Valentines Treats

It's been a bit of a rough valentines day as Ashley has come down with a case of the dreaded stomach bug. It started Thursday night and has been sticking around. Ashley missed her activities the last two days in replace she slept or was just pretty miserable for the most part. My poor girl. Last year she also came down with vomit fest and it stuck around for 8 terribly long days and she managed to share it with all of us. I pray this illness will go away much quicker this time around and not spread to her brothers or me.

Ashley managed a smile for this Sesame Street valentine she loves Elmo and Cookie Monster


Damon devoured these yummy Carmel filled kisses!


James and I enjoyed these Reese's Peanut Butter Cup....so yummy!!


I hope your enjoying some yummy treats as well.

Baby of Mine - Ultrasound

Today I had my 30 week check up which included an ultrasound of our little one. Everything looked good baby is about 3 lbs already and everything was normal. We got this great photo of his/her little face.



They did tell me that our baby is breech right now but it's still very early and likely that will change. I have to go back in two weeks looks like the frequent doctor visits are starting. Just 9.5 weeks to go. Little one we are so excited to meet you, hold and cuddle you.

A bunny moved in.

My boys were delighted that a bunny has made himself a home in our backyard. It has been mild the last few days and all the snow we had quickly melted away. Our new friend is very comfortable under the cover of our backyard playset.

A Tribe Award for Damon

Damon Mommy and Daddy are so proud of you!

Today Damon told me that there was a note in his bag I needed to read right away. I open his backpack to find that he had received a Tribe award for the month of January. Tribe awards are given to students that meet four agreements for the month by showing mutual respect all month to teachers, peers and things, appreciated others, participated and listened attentively. This is Damon second Tribe award this year he is natural at most of those skills enjoys school and has little trouble meeting these expectations. Damon you are so sweet and so much fun. I love you.

New Door

Here's a pic of our new storm door something my husband I treated ourselves to this Christmas. Home Depot finally installed it last week. It's so nice to look out at the trees the view will be even better when the snow is melted and tulips are blooming. Still dreaming of spring. It has at least warmed up this week to much more comfortable +6C. A nice 10 degrees above average for this time of year.


My new front door


Here's a pic of my big boys

Little Toes

Ashley had a great day today she enjoyed "The Little School House" this morning and all the Valentine activities. She mailed valentine letters in pretend play and made cupid and heart crafts. She loves getting the glue all over herself and enjoys having sticky fingers. She didn't mind circle time and parachute play she had been crying at school during some of these activities the last few weeks for some reason but today she was enjoying every minute.

This afternoon Ashley was fitted for a second pair of AFO's ankle foot orthotics. She got her first pair when she was almost two she wore size 2 infant shoes at the time. She's less then two months from turning four and in a size 6 infant shoes still tiny but she had clearly out grew them. They put casts on her feet and ankles to make custom fit orthotics for her little feet. She didn't mind any of it and selected a butterfly pattern for her orthotics. We will be picking them up in March. I'll be sure to post a picture of her standing in the AFO's when we receive them. She has been able to stand for a count of 5 in her small AFOs so we are hoping a new pair will add even more seconds to her standing record.

Baby Boy Names

My husband and I are very excited for our new baby due this April. However we are undecided on the name for a boy. I'd welcome some suggestions. Here is a list of a few names we like please vote or post a name suggestion for consideration in the comments. I'd love to hear from you.

Winter in Canada - burr and ugh

Today it is - 18 C but feels like -26C with the WindChill and there is an extreme cold alert outside overnight. However this is Canada and my boys were very excited this morning to be going on a primary skate day. They will go skating outside on a nice figure eight trail that runs through the woods just minutes from the school. They will get some hot chocolate and they are bundled up. I'm glad i didn't volunteer to lace up skates. I don't think i could have handled the cold myself and Ashley would have been screaming she dislikes the cold when it's this bad and i can't say i blame her.

The groundhog said earlier this week that we have 6 more weeks of winter not sure if I'll make it! Dreaming of spring and seeing my crocous peak though the snow next month.

miracles happen around here one step at a time

Our adventure at physio today

Make photo slide shows at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Speeding up

Learning to stand and walk is something that many of us take for granted as our babies for the most part just manage to figure this out. Watching Ashley struggle with this each and every day in her short life so far I've really come to appreciate what a miracle it really is. She still has a way to go but it so nice to see her slowly progressing and be able image that one day soon she will be walking to mommy.

Here is a clip from physiotherapy yesterday Ashley's working on her speed in the walker on a short walk to mommy.

She been spending a little bit of time in her AFOs (ankle foot orthodics) and they seem to help her balance in standing just a little bit.

Quiet Weekend

This weekend it was pretty cold outside -20C with the wind chill and Ashley was under the weather with a fever and just plain tired all day friday and Saturday she had to miss out on her saturday recreation class. I took the boys out to Indigo on Sunday a great book store near our house to spend gift cards and James was very content to relax on the coach and read his entire book in one sitting.

Here's Ashley feeling a little better on Sunday,

Damon goofing around he was trying to avoid getting his photo taking but i managed to get this one.

James my book lover just enjoying the latest Diary of a Wimpy Kid "the last straw"

Snow, snow and more snow

Mighty mom i saw your frost over in switzerland the captain is lucky he is not having to shovel all this white stuff check out the view from my front door. Ian and the boys have been out shoveling twice already and will go out again after dinner as the snow hasn't let up yet. I was thinking of heading to walmart around 4pm to pick up some diapers when i saw the snowplow had been by and there was no way I'm going to get my minivan out of the driveway. I'm sure both our folks are getting even more then we are here in Richmond Hill so I shouldn't complain should I.

James's Pioneer Log Cabin

This is my sons grade 3 social studies project. James glued popsicle sticks to a box to make this cabin below. He enjoyed working on this with Daddy and Damon. I hope he can get it to school in one piece on monday I'll be sure to drive him over but he will have to carry it in and make his way through the snow and ice.

Ashley with SuperTalker

We got her SuperTalker last Wednesday and have been spending time each day practising. Ashley's touch is a little light for the device which is a little challenge we need to overcome.

Here's a peak at Ashley's progress with her Kaye Walker

Way to go girl !!!

I also signed Ashley up for a inclusive recreation program offered by Variety Village called children in motion she went for her 1st session this afternoon. There was a number of kids, there with varying abilities they all enjoyed jumping, skipping, running, an obstacle course and parachute play. Ashley really enjoyed all the physical activity she needed help for much of it but was laughing during all the running and skipping and was highly motivated to move her feet.

SuperTalker - New ACC Device coming soon is it going to be good enough?

Next Wednesday Ashley is going to try the SuperTalker for a one month trail period. This is a augmentative communication device it is a voice output device which allows between 1 to a max of 8 choice similar to Picture communication system. I've been reading about it on the web and I'm worried that it's not very high tech.. i was hoping for some sort of mini computer with multiply screens she can choose between. Not sure the SuperTalker will be automated even for the year 2009 perhaps my hopes are higher then the budget or desires of the York Region Preschool Speech and Language program is willing to provide.

I'm complaining and i haven't even seen it yet that's not so great is it.
If anyone has any experience with this device I'd love to hear some feedback?

School Projects

Today i took the kids to the dollar store to pick up craft supplies for James school project a model of a pioneer log cabin. He is going to glue and paint popsicle sticks to a shoe box and use small stones to build a fire place. He also has plans to build furniture for the inside and create a landscape as well some how. I don't remember doing fun stuff like that in grade school both my boys are excited to get started I'll be sure to post a photo once it's complete probably this weekend. I only spent $10 for all the supplies including a hot glue gun. Much more economical then his last project when i took him to Michael's a craft supply store and he created a $45 dollar home made magnetic fishing toy.

While at the dollar store i also picked up some batteries for my digital scale as i haven't been able to use it for a few months and wanted to know how much weight Ashley been gaining. Ashley weighed in at 23 pounds dressed which is good for her. I also gained 11 pounds since Dec 18th my last weight in at OB's office for my 5 month appointment. I was feeling much bigger lately and i guess the baby and i are both growing nicely.

Can hardly sit for circle time

After a morning at the little school this morning Ashley's nurse and teacher couldn't wait to tell me that Ashley couldn't sit still in circle she was scooting out of the circle now that she has figured out how to move around slow but sure i guess she feels the need to be on the move. We are so proud of this new skill !!!!

I came across this quote on the web today and i thought it was worth sharing.

"Do not be unhappy with what you don't have, BUT, be happy with what you have been given"

Roast Beef and all the trimmings

Today we enjoyed a late Christmas celebration with my brother and sister-in-law. We love getting together but some how we only seem to manage these dinners for christmas and the kids birthdays. We had prime rib, yorkshire pudding, roast potatoes and stream veggies. It was pretty yummy we even splurged on some new table clothes for the occasion with some Christmas money from my mom.

Happy New Year!

It's hard to believe another year has past. It has certainly been a busy one around my house. Ashley worked hard at all her therapies especially physiotherapy and is sitting nicely and getting closer to standing everyday. She is even starting to scoot on her bum just a little around the family room, getting to the christmas tree seems to be quite the incentive for her. Damon is loving reading and enjoying being in grade one. James is doing well in grade three he reads novels non stop loves Anthony Horowitz novels Alex Rider and his other mysterys these 300+ page books would have intimated when i was 8 years old that is for sure.

In just 16 short weeks baby #4 will be joining our family we all can't wait to see his or her little face. I'm looking forward to all the excitement that lies ahead this year.

Here's some photos from the last week:

Ashley with Grammy Heather.


James and Damon opening gifts from Santa Christmas morning


Here's my Dad with Ashely Christmas Eve. She really loves her grandparents she is all giggles in his arms.



My Dad treated my husband both our boys and my brothers two boys to a World Junior Hockey game while in Ottawa. These were corporate tickets so they sat in a box Blake and James were very impressed that they were served food and free pop. They loved the game they saw the USA beat the Chek Republic. They loved the experience. Thanks Grampy for this great time.
Here's a pic of Wesley and Damon taking in the game.

Ashley this morning playing with her leapfrog letters at the fridge


This was breakfast this morning cooked up on my new electric grill a great christmas gift from my parents. I can cook 8 pancakes at once something that i think will be an essential to feeding 4 hungry kids in the years to come. Thanks mom i love it.


Thanks Mom and Dad for having us for Christmas we all enjoyed our time with you both.
Happy New Years to everyone I hope this year will bring health and happiness to all!

Sherry

MacBook

Wow I'm so excited I now have a new updated laptop the Apple Macbook so much faster and way better then my 7 year old IBM ThinkPad. After 12 years as IBM employee it didn't take me much to convert to apple it feels much cooler i have to admit and now I have no excuse not to be blogging do I.

A Christmas Concert at the Little School House

The Little School House puts on a great concert for the kindergarten and nursery school children every Christmas. Each child in kindergarten did a solo it was so sweet to hear them each sing they were so brave. Ashley's class sang three songs as a group Ashley stood up on stage with them. I went up with her as she can't stand independently yet. She was little uncomfortable at the beginning when the audience was all clapping but did great and got used to the clapping by the end she adjusts to things pretty easily. Then a professional singer Douglas Johng sang a few songs for all of us Ashley loved that part the best.

Daddy with Ashley Ashley on stage with Mommy in front of a big audience. Ashley dancing at the concert with two of her friends from school

Douglas John joking and singing.

Birthday parties

Ashley been to a few birthday parties the late November she enjoyed both.

Alexa turns 1 Year old


Sade turns 2 years old.

James the Magnificent Magician

My oldest loves to put on a show the bigger the audience the better as far as he is concerned. He has been signing up for the school Talent Show since grade one, he is in grade three this year and did a few tricks for the entire school in the afternoon and they repeated the act at the evening talent show for parents and friends. Not sure where he gets such courage he is definitely not shy. When i was his age I would never have signed up for so much attention i was painfully shy. I'm so glad he such courage and charisma. He did great. Here is his act..

New baby on the way!

Some times it's hard for me to believe but we are very excited to have a new baby on the way. I'm 22 weeks pregnant expecting a baby mid April 2009. I know I'm very lucky to have 3 kids with another on the way I'm sure we will have our challenges managing 4 kids but it's going to be great. The genetic team at SickKids hospital offered us extensive testing which we opted for and all looks good for our new little one. Everyone at my house feels pretty lucky this christmas season. I'm surprise how excited my oldest two are about a new sibling. James says good morning and good night to his new sibling every day and ask about him or her all the time.

Special Exposure Wednesday # 8 ..A look back

Here's a baby picture of Ashley and her brother he was only 3 in this photo he's 6 now.



Physio update: Ashley's doing great at physio today she impressed us with her crawling still assisted with a cloth around her middle section to help support her weight but she was moving her arms and knees forward all on her own crawling toward mommy at a nice pace! Her motor planning is improving slow but sure.

Ashley is learning to use a walker

Ashley was testing this walker out at physio on monday.

Halloween at The Little School House

Damon riding a two wheeler

It's so hard to get started especially with your brother around.


Now your getting it. Way to go Damon!!

Halloween

Trick or Treating


All the Candy!!

When you say nothing at all

I added a new song to my playlist today. "When you say nothing at all" a really pretty song and it makes me think of my little girl . Even though Ashley can't talk she has so much to say with her beautiful smile and her eyes.

Special Exposure Wednesday #7

Ashley is such a girl she loves the camera and giggles every time the flash goes off , making it a distraction from the task at hand when she in the middle of therapy. She is working on balance and a giggle fits is not helpful.

Here is her big brother at the park today riding his hummer bike after school. Ashley is sound asleep in the stroller.