Happy Birthday Abby!
Today is a GREAT day. Our little Abby Girl is turning 3 and she is cuter than ever. She is repeating EVERYTHING we say these days, including calling me "Ryan" when "daddy" doesn't work. She doesn't pronounce her "R's" too well though, so it sounds more like "Why-an!" which of course I love. Abby and Eddie have really started to play more together too. Eddie adores his sister and Abby is realizing that she can totally mess with him and he lets her. For example, during bath time, I like to squirt Eddie with the water toys. He giggles at first but then he gets annoyed with daddy. But not when Abby he does it! She has learned how to squirt him with the water toys too now, but he thinks it's hilarious when she does it. He gets all excited and lets it go on for as long as Abby wants to squirt him.
And here's the big news...Abby is starting pre school next week!!!! Wooohooo!!! That's right Abby Fans. This same girl that we were praying would simply stay alive is on her way to school. Over the past few weeks, some ladies from the school district visited Abby over a number of visits to evaluate her. And wouldn't you know it...Abby tested normal in every category except a few. Her pronunciation is a bit delayed, meaning she says her sentences very slowly. This is common for Cerebral Palsy kids though. And obviously her physical stuff tested below average. But! She actually tested BETTER than average cognitively, which is her memory and understanding of things. How great is that?! It appears we have a smart little cookie on our hands.
So anyway, the pre school is for 2 and a half hours each day, and is set up especially for kids with special needs. There's a nurse in the classroom and Abby will be in a group speech therapy session as well as a 20 minute one on one speech therapy session EVERY DAY!
Of course it's going to be tough to give her up because Abby still wretches and gags a lot. It's quite painful and when this happens she just wants her momma. Kelly has actually been to the GI doc a few times recently to see what's going on, and he put Abby on some other medication that is supposed to calm everything in her tummy that stimulates this gag reflex. We really hope it works. For 3 years Abby has always been going through something and we feel like this could be the last major hurdle for a while and are anxious to get it under control. Not to mention, there will be no progression with her eating until we eliminate this gagging and retching that happens whenever she eats something. Would you be interested in eating if you knew that is what would happen afterward? No way. And Abby's right there with ya. Please say some prayers that this medication works.
Abby is such a blessing. She is has done so much in her 3 short years here and has touched so many already. She never ceases to amaze us and just when I think she can't get any cuter, she does something like call me "Why-an." Or she tickles Eddie's feet when I am trying to hold him and calm him down as he's screaming his head off. My holding offers no comfort, but as soon as Abby started playing with him, Eddie smiled. She has that touch. It's the Abby Touch. She gets deep in your heart and soul and warms it up like nothing else could.
Happy Birthday Abbers. We love you. Say Happy Birthday to your sisters too for your mommy and me okay? I know Emma and Maddy are with you a lot and something tells me you know that better than anyone.
How about some pics in Abby's Birthday Suit for her Birthday!
Today is a GREAT day. Our little Abby Girl is turning 3 and she is cuter than ever. She is repeating EVERYTHING we say these days, including calling me "Ryan" when "daddy" doesn't work. She doesn't pronounce her "R's" too well though, so it sounds more like "Why-an!" which of course I love. Abby and Eddie have really started to play more together too. Eddie adores his sister and Abby is realizing that she can totally mess with him and he lets her. For example, during bath time, I like to squirt Eddie with the water toys. He giggles at first but then he gets annoyed with daddy. But not when Abby he does it! She has learned how to squirt him with the water toys too now, but he thinks it's hilarious when she does it. He gets all excited and lets it go on for as long as Abby wants to squirt him.
And here's the big news...Abby is starting pre school next week!!!! Wooohooo!!! That's right Abby Fans. This same girl that we were praying would simply stay alive is on her way to school. Over the past few weeks, some ladies from the school district visited Abby over a number of visits to evaluate her. And wouldn't you know it...Abby tested normal in every category except a few. Her pronunciation is a bit delayed, meaning she says her sentences very slowly. This is common for Cerebral Palsy kids though. And obviously her physical stuff tested below average. But! She actually tested BETTER than average cognitively, which is her memory and understanding of things. How great is that?! It appears we have a smart little cookie on our hands.
So anyway, the pre school is for 2 and a half hours each day, and is set up especially for kids with special needs. There's a nurse in the classroom and Abby will be in a group speech therapy session as well as a 20 minute one on one speech therapy session EVERY DAY!
Of course it's going to be tough to give her up because Abby still wretches and gags a lot. It's quite painful and when this happens she just wants her momma. Kelly has actually been to the GI doc a few times recently to see what's going on, and he put Abby on some other medication that is supposed to calm everything in her tummy that stimulates this gag reflex. We really hope it works. For 3 years Abby has always been going through something and we feel like this could be the last major hurdle for a while and are anxious to get it under control. Not to mention, there will be no progression with her eating until we eliminate this gagging and retching that happens whenever she eats something. Would you be interested in eating if you knew that is what would happen afterward? No way. And Abby's right there with ya. Please say some prayers that this medication works.
Abby is such a blessing. She is has done so much in her 3 short years here and has touched so many already. She never ceases to amaze us and just when I think she can't get any cuter, she does something like call me "Why-an." Or she tickles Eddie's feet when I am trying to hold him and calm him down as he's screaming his head off. My holding offers no comfort, but as soon as Abby started playing with him, Eddie smiled. She has that touch. It's the Abby Touch. She gets deep in your heart and soul and warms it up like nothing else could.
Happy Birthday Abbers. We love you. Say Happy Birthday to your sisters too for your mommy and me okay? I know Emma and Maddy are with you a lot and something tells me you know that better than anyone.
How about some pics in Abby's Birthday Suit for her Birthday!
Abby and Eddie LOVE Bath time
I just can't get enough of her glasses! Are they cute or what?!
Eddie has been into pooring cereal on the ground as you all know
Before he used to run when he would get caught...no he just looks at me as if to say, "what do you want?"
And of course he has taken his cereal escapades to a new level. Filling things up with the cereal. Most notably of course are my shoes!
