This year has really gone by fast. Since I was last here what has been going on with all of us. Matt was diagnosed with mild hearing loss in his left ear at his failed hearing test a few weeks ago. We knew he had mild hearing loss in the right ear, but I was really bothered by this, had a long chat with the audiologist, who asked me if she wanted to also page ENT to chat with him. I know the ENT Dr and the audiologists that take care of Matt do the best they can for him, and they really care about him, so that's a good thing. It also scares me because of Matts ADHD-impulsivity, he can also be a bolter, and if he can't hear me well, can be oppositional, stubborn, ornary, or acts up to "funny guy" it can be VERY scary. "Funny guy" is what we sometimes call him when he thinks he is just so funny, has hysterical laughter, and is out of control. As For Christmas, we got our tree about 3 wks ago, cut it down at a local tree farm. Julia didn't last long looking for trees, threw tantrums, crying, sulking, so I brought her back to the van, and Frank, Ashley, and Matt chose a nice tree. Julia had no desire in looking at it, no desire to try to decorate it, we were able to do hand over hand for one ornament, that was the end of that. she had absolutly no interest, like it's not even here. Had no idea what to get her for presents, ended up with a large pad of crayola paper, crayons, toy cars with lights and sounds, clothes, dress up clothes. she got alot of ncie gifts from families. Her best gift was food and more food. We had an early Christmas at my sis in laws house, all Julia cared about was food and more food. Christmas Eve at my sis, and Christmas day at home, she would get dispondent if the adults took the chairs at the table and she couldn't get to the goodies on the table. notorious for tantrums, crying, yelling, throw herself on the floor, hitting, pushing, if she can't get to the food. We think she would eat until she would throw up from being so full. I realize the medication she is on makes her feel hungry, but we still think she would continue on until vomiting from eating non stop, and she is at risk for chocking as she shovels and doesn't chew alot of the time, has to be watched while eating. So, on to school, the SPED teacher doesn't feel that she is "appropriate" to access the full day curriculum. We want her to go to school all day, she is 7, even though she has the mentality of a 18 month old, so I will contact the SPED district person to see what our options are. Getting an aide for Julia in the morning, is a hell of alot cheaper than sending her to school out of town, she loves school too. she is making so many new sounds, she is ULTRA busy, and never stops moving, even if sitting, she is moving some part of her body. Ashley is doing great, think she had another growth spurt, I really enjoy being with her, she's awesome, like when we have Ashley-mom time. Life is good, Julia is "reading" a board book and babbling, Ashley has her nintendo DS playing it, Matt has the Wizard of Oz on his new portable DVD player playing, life is good.