First Grader!

Chloe is in first grade! She is gone all day! I was worried about her being fed with the g-tube at school, but we did a training with the teacher and all of the assistants the week before school started and everyone did great and was comfortable with the process. Chloe is grumpy when she gets home because she wants to still be at school! So I'll put my hurt mom feelings aside and just celebrate that she is enjoying school so much. I'm enjoying myself as well, getting lots of little projects done before the baby gets here. Win-win!

This is Chloe's brand new grasshopper green wheelchair. Isn't it cute?! Sigh. Well, unfortunately, the headrest does NOT work for her. Her little head is so spastic and we thought the i2i headrest was going to be a perfect, but less bulky, replacement for the blue neck brace she had been using. Well, it might be a size thing, but it might also just not be the right fit. Either way, she's back to using her old wheelchair (which she is largely grown out of) along with the blue neck brace that I was so excited to put away and never see again. Meanwhile, this beautiful, shiny, new wheelchair is sitting unused in our house while I try to get the wheelchair vendor to get us equipment that is functional for Chloe. I'm bummed about the whole thing, but know it will work out....not sure when, but it WILL work out!

June 2013

Chloe got her first Botox treatment ever this June. We saw quite a bit of improvement from it and are now firm believers. She had fewer leg spasms at night so she slept better and she started using her left arm/hand a lot more.

This pic was when we were swimming/lounging on the back patio to celebrate kindergarten graduation! What a big girl!

Yes, I know, we were just celebrating kindergarten graduation, but just a few weeks later, Chloe was back to summer school! And she wouldn't have it any other way ~ this girl LOVES school!

Chloe got this new swing and we had already got our money's worth out of it after the first day. So, yes, she LOVED it!

Chloe's Virginia souvenir bears

We also got Chloe this Wike special needs bike trailer/all-terrain stroller. (Wow, I just realized how spoiled we were this summer with lots of new stuff!) Chloe LOVED going on bike rides, but we used it more for hiking - mostly to get out of the blistering/record breaking heat! But this fall, I'm sure we'll get back to biking (if my pregnant body can handle it, that is!)

All these pictures were from our first weekend at the cabin with the new stroller. We went to Whitney Reservoir, Mirror Lake, and just adventuring around the cabin. It was so much fun and Chloe was in absolute heaven!

April 2013

Went to Antelope Island for a picnic on my birthday

Chloe cheering on Will and PJ at their baseball games!

Cutest cheerleader EVER

Oby took a hike to Buffalo Point on Antelope Island and caught this awesome sunset

Chloe and her teacher, Mrs. Phelps

Chloe and my dad were color coordinated at church one day so we had to get a pic!

Chloe's Functional Skills class picture for 2012-2013

Chloe with her class in the library

Chloe with some fellow kindergarteners in her functional skills class before a fieldtrip

Fieldtrip to Discovery Gateway museum

Us two just hanging out

At the zoo

At the zoo with her cousins ~ Chloe looks unimpressed ;)

One more pic in her cute zoo hat

My Kindergartener!

Chloe was SO excited to start kindergarten! We are excited for her to start this new adventure! She is such a little social bug and I know she is going to thrive in the school environment. 

We got her this new neck brace to wear in the wheelchair because she just hasn't developed the neck control she needs yet. Even though it makes me a little sad for her to have to wear it all the time, it also makes me so happy to know that her little head is where it needs to be even when I'm not around. It's the little things that make this mama happy! 

That's a Wrap!

Sending Chloe off to special needs preschool as a little non-ambulatory, non-verbal 3-year-old was one of the scariest things I've ever been asked to do! BUT, 2 school years later, I can say that it was a truly successful and joyous experience for Chloe! Since she is non-verbal, her teachers would send home a little note each day to let me know what she did and how she did. Most of the time, the notes looked something like this...

"I was HAPPY. I worked HARD. I ate PUDDING. I GIGGLED. I played with LONDON."

Adorable, right? It would always bring a smile to this mama's face.

Oh, London... I guess I should explain... that was Chloe's bestie in school. She only moved to the area a couple months before the school year was out, but they were INSTANT buds, just loved being together! And don't they kind of look alike? Chloe still likes when I talk about London...

Best Buds London and Chloe

Hmmm... guess it's no surprise that Chloe was awarded for being a social butterfly :):)

One of MANY special accomplishments to come!!!

Congrats, Miss Chloe, on graduating pre-school!

We are so proud of you and

BELIEVE IN YOU!!!

Back to School Bonanza

Lots of people ask, "How does Chloe like school?"

I'll answer that with a photo because, as they say, a picture speaks a thousand words....



Did you get that? It's a resounding YES. Chloe LOVES school AND her teacher, Miss Meegan!....



I had big plans for the first day. An outfit was picked out. I even made a list of which photos I wanted to capture because she was going to be looking extra adorable because we were going to wake up early and have plenty of time before the bus time to pose for pix.... Well, that's what I thought anyway. Of course, the night before school started, Chloe didn't fall asleep until 6 a.m. You read it right, folks. It was a rough night. Oh, and did I mention it was the first day of my new job as well? Awesome.

Anyway, so her hair was a mess, there are no props or cute poses (not even a photo op by the bus because we missed it) and she can hardly hold her head up due to exhaustion, but I had to at least show you her cute outfit....



I was inspired by this cute idea and made Miss Meegan an ABC bouquet. It was a hit!....



I had good intentions of making this adorable wreath as well. I even bought all the stuff! Well, you know what they say about good intentions. For teacher appreciation week, maybe?....



The next night, I helped put on a back to school-themed evening for our Relief Society. It turned out so great! Here's a little peak at what we did....





Have I mentioned I went back to school as well? Yep, to finish my Master's in Healthcare Administration. Which is exactly why I'm blogging right now -- anything to avoid Statistics homework!!! ;)

Preschool Peeps

Chloe's last day of her first year of school was this week. She just loves her teachers and the feeling is mutual! Because Chloe will be going back to this same class next school year, she didn't officially "graduate" preschool, but her teachers did give her a certificate of achievement for having the best laugh! So sweet :)

Chloe with Miss Megan, Miss Tonya & Miss Linsay

Chloe was SO excited that Grammy and Papa were able to come to meet her preschool peeps....

Chloe with Papa & Grammy

She did not stop smiling and squealing the entire time. I'm pretty sure if she could have talked and walked, she would have been dragging Grammy, Papa and I around by the hand showing us everything in her classroom and introducing us to all of her friends. She kept looking at us, then would look at a person, as if to say, 'Hey, did you see her? She is my friend and I'm so happy you get to meet her!' It was really heart-warming, actually.

Miss Chloe

Speaking of heart-warming, watch this video that one of her teachers made as a reflection of her class and the commencement of their school year. It is just SO sweet!....

Special Needs Preschool class from Tara Bennett on Vimeo.

Can't get enough? Then feel free to also watch this video of the class that meets after Chloe's class goes home. We are friends with quite a few of the kiddos in this class, so I had to share it too!

Preschool from Tara Bennett on Vimeo.

I want to publicly thank Miss Megan, Miss Tonya, all the other assistants and therapists who helped Chloe this school year. It was so frightening to send her to school and entrust her into the care of perfect strangers. But as the title of "stranger" melted away, and as I began to feel how much they loved Chloe and how fiercely they fought for her well-being and progress, any fear or apprehension was replaced with complete trust, respect and appreciation. I cannot explain the depth of my gratitude to know that she was in such great hands! I never worried about her for one second while she was in school. I never wondered if they were taking good care of her or giving her enough attention... I knew without a doubt that they were providing the best care and helping Chloe meet her potential in every way possible. It is an honor to know them and a humbling experience to allow them to help me prepare Chloe to be a confident little lady who will be ready to begin her elementary education. "Thank you" just doesn't seem enough, but I know the adoration Chloe has for them is all the thanks they need. So until next year, friends, THANK YOU!!!!!

Classroom Cuties

This week we did more filming for the playground video. This time we got some shots in Chloe's classroom. It was the first time I got to spend much time with Chloe in *her* place. She was just loving all the attention and kept making sure I was watching and would stop "showing off" if Ryan, the film guy, was filming someone else. She wanted to save all her energy for her time in front of the camera.... She's such a little diva!

I was especially excited to meet Shurlyn -- I've been told that Shurlyn and Chloe are besties at school. Oh, she is just such a sweetheart. She can speak, but has to have a speaker so you can hear her (because she has a ventilator). She told me that Chloe was her friend and thanks for the Valentine. SO SWEET.

(found this poster via Pinterest -- my new favorite website)

Shurlyn also loved showing off in front of the camera and she and Chloe were excited to show how they ride the see-saw together. I was seriously in heaven watching my girl in this place where she is loved and accepted and has a whole different routine than anything she knows in our home. I could not stop smiling the entire time!

Shurlyn on the touch screen and Chloe on the see-saw

Chloe's teacher was especially excited to show me the swing Chloe loves. They hang it low to the ground and she lays flat on her back. Then she pushes herself with her feet. She loves being independent, so being able to push herself is pretty much heaven on earth for this girl! She was squealing and giggling up a storm while she showed me. But if Ryan wasn't filming, she would stop completely and just wait. Oh my word, this girl makes me laugh!

Chloe on her swing making sure everyone's paying attention -- lol!

A few months ago, I met a guy at work, Tony, who's going to school to be a PA. We became quick friends because of our mutual adoration of Arrested Development, but then we found out that both our girls have special needs. Then we found out they even go to the same preschool! His little Indie goes to the afternoon class and Chloe goes to the morning, but still! What a small world! I asked Tony's wife and daughter if they'd mind participating in the video and they were kind enough to come along for the ride! Oh my word, miss Indie is such a little spit fire -- a ball of energy and fun! When she gets excited, she rings her hands together and smiles so big that her eyes close. Ryan got some great shots of Indie swinging and jumping on the playground surface. She's a doll. Jessica is lovely ~ she and I were fast friends, and I was so happy to have met them!!!

Indie & Jessica

Ryan got some great shots of all the kids doing different types of therapy and how much they enjoy (and need!) sensory input and sensory play. It was quite a process to get the school district to approve this little film session, lots of forms had to be signed by lots of people, so this day was not taken for granted. BUT it was also worth it! I think much of what we got that day is what will really help people understand the who and why behind this project. It was a special day.


Grace and Shurlyn enjoying sensory play

And seriously, Chloe was so freaking adorable while she was in the fire engine area at the school's playground. I don't know exactly what it was about this that she loved so much, but she was squealing and smiling up a storm! Maybe because it gave her an enclosed feeling? And she kept trying to drive the steering wheel. Whatever the reason, it was delightful to watch!


Chloe loving life in the fire truck

Of course I'll post the video as soon as it's available for viewing. I'm excited to see how it turns out. We're going to try to do three versions -- a long 6-8 minute one, a medium 3-5 minute one (that will be used most often), and a 30-second commercial-type one. We're hoping to get the 30-second one shown in the local theater(s) before previews. Ryan's previous work is amazing and his heart is 100% into this project (I actually saw him wiping tears away a few times while we were in Chloe's classroom), so I'm confident that his end product is going to be nothing shy of amazing. Can't wait to share it with everyone!!! (Unless, of course, I look fat, then I'll just keep it to myself! hahaha..... I'm not kidding.)

Another Big Day!

Chloe's 2nd day of preschool went perfectly! This morning when I was getting her ready, I asked if she was excited to go to school again and she just smiled, squealed and kicked in delight. She got a little freaked out for about 5 seconds on the bus lift, but once she was in, I went to check on her and she was already doing fine, smiling and giving the bus aide kisses. She had a super fun day at school and squealed and giggled during the entire bus ride home. I think this girl is going to LOVE school! Yay!!!....

This evening while I worked almost my last night shift, Chloe went with Daddy and Nana to the state fair. It's starting to feel like fall around here, so they bundled up and went to enjoy the animals and yummy snacks. Chloe loved it!....