December Recap

I have no idea why this picture ended up so tiny. I can't figure out how to change it right now and I love it so here it is anyway!

Now that it's February I figured that I should really get caught up here. Natalie had a wonderful holiday season. She loved the parties, the gifts and the time with her cousins and friends. Here are some pictures that pretty much say it all (and in no particular order):

On December 28, Ronan's new little brother Jack Edward finally arrived!

Natalie and her best friend Amy



Aunt Susan reading to Natalie and her friends Emily and Sarah

Mommy and Natalie

She loves trucks!

Eating a cookie and showing us how she uses the Vantage Lite (on loan from Assistive Technology Ohio since she still has not received her own).

At the Victoria Theater waiting for Mooseltoe: A New Moosical to start.

Opening presents

Waiting for dinner at the annual DiNizo/Haluschak Christmas party

Playing with the favorite present of the year: Chicken Dance Elmo! (from Nana)

Helping Mommy pick out the Christmas tree

Kiernan, Ronan, Carter, Natalie, Lucy

All the cousins (before Jack's birth).

Beautiful!

I just LOVE this picture of Natalie that my awesome friend Cathy took. She was so cooperative and did what she will never do for me - smile AND look at the camera at the same time!

Expect more updates soon. I am still going through my December pictures to put together a post about our wonderful Christmas this year.

Preschool Christmas Party

Natalie had a Christmas party at preschool last week and Cook, Ronan, Aunt Hez, and I were all able to attend.


Waiting for the party to start.


Ronan's here! Oh boy, I never get to see him.


Ronan hamming it up for the camera (looks like Natalie's considering kicking him).


Ronan enjoying the toys in the classroom.


Oh boy, it's Santa. Natalie was very excited about Santa. Ronan, not so much. Even though Santa had a gift just for him, Ronan was not about to go within 10 feet of him. I bet next year will be totally different.

Just a kid

 

I love regular moments like those captured here, when I watch Natalie playing, like the little girl that she is. She's growing up and it's fun to watch her.

Thankful

Reading my friend Anna's recent blog post inspired me to write a short post about what I feel thankful for this year. Unfortunately (or fortunately for my family and friends), I am not nearly as funny or sassy as Anna! If you want a good laugh, be sure to read her post.

I won't pretend that this has been anything other than a difficult year for me. However, I've gone through other difficult times and it's true that it always does get easier and better as time goes on. I am lucky in SO MANY ways. First, I am lucky to have Natalie and I try to never forget how easily that may not have been. She loves me unconditionally and completely. I am inspired by her persistence and amazed by how much she is learning and asserting her independence lately. I also love how she curls up against me and sticks her little hands under my arm to go to sleep at night.

In addition, I also happen to have a truly awesome family. I don't even dread spending time with them during the holidays like many do. In fact, I look forward to it! My family understands me like no one else and they do everything they can to help with Natalie. Seeing my nieces and nephews grow up and interact with Natalie is amazing. They get so excited to see her and they help her do things that she has difficulty doing on her own. Natalie loves giving everyone kisses and likes dancing with Ronan and Kiernan and wrestling with Carter.

Then, last but not least, I have the greatest friends! They keep me entertained (Roller Derby - need I say more?) and help me out whenever I need it. Many of my friends have known me since junior high or high school and know me as well as my family does.

So, in case I don't say it enough or at all, I truly appreciate all of these people who make my life (and Natalie's) so much better!

Natalie's 5 years of Halloween fun

NICU baby 2006:

Piglet 2007:

Kitty Cat 2008:

Monkey 2009:

Pinkalicious 2010:

Pink and Tink: **Natalie stood without any support for about 30 seconds**

With the whole gang: Kiernan (Tinkerbell), Natalie, Carter (The Amazing Bumblebee), and Ronan (cowboy):


Natalie did a GREAT job walking with her walker up to several houses this year. I am so proud of her. After she followed her cousins up to about 5 or 6 houses, she insisted on holding a piece of candy in each hand and having me carry her. When someone would try to give her another piece of candy she would try to give it back to them! She dressed up as Pinkalicious, a character in one of her favorite books right now. I love seeing how much she has grown up over the last 4 years!

The amazing Ipad

Check out this link to a Wall Street Journal article about children with special needs using the Ipad for communication. Since Natalie's communication device just got denied by insurance and medicaid, an Ipad could be in Natalie's future. (Although I will be appealing the medicaid denial).