our trip...

Wow, we had so much fun! Izzy loved it! She rode rides and was a trooper. I don't think she cried one time while we were away. She enjoyed the fast pace and was perfect. It was so much fun. (did I say that already?) I'll leave you with a few pictures and plan to keep posting pics as I sort through them.

Izzy at the dinner table ... happy!

Izzy decked out for the day in pink!

Izzy in the car... ready for a day of fun!

Izzy and mom at the beach.

Emelia at the beach!

I also wanted to mention a little change in Izzy. I noticed it before we went when Amanda was taking izzy off the therapy table, she cried like she was afraid to fall. She has never acted like she was worried about falling. Yesterday Camilla said she was scared on the barrel and she attributed it to an increase in depth perception and vision! We didn't do therapy while on vacation, but Camilla said her legs didn't show it at all. All good things.

christmas...

It was Christmas around here tonight. Here is Izzy with Santa and Mrs. Clause. It was complete with presents, snow, decorations, and carriage rides!

from florida~

We met Mickey, Minnie, Pluto, Goofy, and Belle this morning.
Izzy has been all smiles since we arrived.
Here's a pic with M & M, she is smiling at them!
Okay, off to Disneyworld!!!!

cowgirl izzy

Izzy's teacher, Barbara, emailed this photo to me this afternoon! I just had to share it with you.

apples & pre-k

Izzy enjoyed pre-k today, making apple hats and playing in cornmeal!
Here is a picture they took at school with some of her friends.

little bears all in a row~

Izzy is watching her pre-k friend, Mykayla line bears up
on her arm...

more school news~

Today was Izzy's day to stay late with Camilla, Izzy's physical therapist at school.
Camilla said that Izzy worked in her room with Margaret, Izzy's school speech therapist. She said that she got Izzy in a good tailor sitting position while Margaret worked on choices with Izzy, using her vision. She started showing her balls of different colors and then started working on same and different. She then would say, "look at the ball that is the same color as your pants." Camilla said she got every direction correct and that her eye movements are getting a lot faster.

While loading Izzy up I saw Candace, who works in the pre-k class. She stopped to tell me that they love having Izzy in pre-k. I told her Izzy loves it too. She said that Isabelle loves when they are singing and that she really follows everything going on. She said that she enjoys her friends.

I enjoyed hearing these good reports this afternoon so much I thought I would share them with you!

Some pics of Izzy this week~

Izzy surfing the net with big brother Bailey...

Izzy with the arangatang that seems to interest her at school...
look at that expression!

More with the arangatang...

Feeling the buzzy bee.

Izzy went to see Bear today. He always does very well working with her and giving me ideas... We made it back home in time to eat and get to pre-k. Izzy had a good day today. Rumor has it she and Barbara (her teacher) got stuck in the ball pit... She got to sit at the computer with her friends in pre-k Jaycee & Tessa.

school news~

Izzy's been a little stuffy the past few days, but she's a trooper! She went to school yesterday and worked hard. Tuesdays are her 'late' day with Camilla (p.t.). When I picked her up a little early she was putting her in the walkable. Camilla said she thought maybe Izzy wasn't up to doing this work, but she knew I would come in and say... "she's fine!" like always. I'm getting quite a reputation at that school! Anyway, Izzy did a good job in the walkable and seemed less cranky about it than last time I saw her in it.

I didn't get to speak to Margaret (s.t.) personally, but Camilla was 'around' when Margaret was working with Izzy and said that Izzy was really talking with her. She said that she had given Izzy a choice between a cracker and a cookie and she said Izzy said, "cookie." After she had a few nibbles (it was chocolate mint and apparently not a favorite of Isabelles) she asked if she wanted more to which Izzy replied, "no."

Niecie said that while in Pre-K class she put her little hand up for a stamp like the others and has been doing that everyday.

Baby steps? Maybe. I think they are worthy of praise to God, who makes all things possible.

Here is a picture of Izzy with her friends Tessa and Karis. They are two of her new bffs at Pre-K and are so sweet with her. I think I mentioned them building a castle on her tray and Izzy holding her arms back carefully as to not knock the castle down.


Last night Matt was tickling Izzy's feet and she was fussing at him. He told her if she wanted him to stop she had to use her words and say "stop" or "no," she immediately said, "no." He stopped!

pre-k **updated** new pic

I don't have any new pics (yet) of Izzy at school. I will post any when I get them...
But wanted to share some things that Niecie and Camilla told me yesterday when I picked Izzy up from school.

The pre-k teacher has some kind of monkey that has light up eyes and makes noise. Apparently Izzy was really really interested in this thing. They said she was looking down and when the teacher passed by with it she perked up and watched it intently.

The pre-k teacher went around the circle taking their little right hand and helping them make the sign for the number seven. As she made her way around the circle each child raised their hand for her to arrange their fingers for them. Camilla said that the closer the teacher got to Iz, she could feel izzy raising her right arm and was ready for the teacher to arrange her fingers when it was her turn! Isn't that cool?

They say Izzy lights up and loves pre-k. They are going to begin giving her a choice after vision therapy to either go back to the pre-k class or to go to Ms. Barbara's class. I'm excited about this year. Another thing I've noticed is that she is more vocal, I think those children's chatter is encouraging her to try her voice too.

Keep praying, she's doing so great.
I love you Camilla!

school days

Here's a pic of Izzy with one of the pre-k teacher assistants (Candace) who sits with her during circle time.

Niecie told me the first day at pre-k the kids were all questioning what had happened to Izzy and she wasn't sure what or how much to tell them. I told her to tell them that Izzy got into the swimming pool without her mommy or daddy and that they must be very careful when around water without an adult. She went back the next day and told them that and one of the little boy's parents said he came home and said, "I don't know what happened, but she got in the water without her parents and now her arms and legs don't work." I think it is great that they are learning water safety. They all want her to talk to them and ask everyday, "when will she talk to us?" She will talk. I just know it.

Niecie also said that they left pre-k to do visual therapy. Izzy fussed and fussed so Niecie asked her what she wanted. She said do you want to go back to pre-k, more fussing. Do you want to go to see Ms. Barbara? More fussing. So Niecie said, "Okay Izzy, I don't know what you want to do. You are going to have to help me out here." So she said one more time, "Do you want to go to pre-k?" and Izzy looked straight in her eyes like, "finally" and then she said, "or do you want to go see Ms. Barbara," more fussing. They went back to pre-k and the fussing went away and she was a happy girl again. She really likes the kids in the pre-k class.

I left my camera with Izzy today to get pics and Niecie is going to ask some parents tomorrow for permission to take their pics playing with Izzy.

school days~

Here's Izzy with Niecie and Barbara. I love them!
I also love Camilla who is not in the pic, I'll try to add her later. They are all a huge blessing!
Izzy had a great first day! She loved being in the pre-K classroom.
Camilla is going to have her walk (in the walkable) to pre-k two times per week.

stroller etc.

The umbrella type stroller that Dawn sent arrived Friday. I took Izzy to a church outing Saturday and then used it for church Sunday. It is so nice and lightweight. I just love it. Here's a pic taken on Saturday. The sun was so bright we forgot her sunglasses so she is squinting. I think she enjoyed both outings. Tomorrow is the first day of school! I'll try to write an update and post a pic or two!

izzy standing...

Here are a few pics of Izzy standing up today. She is doing great! Healthy & happy!
School starts Monday.


p.s. thanks terri for the fun light up aquarium!!!

Izzy's birthday

Just thought I'd share this pic of Izzy looking at Dad while he was singing happy birthday to her... it was so sweet.

Izzy is five years old!!!

I can't believe my baby is turning five
I'm so thankful to God that she is alive
the last three years have been a struggle
therapies and learning many things to juggle

So many prayers offered for my little doll
I love and appreciate them all
I can't wait to see what the next five years bring
seeing Iz progress I shall joyously sing!

Happy Birthday Isabelle

izzy update **updated (added pic)**

How can we be so busy and yet not have that much to report?
Funny huh?
Well, here is one of the pics Izzy's Summer occupational therapist, Debbie, sent from last Wednesday's session. Thanks Debbie for taking the time to take pictures and to email them!

Izzy's new stroller was delivered right before school on Wednesday.
It is huge!
Izzy does seem pretty comfortable in it so we'll see what the p.t. thinks of it.

This is how the stroller looks right now. I ordered a new one not only because Izzy is outgrowing hers, but also because it is so heavy to lift it in and out of my suburban. This one is in two pieces and I haven't quite mastered the assemble/disassembly.
That metal part is pretty heavy, but I am hoping I get used to it.
A friend and fellow ND parent has a lightweight umbrella type stroller she isn't using now and is mailing it to us for those quick run in trips. Thanks Dawn!

We went out today so I took a quick pic of Izzy actually in her new stroller!

Bailey and Emelia have spent the week at art camp. They had such a good time. Bailey was in a film class and at the end of the week brought home a video the class made. He is the 'star.' It was so cute! and Emelia took a jewelry class so she came home looking like a different kind of 'star'... She was definitely in her element and enjoyed all the jewelry making.
Amanda is continuing to help with Izzy's therapy during the day.
We are also putting Izzy in the stander and on her tummy several times a day.
She is doing great and is so incredibly healthy it is amazing, God is good!

That's all I have for today, thank you for your prayers and the love you have in your hearts for our sweet little Izzy!