Preschool? wow.

Hey there guys! Look at this? two posts in less than two weeks!

We are creeping up on the start of the school year and looking back at the picture I took before 3k? Kaelyn looks so grown up! She's grown by leaps and bounds, despite still being behind her peers, but that doesn't make any of her achievements any less precious or monumental. She jumps, she is no longer terrified of playground slides (although the tunnel slides still bother her at first, she still gives them a good go!), her speech is improving, her pretend play is improved a hundred fold. She now names dollies and stuffed animals. Aria's cabbage patch dolly is named "Mary" and since daddy tried to name HERS "Gertrude" she now just calls her "Trude" yeah. great huh? :D And today she named her stuffed puppy from her "bonus grandma" Wendy, "Rudy". I'm sure its because of her new found love of Doc McStuffins.(and Sherrif Callie, although she calls her "sherrrf Callie" its still stinkin adorable).

Aria on the other hand. What a little pistol! Unlike her sister, she has NO FEAR. And her speech is also growing  and improving. I think her and Kaelyn are helping eachother with their vocabulary and expressive speech. She's starting to want to dance to music, learning to clean up after herself and is more affectionate every day! Just seeing how these 2 are is amazing! It's very touching to see that they are so connected and bonded to each other. When one is sad the other rushes to hug her close and give a smooch. It really warms my heart. Lately she has been crawling out of her toddler bed at naptime to fall back asleep in sissy "kaynin's" bed. Seems like we just put her in that bed and already she is trying to rush this whole "growing up" business and get her own twin bed? I call shenanigans. This momma simply isn't ready!!

In one week my dear friend will marry the love of her life and we are SO EXCITED!! "Auntie Ronda" and "Uncle Bob" are getting married at a local vineyard and it is going to be beautiful. I only have ONE flower girl for this wedding so hopefully it will be a little easier than trying to wrangle both girls and keep them happy and clean. After that, my awesome in-laws are coming up for a visit and our annual trip to the Zoo! I can't wait! We've been counting down the sleeps they have until gramma and grampa get here and I think the girls are impatient because they "call" them and think that every car down the street is their papa and gramma. It's adorable!

I've been so blessed. Between 2 amazing little girls who are growing so much, an amazing husband who is a great father and partner in this journey. And then there are the other momma's I have met who also have children with Partial Trisomy 21. Our little facebook group, along with the Unique group are a great resource for a momma like me. We all have children with rare chromosome disorder diagnosis' and even if the duplication/deletion isn't the same, a lot of the help and advice is still great and so very helpful! If you found my blog helpful, inspirational, or interesting, I am so glad you are here. That's all I really wanted to do with this blog. Oh, and share what an amazing family I have. I am TRULY blessed.

I'll leave off with a picture of Kaelyn and her "Doc Stuffins Braids". I love this looks and it keeps her unruly, fuzzy hair out of her face. :D

quick post

Debating an occasional podcast blog post. any body ever do this before? might be easier to keep up to date if every so often it wasn't something i had to sit down and type? I dunno. just a random thought. Have a good day!

another "long time no post" post

The month of May. SUPER BUSY. End of the school year, Sister in laws Wedding. Both Kaelyn and Aria were BEAUTIFUL flower girls along with their cousin "K" (no permission to use her name so K is what we will call her"). It was a beautiful wedding, tear jerker vows. sigh. takes me back to 7 years ago (yesterday, in fact) when Jeremy and I said our vows in front of family and friends and started this crazy and wonderful life together.
After that we had June, Fairly quiet. Just a lot of normal day to day stuff. Gardening (i have 3 bush pickle cucumbers sitting on my counter. awaiting more so i can make a batch of refrigerator dills to maybe take camping.), lawn work, library trips, walks (literally 5 blocks) to the farmers market, and lots of fun and family time.
Kaelyn's speech lately, it has just taken off! Going to make some tough decisions about preschool (whether to do 2 days of early childhood special education classes (at the elementary school in town) and 2 days at our churches preschool, or do all 4 at the elementary school). I gotta tell you, i'm leaning towards the 4 days of a smaller class that is more focused on Kaelyn. I'm strongly of the opinion that she was a BIG people watcher at our church preschool because she was behind in speech and felt overwhelmed. The world "overwhelmed" came up several times in her IEP meeting. I'm hearing phrases like "Mommy, I found it!" and "Diaper change for sister, mommy!" and the light in her eyes? Its amazing. She knows she is doing so well and improving. We constantly say to her "did you just say [insert new phrase/word here]??  That is amazing! we are so proud of you!" and she just glows!
Potty training is still a struggle at nap/bedtime. Naps are few and far between because it's not going to be an option come school year time since she will be in an afternoon class. I'm not sure if this is typical of all children with partial trisomy 21 or even of DS, but it is very frustrating to say the least.
We now have a group of 4, soon to be 5 parents in our little Facebook group. Kaelyn wont be the oldest anymore! It will be amazing to see how much we can look forward to our cuties doing as they grown and learn and thrive.
The biggest thing, in my opinion, that has happened since my last post is that we went to the local county fair. (5 blocks away) and Kaelyn rode so many rides! She did the Ferris Wheel with me and Jeremy. She rode the "Super slide" and the "crazy swings" and even did the little car ride with Aria! Both did so well and my fears of a terrified tot with a meltdown were completely unfounded! Sure, she was unsure of walking up the stairs for the slide (all 30-something of them) but she got up, went down, (mostly without incident. She did get stuck as i think she was too little to get enough momentum going, but the second time I gave her a good push and she just flew.) I was so worried that it would be out of her comfort zone and she would do her usual "crumple and melt" routine but she just smiled through each ride with the wind in her hair! Never again, will I underestimate my girls. It was AMAZING!
Lastly, I want to take a moment to recognize that my husband and his family lost a great woman. He called her "Grandma Jo" and she lived next door to him and took care of him and his brother (and possibly his sister but i'm not sure). She was 88 years and hung on far longer than the nurses caring for her thought. She lived a good and full life and is now with her husband. I'll end my blog here and post a few pictures of Kaelyn at the fair. I'm even posting one with ME in it! That truly never happens! I'm usually behind the lense so enjoy it!
We'll be off camping this weekend for Jeremy's family reunion (his dads paternal side of the family) and Kaelyn and Aria will BOTH get their first taste of camping. SO EXCITED!

Lots of love,
Kaelyn and Lara (and little Aria-toodles too!)

p.s. Shout out to Katherine! Her daughter also has PT21!! Just in case you are reading, I'm glad you responded to my email and I can't wait to hear more! :D

Kaelyn and Daddy taking a "Selfie" on the Ferris Wheel. I think she's too busy looking around to smile for the camera, but that is surely her "busy thinking" face.

 

Mommy and Kaelyn on the Carousel. She loved it! I even got her to have her hands and say "YEEE HAW!!" Such a cutie!!

Musings of a sleep deprived momma

It's been such a long time coming, a long road, but the process of getting Kaelyn's school district evaluation is now over and her IEP (Individual Educational Plan) meeting was last Wednesday. It's nothing new and shocking. Her speech is behind. Her receptive speech (following orders) is probably highest, but her expressive speech is way behind. She can point to whatever you ask, knows her colors, shapes, animals, but if you ask an abstract question like "what goes mooo" or "what animal barks" she wouldn't understand what you are asking of her. This leads to a lot of frustration on her part (crying, screaming) because you KNOW she wants to say something but she just can't put the words together and spit it out. She apparently seems very overwhelmed in her current 3k classroom (22 children with 3 teachers) and seems more content to play along side other children  or just people watch instead of directly asking to play or jumping right in.Whether or not that is tied into her speech (and being insecure) is another thing. Mild pt/ot delays (she was a late walker, late jumper. Mild muscle tone issues but nothing overly concerning.)  Our biggest concerns seem to be the speech and social aspects. They seem to think once we get the speech going the social will fall into place. The plan they set on the table was to keep her at our current preschool for tuesday and thursday and go to the elementary school for ECSE Wednesday and Friday. The Problem we are running into is that our current preschool is tues/thurs mornings and the elementary school is wed/fri afternoons. Kaelyn is very much a creature of habit and routine. I dont see how that will work for us. I put in a call to the school to see if we could just to the elementary school route. Our current preschool director feels so strongly that Kaelyn will benefit from staying that she offered us a half scholarship. I wish we could stay. I just think the flip flop will lead to melt downs and at that point ti wont benefit her anymore. She will lose out on anything she may gain by the stress. Anyhow, this is just a lot jumbled up in my head. Once we had Kaelyn's genetic diagnosis, we were basically at the beginning. They couldn't tell us anything more than we knew before we went. it's scary to think that in September, Kaelyn will be in a Early Childhood Special Education class. I am so very afraid that she will get made fun of. It's hard enough getting some family members to understand that its nothing we did, as parents, to hinder her speech. How do we expect the big bad real world to understand her or to treat her compassionately?  I cry when I think that there is a chance that maybe she'll never have kids, that she will maybe never talk as well as peers her age. If family, friends, and the big bad world have issues with her now, how will they treat her when she's 10 and can't talk well. 15? 25? I hurt for her because she is so kind and sweet and doesn't realize that this isn't the way it is for everybody.  All I can do is love her to pieces and help her the best I can. Be the best momma, advocate like crazy and cut out anybody who doesn't accept her and help her. She only needs love and faith in her. I swear on every momma bear instinct in me, the next person to make one off color comment, one negative, hurtful, less than helpful comment will get the full force of my protection. Family and friends should and will be a safe place for her to come to after she takes on the world. You are either part of this safe place or not. I wish I could make people understand her, to see the pure and unselfish love she gives to her sister, to me, to Jeremy, but its hard for people to see past the outbursts (cuz who wouldn't be upset when they can't express their need to use the bathroom, that they want apple juice not grape juice, or that they just want to be left alone?) they can't see past her lack of speech (no I will not let my child go thirsty because she can't ask for a drink like a big girl. what good would that serve her? another melt down?) and they truly are missing out on a love like no other from an amazing little girl. Knowing and loving my child is a gift that she returns 10-fold daily. By her willingness to pick up Aria's sippy cup 10 times after I have stopped. Sharing her snack 50-50 even after I offered Aria her own, how Aria gets the first hug when we pick her up from preschool. And how Aria loves her back unconditionally. We are so lucky and so is everybody who has met her and loved her as much as we have.
So what say you? Are you her safe place?

I"m really not good at doing this often.

Sooo, .... its been over 3 months since I've last updated our blog! We've went through some horrible winter weather and now it seems spring has sprung! Kaelyn has since started a new Evaluation for ECSE (early childhood special education) through our school district. Last week She had, PT (physical therapy) come to her preschool and observe her and then just ask a few questions afterwards. This next few weeks she is going to have Speech come in to school. The first few times just to get her used to talking to the lady and then to really get down to it and start the evaluation process.  We've got a tummy bug in the house today. I popped into the girls room to see if Aria was awake and then VOILA! I smell PUKE. Uck. mostly dried so sometime in the middle of the night she puked and fell back asleep. Unlike her father, she is a silent puker. :D

We have Kaelyn's birthday party this saturday. Just a small little gathering with some friends for the evening as every year less and less people want to make the 2 1/2 hour drive up here for cake and presents. Completely understandable and it takes a little pressure off of me to have the house SPOTLESS for the whole weekend and plan a HUGE party. We'll be home the following weekend to play in the Worlds Largest Trivia Contest. Should be fun and a chance to visit family and they can see Kaelyn as well and wish her a happy birthday!

Our newest obsession is "Frozen" and she sings "let it go" the best she can whenever it comes on! (which is quite often. Lets be honest.)  It's super adorable. I'll have to put a video up of her singing and dancing.

So for those who thought I forgot I had this blog, I Assure you I did not. It's just hard to sit down and blog when your day is full of frozen, tantrums, preschool, a hyper dog, and life's little details. Thank you all for reading! We love you tons!

For now, its off to snuggle up with her my little ponies (the big stuffed ones from walmart were a birthday gift last year (rainbow dash) and she's now gotten 2 more! love those things and how much she loves them too!) and watch Turbo, i think. If Aria is done being sick.

love you all!!

Happy New years!

Well, it's 2013... WAIT! It's 2014! The last time I blogged was July. Seriously? Guess I fell out of the habit of blogging and into the habit of all sorts of other things.  So I will try my best to do a real quick recap.

Aria crawled and is now almost exclusively walking! Yay!  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mCG6s0oDU9o (for the video.) This means the knees on her pants will last a little longer and the BOTTOM of her socks will look dirty instead of the tops and toes of her socks. Yay!

This fall Kaelyn started 3-k preschool through our church twice a week! Twice a week I have to have all 3 of us girls fed, dressed (presentably), hair done, out the door, and TO SCHOOL, down the stairs, and have Kaelyn ready to learn by 9am. Which can be a struggle. I am NOT the moms (and there are several) who show up at 5 to 9 and have their coffee and chit chat outside of their SPOTLESS minivans while their children eat organic granola or something equally rediculous. (Yes, my kid eats healthy but some mornings, cap'n crunch is my hero.) But Kaelyn loves her teachers, she loves most of her classmates, and she hates leaving at 11:30. Which means she has to hug her teachers twice. Not consecutively. but each one gets a hug and then she goes back and gives them all a second hug. Makes me feel great that she loves it there but its lunch time, she's getting cranky and now that Aria isn't in a baby seat....it's hard to keep them both in ONE SPOT long enough to bundle her in now that its winter. OY! Her speech is improving. Her vocabulary is never the issue, its her shortened sentences. But they are getting longer. She is catching up, but still behind all the same. Her new favorite phrase: "Aria come here now!" and "oh good boy my Odie" (after giving him a treat). Every once in a while there is a doozie. I woke up to hear "OH NO! POOPS COMING OUT NOW! PUSH!" and thought i'd wake up to a mess. Turns out her doll was using a potty (some toy that she thought looked like a potty chair) and she was verbalizing for her dolly. It was hilarious after I got over nearly tripping over Odin in order to save myself from a mess. The joys of motherhood.

We had a great christmas where my kids got far too much. Too many toys, too much candy, too much spoiling. The girls also got my little tikes doll house from when i was little. ITS AMAZING! We had to leave it at my inlaws, sadly due to the fact that if we brought it home, we might have had to strap Odin to the roof and I DOUBT that would have gone over well with anybody.

Kaelyn went sledding for the first time since there is a great sledding hill back home. it only lasted 45 minutes before our legs were sore from trudging back up the hill, carrying a sled and a toddler, but it was fun and kaelyn got to spend even more time with her cousin.

Kaelyn also had her first Christmas party at preschool. Parents were invited (required) to stay and they sang us some songs, made a snack, did some art and playing and was a nice way to cap off 2013 before they had their winter break. 

We also joined the 1k before kindergarten book club at the local library. SO MUCH FUN!

Kaelyn has also since upgraded to a BIG GIRL BED! She had a toddler bed but now has a twin bed and LOVES IT! Naptime and bedtime are so much easier with the twin bed and with the trundle drawers for clothing storage, we now have more space and dont have to store as much in totes in our closet! YAY!

All in all, 2013 ended well and we see only great things in store for us in 2014. Thank you for reading and letting us share with you! It's been a great ride and it's only getting better!!

midnight rambling

I sit here at midnight, Kaelyn's been asleep since before I got home and Aria just went down after a quality snuggle/nurse session. I realize the girls are growing so fast! There will come a time when Aria wont be sleeping in a crib. Heck, she's already outgrown the bassinet sized crib in our room and migrated her way into the "big girl room"! There will come a day when she wont need to nurse and snuggle up before snoozing the night away. I wont get to see her milk-drunk smiles first thing in the morning. It makes me sad, but at the same time, both girls are learning and growing and its so much fun to see how they develop into their own amazing little people. Aria is more and more mobile every day and is beginning to show a little temper and independence too! And Kaelyn? She is an amazing and caring little girl. Just last week us girls were all cuddled up for a pre-lunch nap since I was fighting off a migraine and i wake up to the foot rest pulled up and a blanket pulled up over us. Kaelyn figured out that she could pull up the foot rest by pulling up on it and she didn't need to have the strength to use the arm-lever. She is always doing things to be kind and sweet. Coming up and giving a quick hug or rubbing your back. She'll catch me on a bad day and tell me "Momma's pretty." Or telling me my hair is soft. or yelling out "Love you Momma!" as I leave for work. Or the fact that no matter how sleepy she is, when I come in to lay Aria in her crib, she makes a smooch sound and waits for a goodnight kiss. So, as much as I am so sad that they are growing up, that one day they wont fit into my lap for a story or a hug, I am so happy to watch them learn and grow and I can't wait to see what they become! I can't wait to see the friends they surround themselves with, all of the ways they will grow and learn and further develop their personalities and quirks, likes and dislikes. Most of all, I can't wait till they wake up tomorrow for another day of cuddles and smooches and fun times and "hold still" from yo gabba gabba.

Thanks for reading, thanks for caring, and thanks for letting me share my family with you. For hearing my struggles and triumphs and bearing witness to them all. All our love, Mommy and the Girls.