Great news and a video!

 

September seems to be Ailyn's month! Awesome milestones are being hit! 

 

I'll start with the best!! Ailyn is really starting to walk better. She can take 20 sturdy steps without falling!!! Last week in PT, she walked the entire hallway (with breaks)! Her steps are a lot different. Smaller and steady. Her doctor watched her walk and said "She's going to be a walker soon!" I walked out of the room all teary and proud. I wanted to tell everyone! I am so proud of how very hard Ailyn works in PT.

 

Ailyn's speech is starting to get better too. She is saying more words. I asked her "Who loves you?" and she pointed to her chest and said "ME"! Turns out she has been reading a book in school that says "ME". She is also trying harder in speech therapy too. I think seeing her school friends talking is really motivating her.

 

Ailyn is doing well in school. She did have a few naughty moments at the end of the week. Her teacher told us "We have to look past the cuteness". She won them over with her adorableness and now they are catching on to her. She comes home so tired and has been naughty at home. But, I'm hoping once she gets used to a 5 day week, she will do better.

 

The video below shows her new smaller steps. My camera shut off on me so I didn't get all her steps. ENJOY!

 

 

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To Our NICU nurses

 

Happy NICU nurse day!!!!!

 

Even though it's been 3 1/2 years since our NICU stay, a day doesn't go by that we are not thankful to all of you. You all have a special place in our hearts. Ailyn will grow up knowing all you did to save her life. Thank you for all you do!!

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Preschool!!

 

As most know, I had so much anxiety over sending Ailyn to school. I was afraid to send her off into the real world. Not being able to shelter her and be there for her every minute of the day was going to be tough for me. I knew she would thrive in school. She is so social and loves to be around people. So I let my baby grow some wings and head off into this huge world 5 half days a week.

 

 

 

Ailyn has an IEP. She will recieve OT, PT and speech during class. They focused more on speech and she will get it 3 times a week. She only gets PT once but I'm hoping we can add one more day in the future. Ailyn shares an assistant/aid with one other child. Kristen is AWESOME!!! So full of life, so positive, I really like her. I can tell Ailyn adores her with the huge smile she gives her each morning.

 

There are 12 kids in her class. With 6 of them being "typical peers". This will be SO good for Ailyn. Ailyn has always had adults as her best friends. Her daily therapist coming to our house. She prefers to play with adults over peers. I'm hoping she will learn to make friends. Even if she just plays WITH a classmate, I will be happy. 

 

Ailyn giggles when we get to the stop light by her school. She gives me many kisses (OK, I ask for them) and she blows kisses as I am walking away. She looks so old to me as she walks off with her class.

 

On the first day I watched as she walked down the long BIG hallway to her classroom. I was so proud of her. I thought back to the day she was born. We had no idea if she was going to make it. And, here we are 3 1/2 (and a half!!!!) years later, she's off to preschool. I was able to peel myself away from the window and let her go.

 

When I pick her up, she tries to tell me about her day. She will sign that she sat on the potty, washed her hands, ate snack, drank her juice and read a book.

 

Ailyn still has therapy at the children's hospital 3 days a week. She will get a hour nap inbetween. By 7pm she is begging to go to bed. She never begs to go to bed that early.

 

I look forward to seeing her bloom this year.

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Second grade woes

 

A week before school started, Camden started begging me to homeschool him. He still remembers the year we homeschooled well. He had some valid points but right now is not the time. I can barely keep up with doctor appointments and therapy! I figured he would just adjust quickly like always after a few days.

 

Wrong. Camden has turned into this kid we don't even know. He "hates" school. On the 3rd day of school, Aaron came to me and said Camden was laying on the couch sick. Now, I am an expert at knowing a faker! But, Camden had me fooled. No clue how he got his eyes to look so dark and tired. I kept him home because last year he told me he was sick and I wasn't believeing but then he threw up all afternoon. But, this time he was faking. I gave him the old "you are not allowed to fake sick, Mommy and Daddy can go to jail lecture. He must have had ear plugs in because he tried it again. This time I told him he was going to school sick or not. He threw the biggest tantrum EVER. SO not Camden!!!

 

He comes home telling me all his new friends names. His classmates flocked to him when I brought him in late from a doctors appointment. He is well liked. He says no one is being mean to him. He does his work well and has no problems.  He just "hates" school. So after a 2 weeks of this, I asked his teacher for her email. I plan on writing her and asking if she is noticing anything during class.

 

I'm afraid the poor kid got my anxiety. He loves to be home. He loved being home everyday for two years with Ailyn. But, he's also very social and loves to be around people.

 

I'm hoping he can get over what ever it is. I don't like seeing him so upset. And, this new tantrum thing.....yeah NO....not having it!

 

 

 

Ailyn on the other hand is LOVING school! A post coming soon!

 

 

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