Reaching New Heights

Yesterday was finally Emma's birthday party with a few friends from school and church!  She begged for a party at Climb Nashville which is an indoor rock climbing place.  If you recall a past blog, we went to an amazing birthday party there a little while back.  Emma fell in love with it and we decided to go with it.  She has been beside herself waiting on this party and she is still talking and now singing songs about how awesome it was!!  

I was so impressed with the amazing staff!  They do it all for you, set-up, serve, order your pizzas and help the kids.  All I did was show up with some cake and a few water bottles with a few prizes in them for the kids to take home.  I have never been so relaxed at a party before.  I just got to enjoy watching the kids try something new.  Non of her friends had been there before and they all just jumped in and gave it a shot.  One little girl was so good she got to try a harder wall across the gym and made it to the top.  I think her mom about passed out watching it, but it was amazing to see.  

I tried to just post a few photos but here is a sample of the awesome fun the kids had.

 Of course we had to have a Frozen cake:)  

 The amazing staff who just love your kids and make sure they have a great time from start to finish!

 daddy testing Taylor's safety harness out

 Up he went

Just hanging out with some friends!!

 Emma did really well this time and got even higher then her first trip.  They got to climb for over an hour and had about three or at times four staff members helping the kids take turns climbing parts of the easier wall.  

 This staff member is named Sally, Emma just loves her and I think she loves her back:)  Actually I know she does, she asked to help with her party!  Emma and her hugged the moment we walked in.  We meet Sally last time and she was so good with Emma.  I was so impressed that she picked up so quickly on what she needed and how to help her.  

 Auntie Jenn was the only brave adult who tried it this party and Emma tried to race her to the top, but she got so excited she stayed on the ground.  

 The kids happily ate pizza and cake after all that climbing.  The pizza was so good and the cake was tasty!  

 Here are a few of the gifts she got that we opened later after a rest!

All the kids had a lot of fun, and we were so happy that the parents enjoyed watching them climb and eating pizza too.  Emma told us later it was the best birthday party ever.  Tonight she told us she wants her party there when she turns 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, and 16 as well.  I think she better get a job there to be able to afford it!  I think we might have to look into a family membership and having Daddy trained to belay the kids.  I think I will never forget the smile on her face the whole time we were there.  She loved watching her friends climb, climbing herself, and being with her friends and family.  It was a good day, a very good day!

Bible Stories for His Beautiful Princess

Disclaimer: I received this book for free from the Tyndale House Publishing Company in exchange for an honest review.

So here is my honest review!

I have spend a lot of time recently trying to find a easy to understand, devotional type book I could share with Emma.  We tried a few popular kids devotionals, but they were a little above her language level and we had to quickly discard those books.  We just went back to reading the toddler Bible they both had.  But I kept hoping I could find a good fit for her as she is getting older.

I was thrilled to see Bible Stories for His Beautiful Princess by Sheri Rose Sheperd come out as one of the choices on Tyndale House Blog Network to be reviewed last month.  I quickly sign up to try it out.  It came in the mail last week, and Emma and I quickly opened it together. She loves loves getting mail.  She asked right then to start reading it.  The cover was so cute and really engaged her right off the bat.  We sat down and read about five stories right then.  They were easy to understand and so well written.  Emma was able to follow the stories easily.  I was so happy!!

Sheri Rose Sheperd choose great stories to share, she starts each story with a verse, an easy to understand storybook type telling of the story, a simple prayer, and a take away point from Princess Jewel.  Emma loves what Princess Jewel has to say and repeats it with me each time.  I love how she wraps the story up in a way kids can understand.  We also spend a lot of time talking about the beautiful illustrations by Shelley Dieterichs.  They really bring each story to life for kids and adults alike.

I will happily be recommending this book to all of my friends with girls.  I think most girls will love sharing Bible stories with Princess Jewel as their guide.  

Check out my Amazon Review

Please leave a comment if you have or go get this book and let me know how you enjoy it.  I am looking forward to many more snuggles in bed sharing this book together.

Princess Day

With the bruise still showing on her tiny hand from her IV and her spirit still showing the stress of the last little health hiccup, we decided Emma needed some special one or one time with mommy.  So, luckily the local library was having a special Princess party today and I signed her up.  We quickly changed from ballet shoes to her Brave Princess dress, and headed to the library after ballet.  The party was a lot of fun, they made crowns, did puzzles, made a place mat, danced and got to eat cake.  Best of all Princess Belle was there for it all.

Then after all that fun, we did a little shopping for a school project she has due this coming week.  Afterwards I had planned to take her to Taco Bell but she really wanted cheese dip.  We saw a little Mexican place near Michaels and headed there.  She was so excited to be eating with just me and her.  We ordered our drinks and of course cheese dip.  I swear it is both of ours love language, it makes us so happy.  We sat side by side and munched and laughed.  It was really nice to get to focus just on her and listen to her stories and laugh about not having to share with anyone her cheese dip.  

Then, we headed home for a much needed nap together.  I love those moments, when I lay with her in my bed, both of us snuggled under our favorite blankets, and I get to see such peace come over her sleeping face.  I hold her hand and we doze.  Sweet sweet moments!

Today was much needed for both of us.  Emma has really been emotional and a little stressed since her health hiccup, and I pray that a little extra TLC will help that stress.  She really had a good day, and as she drifted off today, she was still talking about Princess Belle.  Great memories made today for both of us, and I am grateful and proud to be the mom to such a sweet princess.  

Thankful for...

Being a special needs parent, is not always easy and it is definitely not glamorous.  However, it is full of the most wonderful moments amidst some of the hardest moments.  Today, I am thankful for those moments, those brief and magically moments, that help carry me through the storms that come when dealing with a medically complicated and hearing impaired child.

Emma has been through more in her life then most children and some adults have been through.  But it has never slowed her spirit down.  She has taught me to see the beauty around me on simple walks down the street or hikes in the woods.  She has taught me to dance and sing no matter how tired or worn down we both are.  Life is an adventure for her and she wakes everyday ready to take it on.

This week is one of those crazy weeks, where there are more doctors to be seen then days of the weeks, school functions to attend and both parents working.  But today while I finally got one moment to sit on the couch and do nothing, I got a wonderful phone call.  One of her teachers called to touch base about her school year so far.  Now, I have to say, when I saw the school number thirty minutes before she should be boarding the bus, my heart sank.  Oh no what could be wrong.  I was so surprised and pleased it was a good phone call!!

The teacher called to let me know that Emma was doing so well at school this new nine weeks.  She seemed to be relying on her assistant less and less and looking to her teacher and friends to help if she needed it, she was answering correctly more questions then last year, recalling facts easier, and going with the flow of the day much better.  I wanted to dance around the kitchen!  I am so proud of her.  No she might not be on the A honor roll, but to me her progress so far this year, is way more better then all A's.  Emma has spent the last two years trying sooooooo hard to learn and things seem to be finally falling into place.  I am so proud and honored to be her mom!

I am thankful that seven and half years ago, I gave birth this spunky, blue eyed child.  She has taught me a new way of life, I have had more sleepless nights, and more laughs then I can count.  Thank you God for my sweet Rose.  I am not sure what the coming weeks and years will bring, but I know who holds the future, and with that I rest easy tonight.  My growing Rosie has a God who loves her more then me, and He has her back!

The Wheels on the Bus

The Wheels on the Bus finally got to bring my brave, sweet girl home.  She has begged since starting Pre-K, to ride the bus.  This year, after a the first week of sitting for almost an hour with my two year old in car rider line, we started the long process to get her on the bus.  I will not bore you, with the amount of emails, a few phone calls, and almost two months of waiting, but patience won!  Emma got to ride the bus home yesterday for the first time. 

I will not lie, I was  a wreck!  This is a huge step of faith to allow someone else to drive my baby home.  However, we have a few safeguards in place, she is riding a bus with other kids who are exceptional education kids, she has a seat belt, and there is an aide on the bus to help.  Both the aide and driver seem nice.  However, I was still a mess yesterday.  My mom even came to stand outside my house waiting, then the bus was late.  To be honest I was about two minutes away from calling the school when it showed up:)  

The picture below was sent to me by her teacher, to show my how proud she was getting on for the first time.

 This was her working hard to get down the steps at our house.  Love her little tongue out showing how hard she was working.

The bus was late again today, and I was nervous, but talked with the driver and they should not be that late again.  Emma is loving her big girl status as bus rider and we are so very proud of what a huge leap of independence this is for her.  A year ago this could not have happened, but now we feel she is able to handle it and do well.  (We did tell her we would pick her up again if she decides she does not like it).

But for know, the wheels on the bus go around and around all the way to my door!!  I have to say: the extra hour a day is nice for me, and Taylor is getting a much longer nap!

My Prayer For This School Year

In two mornings, I will be walking Emma into a new classroom, the emotions that I am feeling are out of control.  It is such a mixed bag when you are a special needs parent.  I know how much Emma loves school, misses having that structure and longs to be surrounded by lots of friends.  But.....

I fear so many things as the new school year rapidly.  Will her parapro be good and take good care of her, will she get hurt (has happened), will her IEP be put into place and work this year, will her new teacher understand her unique needs and be able to reach her, will her new teacher communicate well with me, since Emma cant always, and so on and so on.  Yes I know I worry too much, but it is who I am:)  I am working on it and praying about it.

But this school year I am trying to worry about all of that less and pray instead.  My prayer this year is:

Dear Farther,
Please watch over my sweet Rosie as she goes back to school.  School is not always so easy for her, but she loves it so much.  Please help her mind to be open to new skills, her hearing aids tuned to learn, and her voice full of love and respect.  I pray that you align special friends near her, who will love her for who she is and protect her from those who may not treat her so nicely.  I pray you protect her heart from the pain other's may cause when they are unkind to her and leave her behind because she is not as fast or able to climb like them. You know how she loves all and does not understand those who are unkind. Protect and guide her during this new adventure dear Lord.  Give me the peace to leave her and trust in you.

Amen

I am trying, but still afraid.  But our uniforms are hung, almost all her supplies bought and her backpack is waiting.  Ready or not Thursday will be here soon.. till then I get one more day of Summer love!

Rising Above Easter Egg Hunt

My kids love Easter Egg Hunts!  However, Emma still really struggles with bending down and getting back up fast, I mean the kid has only been walking two years and has hip issues.  She however loves to hunt eggs, however it is not always easy for her to be in a hunt with normal kids her age.  Picture gates being opened and kids running crazily towards eggs, yep Emma gets left behind or knocked down.

However, this year a friend sent me a link to a local group for Special Needs Children and they were having a Egg Hunt this past weekend.  We had nothing going on and decided to sign Emma and luckily they allowed siblings so Taylor got to come too.  It was a beautiful day here Saturday despite the wind that was blowing.  We loaded the kids in the car with new baskets and headed to one of the coolest parks in our town.  It is known as the Dragon Park and it has a wheelchair accessible playground!  It is so cool!

We got there and there were cute Easter Games they could play for cute little prizes, crafts set up, bubbles flying everywhere from a bubble machine and we got the times for each kids hunt.  The kids loved playing the games and we could not get them off the playground!  They were having a blast!  I was loving the stress-free fun for them as well.  I was not having to worry about her getting ran over or left behind, which meant I was one happy mommy.

 Then, Emma's time to hunt finally came and let me tell you she was ready to go as you can see from the above photo. She was so happy!  She took off and was happily picking her eggs up.

 At the start with my baby girl

 Still amazes me!

 Taylor waited patiently to get to hunt later with siblings 3 and under, so he spent more time on the playground with Daddy, while I hunted with sissy.

 Getting fueled up for his hunt.

 He had fun getting his eggs in his new Elmo basket a friend gave me for him.  I unfortunately could not help him and get photos but trust me he had fun:) 

 After the hunts they had a little martial arts demo and Emma had so much fun.  Taylor sat far away with daddy, since he hates loud noises and was scared.

 The highlight of our day, was meeting in person a sweet girl we have gotten to know through facebook.  We were honored to pass on Emma's wheelchair doll and one of her walkers to this sweet girl!

 The magician was pretty fun as well.  This was the last of the two hours of fun!

 One more climb to the slides for Emma, as she shows off her Easter Egg necklace she made.

 

 SWING!!!

Two happy happy faces as we head out after all the fun!  It was a great two hours and lots of memories made in a safe atmosphere!  Everyone was so nice and so accepting and supportive.  It was a great afternoon for all!  Thanks Rising Above for helping my daughter and son have a positive experience!  Words can not express how amazing it was to watch her just be a kid!

Date Night

Friday night Daniel and I were given a much needed break for a few hours.  Date nights are rare for us, with two kids, one toddler and one special needs, it is not easy to get out.  Not to mention our budget is pretty tight, so we normally spend any extra money to do family things.  However, I am a junky when it come to trying to win things, anything, I have won toys, candy, free coupons for products, a hat, Cheekwood passes etc.  I love to enter to win things, and it is thrill to win. I normal win small things but the other day I got a call from Sirius XM and had won a pair of tickets to see Anita Renfroe tape a comedy special for Blue Collar Comedy station.  I was thrilled!  I loved seeing Anita perform at Women of Faith and thought she was so funny.  I entered her contest to win tickets off her FB page. 

After a week full of Daniel sick and Taylor sick as well, this mommy needed a night out!  So, when I won, I was thrilled.  A date night with only needing to pay for parking and a quick bit to eat before dinner, SCORE! 

We got all cleaned up and headed to the taping, it was so much fun.  We laughed and laughed and got to just relax for two hours.  Then, we walked downtown to see the little country music shops, and bars and talked.  We capped the night with a Star Bucks treat thanks to a gift card we had.  It was a perfect evening of relaxing and having fun.

The stress of having young kids and a special need is exhausting and we realized a while back that it is important for us to seek a babysitter and get away to recharge our wife and husband relationship when we can.  Just a few hours away to be just us renews us and recharges us to deal with the joys and craziness of parenthood.  I am so thankful for the family we have that will help us get a few hours away.  We have so many aunts, uncles, and grandparents that realize we need a little break and allow that to happen. 

It was a great fall night and the laughter and fun will be a great memory for years to come.  Love you Daniel!