Horsin' Around

After months of searching online and in stores, Mommy found my exact rocking horse on Craigslist yesterday. Go figure that we'd end up getting it from a lady just a few minutes away in Oviedo! Her kids hardly ever played with it, so it's in great condition! Much better than the one I have now. It was filthy (even after cleanings) and cracked, pieces were starting to break off, and it didn't play music anymore.

I'm sure you're thinking, wait, didn't she just get a beautiful wooden horse for Christmas? Yes, Grandma Candy got me that one because she couldn't find my original either. I like the new wooden one, but my original horse is my best buddy and has been with me for years! Grandma Candy gave it to me for my very first birthday, and although it took me a while to learn how to ride it, I got pretty good at it and even learned a few tricky ways to ride!

Mommy surprised me with the new horse yesterday and I was so happy, I rode it for 3 hours! I even refused to let go of it when she needed to change my diaper!

And now, let's remember my old horsey with lots of pictures, who has been my best friend since my first birthday, Februrary 2005. He's not really gone, just cleaned up again and over at Papa's house (also known as the Island of Misfit Toys since he gets all my stuff that gets replaced).

Age 18 Months - My first time riding

Age 2 1/2 - Trick Skill #1...

Age 2 1/2 - Me and my cousin Rianne (she was only 1!)

Age 3 - Riding bareback

Age 3 1/2 - Trick Skill #2

Age 3 1/2 - Me and my trusted horse

Age 4 1/2 - Trick Skill #3...

Merry Christmas!

Christmas was very busy for me! On Christmas Eve, I played with things I wasn't supposed to while Mommy got last minute stuff together.

Then we left to pick up Papa and drive all the way to my Grandma Candy and Grandpa Chuck's house in Umatilla. It was a long drive, but it was worth it, because I got lots of fun stuff! I got a new rocking horse that I already figured out how to make more fun to ride!

It was going to be way past my bedtime by the time we got home, so everyone was glad that I slept the whole way, because I rarely ever sleep in the car. I was already in my Christmas pajamas, so I went right to into my bed when we got home at 11:00.

I slept in on Christmas morning, and when I woke up, Santa had come with lots of presents for me!

I got a baby that coos and moves her head and arms all by herself. I have a baby cradle now so I can rock her to sleep, and it has its own mobile which I really liked!

Then I saw a new pink and purple car with a big red bow on the top! That was my favorite present from Santa!

There was also a stroller for my baby doll and it looks just like the stroller Mommy had when she was a little girl.

When I opened some of my presents, there was another baby doll for me to play with! I was very excited to tear the paper and see her smiling face!

There was even a little fishing pole just for me, from my Daddy. Now I can swing my fishing pole around instead of his, and maybe it will be a little safer for everyone!

One of my presents from Papa was a big, glittery bouncy ball, and it came in a big glittery bag. I liked them both! I even threw the ball back and forth with Papa a few times.

Then the day got even busier...my Aunt Tracie, Aunt Jessie, cousin Rianne, and Grandma McNabb came to visit. Then came my Aunt Crystal, Uncle Shawn, and cousins Brittney, Shane, and Anthony. They all brought me more presents! After they left, we got all dressed up to go to visit more family at my Uncle Craig's house. I was pretty much done with the day by then, but so was everyone else, so they understood! It was a long two days, and even though I am still catching up on my sleep, I am having fun wth all of my new toys!

My Christmas Pictures

Okay, here they are...the three pictures that Mommy bought when we went to Picture People last week for my professional portaits!

Helmet Head

Well, after 3 years of my self-injury behavior, yesterday was the kind of the last straw for my school. Mommy had to come get me because I banged my head on the table when I was mad during speech therapy. I was pretty upset because my teacher was trying to keep ice on it while Mommy drove fast like lightning to my school. When Mommy got there, I was calmed down and she saw that I had a big bump and it was bruised, but it's not nearly as bad as some of my other bumps (thank goodness).



(I was laughing at Mickey Mouse Clubhouse on TV this morning).

My school has now decided that I have to wear a helmet if I want to keep coming there, because they want to prevent any "future trauma." My insurance doesn't pay for a helmet, so the school is letting me use one of theirs in the meantime. So it's a yucky boy color. Mommy promised me that when I get one of my own, we can get a prettier color. We brought the helmet home so Mommy could try it with me before they do it at school. I did pretty good with it on, but I don't like the chin strap. It's itchy.

It didn't take me long to figure out that if I bang my head with the helmet on, my head bounces a little. That was pretty funny, but still a little frustrating. Papa says it's like trying to sneeze when you can't! I also find it pretty funny to stick my finger in the vent holes. And this morning when I had it on, I was slapping myself in the head and laughing!

Since it wasn't made for me, this one is a little too big, so hopefully I can get my own soon. My therapist is checking in to how much it will cost. It makes Mommy and Daddy very sad that I have to wear a helmet, because they hoped for so long that I would outgrow the head banging phase. But it makes them sadder to think about me giving myself big bruises and bumps, so they know that the helmet is the right choice. And Mommy is checking in to behavior therapy again. We've done that twice in the past for the same thing, but it's never worked. But since I have changed a lot in the last year, we're going to give it another try!

And I wore the helmet at school today, and my teacher said I didn't seem to mind it much. Luckily, tomorrow is my last day of school until the new year, so I won't have to wear it as much at home. It messes my pretty hair up!

Here Comes Santa Claus!

On Saturday I went to see Santa at the mall with Mommy, Daddy, and Papa. I was a little impatient (to say the least) waiting in line since there was a store nearby with balloons in the doorway. So Mommy let me out of the stroller so I could walk around (Mommy still loves watching me walk!). I got lots of "oohs" and "aahs" from other people in the mall.

When it was my turn to see Santa, Daddy tried to get a picture of me walking to him all by myself. But I didn't even see him sitting there and started to walk right past him!

Mommy put me on Santa's lap, and of course, I really wasn't impressed. But Mommy's just happy that I'm not scared of him!

When we got home, Mommy tried to take pictures of me in my dress in front of our Christmas tree, but I was done for the day!

Then yesterday, Mommy kept me home from school because I seemed very tired in the morning after playing late with Papa the night before (Mommy and Daddy went out to dinner for their anniversary). Since she didn't think the other pictures turned out great, she took me to Picture People to get professional portraits done. She had no idea that they would have Santa there as well! But you'll have to wait until you get your Christmas cards later this week to see the pictures! =)

Santa is coming to my school today too, so Mommy dressed me in my Santa Claus shirt with my jingle bell barrettes in my hair. Mommy has put them in my hair the last couple of years, but this is the first time I realized that I could shake my head back and forth to make the bells jingle!

Phooey

After having a few great doctor's appointments this week, the ENT appointment today was a bit disappointing. My ear tubes are starting to work their way out of my eardrums, and the fluid is already starting to build up again. This means my ear tubes need replaced, which means Surgery #10 (#7 for tubes). No matter how many times Mommy tried to remind herself before the appointment that these tubes lasted for 13 months while the others lasted only 3 months, she was still bummed to find out I needed tubes again. Dr. Cotter is hoping that because I am bigger now, she might be able to get in the "permanent" tubes.


Then we talked about my sleep apnea. In case you don't remember since it's been so long, I had my tonsils and adenoids removed which cut my severe sleep apnea levels by more than half. Unfortunately, the amounts were still considered severe. That's when I had to have a third sleep study done with the CPAP machine, which I absolutely hated, almost one year ago.


I never did tolerate the CPAP at home, it made my nosebleeds worse, and it was just impossible to keep it on me. After a couple of months, Mommy finally sent it back so the insurance wasn't paying for something we weren't using. She decided that we had done the best we could right now, and it was going to be impossible for her to fix EVERYTHING.


Fast forward to today: Dr. Cotter wants me to have another sleep study done. She said she wants to be conservative in my treatments, but she also wants to be proactive. Mommy feels the same way, although that doesn't necessarily mean they will be in agreement about my treatment. Dr. Cotter said there is another surgery she can do, sort of like a tummy tuck in my throat, to open the area more. But she can't say for sure how much more this will help my sleep apnea. So that makes Mommy unsure as to whether it's worth the risks, especially since some of the side effects can be food coming out of my nose when I eat and other swallowing issues that may cause me to stop eating by mouth. At first Mommy said no way right off the bat, but it's a hard decision, since sleep apnea causes strain on your heart and can cause heart problems down the road. Of course no one wants that, but we've worked so hard to get me to eat by mouth, it could mean a huge step backwards for something that may not even be a huge change in my breathing at night.


So here's the end result: the sleep study office will call soon to schedule another sleep study to see if my apnea has gotten any better since I've grown so much. Mommy wanted to wait a little while to do this, since we both hate the sleep studies, but Dr. Cotter pointed out that A) it would be better to do it soon before the new baby comes, and B)it would be better to know sooner so we can make the decision on the throat surgery, and if we decide to do it (although Mommy and Daddy are not leaning this way), it can be done when the ear tubes are done.

I, of course, was completely oblivious to the somber mood in the office! I was quite excited that Mommy didn't bring the stroller in and I got to walk everywhere. So I pushed a little boy out of way since he was using my favorite toy in the waiting room, I did laps around the examination chair for most of Mommy and the doctor's conversation, and then climbed in and out of the chairs while Mommy talked to the scheduler!

It Was Fun While It Lasted

Apparently, Mommy and Daddy did not find it as funny as I did that I kept crashing my little red car into the Christmas tree and then playing with whatever ornaments happened to fall. I also had lots of fun pulling the ribbon garland off of the tree and wrapping it around me or flinging it around in the air. But now I can't, because they're on to me...

Just wait until next year when my baby sister is here too...then we'll be 2 against 2!

There's a Tree in My House!

I keep seeing these funny looking decorated trees at the store with Mommy. I almost knocked a whole display over at WalMart a few weeks ago. But now I don't have to go to the store to do it, because there's one in my house! We picked it out on Saturday and decorated it yesterday. I had lots of fun shaking the branches and making the little needles fall.

At first, I wasn't interested in the decorating. I just liked blowing bubbles on the storage bins, but the bubbles kept getting up my nose. So Mommy took the lid off, and I found even more fun stuff inside!

When Mommy and Daddy finished with the tree, it was all lit up and sparkly with ornaments dangling from the branches and a really comfy blanket underneath.

Then they spent the rest of the evening pulling me away from the tree and out from under the tree skirt!

Just wait until their backs are turned!

Too Many Paint Fumes

I was being absolutely crazy while Mommy and Daddy were painting the inside of the house! I was baby-gated in my bedroom so I could play safely away from the wet paint, and Mommy heard me making my loud yelling noise that means I'm doing something really funny (but it's usually something that I'm not supposed to be doing). So she came around the corner with the camera and this is what she saw!

Spike was not being crazy though...he was being very lazy while they painted!

Demolition Worker!

Again, another reason we don't need a boy in this house...because I am just as destructive!!!




P.S. I flip the zebra toy now too...just because I can!

Daddy's Fishing Buddy

Last night I proved to Daddy that he doesn't need to wish for a baby boy...I can be his little fishing buddy! I always watch him when he's messing with his fishing poles, because I like to spin the handles on the reels. But this time I decided to take off with one of the poles!

Daddy says if I'm a good girl (of course I am!), then maybe I'll get one my size for Christmas!

One Smart Cookie!

Under one of our tables, Mommy has magazines and catalogs in a bakset. We've been getting lots of Fisher Price toy catalogs lately with Christmas coming soon, so Mommy put them in the basket to keep for later. She started noticing that now when I pull the basket out to dump the magazines everywhere, I always find the toy catalog and look very intently at the pictures on the pages.

You know I have something off of almost every page?! And those are the pictures I stare at the most--the ones of the toys I already have. On this page I'm looking at the Learning Home that I got for Christmas two years ago.

A few days ago Mommy flipped the catalog to one of the last pages, so I could see the Bat and Wobble Penguin toy that I got for my birthday this year. She was shocked when I stared at it very intently, then looked around the room for MY penguin toy, then dropped the catalog to go play with it! Sometimes I even continue to stare at the picture while I play with the toy. Mommy said I am one smart cookie, and she's showing everybody that comes over! Her favorite part is how my head whips around to find the toy after seeing it in the catalog!

Yes We Can!

Mommy kept me home from school today because she and Daddy stayed up very late watching the election results. They were tired this morning but it was worth it! Mommy said it is a historic day in America and she feels so passionate about it that she wanted to say something...so I let her use my blog. =)

"This is my third time voting for a president of the United States, and I have to say this is the FIRST time that I was voting FOR a candidate instead of against one. It was exciting and refreshing to see so many new people, young and old, voting for the first time in their lives. I do not expect any president to fix the mess that has been inherited, but certainly I can't deny the feeling of hope inside my heart today.

I have to admit that I am most excited about that fact that America has elected an African American president for the first time. As children of this generation, we were told that anyone, no matter gender or color, could be president. Thanks to Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, and Sarah Palin, this statement became real. And last night, it became a fact. No matter who you voted for, this is undeniably a big deal. I was never sure I would see this in my lifetime...hopeful of course, but never confident. To see it when I'm only in my 20's is almost overwhelming. To know that my new baby will begin it's life while we are in the process of making history with the first black president makes me proud to bring another child into this world.

I have never been inspired by a president's acceptance speech, or many other speeches for that matter. But last night, amidst my tears and smiles and goosebumps, I watched the new First Family walk out on the stage and felt such joy. And I listened to Obama's acceptance speech and felt not only inspired, but uplifted and proud. Proud to be an American, and proud that our country has come so far in just a few short decades. I am sad at the same time at the passing of Amendment 2 in Florida, Prop 102 in Arizona, and Prop 8 in California. It's a reminder to me that we still have a long way to go towards equality for all Americans, equality for disabled Americans, Americans of color, and gay Americans. But last night was a step in the right direction...it feels like anything is now possible."

Here was Mommy's favorite part of Obama's speech last night:

If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible, who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time, who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer.

It's the answer told by lines that stretched around schools and churches in numbers this nation has never seen, by people who waited three hours and four hours, many for the first time in their lives, because they believed that this time must be different, that their voices could be that difference.

It's the answer spoken by young and old, rich and poor, Democrat and Republican, black, white, Hispanic, Asian, Native American, gay, straight, disabled and not disabled. Americans who sent a message to the world that we have never been just a collection of individuals or a collection of red states and blue states.

We are, and always will be, the United States of America.

Like, Totally Rad!

Mommy, Daddy, and Aunt Tracie went to a Halloween party Saturday night and they looked so funny when they left! Mommy said they had to dress that way because it was an 80s costume party. I kept staring at her bright pink nails, and I thought her bangle bracelets were pretty neat too!

Mommy found their clothes at thrift stores, so it didn't cost too much money to go all out! Good thing the clothes were cheap, because Mommy bought them three weeks ago, and her skirt didn't fit over her belly anymore! She had to cut the entire top half off of the skirt so she could wear it under her belly! Mommy said even though they all felt silly, she secretly had fun wearing the crazy clothes and makeup again!