Hello to all from the Sunshine State. We hope that all is well with you and that you are enjoying the season. Everytime I sit at the computer and type out our blog I find myself reflecting on things we have done so I can give an update on our family; and, as I sit here this time reflecting I also find myself wondering. I am reflecting on the year 2010 and everything that has happened, not just to our family but to our friends and loved ones, and I cannot help but wonder what 2011 has in store. I can honestly say that 2010 has not been boring. :>






Let us start with our newest addition. Little Miss Allie Jane Donnell was born on Monday December 13, 2010 at 6:35 a.m. She weighed 7 lbs 12 oz and was 20 1/2 inches. It's kind of ironic. Michael was scheduled to preach at church on Sunday the 12th. I has asked him that week what we would do if I went into labor during his sermon. He told me just to stand up and say it's time to go and he would tell everyone 'to be continued' and we would leave. Well, Saturday and Sunday morning I thought I was leaking fluid but I did NOT dare say anything to Michael. I was talking with a lady at church who was ready after Sunday School to take me to get checked. I told her Michael would never stay and church and be able to focus so if I felt the need we would go after church. We ended up leaving right after service. I was not in active labor when we went but my doctor wanted to keep me overnight because Dylon's labor was so fast. Let's just say I am glad they kept me. My water officially broke sometime between 5:30 and 6:00. By 6:20'ish' my contractions were so strong that I knew Allie was coming. My poor doctor didn't even make it to the delivery. I pushed maybe 10 minutes and Allie was born into the world. The nurse said she came out with shoulders shaking, she was already crying and I joked that she was crying and praying, "Dear Lord, why this family!?!?!" Everyone laughed. Dylon is a great big brother. The hardest thing for him right now is learning what being gentle with his little sister means. We were all home Tuesday afternoon on the 14th. Dylon was ready that night with a story to read to Allie. He read a page and then he told her to read the next page. We tried to explain that she couldn't read and that he was going to have to teach her when she got older. He continued with the book until she started to stir in which he informed her that if she cried he would have to put the book away! :> Everyday the first week home, Dylon would walk into the condo and say, "We're home...where's Allie?" We have done well since being home and are trying to just get schedules and routines down. This is kind of hard to accomplish with Dylon being out of school right now but it gives us a good preview of what the summer will hold for us! Our two week check up has gone well. Allie has gained one pound and one ounce in a week and has grown 1/2 an inch. Posted below are three pictures. One is of Michael as an infant, one is of Dylon, and one if of Allie (not in that order). There is a poll at the bottom of this blog to see if you can tell who is who. Choose the one you think is the correct order of Michael, Dylon, and Allie. This is just to show everyone how much my kids look like their daddy. :> This will probably be an easy poll but you get the point!






Dylon has had a great first semester here at Moody Elementary. I am proud to report that when he goes back to school in January he will be a full time Kindergarten student. We loved his VE teacher and are sad we are losing her but this is a great achievement for him to accomplish. This past semester he had his re-evaluation done from the school. This is something that will be done every three years. His speech evaluation came back telling us that he still has a pretty moderate expressive language delay and a mild receptive language delay. Dylon is very verbal and expresses wants and needs to us pretty well. He has difficulty with sequencing, answering "wh" questions, answering questions logically, using regular and irregular past tense and telling about remote events. He also had academic testing done. Math held his lowest score but it is his best subject in school. He tested at age range of 4 years 1 month in broad math. The lady told us that the math test advances very quickly so he had a few questions concerning shapes and number/number sequencing then it went straight into one digit addtion and subtraction which they have not started yet in class. When math problems involving simple joining and separation situations were read aloud Dylon was able to answer the problem easily. Reading was a very high score, which should not shock those of you who know Dylon! He tested at 7 years and 3 months in broad reading. All in all his academic tests told us he is progressing well academically and with the exception of math he tested around the age range of 6 years and a few months. This is a strong suit of Dylon's. The team was telling us that is very unusal for a child to have a great academic test and a moderate expressive language delay. Normally children who have the language delay show signs of that in academics. His Occupational Therapy results came back and we have lots of work to do there (strengthening exercises of the fine motor abilities, etc.).




Dylon really enjoyed Christmas this year and the excitment that brings. Although, he did expect Santa to be here when he woke up on Christmas morning. We had to explain that Santa doesn't stay he just brings goodies and leaves them. He was like a child in sugar shock from eating too many sweets except his was induced by gift overload. At one point he was playing on his Smart Cycle Bike and playing a hand held Leapster game at the same time.

Michael and I are both well. I am still looking for a part time job but I am now in no hurry since our newest addition. Michael is gearing up for Winterfest, I believe that is the youth's next big trip. He still plans little get togethers like movie nights and what not. Some of the youth have been trying to persuade him to do a lock in for the New Year but that is just not going to happen right now. :> We will hopefully be headed to Nashville in March for Dylon's spring break. It seems crazy that we have been here 5 months already. Time flies and we are constantly reminding ourselves that we have only been here a short time. We still have things to do between now and then. We of course, ask for prayers as we continue our mission here in Florida and at 43rd Street. We ask that God uses our ablities to glorify Him in all we do and uses us for His mission (whatever that may be or look like) here in Florida. We continue to ask for prayers for us as parents. God has blessed us with two children now. We ask for wisdom and knowledge as we help cultivate their precious lives. May you all be filled with grace and peace in this new year. Love to all!!! Please feel free to continue to leave comments and leave prayer request/praise.