The Summer of Noah...

So we are back to the grind... summer is over, school has started, and we are hoping that the feel of fall will be here soon, (vs the 108' that we endured today)! We had a wonderful summer filled with laughter, fun and sun - minus the typical therapy, must do's and "you're child won't survive unless you..." moments... needless to say, it was a break that was truly deserved by all! I really wanted Noah to have a typical 5 year old summer... one filled with sleeping late, lots of swimming and playing at parks, beaches and children's museums. And that is exactly what we experienced this summer! :) Noah's days were spent either in the pool, at the Phoenix Children's Museum, or at the beach in La Jolla. And... even though we didn't meet with the "educated therapist" daily, my little man grew like a weed!!! He matured soooo much this summer, it was probably one of the most dramatic changes is such a short period of time since he was an infant. Noah loved to play with his toys; both independently and with friends...

He also became very confident with his gross motor skills this summer. He can walk up and down stairs with ease, properly play on the equipment on a playground and climb up and down any apparatus that may be with his 5 year old reach...

As the summer came to an end, it was time for us to get back into the grind of going to school every day, with this year attending a full day... (we decided to have N repeat another year of P-K, attending full time, to ensure that he is ready for kindergarten next year). Noah LOVES school and is sooo very excited to drive into the campus daily! He works very hard and is impressing all those around him with his love, his giving attitude and his tenacity to learn and master whatever is being taught to him. His focus and determination is so apparent in this photo that I just had to share...

This is going to be such a monumental year for our little man, I can't wait to see all the fantastic changes and lessons that He will be teaching Me!!! xo to all!

What a Difference Six Months Make...

Wow! I just read my last post... that poor woman! As I read the last post it brought me back to that day, that moment, where I felt like a complete failure as a mother, as well as a woman. For I was failing, I felt defeated. I was raised to be better than that woman... or was I? I am human... I think :)lol! I realize that I have truly struggled over this past year... Partly due to the fact that my little man wasn't where "I expected him to be" by the age of five... also due to the additional fact that my little girl, my first love, my daughter Devin, is graduating from college, getting her first "real" job in the corporate world, and moving out of state... permanently? Yes, incorporating the "empty nest syndrome" along with the "expectation syndrome" and topping it with the "hormonal syndrome"... well, life has been one large bowl of cherries!!! So, to sum up in 50 words or less, the past six months... Devin Brooke graduated from the University of Arizona, with Honors, majoring in Psychology with a minor in Pre-Law Studies. Her aspiration is to be a Criminal Psychologist... However she is equally talented and gifted on the right side of her brain as well. At the fabulous age of 22, my little girl can accomplish ANYTHING she sets her mind to. Right now she is working at a staffing company in San Diego, living three blocks from the water and enjoying the corporate lifestyle of a young entrepreneur. Noah, well, my little man is the MOST amazing human EVER! Over the past six months he has jumped leaps and bounds!!! I am so damn proud of him, of his tenacity and mostly of his LOVE of life... EVERY DAY! We not only started him on the Changing Minds Foundation protocol but also incorporated some additional supplements into his daily diet. I will post additional information in a latter post, but just want to say he is my amazing little man! He began school back at Montessori Academy again this year. We switched teachers and I feel so blessed to have him in Mrs Headley's class every day. She is an amazingly gifted teacher and is filled with such love and acceptance... I can't say enough about this woman! Even though Noah is five and would qualify for Kindergarten, we decided to have him repeat P-K this year, but attend all day. We are in day 10 of school, and he is doing FANTASTIC!!! We hired an additional tutor, Ms Angela, to cover when Ms Tammy is not available. It seems like the perfect fit! We also found an amazing nanny this summer, Ms Erica, whom Noah loves, as well as us!!! She is a wonderful security knowing that when Jacques or I need to be working late, Erica is there taking care of Noah as we would! LOVE her! Today, day 10 of school, Noah actually attended the first two hours on his own! He is doing that well that the teacher said she didn't need a tutor for Noah this am, and he will be great on his own! He has been soaring with his academics... on Wed, he completed over 24 different works! Thats amazing!!! Well, I could go on and on, but basically I just wanted to say... I'm Baaaccckkk and in a much better mood and energy place than I was in February. I hope all is well in the blogging world with all of our friend, cyber or tangible. With lots of love and understanding... Raquel, always a mom to Devin and Noah...