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Post by wrblack on Nov 13, 2006 17:14:41 GMT -5
OK. Visited CHOP satellite office at 8:50 this morning and ENT cleaned wax out of Charlie's ears. Also said can now see a little residual tonsil tissue on right side only but no plans for going after it as long as Charlie not symptomatic. Will see endocrinologist next Monday morning. And ophthalmologist appointment on Pearl Harbor Day. All routine follow up visits. Had school conference last week and were told that Charlie is now the star pupil in his class. Really has been making some nice progress lately--teeny, tiny, baby steps but still, nice progress. And Charlie's little brother, 4 years and 5 days his junior, moved into a Lightning McQueen toddler bed this weekend. Charlie is still in a crib, though he's maybe 3 inches taller and 5 pounds heavier than the kid brother. Just another clear cut example to demonstrate that life really is not fair. -- Bob
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Post by kwisteena1021 on Nov 13, 2006 18:13:49 GMT -5
Good idea A! Well life is crazy around my house right now. Wednesday, Brittany has to have a VCUG and renal ultrasound, so I am trying to work past that anxiety right now. I don't even know how to prepare her for it..what do I say? I think it might freak her out more to know and she will be stressing.... Kallie had an awesome day at school today! Surprises me cause she was having quite the attitude this morning but nope she did well behaviorally as well as academically. We got her progress report last week and she is making progress lol She is still on grade level for math which just makes me so happy. We are still working on the reading. Still mostly site word reading but sometimes she surprises me and trys to sound out the word. For me and my hubby, we are totally stoked cause Friday we get our puppy! This has been over a year in the making. We are getting a female yellow Labrador. I know this will be a great addition to our family. We are still waiting for the paperwork for Todd to go pay for schooling. FOr those of you who don't know, my DH is going to go to school to become a Firefighter. I guess that is it for my update. Thanks for reading.
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Post by Connie on Nov 13, 2006 19:18:17 GMT -5
A. Good one!!! We've not done this in a while!! Collin is 6 and in Kindergarten. 1/2 day regular ed and 1/2 day Title one. He gets 1.5 hours of pull out into special ed every day plus gets OT, PT and ST. He is doing well. While he doesn't know his alphabet he can tell you what sounds each of the letters make. Go figure it makes no sense to me!!! He just finished up with soccer and did good, his biggest problem was when one of his team mates would get the ball from him and score when he was trying to...this did not put him in the best of moods. Griffin is turning into a fine young man right before my eyes. He loves baseball and is going to run in a 5k with me this spring. He just finished soccer and is hoping to start swimming here really soon. Gray is our bundle of energy and always standing on his head!!! He just got through with tackle football and loved it. He was one of the toughest kids on the team for being the smallest and plays defense -- Safety (I think). I just cover my face a pray. Lauren -- well she is still the little princess. She is all girl. Loves shopping, especially for shoes!!! She amazes me everyday with how much she knows and how easy she picks things up. She just finished soccer and is now taking ballet. She informed me that she wanted to quit soccer and take ballet every day (we don't make that much money!!!) She will be in a ballet recital this coming summer and can't wait. Michael is finishing his last class for his electric apprenticeship to become an electrician. He is still deciding what he wants to be when he grows up. I ran an uncontested race and I am now an elected official. I am a Township Trustee/Assessor. But, with that I still could not quit my day job. Like I needed one more thing on my plate.
Connie
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Post by belovedlife2 on Nov 14, 2006 10:28:44 GMT -5
ok, so Peanut, aka Amanda, is 30 months old now, doing very well. We go back to the Cole Eye Institute at the Cleveland clinic wednes to recheck her pressures and her prescription. We have started the transition process from EI into the school system, and are presently making application to the W Pa School for Blind Children, as they can help her learn how to adapt her vision in different situtations. WE're only applying for next year and will use it as a transition. Peanut is cruising and signing, thanks to signing times (what A great program!). She pulls up at every surface and gets into just about everything a two year old is supposed too (especially what ever big bro and sis are playing with). Oh, and she finally went up the steps on her own on friday...crawled the whole way up two flights of stairs! Perhaps she will be walking by the time the next one arrives (in a few weeks). She'll be a big sister... I can't imagine how she'll react. Since we have started working with the cleveland clinic eye inst. we have seen huge imporovements in her! She can now see a 1 inch object at 6 ft!!!! Before it was 1 inch at three feet. Eli, Amanda's big sister is enjoying her little sister, teaching her to sign and enjoying first grade. Getting into the nail polish and all the girly stuff. James, is now 4 and has had some regression with his speech (dx verbal Apraxia) but we are back on track with speech in school and starting to making progress again. He is not too sure with amanda. He has some days he plays so nicley then other days is all over her...perhaps this is due to the fact they are close in age or she is into everything and he has ahd his territory infringed upon.... I am busy with school finishing working on my pre requisites, as I went back to become a physician assistant. I have my big interview tomorrow with the program director...here's hoping I get into the program. Hopefully I'll be starting school in september... With number four due in the next few weeks we are all busy trying to get ready. I'm trying to get the therapists all lined up and doctors appointments out of the way with peanut (ortho to follow up with her hypoplastic odontoid process, fontenal checks, as she still is open anteriorly, and eye doctor in cleveland while I can still cross state lines). We are ever busy....things are looking up, here's hoping peanut starts walking in the next few weeks, we'll keep you posted. Happy Thanksgiving everyone! Robin
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Post by Jessie on Nov 14, 2006 13:44:23 GMT -5
Well, dang, I already gave an update last week! But, I've always got something more to say Jason, who will be 14 in March, is growing like a weed and is doing so much better in almost every aspect. Maturity is a wonderful thing! He is still getting some speech at school, although it's not as much as I would like, but we are supplementing with weekly private speech therapy at MSU. Lately, I've been feeling like he is really at a crossroads or maybe it's just a new stage of life that he is going through. On some levels he is still very childish, but on other levels, he is just right up there with being a typical 14 year old. Last weekend at Ellie's birthday party, two of our nephews were here, both of which Jason practically worships. They are both older than him but treat him like one of their buds. Jason's grandma couldn't get over how much Jason acted just like one of the guys around the two older ones. She usually sees him in his very childish role (because she baby's him!), so she was very surprised to see how he acted that day. I think it was a little eye opener for her. He is also doing more vocational type of activities at school. His grandpa Brannon (the one that lives in Montana) will be here in April and he will probably be shocked to see how big he is. His uncle Jeff that lives in Nevada will be here this weekend and his aunt Jodi from Florida will be here over Christmas. He loves to see everyone and they will probably all be shocked at how big he's gotten since the last time they have all seen him. Miss Ellie is a little spitfire. I would want and expect nothing less of my daughter!! I told Brian the other day that I would rather have a daughter full of feistiness and determination than a little timid thing. He reluctantly agreed! LOL She is just amazing, jabbering all the time, trying to say dog and cat. She is FINALLY saying MOMMA! I mentioned she is stubborn too, right? I think she was holding out on saying that because she knew how badly I wanted to hear it. Should be interesting around here when the new baby arrives. Both kids are spoiled rotten and are jealous, so new baby will have to fight for his place in the family!!! Did I mention yet that his name will be Jacob James? As for me, since I'm in my second trimester I'm slowly getting over the extreme exhaustion phase. Thank GOD! I'm feeling pretty good and I have my Level II ultrasound on December 8. I have been working from home now for about two years with my traveling being sporadic. I think it's going to drastically cut down after the first of the year - so that's good news! I have been our Down syndrome group's VP for the past two years and will most likely be taking over as Prez in January. Hmmmm, Prez of the group, travel for my job, will have two under two plus Jason . . . no problem! Hubby is great. He is running his own business and is enjoying being his own boss (or so he thinks! LOL). He has a mobile welding business. He is also my handy man and my rock when I fall to pieces over silly things. Over the past year we have done so much to the house, renovated the old garage into three bedrooms and a master bath, new kitchen, added a new garage, put up a fence, put up a pool, new roof and . . . well, it's time to move! We are debating whether to put the house up for sale in the spring or wait one more year to see if the market improves. Technically, our house is big enough for us, but the layout is not conducive to having two babies. Even though we have enough bedrooms, the two little ones will be sharing the nursery. And, we are selling our 5th wheel trailer . . . so if you're interested let me know! LOL We are very busy getting the house in order for me to start decorating. I have been pregnant the last three Christmas seasons and I told Brian I am bound and determined to not let it hold me back this year - I WILL DECORATE EVERY ROOM OF THIS HOUSE IF IT KILLS US BOTH! We are having the family Thanksgiving here, I will be having a Christmas cookie exchange and then I will be hosting our December euchre card party here which is always a fun Christmas party. Brian's even getting a tree in his new, heated garage! LOL - Laura - that's mostly what I bought at Bronner's on Friday - Brian-specific ornaments that are suitable for his tree in the garage. He's thrilled, let me tell ya. I have loved reading everyone's updates and I really hope more post up - even the ones that rarely/never post - give us an update!!!! Jessie
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Post by momofrussell on Nov 14, 2006 19:07:27 GMT -5
thanks for everyone that has posted an update so far.. I am going to sticky this for a few days so we can get some more updates!
Thanks everyone!
A.
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Post by ariannasmammy on Nov 14, 2006 20:47:17 GMT -5
HI everyone....well let's see.... Arianna is now 5 (it's hard to believe Evan is already 4...what???) Time is flying. She went to preschool which was at the high school and mixed with "normal' kids. She was sick on and off for 2 years so she didn't really attend regularly. She has no language yet other than making noises and babbling her own language. Although at times we have heard mama, dada, and spongebob. She was diagnosed with Autism last April - but I think it is pretty mild. Although I am sure that is why her speech is so slow. She has a very smart mind though...she understands simple commands. (let's go outside, do you want to go for a ride, do you want to eat? etc.) She is beautiful, tall, (she even registers on the "normal" scale for height), and skinny as a rail. She is not in any school right now because although she has been classified as 'severe", I don't see her that way. She started Kinder in a severe unit and I quickly pulled her as there was nothing visual on the walls...the ratio was 3-1 but with aides. The other kids were all male and like 7-12 years old and huge! Anyway, right now she is at home while I teach Kindergarten and my 23 year old son is watching her. I am trying to get her an aide to attend "normal' Kindergarten....we'll see what happens. Anyway, that's about it for now!!! Lori
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Post by vicki on Nov 14, 2006 20:49:53 GMT -5
I cant believe Kyle will be 4 tommorrow. He goes to school every day 1/2 days. A special needs school that he gets alot of one on one. He is really wanting to learn finally. He is sitting and not destroying the classroom.He is so stubborn with learning signs. He wants no part of it at home but at school he is wanting to try them. He is wearning his hearing aids and not taking them out and hiding them anymore. He also just starting wearing braces for his knees hoping to keep them in place better. He tolerates them so we are hoping that will strengthen his leg muscles so his knee caps will stay in place. He is going to have his 2nd set of ear tubes and another sleep study on Dec 20. His brother Scott is 5 and doing great in school. We have seen a big inprovement this year. Still has meltdowns but he seems to work them out better. Some days it seems like we are beating autism and it isnt beating us. But that comes and goes. Both boys are really bonding with their service dog and we are glad we got him. My girls are staying with their dad more and the boys are even closer to each other now. The girls started in a new school since we moved and are doing great in school and are glad we changed schools. My husband still is having problems with his neck and is still not working. We are on our 3rd specialist and this ones seems like he is doing the most for him. Not sure when or if he will be able to return to work. I posted some pictures on the album. Vicki
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Post by Staci on Nov 15, 2006 0:11:55 GMT -5
We're doing well here in this household. Aidan is doing great, loving school so much and is doing great in it! He is in regular kindy about 3 hours a day and in spec ed and pulled out for about 10 other things throughout the day...he has a very busy schedule and comes home so tired! He seems to thoroughly enjoy it, though. Yey! He is trying SO hard to talk to me....he will grab my face and just babble away and I'm so heartbroken that I can't understand him It does break my mommy heart. He tries so hard. He's a little sweetie...and a little stinker, too! Gotta love him, he's so funny and keeps me in stitches every day. Parker is growing by leaps and bounds! She is Miss Sassy Pants these days, though...ARGH! It's SO much fun! (NOT!!!). She is stubborn and strong willed...and relentless in every way. I tell my dh that she is going to make a great lawyer someday, the way she goes on and on and doesn't stop with her fights. Man! She wears me out! She's my little Princess Tomboy...in her princess dress and playing with dinosaurs...too funny! She holds her own, that's for sure ! Baby Colin will be here in 2 months! EAK! That scares the bajeez out of me! I'm so NOT ready! He is quite the kickboxer these days and is laying on my diaphram or something, I can't breathe at night and wake up with a panic attack! Yikes! Scares me. Doc gave me meds, but I am too stubborn to fill them. I'll survive Nothing new or very exciting...just keeping busy running kids around and being exhausted with pregnancy! Can't wait for Christmas, but then again...CAN wait, because soon after we'll have a new baby! I'm so unprepared this time! LOL Staci
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Post by theresaolohan on Nov 15, 2006 6:30:04 GMT -5
hi daniel is now seven and six months. he is going to special school with 8 in his class has a sna between three children and a school teacher. he get one to one speech therapy and group speech therapy, his speech is comming on great. his writing skills are improving. Daninel had serious problem with teeth grinding, i got bite blocks from the speech therapist and these worked a treat. Dan has blond curles and is v. proud of them. hece i cannot cut his hair.I find as daniels understanding improves he is far easier to manage. thank God for this impovement. theresa from ireland
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Post by Ericsmomma on Nov 15, 2006 9:17:36 GMT -5
Love reading these updates! My little guy is doing pretty good...he's been home the last three days due to an allergic reaction to his antibiotic (omnicef for an ear infection). So he's covered in hives..not a happy camper, but hopefully the prednisone and benadryl will start to give him some relief. But he loves school this year! We debated on whether to send him to regular kindy or keep him at his special needs school...and we went with the special needs, contained classroom. He has about 8 classmates ranging in age from 5yrs to about 8 years. The class has 1 teacher and 2 aides, who Eric totally loves. They are using sign language with him along with speech, and he's really picked up on it well. He still gets speech, ot, and pt 1-2x per week. He's very tired when he comes home (he has a 70 minute bus ride to and from school), but aside from that, he seems happy! My daughter and my 2 beautiful granddaughters ( who live with us) are doing well too. Megan (daughter) starts school after Thanksgiving (business degree), and my Tori, 3yrs, and Addison, 9m, are busy hanging out with Uncle Eric....they are so good for each other...God does work in mysterious ways! I was always worried about Eric being "by himself" because his siblings were so much older but now....he's the king! He has 6 little girls (neices) to play with....(my middle son, Mike, has a little girl named Nadia (8months) and he also has 3 stepdaughters, Choe, 7yrs, Odessa, 5yrs, and Kia,3yrs.) So he's never "bored". My youngest stepdaughter, Heather, also has 2 boys, Justin, 11yrs, and Alex, 4yrs. but the guys are outnumbered by the girls! My oldest son, Matt, has a lovely girlfriend who's almost done with school.(teaching degree). No plans for marriage yet, but I don't think its far off. My oldest stepdaughter, Kim, will be coming home (from Florida) for Christmas and usually stays with us. We are looking forward to seeing her. Hubby is working, but not as much as when he had his own business, which is nice. He's home more now, and Eric is loving it! I'm still working full time (ugh!) at the pediatrician's office. Even tho I love what I do, I sure would like to be home more. But enough whining....Life is basically good, and we have alot to be thankful for this coming Thanksgiving. And I saved the best for last....Eric FINALLY said "MOMMY"!!!! ta-da! I've waited 6 long years to hear this....and it was wonderful!
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Post by Valerie on Nov 15, 2006 10:06:51 GMT -5
Great to read the updates from everyone! Wonderful thread! OK, here goes.
I believe you may know that I am going through a divorce right now. At the moment we are doing pretty good about getting along, especially for the kids! Hopefully it will always stay that way. I have been seeing a guy for a few months who is absolutely wonderful! Derek likes him and does stuff with him, and Nicholas absolutely adores him!
Nicholas is now 3 1/2 and going to preschool 2 full days a week. I can't believe how much he has matured in the past couple months! Doing better about following directions, and he's really trying to take off with his speech. I'm probably the only one that can understand most of it, but he is really talking a lot more and trying to say words, so that's a good thing! ;D He absolutely loves school, he's in a regular preschool class with 12 other kids, and the other kids just adore him! So it's going good.
My older son, Derek, is 17 and a senior. Lately he's been talking to recruiters and is thinking he'll join the military after he graduates. He's seriously considering the Marines. Military would probably be a good thing for him, and I'm proud of him for wanting to serve his country. But I'm sure you understand that I'm DREADING the possibility that he could end up overseas. When his dad and I first married, it was right when Desert Storm started up and he spend a year in Saudi. That was bad enough, but I'm thinking it would be far, far worse to have your child over there.
Oh, we saw an ENT in June to talk about the possibility of tubes and removing adenoids for Nicholas. They didn't think it was necessary then, but he's had 4 more ear infections since then, so they're considering the possibility again. He has a checkup today, so should know more after that.
Other than the ear infections, we're all healthy and happy, so we're doing good! ;D
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Post by marisa on Nov 15, 2006 15:03:13 GMT -5
What a great thread!!! Laura is 2.5 yrs already and she is doing awesome. She gets OT, PT, ST, Sign Language teacher, and horse back riding each once a week. Needless to say we are busy, but all therapy is in the morning usually at 8am after Kathryn has gotten on the school bus. Laura is signing and talking alot and is able to tell you what she wants/needs. She has also started walking!!!!!! She can walk half way across the room and just today she even changed direction! Everyday she is walking farther and farther! She has also developed quite the sense of humor and loves to clown around. I am always amazed at how she attracts people. It seems like everyone in town knows her name and goes out of their way to say hi to her. There are places I visit frequently and the people there won't let us leave until they get their hug from Laura. It is very sweet and Laura is always (well, most always) happy to share the love. She has her "moments" like any other kid, but mostly she really is a joy to be around. We have her 6 month IFSP review next week and are going to start the transistion process. I already talked to a member of the child study team and feel confident that Laura will get exactly what she needs. I have worried alot about the school issue, but I am feeling better about it and what my district is willing to do. Kathryn is doing well also. She is in kindy full day and just started Daisy Girl Scouts. She is going to be a sheep in the Christmas play and will be singing Silent Night, along with the other sheep. Kathryn is growing up so fast and she is the best big sister in world!!!! As for me, I went back to college this semester, but I still don't know what I want to be when I grow up Marisa
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Post by rickismom on Nov 15, 2006 16:33:28 GMT -5
To those of you who don't know, I live in Israel. After a LONG LONG battle, last week Ricki (now 12) (She also had ADHD) was finally admitted into a integrated setting that meets my religious standards. (Before that, she was in a more liberal school, and one that did not cooperate with us so well.) However, they moved her up to a class near her age level (6th!!!!), not 4th or 5th, but that really is more work for the aid adapting the material than for her. She is about 2/5 of the day in private tutoring, and the rest in a normal classroom. My fifth son is currently working in Springfield Missouri. Anyone here from there? Just last week my father was operated on for lymphoma---hoping he will pull through with this.
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Post by SuziF on Nov 16, 2006 15:20:45 GMT -5
Hey everyone ! It's been hectic as usual here lately. As alot of you know, my dad passed away in April. Well, this past momday we buried my Grandma. She'd been suffering with Alzheimers for quite awhile & back in Sept they found a reoccurance of cancer. She'd been on hospice & suffered a stroke on electionday. Otherwise, things are doing ok. Merideth is a allday kindy at the public school. With having three older siblings, everyone knows her. We've had the staff commenting on how everyone seems to know her & wave when they pass her in the halls. She has a full time aid & her therapies are all push-in with the exception of adaptive PE & her riding therapy which she does one afternoon a week. Due to scheduling conflicts with her brothers Scouts we were unable to place her back inher dance class or Daisys. She's really missing the dance now that Cheerleading is over & we'll have to see what we can do on that. Speech & writing are as predicted her biggest struggles. She talks the most at Cheerleading. I'm looking into seeing if there is an adapted cheer squad anywhere on this end of PA like I've been hearing about in other areas. I'd actually be interested in getting sponsorship for one if anyone else has any leads on this. Sam is in 1st grade & other than some moments of silliness, doing well. He played soccer again this fall ,but is counting down to his birthday which will make him old enough for football next season ! He's also joined Tiger CUbs which ment I go tdrug into leadership at one more age level! (Woopie!)Hopefully he'll resume his violin now that fall sports are over. Nick continues his struggles with ADD. He didn't do that bad in school the 1st grading period, but the transition to the Middle school where our 5th graders now go has been a struggle. He is enjoying clarinet lessons. Matt is in 8th grade & an honor student. Last week he went on his 8th grade trip to Gettysburg. He's committed to playing Tenor Sax in the HS marching band next year & was invited to play for Homecoming.He's also working towards Eagle Scout, enjoying camping & hunting ~ looking to his first day of deer season the Mon after Thanksgiving. Mike is being an absolute Prince, working so much on clearing out my dad's place. Hopefully it will be sold soon & we can get back to all our projects. I worry about him running himself ragged & all the molds & crud we know were in dad's place. Oh & we got the kids a Coonhound ...our 15yr old doggy & dad's doggy both passed this Spring right after dad & the kids needed somthing new to hug. Well, I need to run~ tonight is light up night for the display I work with. Hope Everyone's holiday is great! Hugs! Suzi
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