. I think the longest the line actually stayed in the water was a whole 60 seconds. Aden wanted to reel it in over and over. He didn't quite understand the whole sitting and waiting part. After that he just started throwing his worms in the lake. I am sure our fellow fishers loved us for giving all the fish "freebies".
The weather has actually cooled off here the last couple of days we have been enjoying some outside time. Who knows how long it will last. The way things go here it could be 90 again
tomorrow. We are all doing great. We started walking as a family this week. It has been fun. Ryan and I are determined to shed a few pounds. It seems like we always have that goal though. We are trying to make our focus being healthy this time around.
Tomorrow I am starting a weekly class on learning to communicate with your autistic child. It is titled, "More than Words" Brynn's ECI teacher suggested it. We are also looking into HIPPO therapy with horses for her. It was recommended by her PT. There is a program close by that we are working on getting enrolled into.
Hope everyone is good. Take care y"all!!

My big boy- I don't know where he learned this from!!!
OK OK so I was looking at my last post and it was the 8th and it is the 27th today! Hello I need to get back with it!! We are all doing well. Aden is getting so big I can't believe it. It is so crazy because you always see your kids as so little and dependent on you. Then there are moments when you look at them and they seem so big and grown up. He says the funniest things. Today he had a potty accident and I was trying to talk to him sternly and he looked me in the face and said, "Look, mom don't be angry" It was as if he was the grown up it was so cute. Then I put him to bed tonight and we kept saying, " mom don't you want to come and see me?" What I am I supposed to say?? So we snuggled for a while. I sure do love that little guy!
Brynn is making good progress. She is getting fitted for some ankle braces on Tueasday. There just little plastic things that go barely over her ankles. We are hoping it will give her a little extra support and she will feel confident enough to stand and walk on her own. We are still waiting to get her in and diagnosed. I found out it won't be quite as long of a wait, Nov/Dec. Much better than a year! I mentioned her hitting head on the wall and they might ecven be able to get her in sooner. I am pretty convinced she is somewhere in the autistic spectrum. I have read so much. Some cases I have read about match her so closely. I have already had my sad and sick feeling about it. I am accepting it now. The good news is she is probably on the low end of the spectrum. Which means with lots of therapy she will probably be pretty close to normal. That sounds so wierd because we already think of her as normal. She is a cutie! Anyways hope all is well. I try to be a little more regular on the blog!!!

Crazy Days

OK OK So this is how the last two weeks have been. Work at the YMCA Mon a.m. and p. m., Tues a.m. and p.m., Thurs, Fri and Sat. Young Womens Wed. night. Brynn's therapy thursdays. Last week I did all that plus babysat for a friend 9 1/2 hours a day Tues-Fri. (I had no idea it would be that long each day when I agreed). I just started the Mary Kay business and Ryan has been working every night when I am home until 2 in the morning. So in short it has been crazyville!!! Hence I have not posted for awhile. Things should slow way down this week and I am looking forward to it. I really want to get back into a work-out routine and spend more quality time with my kids. We have been rushing around so much and just trying to keep it together that I wonder if it is healthy for them. Ryan says I do it to myself and he is right, but we need the $$ so what can you do right!!
It was a nice break to go to church today. I don't know how I would get by if I didn't have that time of peace every week. Plus it is fun to catch up with friends, since we have been total strangers to everyone the last two weeks.
The one "fun" thing we did this week was go to a puppet show at the library on Friday. It was pretty cute. We met some friends there and after getting our kids situated on the floor in front of the stage, we stepped back and started to visit, thinking they were occupied. Well 5 min or so into the show, we heard everyone giggling, I looked up briefly and saw another woman I know give me a big smile. I thought she was just trying to say hi and then I realized she was laughing because Aden had led his other friends up to the performers and was peeking behind the puppet stage. He was announce so proudly tht he could see them. Well we got them to sit down for a few minutes and silly me started chatting again (you think I would have learned) and everyone started to giggle again. There was Aden on is way up and half way turns around to the audience with his hands on his cheeks and does a little dance step. I had to grab him while he was kicking and screeming to get him out of the spot light. It was cute and embarassing all at the same time. I guess he has a little of Ryan in him... That was the most interesting thing this week. Take care.

Trottin along

I haven't been too motivated to write for the past week or so. I am not sure why. I guess I am waiting for some big occasion or event. We have just been trotting a long. Brynn had shots last Monday and has been sick with a fever since then. I hate it when my kids don't feel good. She just wants to be held and I feel so bad for her. She just moans and it is so sad. Aden went to our YW activity with me tonight. We spread mulch arouond the church. It was fun. As always he seemed to capture everyone's heart! I have been working a bunch at the YMCA. I will be glad when the next week is over I won't be working as much then. We got tickets to go the UT for Thanksgiving and are totally excited. We are already planning the trip out. It seems like there is never enough time to do everything we want to and to see everyone we want to.
So Brynns Dr refered her to the Developmental Center at the Childrens hospital in Houston. We have been anxious to get her in and diagnosed. I recieved our application packet from them and it stated that they usually have a one year waiting list!!!! Yikes I have never heard of such a thing. I have been looking at another therapy center. I will set up a consultation with them tomorrow. I don't know if they diagnose or just provide therapy. It has been a source of stress to me! I would love to get some answers. In the meantime I just keep working with her.
That is it for us for now. Hope everyone is doing good
Here's some pics for smiles sake...

Just like daddy!!!

Splish splash....

4th of July

So we went to the parade here in the Woodlands and had a great time. We walked about a mile from a park by us in what felt like 90% humidity. Other than that and the rain that came down on us at the end, we had a great time. The kids loved the marching bands and Ryan and I got a kick out of all the coupons and advertising that most of the "floats" were passing out. Nothing says America like a little good old-fashioned capitalism!

I got a new calling at church in the YW as the Mia Maids teacher. I am excited. From what I hear there is a great bunch of girls in this ward. It will be fun to meet new people as well after being in RS the last year. The kids are doing good. Brynn has a Dr. apt on Monday, so I am hoping they will be able to refer her or give us some answers or something as to her development. She is 20 months old and not walking or talking at all. Her "teacher"- a women that comes to our house from the Early Childhood Intervention program- has mentioned a few different conditions Brynn might have. I am hoping for some more definite answers next week.

Aden has his 4th birthday all planned out- never mind that it isn't for another 3 months! The theme has changed a few times in the past couple of weeks. At first it was going to be all T-Rex, then Spider Man and now of course Cars (after the movie). It has been moved in his mind from the park to the pool to our "new house" (his imagination) and finally to inside our car. I can just see 10 4 year olds jumping around our little compact car for two hours- should be fun. Aden sure keeps me laughing!

Ryan is good. He is still focusing on law school. I tried to get a picture of him at the parade, but he deleted it when I wasn't looking. That turkey, I'll have to get him while he is sleeping! Hope everyone had a good 4th of July!

HO HUM

So I have been totally reflective the past couple of days. I just found out this week I would be released from the RS Presidency. I was serving as the enrichment counselor. The whole presidency is being changed. It is bitter sweet like all things that make a big impact in our lives. I wonder if I did OK ya know. I was gathering all of my books and materials together to pass on and started thinking wow I really didn't even scratch the surface here. I did do my best though so that is what matters I guess. I know for sure that I was on the learning end the whole time!!!
I am feeling relieved as well. I really want to focus on my kids. Especially Brynn. She is developmentally delayed and is having different therapies right now. She will be fine, but right now she requires a lot of time and work in order to get "caught up". She is such a beautiful little girl. We went to the playground this afternoon and she actually took two step all by herself. I was so proud of her. I hope she will be walking by her second birthday. Aden does such a good job at helping me with her exercise and special games.
We have been spending lots of time at the pools this week. It is my goal to get Aden swimming this summer or at least willing to go under the water all by himself. He is scared to get his face wet. It is so funny when we are at the pool and he gets a little bit of water in his face, he jumps out runs to his towel and wipes his face of. As you can imagine his face is constantly getting wet since, hello it is a swimming pool, so pretty much most of the time he is just going back and forth from the pool to his towel. I try to explain that it is OK to get your face wet at the pool! Brynn is total opposite, she wants to keep her face in the pool the whole time, which creates a whole new set of problems!! It is funny to see the differences in personalities. I love them both!!

Father's Day

Aden and I made Ryan a candy bar poster for Father's Day - You know the kind that you made for your daddy when you were a kid or to answer your prom date in High School.It was fun to buy the treats together and make up the little saying. Of course it was a bit challenging to keep it a secret for two whole days. I hid it under our bed, but we all know that little kids have sugar radar. Aden told Ryan about it a whole 5 minutes after seeing him. Ryan was laughing as he got him to tell what the other present was as well. I am going to have to plan my present shopping in secret and alone for now on. I swear every hour from Friday until Sunday, Aden would look under our bed, just to make sure that the poster was still there. He had already planned out which treats Ryan was going to share with him. Needless to say it was the first thing he wanted to to Sunday morning- get the poster out. Ryan made him wait until after church to have a treat so that we could take a quick picture.

Brynn wasn't very happy in the pic, because she wanted the 100 Grand candy bar right then and there. Unfortunately they both have my sweet tooth. Aden has 3 cavities in the plans to get filled-yikes! (I promise I make him brush!)

This Father's Day was a bit challenging for the Piekarski bunch as it is the first without Ryan's dad, Lee. Ryan's mom gave him some really great pictures of his dad and it made us all realize how much we love and miss him.

I have been thinking of my own little family tonight and how much they mean to me. I sure love them and am grateful for them. We had so much fun shooting hoops on Aden's little plastic basketball stand. I also bought Brynn the cutest pair of knee high boots on clearance from Toys R Us. They are big, being meant for next winter. They go right up to her thighs. She looked so cute, we got a kick out of it.

Well that is is for tonight. We are still getting over this yucky sickness we have had for the last three weeks, so I am beat! Take Care

Fun Times

Today was a fun and eventful day. The movie theater here sells summer movie passes for $5 a person, so we got some. Today we saw Shrek 2. I am surprised by how well the kids did. I was so worried they would be flying off the walls.
Afterwards we went to the park with some friends. As soon as we pulled up and I let Aden out of the car, he ran to the nearest bush and dropped his drawers all the way down to his ankles and took a wiz right in front of everyone. Ahh, what a proud parenting moment. The three little girls there with us looked a bit confused since they don't have any brothers at home. They must have gotten over it pretty quicly though, because later I saw one of them holding Aden's hand and calling him "honey". He looked a little bewildered, but played along anyways. He is used to just digging in the dirt with his boy friends at the park. It was cute and funny at the same time.

Tonight we had the ward missionaries over to go over our family missionary plan. We watched this great movie, "Small and Simple Things," I think that is the name. It is a movie that was made by the San Jose, CA mission. There are a bunch of people sharing their conversion stories and testimonies. It was very spiritual and motivating. We seem to get so caught up and comfortable in our own little lives. I am resolving to be a better member missionary.

The kids are in bed and Ry is out right now. It is noce and quiet. Maybe, I'll get some reading in!! Take Care

Mothers Day Weekend

We had Ryan's family over for Mother's Day. It was good times, with good food and good people. Aden seems to think the presents are for him no matter the occasion...Happy Mother's day Penny, hope you don't mind sharing with a three year old. He wasn't as excited about the present once he found out it wasn't a T-Rex or a race car.


We have such cute little kids. They are lucky cause it's what keeps them alive :) They can be quite naughty like most kids...But we love them to death.


This week should be busy as usual. Ryan is really hitting the books as he studies for the LSAT, which he plans to take in September. We will both be so happy once he can start applying for schools and we can make some plans for the future. Of course we have learned that things don't always turn out how you plan, but we still gotta dream right! I should be very busy playing with the kids as much as possible hee hee. Take care y'all.
P.S. I am sure this blog of ours looks a little funky, but I am still learning...so be kind!

Finally

Yes, we are finally entering the era of the bloggers. I have been dragging my feet long enough! I have a few friends that faithfuly post and I have so much fun reading their family news and updates. As well as looking at the pics of course. Hopefully I can prove to be just as entertaining:)
Our little family is doing great. We are just dealing with the Texas heat right now, which can prove to be a bit challenging. We spend a lot of time at the pool and inside. These are the days that we dream of being back in UT!! We sure miss the mountains.
Well this is just a test run for me, so I am keeping it short (I just want to make sure this blog stuff works). Next time we'll get som pic of the kiddos on here...till then...bye bye