Crazy Crazy!!

Oh goodness me oh my.

I think that the last few weeks are going to go down in Janell History as far as ups and downs of emotions.

Did you know that babies are really every where when you really really want to have one? I didn't know that until recently. During those few sweet days when I thought I would be bringing another one into our family, I had all my pregnancy tests lined up on my bathroom counter. Every time I saw all those 'positives' I was so joyful! Those were beautiful days of joy.

And the following days were hard - can still be hard. But, we have been blessed with full lives and many responsibilities and many reasons to keep getting out of bed in the morning.

But it has been harder and harder to get out of bed! One day I told the seminary class that I just could not believe that last year I woke up every day at 4 a.m. - I told them I this year I am having the hardest time waking up. That night I found out why. I found out I have mono. How hilarious! I've even had it before as a teenager (you know, when you are supposed to have it - not as an old married lady). It is very rare to have it twice - but I'm lucky! =) I've had to take several day off of seminary, but I finally feel like I am moving forward healthwise. I cannot wait to get back to the Y.

Jaiden started preschool and has undergone several different screenings as a result. The school was worried about his speech and hearing. He has a hearing test scheduled for next week. As a precaution, I began the process of having him go through the testing process at the same facility we had Levi tested last year. He had a speech evaluation this week. After the evaluation, the speech therapist told me that based on her observations during the evaluation, and based on her wide experience with children Jaiden's age, she highly recommended I have him undergo the occupational therapy evaluation and psychological evaluation he would need to see if places somewhere on the autism spectrum.

I really, really do not think that Jaiden has Asperberger's Syndrome. I have never had the concerns with him that I had with Levi. But nevertheless, that was not an easy day. We are in the process of setting up the other appointments Jaiden will need and it will take some time for that process to be completed. I absolutely want to know what the facts are as far as how my children are developing, so that we can do anything and everything possible to help them along in those regards. And nobody wants their child to have special challenges because you know that those challenges will make things harder for them. But - as my dad quotes frequently, we play the cards we are dealt.

I have had the chance to spend several hours a week in a law office and am trying to piece together what it means to practice law as an attorney. This has been a tremendously valuable experience for me and I have been learning so much.

In two weeks I have to have my application in to the Washington State Bar to take the February exam. Yuck. But necessary.

So this has been a time of ups and downs, of blessings and trials - just normal life!