Quick little update!

Quick update while the girls are in the tub!!

Cailey was Soaring Student this month! 1 student from each class a month is chosen, so not every student gets this!  She was nominated this month for the month of the word- Perseverance.... it definitely fits her so well!  She is doing great in school, spelling many words, reading, and just overall doing great.

Kymber is still seeing the chiropractor, but less often.  She is doing so well, just has her moments!  She is still very very strong willed, but getting so better!  She is talking so much now and putting words together.  She can say the whole alphabet by copying after you say a letter. 

We are going to be out of diapers soon!! She is so interested in the potty again, thank goodness! She was interested at her first birthday then decided against it but now she loves it.  Overnight she isn't staying dry though so that part I'm not sure how long it'll be.  Cailey was closer to 3 years old for no night time accidents, so we'll see how it goes!

I'll post a link to Kymber's last chiropractor visit and here is a picture of Cailey after her assembly to receive her dogtag for Soaring Student!

Kymbers Adjustments

Chiropractor Care for Colic, Sensory Processing and many other symptoms

I know I haven't wrote on here in a long time, but I wrote up a testimonial for Kymbers doctor at Vance Chiropractic and I wanted to share on here, and hope that maybe someone who is experiencing the same problems will find this one day and get help. 

Before going to Dr. Josh Vance, Kymber was constantly crying.  At only 2 weeks old I knew something wasn’t right.  She would cry constantly and had to be carried and walked around day and night. She wouldn't stay in a swing, a bouncer, or an exercauser.  Everyone would speak about the importance of tummy time but she would scream non stop and vomit.  Basically the only place she could be comforted is swinging or rocking in my arms.  She had projectile vomiting until 7 months old all day long, after every feeding.  We changed her clothes and my clothes about 5-6 times a day because of it all.  Burp clothes were blankets.  It resulted in many trips to the pediatrician and ER but always the same answer:  take medicine for reflux and she will outgrow it.  She would act as though she was constipated but would never have solid stools.   From birth until seeing Dr. Josh Vance at 2 years old she was up every 2-3 hours at night.  She would sometimes wake up screaming and it could take up to an hour to get her to go to sleep.  And by “sleep” I mean her propped on top of me sitting in the recliner.  For 2 years we were up for the day at 4:30am.   We slept this way for 2 years but  up and down all night, not real sleep.  Doctors determined sleep apnea and removed her tonsils and adenoids but it never provided any relief.   Throughout the day she would have crying fits for up to 45 minutes long off and on all day.  It would sound like cries of pain or frustration, not a tantrum.  The pediatricians would not listen to me; they told me she was your typical 2 year old.  Car rides from birth until about 1 year old was constant screaming from the time we got in the car until she got out.  Around a year old it was just off and on screaming.  Naps were another nightmare.  From birth she would nap for about 20 minutes then wake up screaming.  She would take a few 20 minute naps as a baby but after about 9 months old, it was one 20 minute nap a day, sometimes two 20 min naps if I was lucky.  She was constantly on top of me and I couldn’t get any break and I couldn’t find any help in the pediatrician’s offices. Every time we went to the pediatrician Kymber would cling to me, not let them weigh her, listen to her heart or anything without crying. I couldn’t find help.

I heard Doctor Vance’s advertisement and I called.  I took Kymber in and while she was bashful acting she let the nurse weigh her, listen to her heart and sat on the table for her.  Dr. Josh Vance came in and talked to us and Kymber let him exam her and adjust her on the first visit.  They were so wonderful and gentle and understanding.  I felt like I finally had someone on our side and willing to work with us.  On the ride home Kymber sat and looked out the window, something that had NEVER happened before.  She took a nap that day for 2 hours.  We continued to see Dr. Josh regularly and the improvements are night and day.  I can’t even explain how much he has helped us.  She will now ask to see him and when we go she enjoys it. 

Kymber is now sleeping through the night, and if she wakes it is only to get a drink and goes right back to sleep in bed.  She goes to bed at 8pm and is up at 7:30am.   She will ride in the car without screaming.  She sits in her seat and plays with her toy or talks or sings.  She is napping atleast 1 hour a day.  She plays and now I can say she is your typical 2 year old little girl because of Dr. Josh Vance helping her.

Making HUGE improvements

Not in the sleeping area..... unfortunately! But days are going awesome!!! Tantrums are lessening and she is letting me do more and more!  She will play with her toys while I do my work and isn't screaming for me to hold her the entire time.  For the last 2 years I have had to wait until she was asleep to go take a shower, if I didn't want to hear non stop screaming.  If I said "I'm going to go take my shower" she'd start screaming, crying and just down right upset.  She'd cry pretty much the entire time I was in the shower.  If she calmed down, the second I came out of the bathroom she would run to me screaming and I'd have to calm her down.

Tonight..... I said "I'm going to go take a shower".  She hesitated, so I told her it would be ok, I'm going to shower, then I'll be right back and I'll cuddle you.  She said "ok" then went to daddy!  I took my shower, heard NO crying.  I came out.... she was sitting in daddies lap talking to him.  I sat down and she stayed in his lap talking!  This was a FIRST EVER!!!! WOW!! Something people take for granted .... it was a miracle in our house tonight!

Today at the store I asked her if she liked a shirt I picked out, it was purple.  She said "no, blue one!" and starting flipping through clothes in the rack.  She is talking so much lately, I can't even think of everything to write about it! 

We went and took her 2 year old portraits.  The lady would tell her how to pose and she would actually pose the way she asked her to.... then she'd make up her own poses, clap for herself, and start dancing.  It was cute to watch.  I dont have the pictures back yet, but here is a watermark proof of one of them.

Cailey is going through a stage right now.  It's understandable with everything she has put up with with Kymber, she's seeing her mom every other weekend again (that's a stress I can see it in her) and just kindergarten changes.  She's starting to yell at Kymber alot (kymber does torment but I want the yelling to stop too), and just getting selfish at times.  She starts up her cheerleading again on Tuesday... she hasn't had cheerleading since before Christmas so hopefully that gets her back in the swing of things and gives her something to focus her attention on.  She's still the same girly girl, putting on makeup and dresses almost everyday after school :)  She has lost 2 teeth now .... her bottom 2!  She's also been asking for months and months to get her hair cut.... we have been telling her no but finally told her she could cut it however she wanted.  She got it short and she looks cute!

Creating my own solutions for SPD

"Children with sensory integration disorder may have a hard time tolerating the tactile pressure of a seat belt, the auditory onslaught of a rumbling engine, the olfactory offense of car exhaust, the vestibular challenge of stops and starts and bumpy motion."  http://www.netplaces.com/sensory-integration-disorder/sensory-integration-in-the-community/in-the-car.htm

Kymber screams a lot of the time in the car.  I haven't figured out everything about her SPD needs but her therapist mentioned that she is needing pressure in the car to handle the motion.  She LOVES motion, but it has to be HARD and FAST.  The car is not.

I took just a back pack that was in the garage and stuffed it with some blankets.  I then took the one strap and hung it over the back of the seat that she sits behind.  She can now take her legs and press against this "squishy" bag for pressure.  It hasn't helped completely, she's still screaming at many times (but Im still looking for all the different ideas ... still not sure what to do for her to tolerate the seatbelt??? thats a BIG one).  but she does use this!

Bye 2011, Hello 2012!

The girls had a great Christmas.  Last year we were having a lot of financial struggles so we really didn't do that much.  This year I was able to shop clearance all year long and really give them a good Christmas and not spend a fortune! Cailey's favorite this year were her Holiday Barbie, Cupcake Maker, and Easy Bake Oven but she also loved her and Kymbers Sing a long Cd Player which is one of Kymbers favorites.  Kymber got a set of veggies that you "cut" with a toy knife and they come apart, that was a favorite, and her play kitchen.  Her and Kymber play house, restaraunt and LOVE it.  It's really cute.

Kymber and Cailey Sing A Long Player

We had our annual Christmas gathering at Grandma and Grandpa Thompsons.  The girls had a great time and Kymber warmed up towards the end, and actually let Gen hold her! First time ever letting someone hold her without crying!  (I'll have to download that pic!)

Kymber has had 3 meetings with her regular therapist and 1 meeting with her occupational therapist.  Things have already improved some and she is making such progress. They are teaching techniques and tips on what to do throughout the day to help her get the senses that she is seeking, and when she doesn't get those senses fulfilled she would normally be having tantrums,fits, frustration, anxiety etc.  She is not sleeping through the night at all, but last night was the first night that she woke up and just came and got me, without screaming!

Kymber is talking SO much.  She copies so many words, putting two words together (sometimes they are more of the beginning sound of the word, she can't complete the full word) but it is really progressing!  She is also working on saying letters and loves it when Cailey and I sing the alphabet and she tries to sing a long with us.She is learning animals and the sounds they make.  She has said more and please for quite awhile now, but in the past few weeks she has started using the sign language for them as well.  She LOVES itsy bitsy spider and does the hand movements and asks to sing it over and over and over.  Books is also her favorite right now.  Read the same books over and over, and every morning we go through about 10-12 books. so much right now that she is doing more and more and little improvements with the sensory issue make a HUGE difference.

Cailey has now mastered all of her letters and all of the sounds.  She is spelling more words and able to read a few words.  She loves writing and asking how to spell, I think by the end of the year she will have made a big progress.  It's already night and day progress!  She had her last day of Cheerleading and received her medal for it. She can't wait to start back in February but is wanting to maybe do tumbling instead, but also is asking about soccer and Tball.  Not sure what we are going to do.

Showstopper Dance

Cailey had her birthday party.  We did a Barbie theme and she had 3 of her friends from school over.  They had a lot of fun playing a game "pass the wand" and putting on makeup!  She LOVES having parties, she had a great time :)

I know I forget so much that goes on that I wish I remembered to write down.  :(  Hopefully I will eventually get better at doing this more often!

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!