Last Day of School!

The last day of school was on Thursday and it was bitter sweet. New Covenant has been fantastic for Max and I'm sad that they don't have a summer session but all good things must come to an end. The end of the year carnival was Wednesday and I couldn't help out so Jeff being the awesome daddy he is went and chaperoned. He acted mostly as Maxwell's helper and he said that Max LOVED the bounce house which is surprising considering he usually hates it. Jeff and I are very torn about next year. We want him to still be with the friends he made at New Covenant but we also feel that the more days he can be in preschool with actual therapist the better it will be for him. Maxwell's last day I brought some goodies for his teachers and support staff. Making the container was difficult to figure out because I had to make my own pattern but I think it turned out pretty good. Jeff liked the gift but thinks the tag I added was cheesy. It say "we need s'more teachers like you!" We also got them each a gift card to the Old School Bagel Cafe which has yummy New York style bagels.

So this school year has come and gone and we are already looking forward to the next school year! Also before I forget Max had another hearing test for the public school and he passed. He still had fluid but he was able to test. He did really good signing his answers too which was great. Here are Max and I before we head out for school!

Also here is a picture that looks pitiful and I couldn't help but add it, I LOVE it! And Maxwell looks like such a big boy. He is pouting because I wouldn't let have the camera. I may have a future photographer on my hands. He just loves taking pictures.

nothing much here...

I don't have much to talk about right now. Max and I have been staying busy while Jeff is working. In fact we were so busy for a few weeks that it has been nice to just sit back and relax for the past several days. Yesterday we had a mini play date at Silas's house, which unfortunately had to be cut short because of severe weather in the area. Once we got home the weather man projected one of several tornadoes that were in the area to hit our house. They even though it would be an F-4 if not an F-5. Unfortunate for some, but luckily it went north of us. Talk about excitement! And Max couldn't have been better. I kept the mood light so that Max wouldn't get scared and he was good. While I was trying to get blankets and put batteries in the flash lights he was following me around wanting to play. After he was rewarded for be so good and brave with a cookie and Toy Story. He was begging to watch a movie the entire time I was watching the tornado coverage so after the threat was gone we watched it. We even ate dinner in front of the TV! With Jeff's new job turns out the hospital doubles as a shelter and Jeff was guessing that there was about 3000 people there with their loved ones and PETS! I understand loving your pet but really! Some people are afraid of animals, the animals might try to fight each other or heck what about allergies. Any hoo, people left such a mess behind that Jeff didn't get home until 2:30am. The only other excitement that has been had is a can of soda exploding in the car! Um yeah, that sucked. I'll post pictures but they are hard to see all the sticky brown goo on EVERYTHING. Jeff did an pretty good job cleaning it up but I keep finding little spots of sticky residue in the car.

It's a bird... It's a plane...

Max and I went out to dinner with some friends of ours on Wednesday. After dinner we didn't want to finish chatting so we went next door to Hobby Lobby. Abby and I have both been wanting to make super hero capes for our little guys. Her little boy has taken on the alter ego "Super Sylis!" I had forgotten about the cape for a while but thanks to Abby Maxwell now has his own alter ego, "Mighty Max!" I learned a few things and might make another but it's turned out pretty good. How is yours going Abby? Let me know if you need help learning from my mistakes. Psst, be careful not to make the neck to big like I did.

This picture doesn't actually show off the cape but it is of Max WALKING! Yup from the couch to the chair!

 The finished product!



Sand Castles

We have a new toy at the Brown house! Thanks to Uncle Jeff and Aunt Andrea we are the proud new owners of a boat shaped sand box. For whatever reason he didn't want to use a shovel to put sand in the bucket and used his hands. Even had a little sand bath while he was at it. Thanks for the new toy!!! We will be ready for the beach family vacation come August.

mmm, me love cookie!

With Jeff being gone at night now with the new job I have been trying to get into a new grove. Max and I miss him a lot, especially when Max is getting cranky and I just want to be able to go to the bathroom without a shadow. But I've got this and it's working so far! Plus it's nice that once a week, typically Tuesday, Max and I visit daddy at work after we eat dinner for Jeff's dinner break and we get frozen yogurt. After some dinner and Shrek on Friday Max and I made and decorated sugar cookies. I probably should have made them from scratch but... eh they were still tasty just flat. A little piece of advice don't make the dry bag mix and opt to make them or get them pre-made from the dairy case at the store.Now excuse me while I have a cookie, nom nom nom!

Still Waiting...

Maxwell had his genetics appointment yesterday here in Oklahoma. Dr Werenga is at OU Children's so it's nice that it is so much closer to home. The doctor made it clear to Jeff and I that there is a possibility of never finding an exact diagnosis. We have a couple more steps to go. Yesterday after the appointment we went around the hospital get a few tests. First was a bone scan and we also had blood drawn. Next week we go in for an echo cardiogram to rule out anything going on with his heart. The only other actual disorder that is being tested for is Soto Syndrome. As usual Max has some and doesn't have some of the characteristics. We'll see how it turns out. Also we just got home from the audiologist. Unfortunately he couldn't be tested because he still has to much fluid in his ears from his ear infection just almost 2 weeks ago. So as has become the Brown family motto we are... still waiting.

Mother's Day

Whoever invented Mothers day be it Hallmark or something with a real story I love it! It's like having another birthday but for something more special. Unfortunately I had to work and had some overtime so when I finally got home I was very happy to see my little guy. The hand print is something Max made for me at school for Mother's Day. I love that little hand! Also when I got home I was so excited to see flowers in the kitchen. I am constantly telling Jeff that I never get flowers and look... Even better Jeff says he put Max in front of the flower case and he picked them out all on his own. Not only did he pick one of my favorite flowers (daisy) but also my favorite color (yellow.) And it means so much more that he did it himself. Also Daddy and Max got me a massage, aah. It will most definitely come in handy. Tomorrow is our follow up appointment at the geneticists here in Oklahoma so I'll let you know what we find out then.

The newest results are in.

I was so surprised yesterday afternoon when I received a call from Maxwell's genetics doctor. They called to let me know that the results of his latest test for PTEN have come back negative. Great news, however, it is a double edge sword because we still have no diagnosis. The doctor doesn't want to see Maxwell again unless additional symptoms appear because they have run out of tests for him. In the beginning of this entire adventure with all of the testing and everything Jeff and I kept moving on because we thought what we were doing was going to help. Now I have put Max through test after test and some of them being so painful I will never do it again. For what? Nothing! We are in the same spot we were in before. At our last appointment the doctor was still looking at his head size and running some tests based on that. Now that this test has come back negative she had said that we were going to have to go in a different direction. Now instead they want to do nothing. I'm taking Max back to his original geneticist for a second opinion. I want answers and I feel like we have been dealing with all of this for to long to just come out with an "undiagnosed genetic condition with developmental delays." To some of you it may seem like I am wanting something to be wrong and that couldn't be further from the truth. I want to be able to help my child and give him the best of everything that is out there. I'm also realistic though and I know that genetics is a fairly new medical field and there are tons of undiagnosed conditions out there and it's looking more and more like my child will be one of the undiagnosed. As a parent that is hard to swallow and it's something I clearly will have to deal with. I'm hitting a brick wall and it hurts. I have such a great support system and have made so many friends along the way and I couldn't have kept my sanity this long without all of you. On the flip side maybe this is a good thing because no one will put limitations on Max and we will end up setting our own boundaries. I have to keep looking at the positive! With Mother's Day tomorrow I cant tell you how much I love being Maxwell's mommy and it is something that I would NEVER trade. I hate the days like yesterday when I feel guilty like I have done something wrong or I'm not a good enough mommy. Those days don't help any of us, especially Maxwell. Being a mommy is all I can remember ever really wanting to be and I embrace everything that comes along with it. From the sleepless nights, therapy sessions and testing we are a stronger family, and Maxwell is what made us a real family. My perfect family.

Faux Chenille

I have been working on a summer blanket for Maxwell's bed. It was an easy project but really time consuming. I am totally in LOVE with chenille right now so I made a faux chenille blanket. You will see it is in his favorite thing right now, Cars!

Times they are a changing!

The Brown house has been turned upside down! Jeff accepted a new job at Mercy and this week is his first week at work. He really seems to enjoy the new job. His hours are different he works from 3-11:30pm which is good and bad. We don't have to worry about sitters and we don't have to pay for tuition at school. The decision was so hard and even after the decision was made Jeff and I were so unsure. His old job has always been great to us and I hope that we made the right decision. Jeff would bring in more money, no sitter issues and we have additional insurance for Max. Only time will tell so wish us luck!

Craft Time

While at Hobby Lobby the other day aprons were on sale so Max and I picked one up! We decorated it with markers but there is still plenty of room for more"art". He started to loose interest so we will have to finish decorating it some other time.

Jeff's TV Debut

Jeff had his TV debut during the NBA Finals. Jeff spent the day as an extra a little while back for a Gatorade commercial he is quite proud of. You can look it up on YouTube here but this is the only spot you'll see him. Congrats to Jeff but don't quit your day job!