SNOW!!!

Oh my goodness! Snow in October.

Until Next Time!

Lots of Love,

Up...Up...Up!

Guess who's ready to GO?!??!

Until Next Time!

Lots of Love,

CUTE!!!

She is SOOOO cute!!! I couldn't help myself!

I love when I walk in the room and she's sitting up all by herself like a big girl!

Oh! This little face...I LOVE IT!!!

Don't forget this cute little face...
And the two of them together...
Is so cute I can hardly stand it!!!

Seriously.

Until Next Time!

Lots of Love,

Goodbye to Preschool

Yesterday was Isabella's last day of preschool. It also happened to be their Halloween Party. It was raining outside so instead of having a parade in the parking lot, the kids had a parade throughout the church. It was still lots of fun!

Everyone looked so cute!!! Can you find our little Cheerleader?

Ava, Sienna, Ashleigh and Isabella

Isabella & Violet

These two girlie's have become very close in the month-and-a-half they've known each other (Violet didn't join Rocking Horse Preschool right at the beginning of the year). I told her mom that it was Isabella's last...

.20000. (Lily just typed this)

...day and she said Violet would be so upset. So we told Violet together and she looked so sad. It seriously broke my heart. Violet has been having a hard time transitioning into preschool. Still, after being there this long. We reassured her that she could come over to our house anytime she wants. That seemed to make her feel a little better.

Until Next Time!

Lots of Love,

Suites & Treats

Last night we went to "Suites & Treats" at the Iron Pigs Baseball Stadium. It was a trick-or-treat event for kids with Special Needs. Different companies, such as Coke-a-Cola, decorated baseball suites and gave out goodies. We were invited through the Down Syndrome Center. Isabella was a cheerleader, Raymond a bat and Lily a lobster.

(I had TONS of people stop me and tell me how cute Lily looked!)

We saw lots of friends...

Jack

Owen

And made some new ones!

Raymond always manages to pick-up the ladies!

It was lots of fun!

Until Next Time!

Lots of Love,

Kayla

Meet 8 year old Kayla. She is a cutie! Her mommy entered her in the contest, Prevent Blindness - America's Most Beautiful Eyes Contest. The public voted her the winner for South Carolina! Maybe she will sweep the U.S. contest?!?

The next round will be determined by a panel of judges selected by Prevent Blindness America. They will chose 5 from all the state winners. Then a panel of 3 celebrity judges will narrow those 5 down to the top 3. Winners will be announced Nov 19. If Kayla wins, she will receive a 25K college scholarship. How exciting for her!

Until Next Time!

Lots of Love,

Preschool

This is Isabella's last week of preschool. After much deliberation, Chris and I have decided to take her out of preschool. I will be teaching her at home until Kindergarten next year. This isn't permanent by any means. She will NOT be home schooled. This is just to get her through until next September.

Isabella always tells Chris and me that she is bored at school. The worksheets she brings home are things that she's been able to do for two years. We just can't justify spending $90 a month for something that isn't challenging her.

Isabella is very excited about this. Her friends Catherine and Elizabeth (the twins) are taught from home. There mother has them enrolled in an at home charter school online. Isabella understands that she won't see her friends as much and that staying home doesn't mean playing all day. She must sit and do her work when it's expected of her. I truly think she has a clear understanding of that.

We feel really good about this decision. She's a smartie and we don't want her to start to dislike school since it isn't challenging her. When she starts kindergarten next year, she can be evaluated at that time to see what her needs will be. She's doing 1st grade work already. So we'll see!

Until Next Time!
Lots of Love,

Hospital Visit

Raymond had to be rushed to the hospital on Wednesday. He was throwing up violently and he isn't supposed to be able to. After he finished throwing up he could barley move or hold up his head. I called his GI doctor and he told me to take Raymond to the nearest emergency room. He was to be stabilized then transported to Hershey Medical Center. To make a very long story short, that didn't happen. We were sent home and told to give Raymond clear liquid and if his symptoms were to continue, then in the morning we were instructed to take him to Hershey.

We decided to take Raymond home and let him rest until the morning (instead of taking him right to Hershey ourselves). We gave him water in his G-tube and put him to bed. After awhile we heard him throwing up the water. He continued to throw up until nothing was left. On and off until about 3am. In the morning when I went into get him, I realized that he hadn't been throwing up water. Raymond was throwing up his own bile. Chris and I didn't realize that in the middle of the night because when we went in to check on him and clean him up, we didn't turn the light on. So I rushed around and finished getting our bags together and we took him to Hershey. On the way I called the GI department so that they were expecting us.

When we got to the emergency room, it was very busy. There wasn't a room available so they put Raymond and me in the hallway. Chris stayed in the family waiting room with Isabella and Lily. Raymond was getting very upset since he was in so much pain. Two male nurses came over to put in an IV. That's when things really started to go south. For the next 3 1/2 hours Raymond screamed. He was inconsolable. I just couldn't settle the poor little guy down. While this was going on, a little girl walked over to us. She handed me a little stuffed dog in plastic and told me she thought Raymond needed it more than she did. It was such a sweet gesture. I took it out of the plastic and handed it to Raymond. He immediately threw it on the floor. The poor little guy! He FINALLY fell asleep.

After 11 hours in the emergency room hallway, Raymond was finally taken up to his room. We talked to so many doctors and surgeons. Originally, it sounded like Raymond was going to have surgery. In the end he didn't. Thank goodness. His bowel was inflamed and enlarged. They decided to empty Raymond's stomach totally. After that, and lots of IV fluid, the nurses gave him a little Pedialyte through his G-tube. He kept that down and then we moved onto formula. It was decided that the inflamed bowel was due to a virus. Poor Raymond was in a lot of pain. He still isn't back to normal but he is feeling much better.

It was a long couple of days for everyone.

Isabella was such a good girl. She did a lot of coloring and fashion designing.

Lily took turns in the hospital crib.

Raymond was so happy to have Isabella and Lily with him. When we got home, Raymond was ecstatic to see Sadie. She was very happy to see him too.

Until Next Time!
Lots of Love,

Jammies

Raymond loves his froggy!

My pretty girl!

Oh boy! Time to lower the crib mattress!

Until Next Time!
Lots of Love,

Carrington Update

Some of you might remember Carrington. I posted two pictures of her on the blog in March of this year. This was one of them...

It is h horrible picture, I know. Carrington was rescued from a Russian orphanage by a wonderful family living in Texas. At that time, she was 3 1/2 and weighed 10 pounds. I'm SO proud to show you Carrington now. Isn't she adorable?!?!?!

Until Next Time!

Lots of Love,

Gavin & Katy

This is Gavin and his Mommy. Gavin loves Katy Perry. Ashton bought tickets for her and Gavin to go see Katy in concert. Someone at the therapy center Gavin goes to sent out several emails to see if Gavin could possibly meet Katy Perry. One of these emails made it all the way to Katy Perry's tour manager. When Katy Perry heard about Gavin she wanted to meet him. So after the show Gavin got to meet her! He was so excited! Ashton said Katy was so nice and just wonderful with Gavin. He was too shy for a smooch but gave her lots of high-fives (who does that sound like?).

Until Next Time!

Lots of Love,

Homecoming Queen

Click the picture, then scroll down, and watch a video about Mariah. She is the first young lady at her high school with Down Syndrome ever crowned Homecoming Queen. What a great story!

Until Next Time!

Lots of Love,