New Braille Books

We're always super happy when new Braille books arrive from the Dolly Parton Imagination Library... Thanks Dolly!

Casts

JP got casted today, for new Cascade DAFOs. It was our first experience since his first orthotics were Sure Steps... they did not require casts, just measurement... They helped him a lot, but apparently, not enough. We love John S. at Orthologix... and we're so grateful he comes to the house!



Not too sure about this...



Hey! This started out cold... now it's warm...

Ok dude... Do your thing!

Finished casts (good Lord, child, your feet can't be that big!)

We'll have to wait about 2-3 weeks for the finished product... We're all excited that they'll be a big help!

Mugging for the camera

Be Mine

Tomorrow is Valentine's Day. Historically, I haven't loved it. As a kid, I ALWAYS missed it. I ALWAYS had a fever on the party day and stayed home from school. As a young adult, I sometimes felt left out because I didn't have a boyfriend.

As a parent, I LOVE it! I love it for my kids, for the opportunity to help make special Valentines for my kids to give to their friends. This is what I came up with for the Pope this year... And I love how they turned out.

The princess wanted store bought Valentines this year. Guess she's too cool for homemade Valentines. Guess that was boud to happen, sooner or later.

The Pope's Valentines are the last time we'll make Valentines for Pre-school... And that makes me a little sad. Once he gets older, he'll probably want store bought Valentines too, or he simply won't care. I'm just trying to enjoy it while it lasts.

Father/Daughter Dance

Help! When did THIS girl, in a pretty dress...

Become THIS girl, in a pretty dress??!!

Seriously... how does this happen, in just SEVEN, (yes, 7!) years??

That beautiful baby, who had was 'just' able to sit-up unattended, was barely 13 months old. 14 pounds, tiny, frail and oh so happy!

The little girl (who looks 17) is just 8 years old. No longer so tiny, certainly not frail, full of energy and life! A girl who knows what she wants and how to get it! A bright, funny, charismatic girl who loves dance, art and God. And us too... She lets us know!

We could not have imagined this child. She's amazing, beautiful, talented, so smart! She's going to take the world by storm, one day... but right now, she's got her father and I wrapped around her little finger.

Ah, and that beautiful, perfect dress? She picked it out for her dance... The father/daughter dance, later this month, at her school... Always the belle of the ball...

Brailler Update

Progress! After a meeting with the Pope's TVI and the supervisor of the Southern Regional office of the CBVI, we have been put on the list to receive a Perkins Smart Brailler! I am perhaps the most excited about this development. As parents, we work so hard to get the tools our children need to be successful.

Currently, Perkins is sold out of the Smart Brailler, so we're going to have to wait until they are back in stock. Then we'll have to wait until the CBVI purchases some more units. Then we'll have to wait again until our name comes up on the list. Then training... but I'm hoping to have it for the Pope by the time he starts Kindergarten this fall. It seems like a lot of waiting, but it'll be worth it. At least we're on the list now... from "no" to "yes"... We'll take what we can get!

Growing like a weed

Dear Pope, This weekend I really noticed how much you've grown. The photos below were taken in March 2011, March 2012 and this past weekend. You've gone from a "baby" to a little boy.