Saying Good-Bye is Hard to Do

Miss Charica and Emma

One thing I have learned on my journey with Emma is that paraprofessionals are a must have in the teacher's classroom for Emma to have success. This year we have been incredibly blessed with an amazing para, Miss Charica. Too our dismay we found out Friday that she will not be returning. She is newly married and is going to help her new husband at his church. We wish them all the best, but our hearts are still breaking. Emma was in Charica's wedding along with the other two children that Miss Charica worked with this year. Thank you for opening your heart and showing us the Son in it. Bless you on your new journey.

Nana and Emma before the wedding

Emma and M dancing before the wedding

Parent/Teacher Conference

Wow! First one I have experienced where I am the parent. It was a really good one. Emma is still working on having 'nice' hands, but they are nice more often than not. :-) She knows all her letters uppercase and most of the lowercase. She knows all her letter sounds and her numbers 1-13 and 20. I am quite impressed, but of course I am the mommy! Once again, Emma's interest in books really helps. She LOVES, LOVES to "read." Which only helps her letter recognition. She was able to draw a picture and tell a story. It was about a dog, "woof, woof." Overall, I felt like it went really well. I love her teacher who is so positive and her speech pathologist who is just as divine informed us Emma is doing well with her speech in the classroom. She is working on -ing. I have to mention the best para in the world is with Emma. She is so sweet, loving, and works hard to ensure Emma makes progress daily. Without her support potty training would not have gone this well. More than anything I am so pleased that potty training has been so successful and Emma only wears a pull up at night. Woot! Woot! Once again I am reminded that God lookes out for my little one in even the smallest details.

My How Time Flies

I just can't believe that it is October and I haven't updated since August! School is going great for Emma. She even rides the bus now. She is a real pro at it. No tears and boy have we heard lots of talking! She knows A, E, P, K, R of the alphabet and she attempts her numbers as well. She will now sit in circle time and participate in the songs. She even likes PE now! I have updated pics so if you have time click on the title of the post to see their newest pictures.

Gracie is a great crawler on her way to walking. She loves to eat!! Her fav right now is anything we are eating...macaroni and cheese...triscuits and laughing cow cheese.

Our Fall Break just ended so it is back to the blackboard jungle!Hugs from us!

First Day of School

My big girl started school today!! She did great. her teacher emailed me this afternoon and said that Emma cried a little, but had fun. When I picked her up she seemed in good spirits. Mommy did fine too! I thought I would cry when she did, but I didn't! It was a long 2 1/2 hours though...very quiet at the house! She goes twice a week for the summer and then three days in the fall and spring.

Click on the title of the post to see updated pics of the girls!

Letting Go

My last week of maternity leave has left me wondering what Emma's schooling would be like if I were home. Could I homeschool? Would that make me feel better? I just keep looking at her beautiful face and realize that I am placing her spirit and life into the hands of someone else for part of the day. This breaks my heart so much. Will they be understanding? Will they look at my daugher and realize that she is more than Down syndrome that her spirit hasn't been crushed, but nurtured. What constraints will they put on her because shes "Downs" as they call it. Her lack of speech that they see instead of the massive amount of work she has accomplished in the last four months. She can now sign or say 56 words compared to 16 in Dec. 2006. Will they see "Downs" instead of my child? I don't know the answer and I wish that all these emotions would go away. It makes me sad that as an educator when other teachers do not feel the way I do about my students. I felt like each student in my classroom was my own. So often they can't see past their job and realize that this is my child's life. Instead of being in a program designed for her and her family she is now in a program designed for many students. Regardless of the governments attempt to make education individualized we know it isn't. How often are our children really in a classroom where the teacher strives to make it individualized for all? There isn't enough time in the day to that, especially when you are trying keep all the balls bouncing with your classroom, principal expectations, and district expectations. My heart has been grieving for so many weeks at going back and I thought it was leaving the baby behind, but I think it is grieving leaving both of my children behind. Maybe after we actually see her IEP I will feel better about everything, but I just wish my heart would tell me everything will be okay.

Spring Break is Over

Well, Spring Break is over and Craig went back to work today. I still have 5 weeks of maternity leave and lovin' every minute. Our washer died this weekend, so we went to a gently used appliance store and got a new to us washer and dryer for half the price of a new washer. It works great!!!

The girls had well baby and toddler check ups today. Ms. Emma did great!!! She weighed in at 28 pounds and 34 1/2 inches tall. She has grown 2 1/2 inches over the last year and gained almost 2 pounds. I asked the doctor about a celiac screening today and Emma had to have blood taken to run the test. I hadn't pushed this, but after reading some information, I felt Emma needed to have the test. I will post information when we receive it. Gracie is 5 weeks old and she weighs 9 lbs and 8 ounces and 21 3/4 inches long. She has grown so much this last month. She received her first round of shots and was extremely unhappy about that! She goes back in a month.

Emma is doing so much talking!! Her new words are
DON'T
NOOOOOOOOO
STOP
HOT
COOKIE (She can also sign it)
MY BABY
SWEET
PRETTY

I am so happy about this.

Enjoy our family pics we took over Spring Break!

It's official...

Emma is now a student in our local school district. I just can't believe that she will be attending school in June. Testing can now occur within the school district. I found out today that her hours for the school have been extended. I am not real thrilled about it and will bring it up at our next meeting. I feel that 9AM-1Pm (3 days a week) is too long for a three year old to attend school. The class is wonderful and the teachers are truly the best in the area, but I feel very strongly about this. I don't understand why they switched it, but I know they have good reasons. Hopefully, I will be able to talk them into a different schedule for her. I would prefer her to be finished at the regular preschool end time of 11:45. Our next meeting isn't until April, so I have some time to think and write my pros and cons (or driving and restraining forces as the distict would say).


Grace is doing great. I have had to put her on formula, for some reason my milk was not sustaining her. So I pumped to see how much she was getting and it wasn't even two ounces. When I gave her the formula the child sighed like I have never heard her sigh. It was as if she was saying...finally more food. She is taking 3-4 ounces every 3-4 hours. This was not what I wanted, but Grace is a completely different baby...no more screaming even after nursing...it is wonderful. It was so frustrating to nurse her for over an hour only to have her cry like she was starving.

Spring Break is this week..so Craig will be around. We are going to be doing somethings around the house. I got started this week. I cleaned out our closets and our chest of drawers. Then I cleaned out my desk. I even decorated the living room for Spring. Our mantel over our fireplace looks very nice and Springy.

Today was my first day with the girls with no one else at the house. It went great. Craig was nice and got up with baby in the middle of the night, so that I could be rested and to help with the soreness that I have still been experiencing. I was very proud of Emma...she was patient with me when I had to feed Gracie and she wanted something. I have to say that I let her watch a little more TV than I typically do.

On another note, take a look at Becky's website. We purchased her artwork and it is beautiful. She posts on a forum that I belong too. http://www.bsbcreations.homestead.com/

Click on the title of post to see new pictures of the girls.

Welcome 2007

I can't believe that 2007 is here! This year has so many things that will happen!!! Emma going to public school and Gracie arriving in 6 1/2 weeks!! Speaking of the Snow Bean...who is no longer a bean...she is more like an active soccer player, she is doing great! We had a check up on Friday and her heart beat was very strong and she was wiggling away! She really hates in with the OB tries to listen in. :-)

I have been trying to get Emma's scrapbook caught up, so that I can get some pages accomplished in Grace's before she arrives. Anyway, may you have many blessings in 2007!!

A quick prayer request though, A friend who is trying to adopt a child living with Ds is going through a rough time. The birth parents are still trying to decide if this is right for their family. The baby has already gone to her forever family, but the final decision should be made soon. My prayers are with them and I ask that you join me.

Santa Claus

Emma went to see Santa this weekend! She did great. At first she just stared at him, but then she sorta of talked to him, but they had their picture taken! She looks adorable of course.

On the homefront, we have scheduled our first transition meeting with Jenks Public Schools: January 9th. I just can't believe it. My baby is growing up and in 8 weeks she won't be the baby anymore. Boy, life changes so quickly.

Our house isn't decorated for Christmas in a BIG way, but hopefully we will have our tree up soon now that I am feeling better! I hate being sick.

Only 8 days until Christmas