Here Chickie chickie chickie-AMENDED

With Easter being right around the corner we decided to have a little fun with some holiday type activity. Some steps turned out well, and well some turned out to be messy but fun. I'll let you figure out which was which!

Can't say we aren't sanitary...gotta use the rubber gloves! That is half the fun!!!

As you can see, Daniel was our taste tester. Actually he wasn't the only one, he was the only one I caught on camera!

If you can't tell these are suppose to be lil' chicks. Didn't turn out quite like they were supposed to but it was fun anyways.

Check tomorrow to see the only purpose a Peep really has in this world!

Amendment: I forgot to put the link to where we got the idea for the chick. Bakerella!
You didn't really think I was that crafty to figure these guys out by myself!

Stick Figure Family

Make your Stick Figure Family at FreeFlashToys.com

You gotta try this thing out! Its pretty funny. Can't wait for the kids (girls) look to see how I made them!! I think pretty accurate!

Better Late Than Never!

OK, so I'm a bad mom for not posting photos sooner of Daniel and Caitlin's birthday party from last week. Daniel turned a whopping 3 and Caitlin turned an "over the hill" age of 23!

As much as I didn't want to do the SpongeBob cake, we did because Daniel specifically picked it out all on his own. I tried with all my might to get him to pick ANYTHING else. I don't know about you people but I am so sick of SpongeBob! Anyways, I baked the cake and this year.............DADDY did the decorating! Kudos to Lonnie. Job well done! He is a man of many talents!
Caitlin on the only hand loves cupcakes, so Tori made Caitlin's cake this year. All I had to do was mix the colored frosting for both cakes and get the tubes ready, they did the rest! I Love it!
Daniel received some pretty cool gifts this year. As you already know he got the Childrite Seat! YEA!!! It is just the right height to put a breakfast tray (the kind when you have breakfast in bed...HINT HINT!) in front of him and he instantly has a little desk! I LOVE IT! Thank you Aunt Karrie, Uncle Vince, Dillon and Rocco. He also got a CD from Aunt Ann that has his name in all the songs....over 80 times! How sweet is that?!? And below you can see, Daniel got cars from Emmie, and also a race track! Don't know who was having more fun with it Daniel or Daddy?!!?

THEN......prepare yourselves. Daniel LOVES the Wonder Pets show, so Victoria decided to get Daniel a Guinea pig. This is like nothing you have ever seen before. This thing is HUGE. It is the ugliest thing I have ever seen (I'm not really fond of large rodents) but it has the best personality! It cracks me up. Meet.........Cacapoohie (they names it!) Scary isn't it?!
They say that owners generally start looking like their dogs, or that they pick dogs that resemble themselves. I think the same goes for Daniel and his pet...Look at the two photos below. See how the hair is similar?!!?! (Daniel's hair after a nap)
I had to take a picture of the Guinea pig to get an better view from above. Have you ever seen anything like it before?? The front end looks like your typical Guinea pig, the butt of it looks like someone stapled a wig to its butt! Eeewwwww!

Wiggles and a Big Surprise! **AMENDED**

We were very lucky and got to go see the Wiggles. Daniel loves the Wiggles. We were able to take Daniel's PT therapist and her daughter (who is a month younger than Daniel). During the whole show Daniel didn't make a peep, hardly a smile, but boy was he engrossed in the show. I wasn't sure he was diggin' it too much but towards the end I think he got use to all the noise, and the lighting changes! But all in all, a fun time had by all.

Then when we pull in our driveway at 8:30 last night, there is a big box sitting by our side door. WOOOOOOO I love boxes! I love packages of all sorts! But boo woo.....it wasn't for me!! But it was for Daniel and we got to open together!! What a wonderful surprise and a mystery too! Look what was inside!

Yep you got it!! The Childrite seat that we've been wanting. I have been following the other kids in our yahoo support groups that have them, and I've been wanting to get Daniel one. I knew he'd sit up and it would work awesome! Look at that! I love it, I was so excited I put him into it while he was half asleep from a long day. I couldn't wait until this morning to get him into it again!! It is absolutely PERFECT!!!

The Mystery - there was no card, no indication of who exactly its from! So, whoever you are.....Daniel is giving you many many big kisses (open mouth of course!) and hugs. I also say thank you thank you thank you. You are truly a very cool person!
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
We are going to use the new seat when we are doing our "reading". Part of the IAHP program is teaching your child to read. I have read the books by Glenn Doman that are required for the program that we are determined to go to. I am starting to get Daniel use to parts of the program that I can start at home now. Part of that is the reading program. The books say that even special needs children with severe brain injuries can learn to read. We are only at the beginning but I can tell you Daniel gets a kick out of the "reading" sessions. And it only takes a few minutes each day. I am loving it. We will see what he retains, but he is definitely paying attention. He wants to do more and more, but I'm following the rules to the tee from the book!

Gotta run and get ready for therapy, just wanted to say THANK YOU to our mystery seat giver~
AMENDED: WE FOUND OUT WHO THE CHILDRITE BUMBO WAS FROM! AUNT KARRIE, UNCLE VINCE, DILLON & ROCCO.
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!

We took it to therapy today (speech, pt and ot) they all loved it too!

Flashlight Tag....well sort of!

Talk about being overwhelmed and just caught up in everything! I don't know where the time has gone but I could got for passing a new rule that the day should have more than 24 hours in it!
Below are just a few pictures of a new game we created at home. After playing it I thought "wow! what a cool game to get Daniel to really understand his eye gaze". We have been working with Daniel on his eye gaze with his augmentative device (its our back up to touching the screen. the one we are getting have the laser for eye selection). Here is what you would see if you walk into a room at our house at night time! Its kind of like flashlight tag, but not really!

If you can't figure out what the photo is above, that is Daniel with his flashlight. Photo taken without a flash on.
Daniel with his flashlight (headlight) taken with flash on the camera
Daniel thinking he's the top notch winner with the cool head gear! the idea is that with the lights out, Daniel is the only one with the headlight. When he turns his head and the light stops on you......you get to move and make funny faces! Or we sit there and I ask him to look for his mickey mouse, Elmo, daddy, etc. Then when he stops his light on it we all clap and shout for joy. Its a fun little game and like I said he thinks he's really cool. Anyways a little pat on the back to mom and dad for coming up with a cool game what works as therapy too! ;)

Below are just a few pictures from therapies this past week or so.

Daniel listening intently to Ms. Carol's directions using the lite gait walker that we want to get. If someone would like to donate one to us.........what would be just swell!

Daniel writing on the Water Doodle. (He hasn't decided yet if he is left or right handed, it switches from day to day!)

Daniel continues to do the VitalStim at therapy with Ms. Pat. It is going so well. His swallows have gotten notably better, louder, quicker and stronger. This makes me a very happy mama. We will continue with this type of therapy. We are also back to doing the TES therapy at night, where Daniel wears his electrodes while he sleeps to stim the muscles of his truck. This is a long time therapy and will take many many many months, but it is while he sleeps and he doesn't seem to mind. We are also in the middle of his weaning of the anti-seizure meds. Makes me very nervous because I am terrified the seizures will come back and we wont' be able to control them. Anyways, (everyone knock on wood please) all is going well. Actually since starting the wean, I think he is becoming more alert. His processing time is getting quicker. You ask him to do something and he is able to do it much much quicker. This is a very good thing.

We Represent...

As I stated in a previous post, this year I am very excited for the summer and Daniel. He has so much more mobility, he's more alert, he's just more. The past few days have been slightly chilly so we haven't really been able to play outside too much but that gave me time to dig up my favorite picture from last summer. And I think I might already have the favorite from this summer, but I'll have to wait on that one.

I'll give you a little intro.......

We represent the Lollipop Guild

The Lollipop Guild,

the Lollipop Guild

And in the name of the Lollipop Guild

We wish to welcome you to Munchkin Land

Drum roll please................

Summer of 2007 Best picture goes to....

Remarkable resemblance don't you agree??

This was Daniel's first experience running through the sprinkler with big sister Victoria last year and the face he made when the water hit him. The minute I downloaded this I knew he reminded me of someone........then it clicked!! I still love this one and he'll never live it down either, this is one of those pictures you pull out years later and show girlfriends that come over!! And YES I will do that too!

It has indeed been a busy week for us, besides the standard 7 therapies, plus Early Intervention, we also got fitted for our next pair of DAFO's. Got to bring our power wheelchair home because Daniel now has his driving permit.

Warning: If you come to my home wear your steel toe shoes!! Daniel is still a little new at this whole driving thing and when he gets excited..its every man for himself! (What do you expect he's only 2 1/2 yrs old~) Below we were playing catch.

Today we also got to go pick up our new bike!! Before anyone gets too excited Daddy took this picture BEFORE Daniel had his helmet on or his shoes!! I cannot wait to get him going on this, such wonderful exercise too. Also helps with getting Daniel to go potty. Kids with CP tend to have a more difficult time because they aren't as active as the typical child. So this gets the legs moving which in turn helps get other things moving too! (If you're reading this and you belong to CP Mom's support group YOU KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT!!)

Look more tomorrow for pictures of Daniel on his bike outside! Its suppose to be very very nice!! This is the bike I was telling you all about here. His bike is from Freedom Concepts Inc. and I must say....IT ROCKS!! This is Daniel's model Thank you Hal (from Freedom Concepts) and the people at Bike Day!!

We had some much fun today that Daniel was in bed before 8 p.m. and he fell asleep in the middle of playing with Dad. Just like that - mid squealing on daddy's shoulder he fell fast asleep. HE NEVER DOES THIS. It took us a good 10 minutes to wake him up to give him his nightly medicine and was back to sleep in record time.

I have gotten tagged...

Tag Your It!

This is my first time doing one of these but "C" from Dura Mater has tagged me so I feel compelled to complete it..........it's only right. You're invited, you should participate! ;)

Here are the rules:

1. Pick up the nearest book (of at least 123 pages).
2. Open the book to page 123.
3. Find the fifth sentence.
4. Post the next three sentences.
5. Tag five people

#5 might be a bit hard as I don't know that I know enough blogging people who will actually take the time to do it, so I will follow "C's" example, and if anyone reads the blog and would like to participate, that would be awesome. (Make it seem like someone reads my blog, and likes it enough to respond!)

If you don't have a blog, leave your three sentences in the comments.

Here is mine from "The Secret" (which I have not read yet, but two of my sisters strongly recommend it!) by Rhonda Byrne

Page 123 Sentence # 5 Reads:

"When you feel bad about yourself, you block the love and instead you attract more people and situations that will continue to make you feel bad about yourself."

The next 3 sentences:
"Focus on the qualities you love about yourself and the law of attraction will show you more great things about you."
"To make a relationship work, focus on what you appreciate about the other person, and not your complaints. When you focus on the strengths, you will get more of them.

Ok, now I don't know now to explain this, and it is very odd. I never get invites to do this, and my sister Mary has been telling me to read the book for months........almost everytime I talk to her she says "have you read the book Mel?" and no I keep coming up with excuses......

Today I had a big fight with my significant other, and said some mean things because I was frustrated and pi$$ed off at myself for many self hating reasons........and I started a fight....
and I am sorry......

Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a book to read!

Now for the 5 people I tag.....

Stephanie - Drew's mom, Melissa - Nathan's mommy, Stacy - Evan's mom, Caitlin - my oldest daughter, Brittany - my third daughter (off at college and you better have a book beside you!)

Caitlin & Brittany don't have blogs but will leave comments on here (why? because I'm your mom and I said so!)

Just Because It's Funny

Here is a funny little video of Daniel playing with his sisters.....all laughing and giggling. Then watch him when he figures out that the camera is on!

Astro Lanes Bowling Fundraiser

Well, we had Daniel's fundraiser at Astro Bowling Lanes Friday night! Pictures will be posted soon for this, as we are waiting on them to be sent to us from the photo guru at the event (Doug Haynie).

We would like to thank everyone that came to spend their time and hard earned money. Again we are always amazed to see how people open up their hearts to someone that they hardly know.

Lonnie and I didn't have to do any of the set up or organization on this fundraiser and we were pleasantly surprised by all the wonderful prizes that Nicole Bacha was able to get for the event. Nicole, her family and Lonnie's Brother Marty did an outstanding job organizing everything and everyone for the event, despite us bugging the crap out of them constantly inquiring on how it was going! Sorry! :)

There were also many friends and family that donated their time and money buying and selling tickets. Thanks to everyone that made this benefit the absolute best it could be! Thanks for helping us help Daniel.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BRITTANY (OMG......she's 18!!)

Happy 18th Birthday Brittany!

Now just for fun I've gotta put these out there too just so people can see why Daniel is laughing so much! She definitely keeps the humor in the house!

New Blog (Journal)

Thanks for coming over to this page to view our journal. Just to give you a few pointers, you (the reader) now have the option to input your comments to our daily entries if you so choose. You can let Daniel know he did a good job at therapy, or how darn cute he is, or anything else you'd like!) This does not replace his guestbook, which we'd still like to see everyone sign.

There are some additional new links to the right---------------->

you might like to check them out, but you can always get back to Daniels main webpage by clicking on "homepage".

Here is a funny picture that we took of Daniel after he got done painting with chocolate pudding at therapy with Ms. Karen

The "Mop" poll is closed!

Well the results are in there were a total of 32 votes regarding Daniel's head of hair!
84% of you voted to let it go with the curls
16% of your voted to cut it off!
So for right now until I can't maintain it any longer or I have to start pulling it up in pigtails.......we'll let it go curly!