31c Scoop Night

Shelly has been Sydney's nurse for about a 1 1/2 years now. She also helps her friend Bill with the Baskin Robin Stores. So we are always informed of the yearly 31 cent scoop night. After our long wait last year we got there nice & early and didn't have to wait too long. I think by the end of the trip Sydney was feeling gypped knowing she didn't get any ice cream!

Carter likes his because it turned his tongue blue! Shelly seemed to know which way to steer Carter when he was ordering to get a favorite!

Saying Good-Bye!

With school starting next week for Sydney we are soooo sad to be loosing our Early Interventionists. They have been coming over for the last year, they are the only therapists that come to the house. They have been so sweet putting up with the messy days, distracting days, house full of family days, and loving Carter that gets tortured seeing the fun toys and me threatening him to leave them alone. I have been amazed at how much these wonderful women have influenced not only Sydney's life but our entire family. They are wonderful! They are soooo appreciated & will be missed!

Spring Sing

Carter had his Spring Sing last night for school. He did a great job! Neil & I have realized the beautiful benefit of having a kindergartner is that you are only their about 30 minutes. The other families get to stay for at least another hour to hear the pretty songs.

Good-Byes Stink!

We are loosing our Wonderful Valerie! She is moving to Chicago. I can't think of what has rocked my boat more than this in a long time. I am tear triggered whenever I think of her leaving! She has been such a wonderful friend and major part of our life! Sydney started with Valerie when she was about 3-4 months old. I didn't realize you could have speech therapy at that age. We have seen Valerie for some periods up to 3 times a week working on Sydney's feeding & speech. It has been great experiencing some highest of highs, & lowest of lows with Valerie who was always there to celebrate with us or comfort & encourage when needed. I have appreciated learning the skills that Sydney uses to communicate, it has been a gift that I didn't realise I didn't have until I was taught how much she was 'talking' to us. Sydney loves Valerie and has been truly blessed having her in her life! I feel she is one of a handful I owe my sanity to over these last 3 years! Thank you sooooo much for all your love & support to our family!

This is about how old Sydney was when we started with Valerie. Sydney was on an NG tube & getting maybe 10 cc of formula by mouth with a small syringe. 2006

We worked her to a pudding thick formula that she drank with a bottle & were able to get rid of the NG tub & she ate, it was great!!!!!! 2007Out of the blue she stopped eating and we had to return to the NG tube, that was rough. She did work her way back up to eating solid food again, but not quite enough to loose the NG. Later this year she ended up getting a G-tube (button) placed due to her great skill of pulling the NG out daily. We have loved the button!More ups & downs, Valerie was so sweet and came to work with Sydney while we were in the hospital for a while, I think this was one of the only times Sydney slept during this particular stay, so double thanks! We started joining forces with Andrea, our OT and we did feeding & OT together, we worked long and hard to get her to drink! 2008Valerie was great at helping us with sign. One of our sessions she sat and helped me figure out Christmas Carols in sign so I could teach them to Sydney, that was so fun! Sydney loves the swing! Something so small as drinking from a cup & eating with a spoon can make me cry that was so exciting!! It was such a treat that day when she started doing this! These are precious pictures to a mom who sees a little one that tries as hard as she can & succeeds! This is one of those highest of highs!!! We have been so blessed to have such great therapists!!!

The Beauty of Time!!!

We usually have therapy of some kind every morning. Carter goes off to school and Sydney and I leave, then we race back after to catch Carter getting off the bus. Every other week when we aren't in Carters class we have a free Wednesday morning. So most of my mornings are either in Phoenix, Scottsdale, or Tempe. We love our therapies not doubt, but our Tuesday one is no longer, I have a free morning. (I'd give it up gladly if that meant we could keep Valorie from moving to Chicago!) I have been the happiest mom ever having this new found time! I was able to watch the news, dinner is done, my house is resembling order, and Sydney and I have had quality time. I am excited for Carter to be home and I don't think I'll be grumpy because all my calls, and random things are done. It is great!

Easter

Easter Morning

The family heads to GG's for Easter dinner & the always loved Easter Egg Hunt!

We have yet to get Carter a larger basket because he fills it too fast!

Grandpa & Grandma always get a kick out of watching the great grand kids scampering around! Auburn & Allison would find an egg, open it up, eat what's inside and drop the egg, it was a great method!

A sweet family gave Sydney a beeping easter egg that we can hide and she will hunt down. The eggs filled with treats didn't appeal, but that alarm clock beeping gets her looking!

Racheal, Dad, & Troy, ready to eat. Easter dinner has been much sweeter now that Grandma was convinced to use paper plates!Mom & Carter

Easter Eggs

The coloring of Easter Eggs have always been a fun thing with our family. In the years past our entire we all start together, but it ends up that all the in laws end up watching tv while Sandra, Dad, & Whit take off with their creative streaks. With Whit in Texas, and the kids out numbering the adults their was limited experiments and not much patiently soaking eggs. It was still fun as always. Whit may be disappointed. I bet she could point out whose is whose.

Grandpa & Grandma Higgbee

Grandpa & Grandma Higbee popped in on their way back to Idaho. It was such a treat to have them at our house! It had been over a year since we'd seen them, it was fun!

Grandpa & Carter

Carter informed us that if we always make Grandpa work when he comes on vacation , he isn't going to want to come anymore. So he had some 'fun' time with grandpa putting together a car.

Dad & Mom Dinner

Neil & I are lucky to have both of our familys that enjoy getting together! Dad & Mom came over to enjoy Chip & Pams last night. We grilled & enjoyed all being able to sit and enjoy the wonderful weather.

Angels in Service!

We were shocked to come home from our trip to find a beautiful 'made over' backyard! We had a new beautiful yard, they had added lighting, plants, new grass, furniture, a beautiful grill, extended the patio, candles, and the kids favorite, a tire swing. They left a sweet note in the grill. I knew who the ring leaders were and words can't fully express the excitement, gratitude, and the humble feelings of being blessed & loved! I am sure there is much more sacrifice that went into this beautiful yard than we are aware of, thank you to everyone that had a part in this! We love it, and are enjoying it every day!!!Neil was home before I was so when I came home and noticed our furniture had been changed I thought Pam, Chip & Neil and done it, but I couldn't figure out why they'd choose to do it randomly late at night, I was so confused. When I walked outside it was so nice and green and beautiful.
Gardenia plants were put in, those are my all time favorite, and I am so excited about the orange tree!!! Carter & Sydney love the tire swing, there is a bottom in in so they can sit. Carter, many mornings can be found with his blankets just hanging out!

We went & visited El . . . . (I'll have to ask Neil the name), but it was very pretty mission. Being Palm Sunday it was busy, but sweet to see different individuals worshiping in a different way than I am use to.

Titan Missile Museum

This was really neat, a bit creepy to hear all the statistics, and how many nuclear missiles there were in Arizona! During the tour I was the one to do the missile launch. They even gave me a sticker that said "I turned the key".

Jessica & Ryans Wedding

It was a beautiful wedding! It had been very windy & cold the previous couple days and that morning, but the wedding was perfect! It was a treat to be there!

Chip & Pam looked great all dolled up!!

We were able to spend time with Neil's grandparents who were also down for the wedding. It was a treat to visit with all the family that was there!

Such a treat to go to dinner with just adults! Such great company, & good foood!

Isn't he handsome!