Springfield Nature Center

Will exploring

View from a photo blind

Gobble Gobble

Deer that Will found

July 4th weekend Will and I made a trip up to Missouri to visit family and see an awesome fireworks show. While there we made a trip to the Springfield Nature Center to see...well...some nature. I've been there several times but this was a first for Will. I've also never seen wild turkey's or deer. The deer crept up behind us after walking down the trail. He whispered to me as we were walking "hey Daddy...look at the deer I found".

I don't have any pics of the fireworks show, I Love America, which was put on by James River Assembly. There were 120,000 people there. It was one of the most well organized events I've ever been to that involved that many people. The band Leland performed after the fireworks. We didn't stay for all of the concert because Will was about to fall asleep and I sure wasn't going to carry him.

I took more photos at the nature center as well as some other things we did. I hope to add another post soon.

Brief Update

Becky and I met with Dr. Lara Mattax at the Tulsa Developmental Pediatrics Center last Tuesday regarding Zach's possible autism. We spent about an hour being interviewed about his speech, behaviors, etc. Dr. Mattax was great. She was easy to talk to and at no point did I feel uncomfortable with any of the questions she had. She was very informative and didn't shy away from being truthful with us. At the end I believe we all felt like autism is unlikely however still a possibility. He definitely has a speech delay and will need some therapy which Becky has already started checking into. She has found a local program that will be good and affordable. Overall I think we both came out of the session feeling better about the situation.

Next week we will return to the TDPC with Zach so that Dr. Mattax can observe him. This will take 1-2 hours and Becky and I are welcome to be in the room with him to help make him more comfortable. We will then return the following day for her official diagnosis.

Thanks for the prayers.

On a side note. We found out today that a friend of ours has been diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer. I believe this is her third bout (if the first bout ever really ends) with the nasty disease. Please keep her in your prayers.