SO much to be THANKFUL for this year!

Hello Villagers!

Welcome to our NEW blog!  Goodbye to "My Two Amazing Boys", hello..."Watson Party of SIX"!

Here is a long overdue UPDATE! 

What an amazing summer #watsonpartyofsix had!  We went everywhere that we wanted to go.  Which was an absolute blessing for "The Little's" to feel more at home in their new environment.  We started out with a week in Northern Maine visiting The Houlton Fair, Mardens, Houlton Dairy, and Portage Lake.  With Smores on the campfire every night, it was just what we needed to celebrate the end of a long school year.  We toured Boston and even took the entire family to a Redsox Game.  

We had weekly visits to Davis Farmland, the Beach and took the kids to the ocean every chance we got.  We taught the littles how to swim, kayaked at Mirror Lake and went to various amusement parks all over New England.  It was an absolute treat!

Spencer

Spencer started Sixth Grade this year at AMSA (American Math and Science Academy) Charter School in Marlborough.  He officially hates us as we took him away from all of his friends in our hometown.  I am happy to report that he is finally adjusting well and he is starting to actually enjoy going to school now.  (And well…he loves having a cell phone as well!)  He has taken a break from sports in the interim and we signed him up for some fun afternoon clubs, which has helped with some adjustment.  He is really looking forward to starting basketball and snowboarding this winter.

The Little's

I am happy to report that BOTH Kayla and Anthony have graduated from trauma therapy to regular therapists.  They were both Baptized recently and had quite the shindig. 

UPDATE on their Parents:  Mom is still MIA, she hasn't seen or spoken to either one of them since before last Christmas.  She then was MIA for our court date in January.  She did contact me several days after the date that she was suppose to appear in court.  She was suppose to provide me with a consistant schedule to see the children, and has failed to do so…SO...I am happy to report that the judge has granted Gary and I FULL GUARDIANSHIP, which entails us to be approvers of ANY and ALL visits at this time.  Their father Dave, contested our guardianship in court in January and after mediation and discussion with our DCF clinician, Gary and I promised (verbally) to allow him back into their lives.  (In return, Dave, signed over his FULL LEGAL guardianship over to Gary and I.)  They have been building their relationship with him, which has been wonderful to be witness of.  He has gone to Anthony's basketball games, and Kayla's dance recital and has even brought his family members to his weekly visits with them.  There is room for a lot of improvement but its actually something that they look forward to every week.  They even count the days!  So, although Gary and I were only looking at the short term plan, I AM HAPPY TO REPORT THAT…”The Little's are here to stay!”    

Anthony

Anthony has started second grade this year at our elementary school.  He still struggles to feel like he fits in here in the house.  His biggest challenge currently is his relationship with Spencer.  Spencer and him are both very competitive and all Anthony wants to do is look up to him and to be his shadow.

Anthony is also still continuing with struggling socially and with his constant appetite.  He often eats enough to make himself sick to his stomach.  This still makes me sad that they compulsively eat because they now have access to food more regularly than they have had before.  To help him work on his social skills, he has been signed up for Cub Scouts and CCD, and is looking forward to playing Basketball this Winter.  

Kayla

Kayla is doing much better with the loss of her mother in her life.  She is currently is enrolled in CCD, and honestly I needed a break from dance classes this season.  We will sign her up next year again when she decides what she would like to do.  


Kayla continues to struggle with her Severe Attachment Disorder so I am not sure that we will be signing her up for Girlscouts until next year.  Kindergarten has helped in this area, plus we might also be signing her up for basketball this winter.  

Tucker

So...lets start with...Tucker's heart looks GREAT!  Which has finally has been a relief, but we know all to well that there will always be ebb and flows in this area.  Tucker has not had a repeat SVT episode since the Summer.  At our last Cardiology appointment we presented all of his portable EKG's for his cardiologist to review.  They all came back within normal (well…HIS normal) limits.  So, right now, we are back to 6 month clinic appointments.  We have also been looking closer into Tucker’s “Developmental Delay” diagnosis in the Cardiac Neurodevelopemental Clinic.  We have had him re-tested and again, we have added a multitude of developmental diagnosis’s.  After a recent conversation with his teacher and multiple attempts at avoiding the subject, we have decided to put Tucker on medication to help with his severe anxiety and to help him concentrate better in school.  Now he doesn’t sleep…I swear, we just cant win!  LOL  Tucker also received a far sited astigmatism diagnosis from our family eye doctor this month.  

He has been reluctant to wear his glasses because he is afraid that kids will make fun of him, yet he tells us that he can finally see the words so that he can read.  ;-(

US


Gary

Gary continues to work days and has been enjoying more time at home with the kids.  They have missed him terribly since he was working all of the time.  He has transitioned into a “Mr. Mom” very well.  He is now a pro at braiding hair.  😊   Some sad news is that our only car that fits the entire family, his Ford F150, has completely died.  We are fearful that it may be the transmission, as it seems to be slipping out of gear while we were driving it.  The last thing that we need is a NEW car payment RIGHT before CHRISTMAS!   

…and lastly...there's ME!

Ugh…School is back for me as well.  This semester I decided to take 3 classes this semester, bad choice on my part.  I thought that I signed up for a bunch of easy classes…NOPE!  They are some of the hardest that I have ever taken.  Although I am learning a lot, almost all of my free time is devoted to reading and writing essay’s.  I have been sick these last few weeks and have fallen behind in my schoolwork.  My professors have been amazing and have allowed me the flexability to pass things in late.   

If you know me well, you know that take pride in my skin.  I have often told the story of my aunt who doesn’t seem age, or my love of all things soap.  Hell, how do you guys think my soap company started?  I am literally obsessed.  The “real” story, my paternal family genes are quite strong, and I have inherited my father’s attitude and his autoimmune disease which is called, Psoriatic Arthritis.  The remedy to throw these flareups into remission is weekly Chemotherapy injections which make me SICK beyond sick!  I am currently on a 6 week trial of Methotrexate and there seems to be some relief, but I am no where close to being pain free.     

Lastly, many of you have reached out to me and have asked, “What can I do to help?”  We have always been grateful of our village, and I swear, it is “Our Village” that has gotten me through the rough days lately.  There is so much that we need right now, as our savings has dwindled, and our debt has grown exuberantly.  With all of this recent car trouble, we are just trying to stay afloat for the holidays.  So, at the request of several family members, I have compiled an Amazon Wish List for the kids for Christmas.  These are just a few things that they are hoping are under the tree this year on Christmas morning.  Should you like to contribute, please feel free to access the Amazon wishlist here...Amazon Watson Kids Christmas Wish List

http://a.co/aLQ0deC 

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!