Birthday Cake

This is for a special friend on their birthday.

 

 

Until Next Time!

Lots of Love,

 

Weekly Therapy Update & More

Hey Everyone!

Sorry there hasn't been much personal stuff posted on the blog lately.  We've been so busy that I just don't know where the time went.  Last Friday we went to the annual Chili Pepper Festival with Grammy.  We tasted some goodies and bought some to bring home. 

 

 

Raymond enjoyed looking at the horses that were taking people back and forth to the farm.  I wish I had a picture of his face when he first saw them.  It was so cute!

 

Lily slept most of the time but woke up for the last ten minutes.  She also really enjoyed the sausage sandwich that Grammy bought her for lunch.  Lily gets her love of sausage from the Scheks side : )

 

Earlier this week while Isabella was in school, Raymond, Lily and I went to visit my friend Drea.  She lives on a tree farm in New Ringold.  It is beautiful there!  We went for a walk to the pond to see the ducks and geese.

 

 

Once Lily saw the geese, she took off!  Drea actually had a hard time keeping up with her.

 

I couldn't get Raymond to take his eyes off the pond for a picture.

Finally he turned my way.

 

Yesterday, I had my meeting with the Intermediate Unit about Raymond's transition.  It went well.  Both the IU and I were happy with the outcome.  I'll have more to update you on with this situation in the near future.  I'm looking forward to this next step in Raymond's development.  Exciting things are coming for our little man.

 

 

Here are the therapy updates for Raymond:



"Raymond had to be woken up before therapy today.  He slowly warmed up to the session but was not his usual active self.  Raymond did a lot of ring-sit position today with soles of his feet together which he has not been doing.  He practiced playing in long sitting position on the floor sitting in right and left side-sit and heel-sit which he tolerated only briefly.  Raymond mainly practiced keeping his stability and balance while pulling the balls off the Velcro target.  He fell 2 times but then figured out how to squat and bend slightly forward to prevent himself from losing his balance."

-Lisa, Physical Therapist

09/11/2012

 

 

"Raymond was finishing his tube feed when I came today.  We started the session with sitting positions.  Raymond has regressed in this area using a tight ring-sit or squat with his butt on the floor as his primary sitting position.  He worked on v-sit, 1/2 ring-sit, kneeling and heel-sit position.  Attempted scooter play outside today, however, Raymond refused to be outside."

-Lisa, Physical Therapist

09/12/2012

 

 

 

Also, September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.  This is dedicated to my sweet Raymond and all his little friends who are suffering and couping with cancer.  Say a prayer tonight for all the children affected and their families.  



 

 

Until Next Time!

Lots of Love,

Baby John

As you know, Friday's on this blog are about Raymond's therapy progress for the week. 

Today, however, is dedicated to Baby John.

 

I just found out that my friend had her sweet baby boy, John. Despite the fact that John was given the diagnosis of Down Syndrome around 20 weeks, "A" and her husband made the brave decision to NOT be part of the staggering statistic to terminate the pregnancy. With full support of friends and family, they eagerly awaited John's arrival.

Sadly, John was born stillborn via c-section.

So today, as you send your children off to school or put them to bed, be grateful for the time you have together. Say a prayer for baby John and his devastated family. My heart aches for them.  

 

"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you."
John 14:1-2

 

For Aunt Mary & Steph...

“It came to me that every time I lose a dog they take a piece of my heart with them.

And every new dog who comes into my life gifts me with a piece of their heart.

If I live long enough, all the components of my heart will be dog,

and I will become as generous and loving as they are.”

- Anonymous

Until Next Time!

Lots of Love,

Weekly Therapy Update & More

Yesterday I took Isabella for her appointment with the new dentist.  She seems like a nice woman.  Very soft spoken.  We had a consultation with her about Isabella's cavities.  Isabella has inherited her Daddy and Pop-Pops teeth.  They are very soft.  She has had two cavities repaired by her old dentist but her had suggested oral sedation to fix the rest.  Yes.  There are more.  She has 6 more and will have to have one of her back teeth taken out all together.  Maybe two.  The dentist won't know for sure until she gets in there and sees how it is once she removes the other tooth.  Isabella's front teeth are all fine.  It's the back ones that are giving her all the problem's.  The dentist also told me that it is really important for her to floss since all of her cavities are in between her teeth.  I think I'm going to make some type of chart for her for in the bathroom so she doesn't forget any of the steps.  Maybe that will help a little?  It can't hurt, right?  The procedure is scheduled in the hospital for July 18.  Isabella is not a very good patient, so hopefully she doesn't get herself too worked up.

Yesterday I had a heartfelt conversation with Raymond's speech therapist, Kristen.  She is feeling that she is at a standstill with Raymond.  She told me that she feels that she has let Raymond down.  His speech really hasn't improved and she doesn't know where to go next.  I appreciated Kristen's honesty.  I know she felt this way about 8-10 months ago but then they (she and Raymond) seemed to "click" again.  I have noticed lately though, that she has struggled with him.  Kristen doesn't know how to handle or appropriately re-direct him when he gets off task.  It is something that is very frustrating for her.  Especially when she sees his other therapist do it.  So know we need to make a decision together whether or not she continues to work with him.  She is a very good therapist and Raymond does like her but he also needs someone who can be affective with him.  I'll let you know what we decide.  Also, I was contacted by the Berks County Intermediate Unit to start the mediation process since I didn't agree with their plan for Raymond.  That should be interesting.

Wednesday night I met some of my friends at the Wooden Keg.  My friend Linda decided to sing on open mic night. 

Drea & Linda

Matt, Alex (posing as an annoying Asian tourist - his words, not mine) & Renee

Linda

 She did great!!!

Here are the therapy comments from this week:

"Raymond was hooked up to his feed for his session today so session was limited to stationary activities.  Raymond is doing a better job with sitting in a variety of positions.  He tolerated long sit on the floor and right and left side sit for longer periods!  Raymond is even using these positions for independent playing.  Raymond tolerated the ball much better today when I used only small, slower movements vs. the large quick movements."

-Lisa, Physical Therapist

06/19/2012

"Raymond was not himself today-difficult to get him to engage-some words-worked on varies sensory positions and preacademic skills-matching and gestured animal sounds-less impulsivity with throwing."

-Stacey, Special Instruction

06/19/2012

"Raymond practiced a variety of preschool motor activities including:

1) "Ring-around-the-rosie" working on stand through 1/2 kneel

2) Animal imitation - Frog, dinosaur, flamingo and crab

3) Exercise ball - "wheels on the bus" and "walk ol' Joe" for trunk strength

4) Sitting in a variety of positions to play

5) Jumping jacks, jumping over"

-Lisa, Physical Therapist

06/20/2012

"Raymond worked with each activity for a short time.

Potato Head - Good attention.  Raymond pointed to face parts or imitated my gestures to ears and nose.  Completed activity.

Boat - Raymond imitated and later used the lion sign during his own play.  He imitated the giraffe sign one time."

-Kristen, Speech Therapist

06/21/2012



Until Next Time!

Lots of Love,

Registration

Last Thursday Isabella has Kindergarten registration!  Oh my.  She's getting so big.  I'm excited for her.  She's really looking forward to it.  While Chris and I took Isabella to her registration, my friend Marty stayed with Raymond and Lily.

The perfect outfit to register for Kindergarten!

After we got back, Chris went to work and Marty and I took the kids to Longwood Gardens.

Crystal Rain Drops

I want one of these for at home.  So pretty.

Lily with the Lily's

Isabella got a little too close to smell a flower.  Can you see the yellow pollen on her nose and lips?

This tree reminded me of something out of Dr. Seuss's the Lorax.

Isabella went into the kids area for a few minutes but I didn't let Raymond or Lily.  I didn't want them to get real wet since it was a little cool outside. 

Raymond protested that decision as we walked away. 

Chubby Little Squirrel

Can you spot the ladybug on Raymond's head?  It stayed there for awhile.

The kids area is always so fun for everyone!

Boo!!!

Isabella brought her notebook and drew lots of pictures of things we saw that day.

Where's Isabella?

 Isabella wanted me to take a picture of this goose on it's nest.  

 Marty and Isabella

 Everyone had a nice time.  Before we headed home, I reserved our tickets for the new Light exhibit at Longwood Gardens from the imaginative British artist and light designer, Bruce Munro.  Chris, the kids and I are going on a member's only night. 

I'm really looking forward to that.  It's going to be beautiful. 

There were a lot of people setting up displays for it already.  That made us even more anxious.

Daddy got home from work not too long after we did.

Lily was tuckered out from her busy day.  Luckily, Daddy is so comfortable : )

Until Next Time!

Lots of Love,