Happy Holidays from our family to yours!
This holiday letter is just a short synopsis of 2010 of the Lorenz’s who are currently residing in Georgia. Yes, the weather is very nice, especially in the winter (where just recently the high was 67degrees). Also, snow is just a thought that lasts less than 24 hours once every two to three years. Last year was one of those moments. There is so much that we wish we could share with you all, but Jaynee is trying to keep this letter to three stamps or less so this letter will be a condensed summary of each individual. I hope you like what we wrote and also get to know each of us better.
General Happenings
What a year this has been. There have been so many miracles, events, activities, and new things that it has been hard for us just to keep up with the day-to-day events in our lives. From January of this year, our family has consisted of me (Lee), Jaynee, Sofia, and Emma. Looking back it is hard to imagine our family consisting of anything else. Sofia was such a blessing to our family last year that she has helped to make this year fly by. Rather than talk about the family as a whole, I think it would be better to discuss each member of the family individually so you can each get to know us better. Here are some of the highlights from 2010.
Emma
Emma began the year with ear problems. In fact, all the girls in the family had ear drum ruptures, and the two youngest eventually got tubs in their ears to help reduce the ear ruptures and aches. She was a brave little girl during the surgery and for all the Dr. appointments. Emma was also referred to speech therapy. It was during these sessions that her true personality began to shine. She is a very determined girl. If she doesn’t want to do anything, there is nothing that will change her mind. I remember one particular session where she flatly refused to talk. The therapist was getting frustrated and I could see Emma’s lips quiver each time she held back from talking. I just sat there quietly laughing to myself. Emma also found her legs this year. What I mean by that was one day just to get the girls out of the house we took them to a local track to run on. What happened surprised even me! Emma and Sofi both took off running, but Sofi quickly tired. Emma did not; she had problems staying on the track, but where she got off she would return and from that point on continue her course. She ended up with just a little over a mile of actual running on the track and maybe another half mile through her wanderings. It took the promise to go eat pizza to get her off the track. Since then she loves all the opportunities to run no matter where she is at. Emma also surprised us with her intellect. One day playing with flash cards with Sofi, she was standing behind Jaynee and saying the words on the card. The side facing Sofi had the pictures, but her side did not. We thought she could see the pictures through the cards, but we were wrong. Out of 50 basic flash cards, she knew all but about 15 of them. Since then she has continued to read site words and loves to learn.
Sofia
Sofi began this year with some difficulties. The first was her ears. She too had major problems which led to surgery. She was advanced enough not to need any speech therapy, but the lessons we learned from Emma’s appointments helped us work with Sofi. The next major problem was the diagnosis of PDD (Pervasive Developmental Disorder). This is a type of autism but more on the social and sensory side of it. We are so glad that we caught it early because this is something she will never grow out of but at least we will begin to put the mechanisms in place early enough for her to know how to cope with this. Some of her problems deal with being social or in social settings. She doesn’t know how to control herself in large groups and most of the time it actually scares her. Another major issue is the understanding of how her body interprets its senses and translates it to either thoughts or actions within the body. She has certain parts of her body that are being used to perform functions that are not normal. For instance, she tastes her food with her tongue before she will place it in her mouth to eat. Another is she avoids placing any object in the palm of her hand. Lastly, she doesn’t walk correctly, meaning that she walks on the tips or tops of her toes and feet. This could have lasting problems, possibly surgery at a future date, if not corrected early on in her life. Sofi also has a thing with motion. She loves rhythmic motions. Things such as swings, spinning, and turning help to calm and pacify her. She would also love to live under water because of the soothing feelings to her ears. With all of this, Jaynee is now helping Sofi get to three therapy appointments a week. This alone helps to keep Sofi busy, but engaged in activities that will be beneficial for her. Lastly, we purchased a swing set so that Sofia could have her own special place to place and relax. It has done wonders with her attitude since we put it up. Her meltdowns have decreased, she is showing more positive signs when dealing with some of her issues, and she even has become friendlier towards her sister.
Lee (sometimes referred to as Dad)
I, or Lee for those who don’t know who is writing this, has been up to his ears with work, school, and Jaynee’s to-do-lists. No matter how hard I try to knock items off of the list, somehow for each item removed two or three more find their way on it. Will there ever be an end? According to Jaynee, the answer is NO! The biggest thing to happen to me was taking over command of a company. It has been both a very rewarding but draining experience so far. The best part about it is that I have direct influence on the lives and work of so many Soldiers. It is an awesome responsibility, but also an honor. I am also currently 2 classes away from my master’s degree. So by this time next year I will finally be at a level to have a conversation with my wife who currently holds a M.B.A. The last big thing that has happened to me is that I tore my ACL in my left knee. What that means is I will be having surgery in the next month or two. I tore it playing flag football, but it wasn’t the game rather the motion that did me in. I could have hurt myself chasing after my girls at home based upon the information my Dr. provided. This will be the first time ever that I will be going under a knife for any sort of work to my body. It will make for a fun letter next year.
Jaynee (known as the Chauffer)
Jaynee has been the cement and glue for this family. If it wasn’t for her, Sofi’s finalization paperwork would have taken longer, the girls’ ear surgeries and therapies would not be as successful as they have been, and I know I wouldn’t have gotten the grades I have earned in my classes. She is an amazing individual. She too suffered from a ruptured ear drum, but has recovered well since then. This summer she helped to organize a reception for my change of command ceremony. She made well over 25 loaves of bread, lots of dip, and a lot of fruit kabobs. She has recently taken care of me since I hurt my leg and I haven’t been able to perform some of the things I normally do. She has spent countless hours in preparing lessons, activities, and projects for the girls to work on to help them with their development. Plus the hours taking anyone to a therapy or Dr.’s appointment; she has lived a selfless life this past year.
Closing Thoughts
As a whole this year has gone by so quickly. I wish it would have gone by slower; having both Sofi and Emma in our lives is such a blessing. I know that one year not too far in the future, they will be much older and leaving our home. I am beginning to understand just how short time really is and that if you actually blink, years will have passed you by.
Sing With Us!
“Twinkle, Twinkle, little star, how I wonder what you are. Up above the world so high, like a diamond in the sky. Twinkle, Twinkle, little star, how I wonder what you are.
A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I , J, K, L, M, N, O, P, Q, R, S, T, U, V, W, X, Y, and Z. Now I know my ABC’s next time won’t you sign with me?
I can’t believe they said it!
Sofi - Mommy, I want more milk.
Mom – We are out.
Sofi – Stop at a store and buy some!
Mom – Emma, did you have a good nap?
Emma – Yep, I sure did!
FAMOUS QUOTES
“I got you”
“Emma did it”
“Sofi Eat?!”
Your kids are so cute, and lucky to have such a great mom as you are, even if your hubs claims to have written this :)
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