Hard work pays off...

Hard work does pay off and boy have we been working hard for 3 years!

Therapy for special needs children is hard work. In the beginning I was frustrated that we were not seeing results fast enough. I then realized that our results came in small increments. AnnaKate receives speech therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, early intervention therapy and therapeutic horseback riding. This does not include all the therapy related play we do at home! AnnaKate has to work so much harder to see results but boy they are coming.

Thanks to great therapists, AnnaKate can...
WALK
JUMP
WORK PUZZLES
COLOR
FEED HERSELF ANYTHING
FOLLOW COMMANDS
and
correctly say, mama, dada, ball, tail and hi.
She has lots of other word approximations.

She can also do tons of other things...take off her clothes, smile really cute, put on her shoes and socks, correctly point to body parts (including hair bow...), communicate to get her needs met, identify some of her colors and she can always identify the letter A (because it is usually monogrammed on her shirt...)

If you have an RTS child or a special needs child....hold on...results are coming. Keep blowing those bubbles and doing that therapy~it does work. And in these economic times, push your lawmakers to continue to fund therapy for your child.

Hard work does pay off!

AnnaKate began saying hi yesterday at horseback...it melted my heart! A huge thanks to AnnaKate's speech language pathologist that has been with her for 3 years. Her persistence and hard work are finally paying off BIG! We love you Melissa~

This girl makes us laugh...

I mean...these pictures just say it all! AnnaKate always cracks us up!

She came walking down the hall this morning like this.

Funny Girl!

A New Toy

Billy got a new toy...

A daddy-daughter toy...

AnnaKate doesn't look really excited...but she is!!

Her own personal chariot...

And a chauffeur to pull it!!!

Billy got a new bike and a child's pull behind trailer.

I can see lots of daddy-daughter days with this new toy!

The trailer is also a stroller..pretty cool!

This was my favorite...Billy was tweaking the brakes and I asked
AnnaKate to help her daddy fix the bike.

Isn't she the cutest bike mechanic?

My Mom

As you get older and have your own family you realize how tough it is to be a mom.
My mom truly is the greatest mom.
She was a single mom when we were growing up, she worked, she cooked, she sewed, she gardened...she did it all! I really don't think there is anything she can't do. She was a great role model for me. She taught my sister and I how to be independent and strong women.
Thank you mom for making me the person I am today!
I love you

Bloom Where You're Planted

I found myself out in the yard planting and weeding this morning. I love this time of year. Each day there is something new in the yard that is bigger and better than the year before. I noticed the growth of the plants that I carefully placed years before. They look so hardy and at home in their spots. I then noticed the plants that were not placed by me. The rebel seeds that come up in every crack or flower bed that they find. They are just as strong and fervent as the well placed plants. As cheesy and cliche as it is, it got me started thinking about the phrase "Bloom Where You're Planted".

I have lots of friends facing tough job situations. They have either been told to leave their school, told to change their room, change their grade or to leave teaching permanently. The budget cuts are hitting us hard and it is tough for all of us. But the phrase "Bloom Where You're Planted" fits perfectly to how these women are handling their situations. They are going to stay strong, tough it out and bloom.

I also felt this phrase fit with our AnnaKate too. We did not choose to have a daughter with special needs. We did not choose this path. But just like one of my rebel seeds that did not get to choose it's location-we are thriving.

I hope that no matter what life deals me, I can "Bloom Where I am Planted."

*My mother will be pleased to see this lesson that I have learned. She has always felt there is a lot to learn in the garden.

Restful Weekend

As the school year comes to a close, the days get busier and busier! This weekend we went to the mountains for a nice restful weekend.

It was just nice family time. We shopped in Black Mountain and Asheville and even managed to sneak in a visit with Billy's sister.

We also did a lot of this...

and this...

AnnaKate loves to play on the screened porch. She does not even touch her toys...
she just goes in and out!

We came home to this beauty in our yard. I love peonies so much and this one is very special. It is from Billy's family farm. It is quite possibly the prettiest most wonderful smelling flower ever! (right Anna!)

What did you do this weekend?