Been awhile....

So it has been way too long since I have updated!  So much has gone on but I'll try to put a little so it's not too long... plus I am swamped and can't be on the computer that long either!

Kymber was evaluated by First Steps last month and she has what is called Sensory Processing Disorder.  She does not have a delay that would qualify her for free services, but they feel she could greatly benefit from Occupational Therapy, so we will have that 1x a week for a copay.  YAY! Hopefully this is some relief for us all!

Kymbers starting to really talk more and more.  She started out only talking for me and Cailey, she is talking more around daddy and Grandma.  Within the past few days she is starting to say more 2 words together as well.  She's using the potty more and more, so Im pretty sure she'll be in panties all day soon!! (I think!) 

Cailey had her first parade this weekend for her cheerleading group.  She has her 6th Birthday party with her friends on Saturday.  She is having a barbie party.  They will each be making a Tiara, playing a "pass the wand" game, and putting on makeup. 

We had their first Christmas for this year at Grandma Pats and Grandpa Rons before they left for Florida.  Kymber ripped open all her presents.  Now she tries to open the ones that we have under the tree... she's gotten two ripped =/ 

I'll leave it at that, just because I really need to get off here, everyones doing well and staying BUSY! :)  I dont have new pictures up on the computer yet, so heres a couple from November.

Did I hear that right!?

I haven't had a chance to type up anything in awhile! Getting alot of hat orders and only get a chance to do hats and the computer at night after Kymber goes to bed.... but she's with Grandma right now so I'm trying to cram in as much as I can into a few hours!

Monday morning Cailey came out of her bedroom and said how she wishes she could have a day off today.  I told her that I wished I could too.  She looked at me with a very confused look and said ...."A day off from what?????"    FROM YOU! Ok, I didn't say that ( I was about to have a 7 hour break from her and she would most definately kindly remind me I was about to have a break from her), but I did tell her Id just like a break!

I left the bathroom after getting Kymbers teeth brushed and she always stays in there with Cailey and brushes them more herself.  Cailey came and got me and said I had to come see this.  I walk in and Kymber was cleaning the toilet with her toothbrush =/


Can't think of much to write about right now, my brain is going everywhere trying to decide what I can get done.... so off to do all that!

Halloween

Kymbers scabs are starting to fall off from when she had her tonsils removed.  I read that the pain can flare during this time.  Her attitude and behavior is SOOOOO demanding and hard right now.  It's already hard, and then pain and discomfort on top of it, she is TERRIBLE.  Hopefully better in a few days.  I can't take much more!  Poor thing doesn't know what's going on so I know its hard on her too.  We aren't having to do pain medicine as often as before so it is slowly getting better.

Saturday we went to the pumpkin patch again, but a different one with Jerime's boss and his wife and daughter.  The girls had a lot of fun playing and seeing the animals.... but I didnt get any pictures except the one Jerime took of us before we left :(

Kymber went as Dorothy again tonight...  Originally for Halloween Cailey was going to be a Butterfly... she wore it to the event on Friday.  Then over the weekend she wanted to be something else, so she dressed up as a witch to match Grandma Pat in her outfit. :) I had bought a shirt to wear, it was too small so I took it back and was just going to wear a dress and boots, and Cailey's cowboy hat.  Well, the dress was too tight and the hat didn't fit.  So I didn't dress up at all.  I got Jerime an Angry Birds shirt this year and forgot to get a picture of all of us together.  Kymber was super cranky all day and up til we were actually out getting candy.... of course that made her better!  The first couple houses she didn't know what was going on, but then she started running up to the doors with Cailey... it was so cute to watch... and it reminded me of the first time with Cailey going trick or treating. 

Tonsils and Misery

WOW! I have not had a chance to write on here in awhile.  Alot going on.  Kymber had her tonsils taken out Monday morning (October 28, 2011).  I woke her up that morning at 530am and headed to the hospital.  She was quiet the whole car ride which is so unusual for her and she couldn't even have a drink.  She normally wakes up first thing and has a drink.  We checked in and she walked the halls and waited to have her pre-op "relaxation" meds.  After they gave that to her, they took us back to the holding area to meet the dr.  She was sooooo loopy.  She was throwing her head back, laughing and just making the craziest faces.  They wheeled her away at about 720am and at 809am they called me to meet the dr.  He said everything went great.  They then took me back to her and she was awake and hysterical.  I had planned on reading or relaxing most of the hospital stay .... I figured after a major surgery she would be so exhausted and drugged up she would sleep.  WRONG.  In the next 24 hours she slept 4 hours. We are on day 5 and hopefully tonight it will be more sleep.  Right now, cross my fingers, she is in her bed and might stay there.  We were taken to her room for an overnight stay.  She was dying of thirst, screaming for a drink.  They finally brought her drinks, and she took down 2 apple juice containers within minutes.  She ate her jello and was doing great.  She played the rest of the day like nothing ever happened. Then that night.  WOW.  She was up ALL night.  She slept an hour, was up a few, slept an hour, up an hour.  Total of maybe 4 hours of sleep max.  The next day was terrible.  She refused to drink or eat and we couldn't leave the hospital until she would.  She finally took enough sips to leave at 3:30pm.  That night she didn't do any better and the next day was MISERABLE.  She was in so much pain and frustration that nothing calmed her.  I was not expecting this type of reaction from tonsil surgery.  I mean.... if she was a few months older it is an outpatient procedure.  We are still consistently taking the pain meds.  Instead of a dose of 4 every 4 hours we are now doing 3 every 3 hours and it seems to be better for her.  It brings back so many memories of how she was when she was colic.... identical excpet now she is old enough to throw and kick and toss.... very hard.  Also, 30 lbs is alot harder to constantly carry around than 9lbs.  Hopefully in the next couple of days she will start getting back to her self, which isnt always cake but a lot better than this.  On that note, things with Kymber still are very difficult.  I am the only person that can soothe her, no one can hold her, her dad can barely take care of her.... if I am in the room she will kick and scream to get to me.  She has horrible intense tantrums, super easily frustrated, cannot self soothe... I could go on.  First Steps is going to be evaluating her to see where she is developmentally (in all areas) but most specifically to see where she is in her social/emotional development.  If she is delayed enough they will start services.  Not sure what all it means yet, but I'll find out more next week.  I actually disabled my Facebook because people can be so ignorant in their opinions and advice on Kymber's behaviors.  Dr. Sears definition of a High Needs Baby/Toddler fit her to a T and people don't seem to grasp the concept that she is not the typical 2 year old... which means the typical solutions to problems do not work with her.  Just as when she was a baby and people say how babies love car rides, swings, etc..... she screamed entire car rides and never used a swing.  She is different and some people cannot understand that.

Tonight we went to a Halloween event.  Cailey dressed in her butterfly costume and Kymber in her Dorothy.  It wasn't a lot to do, and wasn't that neat to us.... but Cailey said she had a lot of fun.

Cheerleading and Potty Training

Well .... I can't remember what all I typed last time now.  We are scheduled to remove Kymbers tonsils and adenoids on Oct 24th.  Im nervous but really excited this means sleep for everyone and that she will feel better and rested.  She is doing so good developmentally.  She is now stacking up to 8-9 blocks!  She is slowly combining 3 words but it is not real clear yet.  She jumps up and down better.... before she didn't really come off the ground, now she is starting to actually come off the ground instead of just pushing up and down.  She is actually telling me she has to use the potty in time now.... instead of telling me AFTER she's gone.  let's hope it keeps up!!  She is loving playing dress up and hair/make up already.  She can even walk in high heels.... she even ran through the house in them.  Cailey is really enjoying Kymber now that she is playing those things.

Cailey is doing Showstoppers Cheerleading.  She had her first package and really enjoyed it.  She was even more flexible than the cheer teacher! LOL  She was not shy at all and tried her hardest at the cheer moves.  I think she'll do really good in it. I'll get pictures of her in her uniform soon :)  Seems like it's been awhile since Cailey has said something that just made me laugh out loud....so I'm sure there's some on the way! :)

crazy week!

Things have been CRAZY.  Last Monday Kymber had her sleep study.  She did well with having the wires hooked up to her and staying overnight at the hospital.  They called right away Tuesday with the results and said she was just over the average limit for sleep apnea, so not a big concern, but if she wasn't sleeping good at night then she could benefit from removing her tonsils and adenoids.  She had 14 obstructions that night but no sleep terror.  She wakes with almost every obstruction, and they averaged 8seconds to 10 seconds without breathing.  We go tomorrow to the ENT for follow up on the study and to discuss removing her tonsils.

Then.... Tuesday the worse experience to this point in my life.  We were at Walgreens and Kymber felt really hot when we were leaving.  She wasn't acting different and didn't have symptoms of being sick so I passed it off.  When we were driving out of the school from getting Cailey, Cailey told me Kymbers eyes were watery and she looked really sad.  I looked back and her eyes were rolled behind her head, her mouth was wide open drooling, and she was slightly twitching.  Seizure didn't come to my mind because I have only heard of them, and I thought full convulsing body was a seizure.  People came to help, called the ambulance and I was so scared, I thought I was loosing her.  She finally came to, spit up a bunch of saliva, then laid there on the blanket in the school drive, and fell asleep.  The ambulance took us to the hospital and she slowly came back to normal.   It was a febrile seizure.  Since her fever went from normal to 103 in about 30 minutes, it caused a seizure.  Scariest day of my life.  I cannot even explain the fear I had when I saw her in the way. 

Kymbers speech is REALLY growing!  she was saying "big girl" over and over then she said "dada, big girl!!!" haha.  She has said so many new words I have forgotten them!  Pop, big girl, spongebob (bobbob), poop, in here.... really copying what we say now too. 

Cailey is doing great in school.  At the beginning of the year she tested recognizing 6/54 and last week she tested 32/54!!!

A jumble of updates on Kymber

Kymber is finally starting to put herself to sleep.  Tonight she laid in my lap and fell asleep... I know that's not completely by herself, but its alot better than rocking her the whole time and patting her to get her to settle down!  She is developing so fast it is crazy.  She's beeing working on putting on clothes, socks, shoes.... she hasn't gotten it yet but she keeps trying hard!  She is able to zip (when its started) and unzip ... which means I can't keep her jacket on her =/   She pretend plays alot too, which she's been doing quite awhile now.  She pretends to cook, she pretends to eat with her kitchen set, plays barbies, shops, all those "make believe games".    She got her cash register out and then went to my purse and got my wallet out haha.  It's so cute to watch.   She is also showing a lot of empathy lately.  Cailey fell and got hurt and was sitting holding her foot.  Kymber went over, kissed her on her head and patted her.  Then she sat down and held Cailey's foot and looked at it.  So sweet, they love each other so much.  She is finally starting to use "mine" correctly.  It used to be when you told her "That's mine, dont touch."  She'd say "mine??".  Now she is actually doing the same thing, referring to her things.  I went to take her sippy cup and she said "no no, mine".  We were at the doctors office and I was explaining things she does (About her nightime crying, etc).  Kymber pointed to herself and said "Me?".  haha.  I think she is starting to show interest in colors, she has said blue and green and is trying to say yellow.  She will sometimes get "blue" correct when you ask her.  She also enjoys to copy your writing.  She gets out her notebook and starts to write then hands the pen and paper to you to write.  You write her name or something down and she takes it back and scribbles over the part where we wrote.  Also starting a thing when she laughs, she will laugh and tilt her head back and put her hand up over her mouth when she's laughing.   She has her morning routine down and likes to brush her own teeth and her own hair (I help after she has done it herself, although she hates to have help and tries to insist on doing everything herself! -- which is where frustration and temper tantrums are getting BAD at times!) She loves to smell candles and lotions and all that.  After she has smelled it she will put it up to your nose to have you smell it too.  She used to just listen when she was on the phone with Grandma, now she is starting to talk back and laugh while on the phone.  She has to walk around the house while talking and uses arm gestures.  When it's time to say bye, she doesn't say it, she holds the phone out, looks at it, and waves goodbye.  She is starting to jump up and down and thinks it is funny.  Loves to hold your hands while jumping or just having you jump while she is jumping.   She also likes running laps around things.... around the table, around the tree in the yard, around the car in the driveway.  We were looking at the photo album and she saw a picture of Cailey and got excited and started waving hi to her in the picture.  I am sure there is so much more to write down and I just dont think of it, becuase it seems like I will never forget this stuff, but I know I will so I want to keep a little journal of what I can :)

Sleep Apnea

The last time we were at the Ear, Nose and Throat specialist he had me watch for signs of sleep apnea for Kymber.  Went back to see him today and he is confident that is the issue she is having.  She breathes raspy all night long, chokes/coughs throughout the night, sleeps better in the recliner, heavy heavy wetting at night time, night terrors are getting bad, wakes up confused and crying ALL the time even naps, morning and night time, has only slept completely through the night a few times since birth... still up a couple times a night, very irritable through out the day. 

SO.... he said that tonsil sizes are measured on a scale of 0-4 and hers are around a size 3, so even if it weren't sleep apnea, he wants to remove them.  But to know what her oxygen levels and to monitor her sleep, we go for a sleep study.  Our consultation with the sleep lab is on Monday and then we will schedule the study and then surgery.  Let's hope sleep and better moods are in our future! :)

She did so good at the doctors, we were stuck in there for an hour in a tiny room with so many tempting things to touch and get into lol.

I also have no more cd player in the van.  Kymber likes to sit in the van and play, and pretend to drive.  I take the keys out and let her while I sit in the driveway or garage and work on something.  Well in between checks she stuffed quarters into the cd player :( 

Cailey's teacher wrote and she said that Cailey is already showing some progress which is GREAT but Cailey told me that she doesn't like school because it is so hard.  I dont know what to do to keep her encouraged. I've told her it will get easier and easier, but I want her to enjoy going, not dread it.  They have tutoring beginning next month for her.... I will take her Tuesdays and Thursdays at 730am for tutoring.  I have to think of something to make it more exciting for her. 

Kymber and Cailey's update

Kymber is staying consistent with about one to two words a day that are new.  She tried saying necklace today, it did not come out real clear but could tell she was trying.  We went to storytime and she loves it... she is starting to really get into the "shake your sillies out" and "heads, shoulders, knees and toes".  Today we were at the store and she is getting really bad about wanting to shop and not keep up with me.  She was looking at ornaments and I was ready... so I started walking and said "Bye Kymber".... she looked at me and said "bye mom".  That worked great! lol

I already posted this on facebook, but wanted it in my "journal" :)  The other day, we were doing bath time and Cailey tells me that Kymber screams really loud when she is scared.  I told her she does too.  She replied "hey, you better not post that on Craigslist!!!"  Then yesterday she came in and asked me how to spell DS.  (her nintendo DS).  So, I told her D-S.  She replied "Oh, DS is how you spell DS?"  Yes Cailey :)

Cailey is starting tutoring on Tuesdays and Thursdays before school for her letter recognition and writing.  It is free of charge because her teacher put in the request to help her.... so excited to see her catch up and progress :) 

Bits and pieces .... updates :)

Today was  a huge day!  I had from 11am to 3:45pm ALONE.  This has not happened since before Kymber was born.... 19 months of NEVER being ALONE!  WOW!

While Kymber was shopping with mom and Grandma today in Branson, she picked up this little dog stuff toy and was hugging it.  Mom told her she wasnt getting it, it was a $20-$30 tiny stuff toy.  A lady came up and talked to Kymber and was sitting with her and the toy dog, she bought the dog for her.  A complete stranger.... how nice!!!

Yesterday on the way home, we were in the car and Kymber was looking at a picture of  a baby and going "awwwww".  Then she went "awwwwww cuttteee" :)

She is also saying purple and blue.

Today Cailey's class had a dress up day.  They could dress fancy or wear a costume.  Cailey wore a fancy dress and we curled her hair and put glitter on her.  On the way to school she told me she couldn't wait for all the kids to see her.  She said "they are going to LOVE my style!"  LOL

Monday I had a meeting with Cailey's teacher.  She has always been delayed and had been in speech therapy.  She graduated speech therapy but she still REALLY struggles with learning her numbers and letters and does not recognize them or able to write them.  The teacher is having a volunteer retired teacher work with her extra at class, and we are working on it each day after school and we will re-evaluate in a month.  She is thinking she is dyslexic as well as language delay.  Thank goodness Cailey is such a hard worker and never gives up!

Making Dinner

Tonight while making dinner Cailey told me how it looked like there was blood in the hamburger.  I told her it was, and she thought I was joking, that it was really ketchup.  I told her it was really blood but that's why we cook it, it takes all the blood out of it.  She replied, "so kind of like a vampire!".  Ya Cailey, cooking is just like a vampire ;)

Kymber is trying to talk more and more, but she has trouble ending the word so just the beginning comes out.  She is starting to say please, more like pee though lol.   She isn't sleeping good at all lately, up a couple times a night... worse night 3-4 times.  She's drooling and stuffing her fingers in the back of her mouth, working on her two year old molars.

Gettin Fancy for Walmart

So, today at a garage sale, I got Cailey two "fancy dresses".  She wants to wear them everywhere.  I told her they were probably too dressy for school.  So she wanted to wear them outside to play.  I told her they were better for dress up, in the house, or if we go somewhere real nice.  Her reply...." so like for when we go to WalMart?"

2a

Just another little update

I haven't been keeping up with this like I wanted to but here's a little update while Kymber is playing... I usually dont get on the computer until after she's in bed!


Yesterday she said tickle.... she was tickling my feet and said it once, I couldn't get her to say it again though.  At Walmart she kept pointing to the balloons and saying baboons baboons.   She is working on thank you but it was coming out more like "dank doo".  She is really starting to get super active, running all the time, playing on the slides and loves being outside.  Yesterday I went to go inside from the garage and the door was locked, we never lock that door so I assumed Cailey did it.  Well today, Kymber locked and shut the bathroom door.  Great....Hope she doesn't lock herself in!

Cailey is doing great in school.  She enjoys going and is learning a lot already.  She can write her full name without any help now.  Tonight she is going to a dance practice with the Nixa High School Glitter Girls.  Tomorrow night she will be performing at half time at the Homecoming game.

Jerime is waiting to go to court, Cailey and Britney's mother is going to be back around, after disappearing for 9 months... who knows what stress that is going to bring, but hopefully she doesn't do anything and she treats the girls better than she used to.  She admitted she doesn't want the girls living with her she just wants to see them on occasion and doesn't even want summer vacations with them or anything.  I can't even imagine. And I dread any tormoil she causes with the girls, she's hurt them and everyone enough already. What mother could be like that?  I do not get some people in this world.  Some days I'd give anything to not have to deal with all these issues. 

How Common is Your Name

I was just looking at a website for fun about how common names are.  For Kymber....

KIMBER is the #2454 most common female first name

0.002% of females in the US are named KIMBER.

Around 2450 US females are named KIMBER!

 

But when you spell it Kymber this is what came up....

KYMBER is a very rare female first name

Very few female first names in the US are KYMBER

Be proud of your unique first name!

 

 

Cailey's Work

Cailey is such a hardworker and strives to do as best as she can in everything.  She has struggled with speech but after 2.5 years of working really hard she graduated!! :)  She still is academically behind quite a bit (3 year old level for alphabet and numbers).... so we are working really hard on it.  We labeled things in her room, practice writing her name and numbers, and different activities.  Even when I say we are done, she keeps working.  I'm so proud of her.  I'm going to track some of her writing progress on here.  Here's her name from the beginning of the year.  She wrote her name herself (looking at mine to copy) and then traced 2 of mine.  The numbers are the numbers she can recognize in print.  We are almost to 4. When we play a game to find numbers she will get 4 most of the time :)  I don't have the other page, but she can write a 1 and is working on a 2.  When we do letter searches she can always find the C. 

Little updates on the girls

Cailey's doing great at school.  It was king of sad, on the first day I had asked her if she had made any friends and she told me yes, but then her friend met another friend so the girl told her she would only be her friend one more time.  Well, today Cailey came home and told me it wasn't true, because they are still friends!!! lol

Kymber is saying and doing more and more but she still won't talk around other people :( She used to not repeat words when Jeirme came home though, and now she is so maybe not long.  Today her and Cailey were playing marbles and she kept saying bahble.

She's learning so many body parts, teeth, tongue, mouth, eyes, ears, nose, head, hair, toes, feet/foot, hands, belly/belly button,  .... around 12.  She's done a couple others but not consistently.  I was watching the video and she started pointing to her different parts when she heard me on the video lol.

The girls are enjoying their swingset.  Kymber is out there everyday while Cailey is at school and they both go out there and play when she comes home. 

First Day of Kindergarten

I took Cailey to her first day of Kindergarten!! She was so excited, we did her hair, her nails and she wore a new outfit Grandma Pat had bought her for school.  Kymber and Cailey held hands and walked to her classroom.  We found her cubby and put her things away and she went to her desk, a little girl that sits next to her helped her put on her name tag.... I already can tell they might not be sitting next to each other for very long!!! uh oh!  :)
She was really excited and barely said goodbye... I'm so happy for her, she has been so excited for this!

When we were leaving the teacher handed me a stapled piece of paper.  Kymber and I walked back out to the car and I opened it up.  I can tell you that I was not the least bit upset, sad, or anything about Cailey starting school.  We have both been SO excited for this. BUT when I read this poem I did get a few tears :)  So, those of you with little ones going to school, be prepared to read it!!! :)

Her teacher seemed amazing at meet the teacher night, and again she seems amazing today.  I can't wait for our year with her and to see how much Cailey progresses!!!!! I'm so excited.

THE FIRST DAY

I gave you a little wink and smile 

As you entered my room today.

For I know how hard it is to leave 

And know your child must stay.

You've been with her for five years now,

And have been a loving guide,

But now, alas, the time has come

To leave her at my side.

Just know that as you drive away

And tears down your cheeks may flow

I'll love her as I would my own

And help her learn and grow.

For as a parent, I too know

How quickly the years do pass

And that one day too, it was my turn

To take my child to class.

So please put your mind at ease

And cry those tears no more

For I will love her and take her in

When you leave her at my door.

Girls' Rooms are finished

The girls rooms are just about done, I think I'm going to get a shelf to hang Cailey's medals from and get a rug for Kymbers room.  All the other rooms still need a little something here and there to be complete.

Her pictures look uneven for some reason in this picture, I think it's the way I was holding the camera.

Caily-isms

I don't have a lot to write about today.  Tried to get the garage sale set up to have it today but it turned into a disaster!  The girls had a great day playing outside though, so atleast they enjoyed the day :)  Hopefully tomorrow will go smoother and we will have the garage sale. 

Seems like Cailey hasn't said as many things lately, or I've just been so busy that I've let them slip by :(

She is all excited for school to start but then today when we passed the school she asked me if she would be in school forever.  I told her atleast until she is 18.  Her reply, very worried sounding said "So I will be in school forever with no days off?!" She was almost in a panic!! I reassured her she would have weekends and summers off.

Now that we are no longer living in the country Cailey knows we cannot have animals like we could out there.  So, in the car she told me that since we cant have a bunch of animals at our new house when there was a wishing star, she was going to wish for something different now.... but she couldn't tell me what it was.  I told her I wish I could know.  Her reply...... "well then that's what you can wish for on the wishing star."  Thanks Cailey :)

Meet the Teacher, Cailey's starting school!!!

Tonight we went to meet the teacher at Mathews Elementary for Cailey's back to school night.  She picked out her cubby, found her desk, and we listened to information about this coming school year.  I am so excited for the next milestones in Cailey's life, and all the fun things that come with being in school.... all her activities at school, homework (yes, I'm excited to help her with homework, I'm a nerd, I know! lol), seeing her progress, after school activities, school festivals, artwork, girlscouts, field trips, sleepovers, SOOOOOO many things!! I can understand parents get upset because their child is growing up and its bittersweet, but I just don't get the crying over it and being completely sad about it.  Sitting in the orientation in her classroom, there was a mom sat at her childs desk crying....its only orientation... what's she going to do on the first day?!  Well, I hope it goes smoother for her, I myself am so excited not only for the fun things to come but also for the BREAK!!!  Cailey is an angel and a breeze compared to Kymber.... but her mouth moves nonstop and sometimes that peace and quiet is prayed for! :)  I'm a little nervous though about her attitude and her talking in the classroom..... we shall see!

Picture Day

It's time for Kymbers 18 month pictures!! Pictures have not been easy from the beginning, before she screamed the entire time.... this time if I tried to make her sit, she screamed then tried to take off running.  She wanted to play chase and play with the chairs and anything EXCEPT sit for pictures.  Cailey was an angel and posed and was so patient with her! We got a few good ones, and there are quite a few crazy ones!