Ashley enjoying winter the Koolway!

It has been a long and snowy Canadian winter.   Ashley is always itching to get outside despite the weather.   She is glued to the backdoor if Daddy is outback cooking on the barbeque.  I hate to tell her it's too cold get out there.  Now Ashley is sporting this  Koolway Sports custom made snowsuit. 

Ashley's Koolsuit is purple and hot pink. Koolways snowuits are custom made in Canada and come in many colours.  The best thing is the warmth Ashley legs are now nice and warm while on the ice or being pulled in a sled.  For someone on a slegde or in a chair it is very easy to get cold since your not moving around. We used to put on snow pants and  blankets on her legs but the blanket would  fall off.    Her Koolway leg blanket zips to the Koolway Jacket, plus both the jacket and leg blanket was made  for extra warmth and stays put.    

Koolway generously custom made Ashley  this suit  in-cordination with  ThreeToBe.org  PAL site.   Ashley is one very lucky girl! 

I can now quickly get her dressed and we are off and enjoying this never ending winter.  She has been skating three times since getting her Koolwaysuit  just over two weeks ago.   She is living life the Koolway!  Ashley and I both say Thank you Koolway Sports!!


Also exciting news...

Ashley  is starring in a video called "The Climb" and two photos "Walking on Sunshine" and Let's Play at this years Filmpossible 2013 compeition. 
If you have time it just takes a second to vote.  Jump over to Filmpossible to view and vote on all the amzing entires that are bringing visibility to disability.   All entries are submitted by people who believe in a world of possibility.

Look who is 7! - Party Video

March flew by and birthday season is in full swing at our house.  Ashley turned 7 last week and I'm amazed at all the progress she has made she's really moving about. She is crawling just a little,  she enjoys balancing on high knees and trying to stand up it's fabulous progress. She's also using her spoon to feed herself a few bites.  She really enjoys her days in grade one too.  I will follow up with a blog post on all her progress later this week.   This weekend we threw Ashley a rainbow gymnastics party at Gymalaya. What a fabulous place to have a party.  She enjoyed her birthday there last year too and perhaps we will do it again next year.  A big thank you to all of Ashley friends and family that came to make this day so special. 

Ashley's smile the entire day!

 Fun Brothers taking after Grampy.

 Rainbow treats - home made by Mom!

Now I have to plan something just as fun for Damon who will be double digits  next week closely followed by Taylor 3rd birthday in 2 weeks. 

Here's a link to last years 6th birthday video also celebrated at Gymalaya.   I did a better job with the video last year. I need to another photographer besides myself at the party.  

Our Graduate - Amazing video!!

What  a special day this was.  Our girl WALKED in and led her entire class up to the front to graduate from senior kindergarten.  She just learned to walk with the walker this past January.  Her teachers and peers always knew how to support, encourage  and allow her to shine.  This day was no exception.

I will be forever grateful to Mrs G. Ms F and Mrs L for how very far she has come over these past two years.  She's  grown in leaps and bounds and has made gains in all areas.  I couldn't have pictured her walking up just this past december with out someone holding on to her.   I'm truly sad to see kindergarten end but I know she has so much to look forward to in grade one.  Inclusion at it's very best!

My baby's Birthday video.

My baby boy is two years old today. He makes each day a delight.  Taylor please don't go and grow up way to fast love Mommy.


Taylor don't turn around and grow up way to fast from Sherry C on Vimeo.
Two years have flown by way to fast this boy is so amazing to me.

Birthday Party Video!

This weekend was pretty special Ashley had a big gymnastics party at Gymalaya. I'm pretty sure all her friends had a great time.  Ashley was giggling she loved gymnastics as much as dancing. She even enjoyed the pizza, cake and thought the cheesies were just for her and dug right into those too.  It was so special to have all her friends celebrating with her.  Big thank you to my Mom, Dad and Sarah for coming to celebrate and help with the party.   Ian and I couldn't have done it without you.

 Extra special thank you to all of Ashley friends too!

 Here's a video of all the fun we had.

Ashley's 6th birthday from Sherry C on Vimeo.
Gymalaya! Ashley is 6 and loving life!!! Thanks to all her friends for making this day so great!

Moments that take my breath away - video of Ashley's progress again!

This month I have so many things to blog about it seems one good thing after another is happening around here. Today Ashley had another amazing day at therapy.   Last week she took 2 steps totally unaided for the first time.   I wasn't there for that big moment as I was with Damon and his class on a skating trip.   Today Ashley was pretty determined to repeat those independent steps for me as Mommy needs to see and share it with the world of course via this blog.


Moments that take my breath away from Sherry C on Vimeo.
Ashley takes 3 steps all on her own at 5 years old. She has been working on this her whole life. Thanks to the help of two very amazing CME Medek Physiotherapist who help make these miracles happen.

Single Plan of Care - Fall Video of Ashley's Progress

Today my husband and I attended Ashley's Single Plan of Care team meeting. It is always amazing  to me to see just how many people help and care for my little girl.

 Ashley's  making great progress across the board  in communication she is reaching for her picture cards rather then using eye gaze, she making lines on the page now and holding a pencil better compared to just dabbing with the marker last year,  she is doing some feeding with a spoon and fork at times, and slowly and steadily progressing with her  motor skills.  I prepared this video to show her team how much work she is doing outside of school in therapy have a look.  I'm so proud of her.

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Ashley's fabulous Team!

Yesterday Ashley also received her PODD!


Ashley also was given this new voice a communication book... pretty impressive and it has to travel with her at all times.  A lot of thought was put into this and we are going to do out best to help her learn to communicate with it.  It has many sections to give her lots of reason to talk to us.

fyi PODD is a Pragmatic Organisation Dynamic Display
This book isn't exactly Dynamic like the Dynavox or iPad but hopefully if she learns this system well an iPad will be in her future.  Someday she will be giving speeches just like Stephen Hawkings!   Wish me luck this task is just a bit overwhelming to say the least but I can't let her down and her voice is so valuable. 

Look what my girl is doing now - pulling to stand!

We are spending two weeks at my parents cottage near the beach in New Brunswick it's a small place with tiny bed rooms. The new place has let Ashley explore in a whole new way.   Ashley sleeps on a double bed with Taylor playpen just a foot away I was shocked to find her standing after putting her to bed yesterday.  Check this out, she is pleased too.  At five this is a very big deal to be pulling up to stand for the first time sometimes I hate to admit you feel like these things are never going to happen and then she totally surprises me.  I'm so proud of her!!!

This is also making it harder to put her to bed but it's so great.  This is amazing stuff for my girl!

TRi KiDS Triathlon 2010

This past weekend James and Damon completed their first triathlon in Newmarket.   It was so much fun for the kids and the parents watching them race.  I'm so proud of my boys. They got a really good work out and had fun too.  They also  raised $230 for the Pediatric Oncology Group of Ontario.  Thanks so much to all our family and friends for supporting the boys in this event.

I highly recommend this to anyone across Toronto more details are available at www.runwellevents.com

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

My Graduate

My girl graduated Junior Kindergarten it was pretty spectacular. The teachers and children have been rehearsing for this celebration for some time now. I don't even know how to describe the warm feeling in my heart to see my girl walk in the gym and across the stage to get her diploma. It was pretty special many kids did the same walk but when Ashley went up everyone clapped. There was lots of love in the room I could feel it.

How sweet it is to be loved by you Mrs G and Mrs L and all of Ashley's classmates. She really loves you too.   Wow did they ever let Ashley shine. What a special year!

Make video montages at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Ashley on the move - video

Here's a look at my girl doing her CME physiotherapy and a bit of play as that's what girls do. I'm so proud of her and so very thankful to her team of amazing therapist and teachers. This is the video we shared at her Single Plan of Care team meeting today.

This video is dedicated to Bernie & Jo-Anne the best physiotherapists in the world.

Ashley's Dream Team

 I'm so proud of my girl she is making progress in all areas. What can be better then that. She is scribbling, drinking a little, moving about more and best of all making tons of friends.   When we returned from lunch today the girls in her class gathered around her stroller and were chanting Ashley, Ashley, Ashley it was so cute. Ashley was giggling and loving the attention.   

The Waddle

The walk and talk !!!

Walking at Burger King from Sherry C on Vimeo.