Here and Now March 2012

Cariyana is a Kindergartner at Buffalo Elementary and loves it! She has gained independence with her own button that opens the front door to the school building and she loves it! She likes to wait until everyone is inside and the door closes just to use her button! Cariyana has been VERY healthy this year. We are continuing to visit with doctors at the University of Iowa to look closely at a surgical option to increase the size of her airway. (We continue to insert a tube each night to aid in her breathing) She wears oxygen just at night. The surgery will be quite the deal and require 4 months out of school. They would like to wait until she is 13 to do it. She is only 7. The long wait is not feasible. Cariyana has been in physical or occupational therapy or a twice a week exercise class at the YMCA since June of last year. She is stronger and more participatory. She is a healthy eater and we are working at curbing the increased weight gain! Academically we are also making gains. Though not at the head of her class, she graduated from her IEP!! Yeah!
This little cutie pie is Joe. He loves sweets! We call him cookie monster! He ALWAYS asks before a meal is barely underway, "Whats for dessert?" Joann keeps him in cookies as best she can. Joe loves Kindergarten and all his new pals at Buffalo Elementary. He adores riding the bus! Joe is in the advanced reading group and is constantly trying to say words he encounters in his environment. Joe is the first to arise each morning. Often before the sun!

Alexis in this photo is washing Charley's hair after swimming with a special shampoo and conditioner. Generally they both do this themselves in thier own shower. For whaterver reason on this night he agreed to let her do it. And boy did she have fun! Alexis and Charley get along very well. And of course, he is a good sport! Alexis LOVED being a 6th grader on the Davenport Swim Team. She has not swam as much as some of her teamates who are members of the Metro Swim team but showed she can finish middle of the pack! She concentrates on her stroke and really looks great in the water. Now all she needs is speed and endurance. Even her flip turns are admirable! We will explore a season with Metro for her this spring. Alexis is in ballet at Jenny's Dance Academy every Monday night. She is a Girl Scout and plays violin, flute, and piano!

Charley is a 6th grader at Walcott Junior High. He (and Alexis) joined the Davenport Swim Team this spring. Charley was not quite so sure about it but now after the first season is over states "It was a lot of fun"!.Charley is a good swimmer but needs more endurance. He will get there! Charley continues to be quite the musician playing cello and alto and tenor saxophone and piano! He earned two blue ribbons or ones at solo festival this spring for his cello and saxophone talent! Charley likes school, especially science! Math is his most challenging subject in junior high this year. Charley is a boy scout and attended an Engineering and First Aid merit badge offering so far this spring.

Xavier is 9 years old and a third grader at Rivermont Collegiate. He loves school. He has a great friend Michael who he speaks of often. He loves his mom-ma and offers me unsolicited hugs and kisses every morning. I love you more than you know! Xavier is begining to sound musical at the piano--finally!! I love to listen to you play. You get better each week! Xavier is a webelo scout.