The Next Chapter

Mattie's last day of daycare was yesterday. I wasn't quite sure how I would react. It's one chapter ending and another beginning. It doesn't even seem like it has been three years already. I will miss seeing her smiling face during the day, but I know she is going to learn so much at her new school.

It is amazing how things fall right into place! One of our dilemma's was what we would do with Mattie when she gets out of school and we are still at work. Well, I happened to see my neighbor out playing with her kids. Mattie wanted to go play with them. We really never go over there since we are always on the run. My neighbor is also a teacher and we started talking about school which led to talking about Mattie's new school. I was telling her how we didn't know what to do about after school care. She tells me that her daughter, who is also Mattie's age, goes to a daycare that just so happens to be down the road from Mattie's school. And only 20 minutes away from my work. She loves it there and highly recommended it so I decided to give her a call. I am so glad I did!

We went yesterday to visit and loved it! It is a small country daycare that is run by a retired teacher. I was so impressed with all the little details. She had an imaginative play area, a music area, an art area, a very extensive science area, story time area, indoor rec. area, quiet time area, snack area, and an outdoor area that was like a mini-amusement park. And after all that, she let us know that she would be glad to focus on Mattie's IEP goals as well. Wow! And.....no worries about that peer modeling since she will get that there too. So it looks like everything is falling into place just fine!

More Snow pictures

The kids wanted to go out and play in the snow. Well, Mattie and Caroline. Abby would rather just stay in her room. She's in her own teenager world.

Mattie's first adventure yesterday resulted in standing in one place. 0nce she realized she could walk in the white stuff, she was all over the place. Mattie has gotten into this posing stage. I've got a friend who takes awesome pictures and I will occasionally take the girls and "try" to take "serious" pictures. Well, the best I can without having an slr camera. Mattie now knows that when it is time to take a picture, that she should go stand next to a tree or strike some pose. It's quite funny! Anyway, here are just a few pictures I took of Caroline and Mattie today.

Buddy Walk

I'm Back

I believe this is the longest I have ever gone without blogging. Our computer crashed several weeks ago. Very frustrating! All of my pictures from the time Mattie was born are on the hard drive. And no, I didn't back them all up. In fact, that very morning, I had a thought cross my mind........"Kim, you really need to back up those pictures." That evening the computer died. We found out that the motherboard is bad but our "techno savvy superhero" said he should be able to get the pictures off. I'm praying that becomes a reality! In the meantime, I got a new laptop and loving it! We had a desktop before so I am enjoying my new found freedom.

On to the Mattie update:

She is a little sponge absorbing everything. Well, almost everything. She is using more language and I really can't keep up with all the signs to help her. She is too funny. Sometimes she just makes up her own signs when she doesn't know a word. Mostly she says "THAT!" and points. Then we turn it around to "What's that? I don't know that?" She loves Starfall! We practice the learning our ABC's. The best part is that she mimics the sounds to each sound and she loves the animation.

Sunday is our Buddy Walk~We are really looking forward to it! The older girls had to give up their ballgames in order to go. That was a sacrifice they were willing to make in order to support Mattie. I'll post some pictures next week. Last year, Mattie was just starting to walk so this year will be quite fun since she is fast as lightning! Good thing there will be lots of places to run! I better take my running shoes along with our trusty old wagon!

Dear Blog

Dear Blog,


Please forgive me for dropping off the face of the blogging world. I have been very busy with life. I am learning very quickly that I am finding it difficult to do much of anything with my little monkey of a 2 year old. She loves to climb and get into everything except the toys that are just for her. My keys just recently ended up in a toilet. Clothes are being found in the trash cans. Toilet paper strips are placed beautifully around the house. Phone calls are being placed and maybe even voicemails left for the unexpected receiver. Tables are being climbed and the computer keyboarded is getting a workout, just not by me. In fact, it has been so long since I've used the keyboard, I've forgotten how to work the keys. I'm now getting it mixed up with the Blackberry. For now, here are a few pictures of the little monkey.

Loves a computer!

We have to strip her down to eat. What a mess she makes! She found the big bowl of mashed potatoes after we finished dinner.

Mmmmm! Eating again!

Wall Art

Back to Reality

School is back in session and I am feeling it. It is so hard to transition from vacation to work. I am thankful for the routine back in our lives. However, the 5 o'clock mornings, I could do without. The girls are glad to be at school. Even Mattie is enjoying the time back with her friends. Every morning she walks the school hall greeting everyone "Hi" "Hi". She is miss little independent. She loves to carry her lunchbox and is learning the direction of her classroom. She loves sitting at the little table and chairs for her breakfast and lunch. The first two days, she did great at sleeping on her cot. I was so proud of her! Then she figured out that she could get off her cot A LOT. Her daycare teacher finally had to put her back in the crib. Following given directions has really been our weakness. She just doesn't listen well and this is something that we are really working on. If anyone has had similar issues and has suggestions please send them my way. Our biggest issue is her trying to run off. I have to hold her hand all the time and if she does break free, she will not come back when you call. It is really mostly in public or wide open spaces. Home is really not an issue.

Well, my time is up~more vacation pictures to post soon.

Doing the Potty Dance!

So I decided to dust off the potty and give it another try. Our main dilemma was where in the world did the pot disappear too? We had the potty but no pot. The joys of an upside down house. I gave up and on Monday went and bought the seat that goes on the real potty along with a step stool. And I am SO glad that I did! On Tuesday we thought we'd try and get acquainted with the new seat. The first time we sat Mattie on the seat, she went tinkle!! Then after her nap she surprised us with a poo and a tinkle. She went again two more times that day. I couldn't believe how well she did! And the number one reason I love that seat? She can't get down by herself. She is so happy just sitting on the potty. On the other seat, she was more interested in playing on the seat, getting up and down. I guess there is a reason that pot disappeared.

So yesterday, she only went once. I wasn't able to catch her at the right times and I was out and about running errands. Let's face it, this takes consistent commitment and it's not easy when you have a lot going on.

Not much luck today and I have a feeling with having therapy, orthodontics appt. and softball camp it won't be much better. But we won't give up! I know we will have good days and not so good days but this is progress. We are moving in the right direction!

Special Exposure/Wordless Wednesday.....Me and My Dad

The Lucky Ones

I love this little girl more than words can even express! Just look at that cute face. She is such a happy go lucky girl. Loves life! Loves people!

Sometimes I think back to the day we found out the news and how dreadful I thought my life would be. I really don't even know why these thoughts even enter the mind. It wasn't like I thought she was dreadful but the situation. I felt so sorry for her. For all the things I didn't think she would be able to experience. The things that she would miss out on. The irony to it all is that we were the ones missing out. She is the one who has brought new experiences to our lives. We are more enriched and see the world in a whole different light.

Thank you God for sending me this little girl~

Learning So Much

Mattie is getting into her independent stage. She really does not care for hand over hand anymore. She gets this little pouty face and will grunt when you try and help her. She has been getting a lot of practice time in with feeding since she insist on doing it herself. My baby is growing up~ Here is a video at breakfast time.

Make video montages at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Hot! Hot! Hot!

It's been so hot here, in the 100's! Even the bumblebees are looking for a way too cool off! We have found quite a few bee's going for a swim in Mattie's water table. Here is one that we found sunbathing along the pool of water. We've been staying inside with all the blinds closed to keep it cool in the house. The down side to that is boredom. I am ready to get out and do something! I can't wait for the heat to subside.

My plants seem to be fairing well despite the heat. I thought these looked so pretty.

After posting about Mattie's mischief, she still managed to find more trouble. This time it was pancake batter. Oh, what fun!

Special Exposure/Wordless Wednesday

Messy Girl

So Excited......

We have really been working with Mattie on her communication skills. Most of the time we have to initiate the conversation by asking questions or showing signs. She will usually repeat the sign or point to what she wants. On occasion, she will go to her highchair and shake it when she is hungry. That is about the closest we've been to initiating what she wants. I'm so excited because today she did something new! I was sitting on the couch and she comes into the living room from the dining room. She says to me "Toe Toe"(while she is signing too) and then goes into the kitchen and points to the bread sitting on the counter. She wants TOAST! She just told me what she wanted without me asking her anything. Hooray for small victories!! I can't wait to share with her speech therapist tomorrow!

Summer Favorite

One of my favorite things about summer is corn on the cob. It just isn't the same any other time of the year. Mattie got her first taste of summer Memorial Day weekend. She did amazingly well eating her corn on the cob. Just look at that cob!

"Let's try using the fork"

Photo Fun

Hooray for warm weather! We have had some beautiful days this week. We took advantage of this nice weather before the rain rolled back in. I had a lot of fun taking pictures of Mattie. She is such a ham. I had a hard time deciding which ones to post. She gave me so many cute shots sitting on the porch chair. Here are a few of the many shots I took.

Happy Almost Birthday Mattie!

Today is Mattie's Almost Birthday! Happy birthday to my leap year baby! I can't believe it has been almost two years. I wouldn't change anything about her for the world! What a pure joy she has been to our lives. I had a beautiful pregnancy, a beautiful birth and an absolute beautiful baby!

Down syndrome hasn't been near as scary as I pictured the day I learned the news. It hasn't been even close to the images that I pictured in my mind. I have this beautiful daughter who is simply my daughter. I am truly blessed and thank God each day for sending her to our family!

Birth Day!

My silly mommy put socks on my hands.

My first birthday!



Me now! Mommy will put up my birthday picture after our party tonight.
I'm such a big girl!

All Better

Mattie is all better. It didn't happen over night but she is finally back to herself. Thanks to all those who left such kind comments.

Mattie will be two very soon. I can't believe it has almost been two years! I took her for her well child visit the other day. She was 26 pounds. She was 50th percentile on her weight and 5th percentile on her height. That means her BMI is slightly above. Her doctor said we could start skim milk now and with her activity level her weight shouldn't be an issue. She was such a trooper. She had two shots and then headed over to the hospital for her annual thyroid check. They tried drawing blood from each arm and had no luck. They ended up just pricking her finger. Even though that takes much longer, she liked that much better than getting stuck twice with the needles. Anyway, labs came back great! Now all we have left to do is set up an appointment for those beautiful eyes.

Here are a couple pictures from the snow day we had two weeks ago. Her new thing was pointing. For some reason she would not walk in the snow this time. It was deeper and fluffier than last time. The first one was a sorry attempt at making a mini snowman. I wasn't wearing gloves and my hands were cold!

Still Sick

Mattie started with a stomach virus on Thursday around dinner time. She had gotten sick several times. She slept through the night just fine. Then she started with runny diapers on Friday. She had several of those and by 3:00, I felt like she was getting better. She was walking around the house and getting into all kinds of things. She wasn't interested in eating at all but I was able to give her some Pedialyte throughout the morning. Then around 3:30 her tummy decided it didn't like that anymore either. She fell asleep around 6pm and slept until 6am this morning. I know she had to be very thirsty so I gave her some more Pedialyte. I didn't want her to dehydrate. Surely she would be better. No, she threw that up too. I am quite puzzled by this. She hasn't had any fever and goes through spells when she acts fine. I've never seen a tummy bug last this long. I am going to take her to her doctors as soon as they open this morning.


Update: I took Mattie to the doctors. She said that I should give her 1 oz. doses of pedialyte every 15 min. Her tummy can't handle more than that at a time. Really. I should have had enough common sense not to let her suck down more than that. It is so pitiful only giving her 1oz. It's such a tease when she is so thirsty. So far it is working and it has stayed down. Right now she is...........

sleeping.

Weekly Update

It has been quite a busy week. Since Abby has made the softball team, she has been having practice five days a week. She is absolutely loving all of it. The exercise is always a big plus and she loves the time with her friends.

Caroline has been busy with her school work and hanging out with her friends. Her teacher has commented on how well she is doing in school. She has been working on a powerpoint presentation of China. It amazes me how much these little kids can do.

Mattie has been into everything and keeps her mama and daddy on their toes. She loves the outdoors and tries to escape every chance she gets. She is doing well with her speech therapy and is a quick learner. Her speech teacher has some great things planned for the future. We are also looking into adding play therapy into her schedule. I think this will also help her communication skills. She really doesn't play much with her toys. Her favorite activity involves the t.v. remote control, a cell phone, the computer, and emptying drawers. She rarely plays with any of her toys for more than 2 minutes. She has picked up a stomach bug so we are home today. The week before last, she had pink eye and the start of her first ear infection. The joys of having a child in daycare.

I've been quite busy myself too and it is getting ready to get even busier. I am starting choir practice again this Sunday. We have also started a sewing group at church called Joyful Stitchers. Last night, we started with the basics on how to use a sewing machine. We are looking into a future project for charity. It is called Conkerr Cancer: A Case for Smiles. We will be making bright cheerful pillowcases for children who are in the hospital with cancer. I am really looking forward to this project.

Special Exposure/Wordless Wednesday