February

So far the new year has already thrown us some curve balls.  Our sweet rats, Beth and Margaret, ended up having a parasite from when they were born, that wasn't known until a few weeks after they were sold to us.  The place where we purchased the rats contacted us to let us know but we had to give them back to be cared for until they were better.  It was very sad.  The kids, and I, cried a lot. They have been cleared on the parasite issue but still just the idea of a parasite was too much for Matt to handle.  So we actually ended up giving them to a good friend of mine (my boss at work) who was interested and has kids who will love them.  This way they are only a 30 minute drive away for a visit.  We picked the rats up from the breeders and took them to their new home today and it was so fun to see Beth and Margaret again.  They have gotten a lot bigger but are still so sweet and social.

Another curve ball came three days before Matt was set to start teaching his new semester.  The school he teaches at is in the process of closing down and graduating out all their current students.  So, we knew his job would come to an end but we didn't expect it to happen three days before class started via email.  Luckily, things have gone really well as we had planned for that job change and I have already graduated and started working full time.

I take my final (hopefully--if I pass) big test to become a BCBA (Board Certified Behavior Analyst).  I am currently certified as a Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analyst, so becoming a BCBA is the final credential and will help me move further along in my career.  I have really been enjoying working for Kids on the Move.  I really like working for a not-for-profit company and appreciate the things they are doing for the community even if I am not directly involved in those things.  I work in the Autism Center and do assessments for new clients and then create skill acquisition programs, and behavioral reduction programs based on the needs of the client, and then work with the parents and a team of direct care staff in implementing those programs.  It is really fun to be able to get to know the kids and their families.

Matt is starting to try his hand at making dinners.  So far we have stuck to slow-cooker dinners, but he is making some yummy stuff.  Matt is so great at taking care of the kids during the day and getting them to do their homework.  We are slowly getting the hang of our new roles.  :)  He has been so supportive and encouraging for me.  And we are hopeful that we can figure things out with some childcare that would allow Matt to work on pursuing his own career goals.

The kids are doing well.  Pete is starting to have less meltdowns.  He is so happy in the mornings after he wakes up.  He likes to play with Jack and Hank and run around with guns and light sabers.  He is starting to pretend to be different characters--like superman or a raccoon.  He'll say, "I not Pete.  I a raccoon."

Hank turned 5 in January.  He is still so sweet--often pausing whatever he is playing with to tell Matt or I that he loves us.  He's the first person to reach out to Jane or Jack if they are sad, to pat them on the back, or to give them a hug.  He graduated out of speech services and is talking better.  Matt was so good at doing his speech homework with him.  Hank's really been into reading and is always trying to sound out what he sees.  He is also starting to talk more about numbers and asks about adding and subtracting things.

Jack is finally at the stage where he can enjoy reading books to himself and night.  He has loved the Captain Underpants series.  Recently he got very interested in China and said he wants to go there for the 15 day New Year's party.  He checked out a lot of books on China.  He loves to play things like mailman--where he made a mailbox and delivered people's mail, and bank--where he gave everyone money, and then store, where he has people buy things from him.  He told me, "Mom!  I can't believe it.  Every time I want to make something with a box, there is always a box for me."  This is because of our love for Amazon.

Jane is doing great in 4th grade.  Her teacher is always so complimentary and told me this last time that Jane always gets so excited about learning that it makes all the other students get excited.  Jane is starting to talk more about 4th grade dramas regarding friends and boys.  She is still drawing up a storm and still loving her computer game Animal Jam.  She is also very protective of Matt and always on high alert for any slight frustration in my voice towards him.  She will tell me to talk nicer.  Haha.  I guess I could always use that reminder in life.

Matt and I are both committing to writing down funny kid quotes and taking more pictures!  But for now I did snag a picture of Jane with her Valentine's box.