Happy Holidays!!!

Sesame Street Live!

We did it, we went all out this year and bought the VIP tickets to Sesame Street Live! Thanks go out to our good friend Hal, and Mimi (grandma) for making this possible for Bailee!!!

Because of Bailee's CP, she doesn't get to run around like all the other little 5 year old, so its so special to be able to give her a treat that she truly loves!

She had a wonderful time and tells everyone she sat on Elmo's lap and gave him a big hug!!!

Cheeeeeessseee Please!

What do you get when you combine a giant mouse, a birthday, and 5 year old Bailee???  - A really excited little girl!!!

One of Bailee's classmates in Kindergarten is celebrating her 6th birthday this Saturday at Chuck E Cheese...boy is she excited!!!

Having a child with special needs raises a lot of questions with us parents. What will life be like? Will she walk or talk? Will she play like other kids? Will she understand what I am saying to her? Will she graduate from high school? What about prom and college and marriage? Will she live on her own or with us forever? And what happens when we are old and gone?

But aside from all these questions, this one also runs through our heads all the time...will she be included and accepted by her peers???

The last two years Bailee was in preschool with other special needs kids. They all got along and didn't seem to even notice differences, but this year she started kindergarten, and she is the only special needs kid in her entire class of 19!!! I feared the worst, and after only a few days of school, realized my fears were simply that, just fears. Bailee is so accepted and loved in her class, not only by the adults, but all her classmates too! They love to help Bailee with her reading, sit with her, play Legos with her, eat lunch with her...its amazing, and such a relief!!!

This weekend is a birthday party of one of her friends. Although I am nervous about going to Chuck E Cheese for the first time, especially with all those games and rides and a non-mobile little girl, I am so happy she is included!!!

I asked Bailee's aide what her classmate might like for a little birthday gift, and she said that Bailee coming would probably be the best gift ever for her!

A New Footing

With Bailee's cerebral palsy, she has severe physical delays. At 5 years old, she is currently testing at the 6-8 month level. She isn't sitting independently, crawling, standing, or walking. Its hard for us all, but she is trying really hard to figure out the cues to coordinate her body.

Having a physical disability is a challenge in itself, but then when you live in a home that doesn't accommodate any of their needs, this is a whole new challenge. As Bailee keeps growing its getting harder and harder to carry her through the house, plus she is five now and "Miss Independent"!

Unfortunately, home modifications take money, which is hard to find these days. Apparently those trees that grow money are few and far these days. We were able to apply for funding, and with the help of some very generous people and groups, the money came through to redo our floors. We have had carpet since we moved in over five years ago, and when we put Bailee in her gait trainer, she just stands there. Carpet is just way too hard for her to move her gait trainer on. So how will she ever be independent in her home when she can't move an inch?

So, as of yesterday, we are proud parents of a five year old who is using her gait trainer at home!!! We had beautiful laminate floors installed yesterday in our living room, down the hall, and in Bailee's room. So now shew will be able to go from room to room and practice using those little legs and have independence. Bailee was running in circles in the living room, SMILING!!! And she didn't want to get out of her gait trainer.

Thank you to all our donors! We couldn't have done it without your help!

The Moon

I have been so bad about posting recently, just so many things going on. So, I thought I would share one of Bailee's thoughts...I just love the way little kids imagine and talk about things.

As we were driving home the other evening, Bailee was getting a little cranky, so we asked her if she looked out the window what could she see.

Bailee replied "I see the moon!!! HEY! Its following me!!!"