Okay, seriously, Where does the time go?  I haven't blogged for WAY to long!  Tomorrow we have a play date at the pool and I haven't even blogged about our beach play date.  Goodness, I love Summer, but where does all that time go?  I just HAVE to post some of my favorite pics of Carsen and his friends.  We have been enjoying a lot of time with cousins and friends.  Not enough time to blog.

Carsen and his friends decided they wanted to go to the Starbuck beach.  The mom's were happy because we LOVE Starbuck beach.  The water is perfect for the kids.  Clean, clear and just plain fun!  The sun was going to be out for only one day.  This was our day to soak up some rays and let the kiddos roam.  What a perfect day...

 Carsen and I went early since we had to leave early for therapy...He loved scooting and exploring.

Noah showing off his skills! I was impressed! 

The blonde and brunette doing what we do best, taking pics and eating snacks! :)

Abram is a little fish!

Jack pleased that I am taking his pic!  He is so handsome!

Favorite part of my day, Carsen laughing hysterically at Jack.  Jack loved it so he kept going back in forth to entertain Carsen. 

Back and Forth!



Beautiful Ava!

The only piece of info missing...chiggers, lake itch, bugs, whatever you want to call it.  ALL the kids bitten and itching like crazy fools, all but Carsen. Playdate over with.  Glad we don't have to worry about them at the pool tomorrow!

Summer Therapy

The fields around us are still.  The farmers have completed the planting and are now waiting.  Every year, I try to learn more about farming.  It is so embarrassing to be sitting at the lunch table, across from the wife of a farmer, and nod my head like I understand what she is talking about.  I really don't understand their lingo.  So, I am starting to pay attention to what these hard working farmers are up to.  I noticed the corn was already a good 6 inches tall when I ran my country route last night.  Does that mean that it will be knee high by the 4th of July?  That is only 2 weeks away! I thought to myself, I better get going on this pool therapy and therapeutic horse back riding.  I have been wanting to fill Carsen's schedule with fun stuff.  It has just been too cold for swimming and not enough time for driving 1 1/2 hrs away to ride scary horse's!  I want to update all of Carsen's blog readers to what he has been up to in his therapy sessions.  All of the DCH therapist's cringe when they see me walk in with my big, fat camera.  They just KNOW it is the day their faces may be plastered on this blog!  I waited until they would least expect it!  I really don't mean to harass them, I want to give them credit for all the work they put towards Carsen.  They are all truly dedicated staff and show us so much patience.  I learn by watching them talk to him or move his body a certain way.  I am constantly taking in any tips I can get!

Carsen likes to get his braces and shoes on!

Yes, early morning, 8 AM therapy session!

Ready to be pushed!

Getting ready to walk on the lite gait!  Super cool new device!

He thinks this is pretty cool because he gets to watch tv!

Tasha one of his PT's, is great at always finding a new task, keeping it tolerable and she even sings to him!

Working with Kristin, one of his Speech therapists.  He loves the new pig!

He loves to read books.  She is helping him learn to push the bottom.  He is usually pretty quiet when it comes to speech time!  Kristen is so good at keeping Carsen entertained for every single minute.  She is great at educating me and making sure Carsen is happy!

Bubbles!! Yes, this is therapy!

I utilize our in-between session time.  So, we walk with their adorable walker.

He actually doesn't mind one bit!

Sonia, one of the OT's, is helping him use his tiny hands and fingers to lift the ball up and put it in the right spot.  We were so proud because he actually did it all by himself a few times.  It was a very good session! Sonia is always bringing new toys out and making sure he isn't bored.

Terrible picture, but the point is, he is clapping "more" for the ball AND grandma came to watch!

Carsen riding REX for the first time and loved most of it!

He was so brave on that horse.  I was so proud!

He will ride for 30 mins and by the end he is exhausted and his core is worked to the max! Awesome stuff!



YEE-HAW!



Blessings

How do you thank a friend for watching my son for the day?  Not to mention she had the day off of work AND her boys were with their grandma.  She had a whole free day to herself and she insisted on watching Carsen.   There are not many people I allow to watch my son.  As a matter of fact, there are not many people that feel comfortable watching Carsen.  Other than our fabulous family's and a wonderful friend who happens to be Matt's aunt, there are only two friends that really know Carsen.  They have accepted him for who he is.  They want the best for him and less stressful days for me.  There are not enough gift cards, flowers or gifts in this world to thank my friends to being there for my family!  However, I think special K bars help.  Or, maybe a little blog.  I feel so blessed to have these two apart of my weekly life. 

Here is to good girlfriends!

Yearly Tradition, Lou's greenhouse!  We fill a truck full of flowers in the rain and eat pizza!

Negative!

Today isn't going so well.  A sleepless day after a busy night shift and a few quirky mishaps in our day.  Nothing I can't get over with a little sleep.  That sleep is just going to have to wait for tonight...

I got that phone call today.  You know, that call I have been expecting for 6 months.  It is a phone call that I have NOT been dreading or anxiously waiting for.  It is a phone call that I have been anticipating.  A phone call that will let me get on with my life and continue to love Carsen for the adorable little boy he is, not the boy that is infected with a genetic disorder.  I say infected because the 3 years worth of blood draws and waiting for results made me feel like we were trying to find a disease that we could do nothing about.  Yes, really...nothing.  No matter how much we work at things, Carsen is going to do what he wants, at his time and to his potential.  What if they were to tell me his results were positive?  What would I do differently?  Nothing.  I would continue to carry on like he is the most perfect little boy I have ever laid my eyes on.  I would continue to talk to him all day long like he knows exactly what I am saying to him. 

It would be nearly impossible for me to describe the grief we have had that went along with our genetic testing.  The ability to make the right choices with each, expensive needle prick.  Why was I one of the mom's chosen to take care of such a special little boy.  Why would Matt and I be the parents of the undiagnosed Carsen T. Schmidgall?  Only HE knows, I guess.  My first question when I get to Heaven is going to be a long, lengthy one.  So, He better be prepared.

Our lovely genetic counselor, Janice, left the sweetest message I have ever received.  She said,  "I have Carsen's results and they are negative or normal, so call me and we can go through some details."  Details?  Who needs details.  Not me!  My brain is fried with words like deletions, duplications, array, chromosome, X-linked, mental retardation, developmental delays, disability, sequence, hybridization, genes, and Dr. Mendelsohn.  Enough is enough! 

I am happy to annouce we have completed our 3 years of genetic testing.  
We have put in our time.
We are free!

After just getting off the phone with Janice, she mentioned another geneitc test to come out in a couple of years that would sequence all genes.  I very politely said, "Thank you very much but we have completed our genetic tests and we are going to get on with bigger and better things."  She said this doesn't completely rule out if he has a genetic disorder.  In my book, they haven't found a thing wrong with his blood.  That clearly tells me he is perfect just the way he is.  Hallelujah!!!