Taylor and towers

Too cute!

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Kindergarten

 I had to share that three of Ashley friends from her kindergarten class gave her a group hug when she left on friday.  I was holding my camera but did not take a picture and it was the sweetest thing ever.  I so wished I had captured that one on film.   I did capture this one just before that hug.

This  tree is outside her classroom it has all her classmates names and in the middle it reads

"We are kind hearted"

Which is just the perfect way to describe this class. 

Here's some artwork she completed in class last week.   As you can see Ashley's doing great  with scribbling now I'm so thrilled this is a very big deal for her.  

On  Earth day she  planted a bean, enjoyed making bird feeders and hanging them on trees at school.

Great sensory work!

Today in class the fire department came and the entire class had a chance to sit in the fire engine. The kids all loved it.  I don't remember kindergarten being that much fun when I went but I was a painfully shy child at that age so I don't recall having fun unless I was home or with family.  Luckily none of my kids are shy.  Here's Ashley with her fabulous teacher that was kind enough to send me a number of her photos.

Little Taylor  likes to take a few steps but still isn't totally confident and loves hanging on my legs.  It has slowed me down a bit so I'm getting down there and taking more pictures of all this cuteness. 

Fun Saturday

We had a fun saturday with  our children at the museum.  

 The apple of my eye!

She was so  patient for her portrait.

Oh I can't fail to mention she was featured in lights, like the star that she is. 

Have your own photofunia weekend and post me a comment I'd love to see your photos.   What fun!
Thanks to Missy at Add up the little things for telling me about this.  Jump over and visit her blog it's really sweet.

The Waddle

The walk and talk !!!

Walking at Burger King from Sherry C on Vimeo.

The school loves my girl

Ashley with her amazing EA

My heart is aching a little after reading another blog post  at Roostercalls. for kids that are not accepted and loved for who they are.

I feel so blessed that my beautiful girl Ashley is so totally loved by her teacher, educational assistance (EA) and all 16 children in her class.  Her early interventionist had a classroom visit with her earlier this week and stopped by afterwards to report that in all her years with EIS she has never seen a better teacher and EA.  She has visited many a classrooms over the years and was just totally blow away by how wonderful Ashley class is for her.  At her visit  the children all wanted to sit by Ashley at circle time,  they  have to take turns to  play with her during centre time.  They have picked her to be their partner when given the opportunity to take a friend to the office to drop of the attendance.  I need to allow plenty of time for drop off and pickup because they all gather around to say good morning and good-bye to my sweet girl. They ask me  if Ashley's is going to the park after school and if they can have a play date with Ashley.    Ashley's peers just adore her  just as she is,  she communicates with smiles and bright eyes rather then words and she is accepted.   She walks with assistance or a Kaye walker and spends time in her Otto bock (wheelchair) but they see a friend not a chair.   Today in class they watched a signing times video and many kids in the class where showing Ashley and I new signs as we left.  I can't help but smile when I leave her classroom.

Her teachers focus on her achievements and are optimistic about what she can do. The never once mentioned her limitations.  They find solutions rather then problems. Most of all they just love and accept her and so do her peers. I'm just so thankful to her teachers and  friends.

Taylor's 1st and Damon's 8th Party

Birthdays all come at once around here. We just finished celebrating Ashley's birthday then it was Damon's and Taylor's. We decided to have one party for Taylor and Damon together this weekend. 

We had a great time with Friends and Family.  

I was aiming to please and feeling inspired so I made a rainbow cake and cupcakes. It was a hit!

James and Damon enjoyed time with their friends.

So did Ashley...

My good friend Carm and her beautiful babe Carter who is Taylor's buddy.

Taylor loves Grampy

Ashley and her  cousin...

Taylor  really enjoyed the cake...

It was so much fun to celebrate the boys birthdays.  I was so excited the night before I was barely sleeping.  We now have a family room full of new toys too. Taylor is loving them.   Thanks Mom and Dad I couldn't have done this party without you.   Thanks to all our friends and family for coming it was really nice to have everyone here to celebrate my amazing boys. 

My Baby is 1 - Happy Birthday Taylor

Happy Birthday Taylor!!

My youngest turned one today, the last year just went by so quickly.  I could not image life without him he is the sweetest little boy. He just fits in perfectly and completes our little family.    I love his easy going personality, smiles, curls and cautious ways.   I know that next year will be even more fun.  I'm excited to see you walking, then running, jumping and climbing.  It's so much fun to be your mommy.

Taylor at his birth:

Here's a picture from today's party. Look how you have grown.

I have many more photos from his 1st party that I'll have to post tomorrow. 

Collin Raye - She's With Me

Such a touching song, you may want some tissues handy before viewing this.

The Wizard of Oz

James was in a production of "The Wizard of Oz". It was so much fun to watch. Here's a short clip from the show. I hope either James or Damon will want to sign up for the next show Annie this fall.

I was hoping for some better images from the performance but I was working with my Sony Cyber-shot which well  has like no zoom and it's not really cut out  for a photo and video crazed  mama like me.  So I'm wishing and hoping to win lotto max tomorrow!  My  want list is getting too long and out of control.   There is the iPad I want need and the new camera I want need too. One can only dream right.   

Easter Weekend

The easter bunny came by our house and dropped off cuddly stuffed bunnies for the little ones  and all kinds of chocolate too.    The large kinder surprise was a big hit.

What I  enjoyed most of all is  the weather it was nice and warm. Here's some pics from our outings. 

The little ones enjoyed the trikes. Taylor a little young for the trike as his feet don't reach the peddles at only 11 months but he was thrilled be pushed around the block on the trike.

James bike has a flat tire now so he is getting around on the scooter.

The swing set is getting some good use too. 

The weather was so warm for April here we pulled out the shorts and t-shirts it was great. 

Happy Birthday my sweet girl Ashley

My sweet girl it's hard to image 5 years have gone by since your arrival on that easter sunday.   I can remember it like it was yesterday you were so adorable  and gave Mommy and Daddy a good scare that spring.  Today you continue to  inspire me to do my best for you each and everyday with your easy going spirit, and sunny disposition.   You just keep on trying and it's really making a difference you are doing new things all the time lately.  I'm so proud of you.    I feel extremely blessed to have you here today to spoil you with presents and see you grow into a beautiful little girl.  This journey with you is so exciting and fun.

My baby girl  at her birth before we knew what lie ahead.

Then less then 24 hours later  I was scared stiff  and in disbelief for my precious girl but so thankful for the NICU and the doctors and nurses that saved her life many times already,  I didn't want  to know  how serious it was and how the doctors didn't knew why this was all happening.   I still didn't realize the journey that lay ahead.  I took some time for all this to sink in.  

Those first few weeks the doctors keep coming to us with heartbreaking  news, a stroke, a thrombosis in the heart, a brain MRI that didn't look normal her corpus callosum was very thin it was concerning, then your genetics. I truly felt I couldn't take anymore bad news about my sweet precious girl. There wasn't a test that came back normal or with good news.  I remember not wanting  you to undergoing anymore test I didn't know if  I could take it but we continued on for all the test they needed to do.   I wanted to take you home so bad to be with your brothers to love you, hold you and raise you.  We prayed and your extended family was just as worried I could sense it on the phones calls,  how much this hurt to hear how serious this was, your very special cousin Melissa rushed here from Europe days after your birth  to be there for you and me.   It meant more then words can say.   Your grammy and grampy sang to you, read to you and prayed for you  in the NICU and took extra special care of your brothers during this time for days which turned to weeks and then  months.   We couldn't not have done it without them as I couldn't leave your side.  You needed me and I needed you.  I honestly never knew babies could be so sick back then.  I have learned so much from you my sweet girl. 

We took these pictures July 28th, 2005 you underwent a heat catherdization and lung biopsy your pulmonary hypertension was serious.  The doctors needed more answer why was your heart and lungs racing.  We were told you may need chemotherapy or serious steroids all very serious intervention the best case you would continue on oxygen and out grow it.  We all prayed, your grandparents, uncle brett and brothers all waited at the hospital that morning very worried.   

Our prayers were answered the cardiac cath and biopsy didn't show any serious lung or heart disease just very premature lungs.  With oxygen, weight gain and growth your heart and lungs would hopeful outgrow these problems.  Time sure was good to those little lungs of yours.  We left the hospital a few weeks later with oxygen and told she may need it for years girl did you ever prove them wrong.
As you continue to do each day defy the odds.

Ashley on her first birthday just needing oxygen while sleeping already. She had also just learned to hold up her own head but couldn't lift her arms up or bring her hands to her month.  Look at the cake it's bigger then her.  She was 15 pounds then. 

On her second birthday she was struggling to gain weight it was a rough winter with lots of time spent in hospital and she went for her g-tube two weeks after her 2nd birthday at 16 pounds.  I  remember we had the sweetest cake and a number of friends. She could not stay awake for the presents and we opened them while she slept on my lap.    She was sleeping a lot then she really needed the energy from the g-tube feeds she got shortly after that birthday.

 I found these photos from her 2nd party.

Her third birthday you were being g-tube feed exclusively and had little interest in food however..

you had learned to sit up independently then and gained some much needed weight  you were close to 20 pounds. You also loved My Little Pony.

Here's Ashley on her 4th birthday  you continued to amaze me with big gains she learned to bum scoot and just started eating after two years of round the clock g-tube feeds.  These were big gains for her and we couldn't have been more thrilled.   She was about to become a big sister as 3 weeks later Taylor entered our world. 

Today the big day her 5th birthday!!!
Girl have you grown your getting taller 3 ft 1" tall and close to 24 pounds now.   She used her step by step communicator continuously  at school her teacher ordered three for her in september.  On each button she records multiple conversations for Ashley to have with her peers and school staff.

Pressing her step by step she  makes statements and asks questions such as...

•  It's my birthday
•  I'm 5 today
• Can I have my birthday ribbon?

• What are you having  for  snack Emily?
• I'm having cookies
• How about you sarah?
• What about you Lauren?

• Would you like to play with me lauren?
• Lets play at the sand table.

The kids really enjoy these conversations with Ashley and jump to respond.   It truly allows them to connect with her.  It's so wonderfully fabulous. She is in a class with 16  typically developing kids and the teachers and children include her in everything.  She is growing and learning so much in this environment.

So far this term at school she also learned to SCRIBBLE, make marks all over the paper it's beautiful. Last year she needed hand over hand assistant she didn't have the pressure required to make a mark on the page and had lots of trouble looking  down at her work.  She now brings home colourful work, she created this on friday. It 's now on our fridge.

Today on her birthday she surprised us by being able to OPEN her own present. Then she proceeded to tear the paper this is a skill which  requires  motor planing pulling your hands in opposite directions.  Motor planning is very hard for my sweetie but she on her 5th birthday made mommy very happy to watch her open her a number of her presents herself for the first time.

She started getting gifts on thursday from friends that love her. Thanks Joanne!

Thank you Adrienne and Tristan for Dora and Brown Bear, Brown Bear. Ashley is a book lover and Tag is the best. 

Then on School on friday, she got tons of  attention she was tired that day but couldn't stop smiling.

She handed out loot bags herself one by one to all her classmates the kids loved it.  She was able to tell everyone she met it was her birthday with her step by step.   I love that they give her words. 

Today March 27th 2010, we all went to Toysrus, mom, dad, grammy, grampy and her brothers. We spoiled her filling the cart with toys we thought she could play with it was so much fun.  We came home and wrapped she napped, made a yummy bbq dinner and played. It was a great day.

My 5 year old girl, the cake, decorations treats and presents.

It was a special day for us all.

I'm so excited for this year ahead.  I know you will surprise and delight all of us.

I love you my sweetie!