First BIG Day of Preschool!

Dressed all pretty for her first day of preschool!

Good morning Alayna!

So cute!
"Mom, I'm not sure about this."

All bundled up, snug and tight and unable to move much :( waiting for the school bus.


Alayna getting a bit fussy waiting.

Alayna & Me - And no tears from mom....I had to go teach right after this and that would've been bad! :) Had a few butterflies though.

Chris, Alayna's driver, loading her up on the ramp. At this point, she was more intrigued on what was going on.

Going up and up some more.

Almost there now! Unlocking the brakes so we can back her up.
She's finally in the bus and Chris is doing her tie-downs.
And there is the bus driving away.....:( .....have a good day little Alayna.
Alayna got a new pair of shoes today! I ordered her some Hatchbacks which are awesome to get on with her AFO's. They fit so well I think I'm going to order a black patent leather pair for dressy days. So cute and worth the money!

Today I was actually running ahead of schedule! I didn't want Alayna to be late for her very first bus trip to preschool, so I made sure we were up gettting dressed and fed before 7 am. When we arrived to my classroom I strapped her up in her KidKart, wheeled her down the hall to the door, and patiently waited for the bus. Alayna was a trooper, but as you can see from a few of the photos she was getting restless and irritated. I think just being strapped in the KidKart is a big adjustment for her let alone all of the other parts that goes along with this adventure. I haven't had the chance to talk with her bus aide, but I'm eager to hear how the ride wen

At lunch time I broke down and called the preschool to check on her. I just need affirmation that she was doing okay. It's hard to imagine that she was out in the world without anyone that she really knew. The secretary was so nice and she got Ms. Renee, Alayna's teacher, on the phone. Alayna was doing pretty good, but of course had her fussy times around her normal nap schedule. Eating lunch was a bit of a challenge too, but she ate 4 bites of pepperoni pizza that they put in the Magic Bullet! Don't tell Alayna, but that just sounds so nasty. She also ate a bowl full of apricots which I've honestly never given to her before. In fact, I don't think I've ever ate apricots! It's going to take some adjustment time for Alayna that is for sure. I just pray it only gets better with each day. I want this to work so badly for her.

Alayna arrived back at my school at 2:30 pm. The issue right now is that I'm not done teaching until 3:10 pm. Patti, Alayna's babysitter, works in the library and will get Alayna as long as she is in the building. However, Alayna got back today and had a major meltdown. It's hard to take care of her in the library. She just wanted out of the KidKart so bad. Patti took her back to her house and she was fine. She ate a snack and was probably relieved to be in familiar surroundings. I appreciate that so much. I'm kind of playing the next few days by ear and see how things go. I'm not sure if I'll have to resort to getting a different drop off spot other than at my school.

What I really like is that we have a notebook in Alayna's book bag that we can correspond back and forth with. That makes it nice since I'm not able to drop her off or pick her up. I can also let Ms. Renee know how Alayna's morning has went. Tomorrow is a new day, so wish her luck again! This new routine is a big step for the both of us.

"God doesn't give children with special needs to strong people; He gives children with special needs to ordinary, weak people and then gives them strength. Raising a child with 1p36 Deletion Syndrome doesn't TAKE a special family, it MAKES a special family." I liked this when I read it and I borrowed it from another 1p36 mom. Well said Kelly.

Happy 3rd Birthday Alayna & Preschool Begins!

Alayna getting ready for her birthday party!

She's officially 3!

She has the roundest little bottom and slides down on the leather couch!

Laughing with her foot up in the air.

Playing with her toys and refusing to make eye contact with the camera. Imagine that!

Alayna loves it when I wear a hat. It's very intriguing to her. She plays with it and here she got a grip and put it in her mouth. Gotta taste everything I guess!

I was trying to get her to participate a little in the unwrapping part of the birthday, but she still isn't too interested. She'd rather just play with the toys. Thank you to everyone for the lovely gifts. Let's just say that she'll be one of the best dressed at her new school!

Singing Happy Birthday to Alayna. And of course, she had to have a book to keep her entertained. By this time she was getting cranky and tired. Right after this, she went to bed....officially the first party-pooper of the night!

These are all of the cousins on my side of the family....Will, Chloe, Ava, Alexis, Audrey, Alayna, Jalen, Cameron, Drake and Douglas.

Since Alayna loves the Spongebob theme song, as a family we thought it was appropriate for a Spongebob cake! Yummy....it was sooooo good.

Alayna has officially graduated from Early Intervention :( This was her last session with her PT, Kim, at the Children's Therapy Center. We were a bit sad. It's been nearly 3 years that we've been working with these therapists and it is hard imagining not having them in your life. A new chapter is opening up. However, the great thing is that if we still want Alayna to have some services through the CTC, we can file it with our insurance. We'll just have to see what Alayna's schedule will allow in the summer. For now, preschool will take up every day of the week.

This is Alayna standing at the table. She's doing pretty good with it. We still have to use at least one knee immobilizer to help keep her up. She will bend the knees and fall otherwise. She'll get there!

Preschool Begins Tomorrow, February 1st!

For the past few months, we have been eagerly preparing for preschool. We had her IEP meeting, a tour of the preschool, met the principal, and met her classroom teacher and all of her therapists. We've been buying school supplies for her "locker", getting her book bag packed, and making sure we know every facet and gadget of her KidKart. I've been meeting with our district transportation director since I work at the high school and we finally have her bus driver and bus aide determined. I truly can't believe it is tomorrow!

Last Friday, Alayna's birthday, I took the day off of work so that we could finish our appointments and also do a "trial" bus run into preschool. I was so glad that I had the opportunity to do this. We basically did it just like we would on a school day. It couldn't work out any better than this. I take Alayna to my high school where I work, I load her in her KidKart, her driver swings over by where I park to load her up, and then goes over to the bus barn to wait for her bus aide. Her bus aide has a morning bus route, but it seems to work out just fine. Both the driver and her aide are EMT's, so I couldn't put her in better hands. It took approximately 25 minutes to get to the preschool. She will leave in the morning around 8 am and should arrive at school by 8:30 am (this is when they start). Her school day will be over around 2pm and then she'll be brought back to me at the high school.

One of the cool things right now is that she is the only student on the bus because she is the only child in our district attending the SKIP preschool. Nothing like getting individualized attention! And my plan is to leave her KidKart in my classroom instead of hauling it home every night. I honestly don't use it much because when we do go someplace I throw her in a stroller. This will save me alot of time in the morning from having to unload it, plus it will be warm and I can get her all situated in a warm classroom.

Tomorrow is officially the 1st day of preschool! Little Alayna will definitely have some adjustment to this new schedule. It'll be interesting how she does. I joked with the teachers if they had ever had a child get kicked out of school for behavior the first day! They laughed and reassured me that she'd be fine. I have a feeling she'll be receiving lots of attention from the staff. They told me that's the way it is when the get a new student and they are very excited! Pray for Alayna and I'll keep you posted.

Cry, cry, cry....so a trip to the Pediatrician

A week ago this past Friday, Dana took Alayna to Iowa City for a vision appointment. Well, let's just say it wasn't a fun trip. She cried nearly 3 hours straight and Dana could do nothing for her. So, I made an appointment with her pediatrician that evening. Everything physically checked out fine, but we have blood work being done to see if anything seems wrong. The ironic thing is that starting Saturday morning she turned back into this littlest, sweetest, angel. What gives?! It is so difficult when they can't communicate. Maybe she just wasn't feeling good that day. I mean, we all have those days where we are just off. I don't know! She keeps us on our toes that is for sure. After preschool tomorrow, she has her 3 year old physical, which I'm sure she'll love. Right now she weighs 24.8 pounds.

Happy 3rd Birthday

Three years ago, January 29, 2007, our lives changed in a way that we never expected. Alayna continues to make us better people, teaching us patience, appreciation, value of life, how to enjoy each minute and each milestone, and to stop and smell the roses more often than we used to. I think that her life has impacted many people who know her and that is one reason why she is God's gift to us. Through Alayna, God is working in mysterious ways. Her turning 3 marked the end of one chapter and the beginning of another. I pray that preschool is a wonderful thing for her and that we seen Alayna continue to progress. Alayna has had wonderful care-givers over the past 3 years and to them I say "thank you for your kindness, love, and nurturing and may God bless you." The great thing is that Alayna will still get to visit each of them during her two week breaks. So, Happy 3rd Birthday Alayna. We love you so much.

Christmas Fun & Preschool Update

Alayna with Great-Grandma Alice and all her first cousins on the DeKeyrel side.

The DeKeyrel cousins getting ready to unwrap presents!

Family photo - Dana & Angie with Douglas (5), Alayna (2), Alexis (11), & Drake (9)

Sister Alexis and Cousin Audrey entertaining Alayna...or should I say she was entertaining them!

Alayna and Audrey (9)

Alayna getting giggly on Christmas day!

Me and my little Alayna

Grandpa Denny & Alayna

My four kids with their grandparents, Denny & Diana (my parents)

Alayna checking out Grandma Diana's pretty necklace. She loves to chew on them!

Alayna loves her Grandma Diana.

My kids with their Great-Grandma....a.k.a....Mimi.

Alayna loves her books.

Alayna still doesn't have her top 2-year molars. I imagine that is why she is chewing on everything.

Douglas, Drake, Alayna & Alexis on Christmas morning!

They helped Alayna unwrap her presents!

A picture with her presents!

What a cutie, but I'd have to agree that her nose looks a bit orange. Too many orange veggies!
Alayna with Santa at her Children's Therapy Center Christmas Party!
Alayna sleeping at the CTC Christmas party.
Alayna laughing at her book. She loved that one and now it is broken :(

Christmas Fun

As we parents know, challenges come along with holidays. Like getting all of the kids ready, going many places, and not keeping a normal routine to the day. Overall, Alayna tolerated the hustle and bustle pretty well, but she did have a few moments when she would've rather been home in her own comfort zone. And we did too, trust me! The biggest challenge we faced with her was getting her to take a nap. When Alayna gets tired, she fights her sleep and if she isn't in her "normal" setting, she is even worse. She loved the mashed potatoes, fruit salads, and cool whip desserts. I hope next year she gets into it a bit more and participates in unwrapping her gifts. We'll just have to wait and see!

Preschool Is Around the Corner

Alayna's IEP is written and she will officially be an attending student at SKIP (Special Kids in Preschool) starting February 1st! It is an interdistrict preschool for special needs children and it is amazing. Her IEP meeting went extremely well. I went into it with a list of things I wanted addressed in her plan and every one of them were already taken care of. The teachers didn't miss anything. We are so thankful that she has a place to go that will address all of her needs from PT, ST, and OT. In addition, she will have music therapy and adaptive physical education. She will attend five days a week from 8:30 am - 2:00 pm. I will put her on the school bus where I work (at the high school) around 7:45 am and she will be dropped back off at the high school in the afternoon probably around 3:00pm. Since we aren't out of school until 3:12pm, she will hang out with Patti, her babysitter, in the library where Patti works. The only thing right now that hasn't been determined is who will be her bus aide in both the am and pm. It is written in her IEP that Alayna is to have an aide, so our hope is that this position will be filled soon. Alayna will be transported in her kid kart to and from school. So, we will enjoy our old schedule for one more month and then on February 1st the new schedule begins. It's going to be an adjustment getting up earlier to get Alayna dressed and fed breakfast before leaving. Right now we don't do this, our babysitters do!

We are really excited about Alayna starting preschool. Of course, it makes us a bit nervous, but we know that we will see many improvements from Alayna. Other 1p36 parents tell us what a dramatic change preschool had on their child and many people in our area tell us that we won't be disappointed in the SKIP program. Obviously, we know it will be the biggest adjustment for Alayna, not us. Alayna's classroom teacher is Ms. Renae and Alayna will be the 7th child in her class. There are 4 boys and 3 girls. They were excited to have another girl! There are also at least 2-3 aides in the room at all times. They informed me that not very often are all the kids in the classroom at the same time due to being pulled out for therapies. Lunch is fed in the classroom and they cater a soft diet for them. I'm excited about having someone else work with Alayna on eating more textures. Ms. Renae informed me that she does have a magic bullet just in case certain things need chopped or pureed. That's great...we have one of those too! I will also plan to send some spare food for Alayna's "locker" in case she wouldn't care for the lunch of the day. Other items we send for her "locker" are diapers, wipes, a spare outfit, a blanket, any familiar/soothing toys, etc. We have some paperwork to still complete, like her physical exam, but otherwise she will be ready to go. I guess it is time to go shop for a cute little backpack! Bye, bye diaper bag!

Finally....An Update!

Getting ready to go get a group photo at Walmart. Let's just say that this was the best picture that day!

Alayna with her sister, Alexis, brothers, Drake & Douglas, and her cousins Audrey & Will.

Thanksgiving day!

Trick-or-Treating at Mimi's place. Let's just say that Alayna isn't too into this yet.

Alayna got hot in her costume and quit early. She had more fun sitting in this big chair, playing with her book.

Lounging!

What? Are you calling my name?

In her Halloween P.J.'s.
Crazy hair morning! Her hair is still very curly and crazy. Thank goodness for ponytails.
She loves chewing on her books.
So cute.
Alayna still enjoys sitting in her bumbo seat. But, you must watch her because she likes to push herself backwards.

Preschool Update

We've begun the process of meeting with our school district and lining up preschool for Alayna. We had a meeting with 6 S.K.I.P. (Special Kids in Preschool) representatives, which included Alayna's classroom teacher, principal, OT, PT, and ST. I felt so good about this meeting and how much they really seemed to care about Alayna and her needs. And how excited they were to have her come to S.K.I.P. After this meeting, I knew that this was the right place for Alayna. Our local school district is wonderful, but it's a small, rural district with very little to offer Alayna. We are so thankful that we have another option for Alayna that is close to home. A preschool for special needs children....awesome.

On Monday, November 30th we go to S.K.I.P. for Alayna's evaluation by all of the therapists and teachers. Then on December 9th, we will meet one final time to write her IEP. This process should all be completed by Christmas break. So, when Alayna turns 3 on January 29th, she can begin school the next week. This is very exciting for us, but at the same time it's hard to believe that she will be 3 years old and it's time to "let go" a little bit. I am thrilled to know that she will be getting daily therapy at school and to have these professionals help build on Alayna's skills. I will keep you posted on how things develop.

Doctor Appointments

We recently traveled to Iowa City to follow up with Alayna's "ear" doctor. Her tubes looked great and she seems to be doing fine. He did clean them out a bit. Overall it was an easy appointment other than holding her down and keeping her head still while he did the cleaning. That's never fun!

We need to visit her developmental doctor in Peoria sometime soon. It's been about 1 year and we are due. So, that will be on the calendar in the future.

A few weeks ago Alayna weighed in at 24 pounds with her lightweight clothes on. So, she's probably a bit over 20 pounds. She is eating good, but it becoming a bit more picky on what she really wants. Stinker!

She, as well as her siblings, have all received the seasonal flu shot and the H1N1 vaccination. None of them had any side effects and I feel much better with them being protected.

Holiday Times

The holidays throw in a twist to her "normal" routine and take her outside of her comfort zone. Alayna enjoys being at home for the most part. She definitely didn't enjoy the Halloween, trick-or-treating this year, so maybe next year. Yesterday for Thanksgiving, she did pretty good adjusting to the two places we went, but only napped briefly. Fussiness set in a bit earlier than usual, but she slept good last night. It's just something we have to learn to deal with and work with her on making the best of things!

Professional Photo

We tried to take all of the kids to Walmart for a photo, but Alayna was not cooperative at all. I am wondering if she was under the weather. But at least we tried! I've come to the conclusion that the best way I'll probably get a photo is to have someone come to our house. That way the kids are more in their environment. The photographer felt so bad that she gave me a card to come back and try again and get two free enhanced photo pages. I just might take advantage of that!

Busy, Busy

I apologize again for not keeping up with the blog. The only excuse I have is that we are busy, busy, busy. School this year has been an extra challenge for me with two new classes to prepare for and the kids activities are endless. Thanks for being patient and for continually checking back to see if I've updated it. I will try to be better. Have a happy holidays!