Coons Connection: August 2013

Lucas Update

Many people have asked how Lucas is doing. Thank you for your concern. :) He is going so well! We still have our struggles, but since his diagnosis we have been doing Therapy and in a few weeks he starts early intervention preschool. He will work on his speech and social skills in preparation to be fully integrated to Kindergarten by 2015.

We went back and forth several times between ABA therapy (Behavioral) and Sensory Integration and we have decided that Sensory Therapy is the best thing for Lucas. In short, 99% of the time when he struggles in social situations it is because 1-2 of his senses is being overloaded and his little mind can't process correctly. Usually it is hearing and touch. If it is too loud or his hands have a different texture on them he has a difficult time functioning. Through Sensory therapy they teach him how to work through those struggles.

We are forever grateful to everyone that has reached out to us and helped us through telling of their own personal experiences, so thank you!

Lucas is honestly one of the most tenderhearted little boys and we are so grateful he is ours :)

Potty Training Diaries

This post is mostly for my own memory sakes. I decided to Potty Train Lucas in November os 2012, a month before his third birthday. The truth is I was sick of buying diapers and thought, he is going to primary in January he needs to be trained!

Every time I sat him on the toilet, his potty chair, or anything resembling a toilet- he screamed. So I bagged it and thought "After Christmas".

In January we were in the dog days of Winter, cooped up inside anyway, and thought I might as well train Lucas.

This time it went a little bit better. Day 1 he actually went poop and pee on the potty. But by nightfall I was exhausted. Day 2 was TERRIBLE! He refused to sit anywhere near the potty. Held it ALL DAY LONG. And as soon as I put his nighttime diaper on for bed he had an explosion of mass proportion. Down the legs, up the back... terrible. I thought about bagging it, but reconsidered thinking third day = third times the charm right?

WRONG!

Third day was worse. I was so mad, he was so mad. By 10 am we were back in diapers headed to Sonic so everyone could take a chill pill.

So I heeded my mom's advice of "He won't go to kinder with a diaper. Just wait until he is ready". Over the next few months I would ask Lucas if he would want to sit on the toilet. Somedays he would, other days he wouldn't. By the time May rolled around he was pretty much going #2 on the toilet exclusively. Every now and again he would go in his diaper, but for the most part he had it down. On June 1 I ran out of diapers. So I put Lucas in underwear and told him if he needed to go potty he had to go in the toilet. I then told him Thomas (on his unders) doesn't like to peed or pooped on and it makes him so sad.

He has had 2 accidents since June 1. I know that for some kids the whole 3 day potty training thing works. For us, I was pulling my hair out, Lucas hair out... and wanted to crawl in a hole. Instead I now have a perfectly potty trained boy and everyone survived.

So if you are in the midst of potty training, I say good luck. And don't push it. Literally they will do it when they are ready!

They're HOME!

After three LONG years, my parents are finally home!!!! We were so excited to go to California and welcome them back, needless to say June was a very long month. Jane and I flew down to California the day before, and Andy Dallas amd Lucas drove down the day before. My parents had purchased a car in Utah so the boys got to drive down.

On Saturday June 29 2013 we woke up eager to get ready and go to the airport. The night before we made signs and all tried to get some sleep. When we got to the airport Jane didn't know what was going on! She was couldn't figure out what all the squeals of delight and excitement was all about.

Waiting for Grandma and Crampa to come home!

Me and my sweet girl!

We had a photographer come to the airport and take pictures of everyone... our reaction as they came down the escalator, first hugs, group pictures... etc. But we don't have them yet! So I will do a separate post once we get them.

In the meantime... here is the rest of our vacation in California!

One morning we had an hour to kill before the girls day at the salon so we took Lucas to the tide pools.

And to see the "Pirate" ship, also known as the Pilgrim. In the 4th grade we went on a field trip to the pilgrim and spent the night as a class to get the feel of crossing the seas. Lets just say I am glad I was born in 1986 :)

Our kids love aquariums. Like LOVE. We have been wanting to take them to the Aquarium of the Pacific for awhile, but never found the time. So we made sure to go visit since Disneyland is way too busy in July.

Touching Sharks

This was probably the kids favorite part. We went through this tunnel where the sea lions go over and under.... then when you come outside you can see them jump out of the water. They seriously sat here and watched for a good 20 minutes.

Lucas loved this little spot because there was a moving magnifying glass so you could see all the fish in great detail. Jane wanted in on the action too.

One of the highlights of the trip was meeting Sara Grace! My best friend from high school had a baby in February and I have been dying to meet her! I was so so excited to catch up with Abby and spend time with her sweet little one.

Jane and Grace- Best friends in training!

Four girlies!

Lucas has been talking about going to the Angels game for months. The time finally came! Andy bought him an Angels hat and we got a sitter for Jane so we could enjoy the evening. Much to our surprise we lasted all 9 innings!

My cute parents. So happy to have them home!

Cotton candy! Lucas favorite part of the night. (He had a pink AND a blue!)

Happy to share with everyone.

My cute mom :)

This was so cute. All night these teenagers were throwing these balls in the crowd and all Lucas wanted was the ball to come to him. I think he thought it was part of the baseball game. Finally in the the 8th inning it came to him! He was seriously so happy. He held on to it and we said, "Lucas, throw the ball!" And he hit it will all his might and everyone around us started cheering. It was so cute. It honestly made his night.

4th of July brought us to the pool and a BBQ. Jane thought the rings were the latest accessory.

That night we went to the sports park in downtown San Juan for fireworks. Traditionally they have one of the best fireworks shows in Orange County. Not this year! They had some major technical difficulties!! We still had fun, but I think next year we will try Ladera.

Cute patriotic kiddos.

Carnival Rides

What is a California trip without the beach? We had so much fun hanging out at the beach. Lucas was in heaven! He loved the ocean and the sand. A huge improvement from last year.

Andy burying the kids.

The best part about the trip was this was the first time that Lucas and Zane really got along. They were so cute together and every time they saw each other would say, "ZANERS!" And give each other a bear hug. And everyday since leaving California Lucas has asked for Zane. And Chuckee E Cheese.