Second 1st day of Kindergarten; 1st sick day

The "Flock" has been busier than normal and I've been too tired to put together a coherent sentence, thus the lack of updates... still too tired, but feel the need to get this done or I'll never catch up.

I'll start with the good news - - Miss Gracie started school (as scheduled) a week ago today and had a fantastic day. She was (as she was in August) a rock star and handled the adjustment to a new place and new people like it had never been an issue for her!

Here are pics of her in the parking lot as I got ready to wheel her onto campus... she was so excited! (See her tongue peeking through her gap on the bottom...? Well, there is now a permanent tooth poking through her gums! BIG girl!)

She wore the same shirt that she wore on her true "1st day of Kindergarten" - - I guess you can say I am a bit superstitious! I figured that she had such a great day back in August, why not try the same shirt?! (This coming from the person who wore the same pair of jeans for every final during college. By the time I graduated, they were very well worn and had all kinds of natural rips and tears! I finally parted with them a few years a go when I realized that I didn't need to keep them - - whether I ever go back to school and take more finals, they will never fit me again!)


I think she adjusted better than I did! I stayed with her Wednesday, Thursday and on Monday to help field questions and give her new team input about all things Gracie. My purpose was to be "wallpaper" to Gracie, but observe and offer any help to her new team. She is only attending for three hours, but when we got in the car each day, I was pooped! I think I was carrying a lot of anxiety each day, hoping that she'd "show her stuff" and communicate a bit. The kids in her class are far more academically advanced than she is - - they've also been in school much longer. Nevertheless, I was feeling so much pressure for her to prove her worthiness of being in that classroom. She's so smart... but that's not obvious to anyone who is just meeting her. The pressure I was feeling was mostly self-inflicted... so it's my own fault. I am so worried that, because of her health over the years, she's missed the formative time to become a learner in the academic sense. We've done everything we could when her health has permitted, but it doesn't stop me from constantly questioning if we could have done more. That's just part of being a parent, I know... regardless of your child's health and abilities... but those feelings were very present those first days in class.


There are other kids with CHARGE in her class and in the preschool class next door. Gracie's health and development is so much more severely impacted than theirs, and though I wasn't really comparing or wishing she was different, I was sad for her. Sad for the struggles that she has faced, faces now and will always face. She does it with such happiness and grace, if you will - - so eager to learn and do new things in spite of how challenging it is - - blissfully unaware of how much easier it could be because she doesn't know any different. And yet there I was, a slight, blubbering mess (on the inside... no one at school would have known) trying to take it all in and just be happy for her that she's finally getting this opportunity that she needs and deserves.


And then, just like that, my glimpse of happiness turns again to sadness and disappointment because she is now sick... again. This Monday was so busy - - school, then cardiology, and since we didn't have time to make it all the way home, a quick trip to the mall to pick up her new tennis shoes (for those of you who know her "shoe issue," you know that tennis shoes - - and the fact that she wears them now - - are miraculous!) and finally off to an hour of OT and PT. She was such a trooper... happy and smiling. Therapy was too much for her, though, as she was exhausted by then. But she didn't get mad or cry, she just couldn't muster the energy for the work they were requiring. We had left the house at 8:00am and didn't return until 5:40pm.

She didn't sleep well that night and woke-up Tuesday with a low-grade fever. It subsided and she perked up. By evening, she was back up to 102 without Tylenol. She was up all night Tuesday coughing and did not tolerate her feeding or Pedialyte. So... today was her first sick day.

I made the calls this morning, trying not to be too devastated for her, but my heart was so heavy on Tuesday knowing that she so easily picked up something. It's normal for any child starting school or daycare to get sick... I know this... but I had (silently and secretly) hoped that for once, she could catch a break. She's going to miss tomorrow, too, given the way her secretions look. A chat with the pulmonology nurse has resulted in a prescription for Cipro... the "knock-down, drag-out" of antibiotics. This "ick" that she's been dealing with is recurrent and appears to be coming out with a vengeance each time she ends her regular cycle of inhaled antibiotics. All of this is, I'm sad to say, just another reminder of how fragile her health is... how vulnerable she is... regardless of that sweet smile on her face.

Finally... a birthday celebration!

Last Thursday night, with Nana still here to join in the fun, we finally were able to celebrate Gracie's birthday!
It certainly wasn't a traditional party, but it was great fun all the same! She had requested demanded her bath (as she does each evening) about 30 minutes after we returned home from therapy, so she "partied" in her pj's! She'd had a busy day - - it was her second day of school and in the afternoon she had OT and PT.

We ate pizza for dinner, there were big balloons, a birthday cake and she opened presents. Such a lucky girl - - she received several gifts - - and while I can't show pics and mention everything, it is all very much appreciated!


"NPO" (no food by mouth, per doctor's orders due to her non-existent swallow) has never tasted so good!
You have to let her live a little... just a taste... frosting is so yummy!


The Claytons sent Gracie this adorable outfit! Christopher is one of Gracie's friends in CHARGE and is one year and three days older - - her "older man," we joke! It was so sweet of Kim and Christopher (and all the Claytons!) to think of Miss Gracie on her special day! We are so lucky to have "met" you through our community of CHARGE families and blogger network!


Gracie's Uncle and Auntie (and her new cousin, Jack) sent her a super cute Hello Kitty card with a whole page of nail stickers! These are a huge hit with her!

The big finale of the evening was playing the dvd that Gracie's old class made for her. I wish I could post it here, but won't without permission of all who participated. Picture this... a big birthday banner with Gracie's picture on it. Standing in front of it are her former teacher, two aids, the OT and in front of them are all the kids in her class. Her teacher said a few words (that left me bawling... the whole gesture had me bawling) and then they signed and sang "Happy Birthday." It was beautiful - - so kind, so thoughtful, so incredibly special.

Preston was so excited for his sister's birthday and has mastered saying, "Happy Birthday!" (He signs it, too... but this is not mastered... and unless you are familiar with the ASL approximations of a two year-old, you won't know what he's signing!) He has also mastered other birthday related signs - - most importantly, "cake." And, as clearly documented in the photos, he has mastered eating cake, too!

Gracie on the mend and Nana knows best

Apparently I should have posted about Gracie's illness a lot sooner, because "calling her out" about it on this blog seemed to do the trick!

Thanks to everyone for all your well wishes... we truly appreciate it. It's been so hard to see her so sick and listless - - we've missed her so much over the last several days.

Nana had been saying since arriving, "She looks like she has allergies... or a terrible sinus-induced migraine." While we agreed with the migraine part (we've seen this countless times with her), we weren't sold on the allergy part. She hadn't been sneezing and she didn't really scratch at her nose or eyes much (except for Wednesday - - the horribly windy day). She's been comprehensively tested twice with no major allergies (although I know it can change at any time). I figured if it was allergy related, it would have subsided by Friday and thought the fact that she'd been closed up in a dark room with the humidifier running non-stop should have helped and it didn't.

Late Saturday night, I gave her Benadryl, hoping that if it were allergy-related (like Nana thought), she'd get some relief and maybe a bit more rest. She spent the better part of the night with her head hanging off the bed, despite my repeated efforts to move her back. She seemed to be much more comfortable with the pressure in her head if she was "upside down" and when I finally decided to leave her alone, she rested a bit more comfortably... another indicator that she was suffering from serious sinus pressure. (Her bed is on the floor without a box-spring, so she's not in any danger! It's like this so that she has the freedom to get in and out of bed on her own.)

She woke up Sunday morning with her right eye swollen shut... and I mean shut. She'd been puffy-eyed for a couple of days, but today her left eye was normal and her right eye looked horrible. However, she immediately stripped herself naked (yes... diaper, too) upon waking and waited for me to come change her. While we are working on modifying this behavior, I was thrilled that my girl appeared to be making a comeback! I got her dressed, washed her face, did her trach care... and then she went back to sleep about a foot from her bed. While she napped, I talked to her opthamologist, explained the last few days and her fabulous "shiner" and she, too, thought it sounded "reactive" - - either sinuses or allergies. She recommended an allergy eye drops and wants me to call her Monday to let her know if her eye looks better.

Around noon Gracie emerged from her room. Her coloring looked a bit better, she wasn't as light sensitive and she was wanting to interact. Soon after, she signed, "shoes" as in, "I want my shoes so we can go somewhere." She continued to improve throughout the day and even joined us on an outing to the grocery store. Being upright in her chair and in the car seemed to help with the swelling in her eye, as did the eye drops. By evening, she was pretty much her sassy self (with the exception of a still-swollen eye and a bit less energy) and was acting as though the last 3+ days hadn't even happened.

Looks like Nurse Nana was right! Hopefully tomorrow we'll finally get to celebrate her birthday. And, it looks like Wednesday will go on as planned afterall!


(Despite how different their symptoms are, Preston is also suffering from allergies. His pediatrician put him on an antibiotic, which didn't do anything but tear up his tummy. I mentioned allergies to him, but he wasn't convinced. Nana was right about Preston, too... another point for Nana! Guess we'll be taking both kids in for allergy testing... something in the air here is not agreeing with them right now.)

Haven't Celebrated Gracie's Birthday...

Despite the fact that April 16th has come and gone, we haven't yet celebrated Miss Gracie's birthday. She is, I am sad to report, not well at all.

She awoke on Thursday, her birthday, grimacing and very teary. Wednesday had been a very busy day of appointments and being that it was also particularly windy that day, I wasn't too surprised that Wednesday night was exceptionally rough for her. But as Thursday wore on, and we still hadn't seen much more than a glimpse of a smile when she'd uncover her sighted eye to let in a split second of light, I knew that something more than a "rough night" was affecting her.

She didn't emerge from her room until the late afternoon and made a pit stop in a dark portion of our hallway, only to fall asleep again for about 45 minutes. Finally, just before 5pm, she begged for a bath and I, of course, obliged. Baths are a favorite and it really seemed to perk her up. We took the obligatory "birth day" photo (in her pajamas, post bath) and then around 8:45pm she was tired and ready to go back to her room. Friday was much the same, though a bit more light sensitive and she waited until after 5pm to leave her room. She perked up a bit upon seeing her Nana (who arrived Friday), but didn't give her the excited, loving reception she normally does.

Today was the worst so far... she didn't leave her room until tonight around 9pm. She finally asked for a bath when she uncovered her (still incredibly light sensitive) eye around 9:30pm and saw the light on in the bathroom. Of course, once again I obliged, giving her the one thing that seems to be bringing a bit of joy to her day. She perked up for a bit, tolerated about half her nebulizer treatment before getting furious and was back in her room falling asleep at 11pm. She didn't want me near her, so I am typing within earshot of her, but not where she can see me. She has been hysterical over any light, teary with any movement not initiated by her (i.e. diaper changes, suctioning, washing her face...) and is "sleeping" very fitfully... only about 45-60 restless minutes at a time and then she wakes up fussy and rocks to try and soothe herself. We are barely keeping her fluids up, but she is hydrated just enough to maintain. She's not tolerating much interference from any of us, but the moment that she has a lapse in whatever it is that's ailing her, she always offers up a little grin and some love... but that's really rare during the last 72 hours and happens only during those brief couple of hours when she rallies in the evening.

It's been a long while since we've seen her like this... and it is heartbreaking. In fact, I can't remember a 3+ day stretch of this magnitude in a long time... over a year for sure. It's not entirely clear what's ailing her - - a resurgence of her debilitating migraines, allergies, her heart... It could be any, all or none of these things. At this point, we've chosen to keep her at home and not head to the hospital. Her doctors here don't know us or her well enough to chat about her over the phone and pre-admit her. (It's in these situations that we miss most of her former medical team - - if we called about her needing to be admitted, we never had to wait in the ER.) Thus, when we take her in, it will mean hours in the ER trying to explain exactly why we brought her in and "she's miserable" isn't usually compelling enough to get you from the ER triage into a room. Her lungs are clear, she doesn't have a fever, her pacemaker isn't failing... and we have the equipment and knowledge to monitor and care for her at home... which is far better than the hospital. If, however, she's not markedly better by tomorrow afternoon, then we are taking her in.

It breaks our hearts to see her like this. There are so many ups and downs in her world - - and it seems that just when there are lots of wonderful "ups," she's blossoming and we make plans, things come crashing down and we are reminded how truly fragile her health is. Her first day of school is supposed to be Wednesday - - five months and one day from her last day of school when we moved. I am still hopeful (though realistic, too) that she will somehow be recovered and ready by then... she needs this, she deserves this, and up until Wednesday night, she was ready for this.

Happy Birthday, Gracie!!!

Happy 6th Birthday, Gracie!

Dear Gracie Girl,

Each year on this day, it's so hard for me to believe that another twelve months have passed and you're another year older. Are you really six already, Lollie?

Last year, on your fifth birthday, you were on the brink of so many changes in your life... some for which we'd planned so carefully and some we couldn't have foreseen at all. People who'd been in your life daily were suddenly gone - - Daddy (while at the Academy), Papa (to Afghanistan), Judy (your nurse). You started school, we found out we were moving and suddenly you were surrounded by growing stacks of boxes and bare walls. With the move, Nana was no longer around regularly, you lost all of your teachers, therapists, and new friends. Everything that was familiar changed - - with the exception of our nuclear family. Up until that point in your life, new experiences and changes outside the walls of our home were excruciatingly difficult, often so stressful that you'd become ill for days at a time. Knowing this about you and living through it all with you has made this past year all the more remarkable to witness... for it was you, out of the whole family, who adjusted so easily to our move. No small feat for any child - - and truly miraculous for you.

You've delighted in new experiences in ways that we only dreamed you would someday. You love the grocery store, any mall and Costco, you love going to restaurants, you kick and chuckle with delight when we pull into the parking lot at therapy clinic. These "someday wishes" for you have become a reality and it seems that every week I am saying to Daddy, "Can you believe her?!"

So today, on your sixth birthday, I am full of hope and anticipation for the upcoming year (not that I am anxious for it to pass!). You start your new school next week and, though I can't bear the thought of leaving you with virtual strangers, I am so excited for you. I know there will be a period of adjustment (probably more for me than you!), but I am so hopeful that this will be as seamless for you as when you started at the therapy clinic. And once you are settled, I cannot wait to see how you blossom and change... cannot wait.

You continue to take us on a remarkable journey, Gracelyn. Your strength, will, resilience and happy disposition never cease to amaze Daddy and me. And, with all that you've endured and continue to endure, your happy disposition is nothing short of miracle... as is your capacity to love. You've taught (and continue to teach) me more than I could ever possibly teach you... and it's a privilege beyond description to be your mommy.

I love you with all my heart,
Mommy

More excerpts from my mommy heart...

My sweet babies (who really aren't "babies" anymore),

This is, so often, how I find the two of you in the quietest moments of our day. Whether it's the early morning hours when Lollie is still in bed (often taking in the rest of her night's sleep after being up for hours) and Bubba crawls up next to her, or in the late afternoon following Bubba's nap, you always like to be close to each other and cuddle.

This picture was taken after Preston awoke from his nap two Fridays ago... following the "all about him" day with Mommy and Daddy. You guys missed each other so much and Daddy and I delighted in how excited you were to see one another. Preston's first word upon awaking was (his version of) Gracie's name and Gracie had been signing "Preston" (the only name she regularly signs) since discovering him napping up on the couch. When she saw he was awake, she signed "up" as in, "I want up with him NOW!"

As your Mommy, I am amazed by your connection - - not surprised - - just truly amazed. Your "secret language" has continued to develop and I still have not been given the rights to the "decoder ring." And, even though I wish I knew exactly what you were "saying" to each other, it's perhaps even more magical to not know for sure. You laugh when the other laughs, you will sometimes cry if the other is crying really hard, you love to copy each other - - whether in gestures or now, much to my delight, signs. And, like siblings do, you have your moments when you are not so thrilled with each other.

Preston, you still use your sissy as a step, a trampoline and target practice - - but it's not so much in malice toward her, rather testing Daddy and me. This makes it challenging to leave you two out of arm's reach for more than a second for fear of what "brotherly love" you might exert upon your sister. You are the master at apologizing and if she's not sitting up, you kneel down way low, lean in to her left side (her sighted eye) and sign a giant "sorry" and "hurt" while saying it, too. Usually, though, when we do turn our backs for a second, we see what's captured in the photo above - - and not the naughtiness.

Preston, I love that every chance you get, you are giving Gracie a play-by-play of what you see, especially when we're driving. "Dee Dee, yuk... airpane!" (Gracie, look... airplane!) "Dee Dee, yuk... big tuck (truck)!" I am amazed by your vocabulary, your ability to put together four and five word sentences with adjectives, no less. You tell all of us (anyone who will listen!) the size and color of the things you see. Just the other day, and we STILL don't know where you learned this - - unless you remember from last summer - - "Yuk Momma, yady bug... watch yady bug! Red yady bug!" And then, when we saw another one that was dying (I think that she got stepped on by accident...), I told you that she was hurt and you said, "Orwry (sorry) yady bug, seepy (sleepy) yady bug." As much as you love telling any of us who can hear you, you love trying to tell your sister even more. You practically yell, hoping (I think) that she'll hear you and you naturally remember to sign for her, too.
"Yuk, Dee Dee, pot!" You pointed up and signed "stop" at the stop sign while being pulled in the wagon, again, blowing my mind at what you know and articulate, and warming my heart to no end that you want your sister to see and know, too.

And sweet Gracie - - you aren't all that innocent when it comes to naughtiness... it's just more gentle-natured! You constantly want to interrupt your brother's sleep! Any chance you get to steam roll over him when he's resting, you take it! It's funny, really, because it's as though you know that you can get even for the "brutality" that you take from him! He's asleep, and therefore, you have the upper hand! For you, though, steamrolling is just a way to get extra close and "examine" him. You stare at him, touch his hair, play with his hands and his feet. Watching you watch your brother sleep (and watching him actually sleep through it all) is one of my most favorite things to do. You are completely mesmerized by your sleeping brother and, I imagine (just as I am sometimes), you are a bit relieved some days when he does finally give in to a nap!

As your mommy, it is my greatest wish that you continue to love each other this much and more... that your secret language continues to develop... that you find joy in one another... that you are kind to each other...
I am your mommy... but in your sibling world, I am just the quiet observer - - awestruck, proud, sometimes exasperated :) and most of all, completely in love with the love you two share.

Happy Easter

Happy Easter!

And an Easter memory from last year...

what a difference a year has made for Miss Gracie!

Foto Friday vol. 11

Tumbling Boy
Last Friday was all about Preston. John had the day off and since Gracie's nurse worked that day, we spent about five hours alone with our boy, doting on him and giving him some well-deserved, undivided attention. Not a doctor, therapist or suction machine in sight.

I signed him up for a "TOTnastics" class at our local gymnastics club and Friday was his first day. He had a ball and really wasn't still enough to get many pics! They start with circle time, sing a couple of songs, do a "dance" activity and then complete an obstacle course. After that, the remainder of the hour is free-play... trampoline, bars, climbing castle, rings... you name it, he tried it all! He was the youngest in the class by about 6 months and did a fantastic job following directions!
So hard to say what his favorite part was... but suffice it to say that on the "spring" floor, he can give Tigger a serious run for his money when it comes to bouncing! He jumped across that floor like a maniac!

After class, we drove to Huntington Beach, had lunch, went to the farmer's market and played and played! By the time we got home, he was completely sacked out!

Unfortunately, Saturday his runny nose reared it's ugly head again and now he has a nasty cough. After a trip to the doctor Wednesday, he is now on his first round of antibiotics (at 23 months) and may not be able to attend again until next week. :-( The "ick" he caught last month just won't go away.

Friendship Bread
Our super sweet neighbor brought the starter for friendship bread over and I immediately knew that this would be a great "project" for the kids to help with... and also a little OT, too! Turns out that Preston needs a little work in the sensory area! He shuddered every time it was his turn to mush the bag!

Gracie, on the other hand, LOVED every bit of the mushing! She got so excited each time she'd sit and wait for me to hand her the bag! Tactiley defensive...? Formerly!

Day 10: Complete the recipe and create four new starters. I chose to make muffins instead of loaves of bread... they turned out scrumptious - - so scrumptious that I made John take most of them to work the next morning! Preston spent the next two days asking for "mo muttin" (more muffin). Next time, I'll save a couple extra for him and will make some muffin tops, too! (It's really not a "bread," more like a sinful dessert, especially served warm!)

Bubbles Galore

Bubbles are a BIG deal in this house and they bring a tremendous amount of joy to all of us!

Gracie won't sit up for long... and Preston won't sit down for long!

Things you can do with bubbles: Chase them, try to eat them, clap them, laugh at them, jump for them, watch them intently, try to steal them from your sister, laugh at your brother trying to steal them from you...

Foto Friday Sunday vol. 10

A bit of this and a bit of that...

Last Saturday's Impromptu Outing started with an early afternoon drive down Pacific Coast Highway. Despite being sunny and warm, it was too windy for Miss Gracie's eyes and trach, so we didn't stop at any of the beaches (much to Preston's dismay). We just meandered and eventually ended up at South Coast Plaza (a very cool, but budget unfriendly shopping mall). We walked around a bit, did some dreamy window shopping and then the rest of the afternoon and evening unfolded as follows...


The boys were first on the carousel (which instead of horses, now has bunnies to ride for Easter)

Next it was the girls' turn


Both kids (and their parents!) loved it! We were so bummed that we only had cell phones with us - - none of the action shots turned out!

Next we headed to dinner, where both kids (John and Preston) were fairly well-behaved!
Gracie, however, was Miss Fast Fingers and reached for everything on the table... including my Margarita! It's the first one I've had in ages and I had to share the salt and lime with my not yet 6 year-old daughter! She really liked it... too funny!

Next we were off to Brookstone to listen to the iPod towers they have blasting as you walk by. Preston insisted on dancing around... so we did. Nothing like dancing in public with a 22 month-old to make you feel young and alive! Miss Gracie was parked right next to the tower with her hand and foot firmly planted on the speaker. She was groovin' to the beat and lovin' it!

Then... the big event... a visit with the Easter Bunny! This was a first for both kids (this would have been terrifying for Gracie just last year) and they had so much fun! We took a family photo that was such a summary of the happiness and fun of the day, that we just had to buy it!

(Clearly this was unplanned, for with the exception of Gracie's outfit, our attire was less than "springy!")

This one of the kids is my favorite... it melts my heart for so many reasons... pride for Gracie and all she's tolerating in a busy day, new experiences, Preston's expression, his little hands on his lap... all so sweet :-).
We topped off the evening with ice cream, which is always a good way to end any day!

Gracie's IEP went very well. It was, without a doubt, the most efficiently run, well-organized IEP she's had to date. I'm excited about her team... they all have experience with DeafBlind students and they've worked together successfully for years. We officially established her placement in the "Multiply Disabled Deaf and Hard of Hearing/Total Communication Class," which allowed the district to post the job for Gracie's Health Aid. We will have another IEP 30 days after she starts school to establish goals for the next year, re-evaluate services, etc. In the meantime, Gracie will attend three days a week for three hours. (Unfortunately, she can't start until her health aid is hired and the medical orders paperwork is completed by both GI and Pulmonology. This is proving to be my next challenge as their sense of urgency is not the same as mine. Since Spring Break is next week, we are shooting for a start date the week of the 20th... FIVE months from her last day of school up north. Ugh.)

Anyway, if she adjusts well and her stamina is good, we will add in the other days and then extend her day by one more hour (the full Kindergarten day is four hours). During her time at school, she will receive:
- Group OT (30 minutes per week, plus consultation)
- Group Speech/Aural Rehabilitation (30 minutes per week, plus consultation)
- Individual Speech/Aural Rehabilitation (30 minutes per week, plus consultation)
- Audiological Services (15 minutes twice per month for testing and amplification monitoring)
- Vision Services (will have a functional vision assessment to determine service and consult recommendation; for first 30 days, the service will be twice per month for 30 minutes)
- Individual PT (30 minutes per month consultation)

- Assistive Technology Services (will be re-visited at 30-day meeting; previously Gracie had an adaptive keyboard - with larger, easier to see keys and a switch to work with at the computer, as well as software to use for various lessons/teaching strategies.)
- Adaptive Physical Education (will participate weekly with the class and the APE instructor will then provide recommendation for assessment and services at the 30-day meeting)

The entire school team will also consult with the OT and PT at the Medical Therapy Unit. Her schedule at that clinic (for now) is OT and PT for 30 minutes back-to-back once a week and combined OT/PT for 30 minutes once a week. The later will be increased to a back-to-back hour eventually.

Speaking of therapy clinic, Gracie was, as previously mentioned, a total ROCKSTAR at her first clinic therapy session last Monday! The moment we entered the PT room (a room she's not yet been in), she signed "up" and "play" and pointed to where she wanted to go! I was so excited that she was excited! She did great, tolerating the activities and following signed instructions with modeling. She was, however, her typical "sneaky" and "cheating" self (said with a smile and heart full of love... not meant as insults!) and tried at every chance to get horizontal! Give her a moment of down time sitting up and she's trying to get down. That's nothing new... and neither is working on it! She cried when I signed that it was time to go! She used to cry when we arrived at places and wanted to go!!! YAY!

We go back this Monday and Thursday.

More Foto Friday...

Faces


This sums up Gracie's Tuesday and most of her nights as of late. Even though she is so upset, there actually are things I love about this picture... her hair that rivals Einstein's :-), she's signing "up" furiously (thus the blurry hand), she had just signed "sit, up" and pointed at that very bench - - this expression of anger was what I got in return for obliging her request!



Spring Training

And last, but certainly not least, our new nephew/cousin...