Princess Cowgirl Pirate

This is my favorite look, the singing princess cowgirl pirate!


Ella is really into dressing up these days......well undressing and then adding only what she likes : ) Her imagination is really fun to watch. The other day she was pretending that her sweatshirt was her baby. Never mind the kid has like 15 baby dolls. But her sweatshirt was naughty and went to timeout for spitting, had a fever, was hungry, and took a nap. It was quite funny watching her listen to the sweatshirts heart and feed it. Crazy kid. Hunter was sick last weekend with a fever so several times a day Ella comes to check our fevers, tells us to cry and then gives us a shot. Such a good little doctor!

Drinking "hot chocolate." I am so very happy to be done with putting a patch on her eye. As you can see her glasses did NOT work with the patch and I really think the poor girl could not see during patch time. But no more patch means that we are heading to surgery on March 10th (Hunter's birthday.) She will have one of the muscles behind both eyes tightened. I was trying to listen to the doctor explain the surgery and a little girl I know was being a complete terror, like running around with the remote that changes the eye chart on the monitor and clicking away, so I didn't get much info just signed all the consents. The doctor did say at one point "we do not take the eye out of the socket." I just stopped chasing Ella and laughed and said "we'll that's good." She said you would be surprised what some people asked. Anyhow I know that in the world of surgeries this isn't a huge deal but it's my babies eyes. You know the things you use to see out of...... The doctor also said that Ella's prescription will probably improve after surgery but that she will still need glasses and probably always will because of her astigmatism. Bummer. Ella does great with her glasses, she really does, but they still drive me crazy. They are always dirty and I feel like I am constantly telling her to be careful so that she doesn't break them. She has fallen several times this week alone and jammed her glasses into her face, or knocked them off to the side of her face. She is sporting a bit of a shiner from falling last night, her glasses went off to the side and one of the nose pieces dug into the outer corner of her eye. But like with everything else Ella just accepts it for what it is and carries on being Ella.

Ella has been telling us about 4-5 times a day that she has to go potty and then goes pee in the potty. She has been poop trained for over a year and a half. So while this is really great, I would much rather do it this way when it is her idea, I have my concerns. For example, for as long as I can remember I have put her on the toilet before her bath and she will pee, but as soon as she gets in the water she pees again. So, can she not get it all out at once? Does she just pee a little all day long? If that is the case than it will be really hard to train. I think she is going to be the kind of kid that has accidents for a long time. So then do you keep her in pullups forever, or some sort of training pants? I, of course, do not want her teased for peeing her pants.


In other news I finally got Hunter to get a haircut. FINALLY. He was in one of his "I want my hair to be long," phases. He finally told me that he was growing it out in anticipation of crazy hair day at school because he wanted a long mohawk. So I told him we could get a spiky haircut and if and when there is a crazy hair day we can paint his hair blue.

I would like to know where my little boy went. He looks so much older to me now that I can see his face again. Hunter will be turning 7 soon and I am quite depressed about it. I wish I could freeze my kids right where they are (okay, Ella really needs to learn how to behave and then I will freeze her.)

Win an IPad!!!

Grab This!

I've been reading the blog Enjoy the Journey for a long time. I love looking at the pictures and reading the stories of beautiful Bree and her sweet sisters! This family is now in the process of adopting Kareen, an orphan in Eastern Europe who has Down syndrome. Please help them bring her home!!! From their blog.......


iPad Giveaway for KAREEN!



Kareen is a 4 year old little girl with Down syndrome who was given up at birth and has lived in an orphanage in Eastern Europe ever since. In her country a child with special needs is only held in an orphanage until the age of 4 or 5 and is then transferred to an institution where conditions are bleak and offer little hope for living a fulfilling life. Kareen's story has touched our family, and we are committed to bring her home. The cost of international adoption is very high, and we could use your help!Donate now through Saturday, February 5th, when one lucky person will receive a Brand New 16GB Wi-Fi iPad
For every $10 donated, you will be entered into a drawing for the iPad (i.e. $50 equals 5 entries). Also, if after donating, you advertise this giveaway on your blog or facebook, you will get an additional entry. Simply leave me a comment with your name and the link to your post.
Ways to Donate:


•Go to www.kareensjourneyhome.blogspot.com and click the “Chip in “ button
•Bring a check or cash by our home. You may email me at keciajcox@msn.com for our address.
•Tax deductible donation (must leave me a comment with your name and donation amount to be entered into the giveaway, since this site is kept confidential) http://reecesrainbow.org/sponsorcox
Every dollar helps, and brings us closer to having our little angel home safe.
Thanks for your Support!!!

- Kris & Kecia Cox

Follow their journey here...

Eye's and more....

EYES
We went to the eye doctor, AGAIN, on Jan 4th. Well, Ella's eyes are crossing even worse, the left one slightly worse than the right. So it looks like surgery is in our immediate future. For the whole month of December Ella had some tearing issue going on with here eyes. She started off with just clear tears coming out of her right eye for about two weeks then had the nastiest greenist gunk coming out of both eyes. So we got on antibiotics because she had a sinus infection. As soon as the antibiotics were done the clear tears picked back up. The eye doctor said that she wanted to try some steroid drops in Ella's eyes and see if that helps the tearing before she does the surgery for crossing because obviously if she needs her tear ducts opened up she could do them at the same time. In the mean time she said we could give patching a try, so we are to patch her right eye for 2 hours everyday. Yeah, this isn't easy. It's easy in the fact that she will leave it on fine, but she cries when I say it's time to put it on, she runs into things while it is on and just seems sad and then cries again when it's time to take it off. Her glasses do not fit over the stupid patch so I'm sure she really can't see with the dumb thing on. What I have noticed since patching is that now her right eye crosses worse than her left......so does that mean the left is getting better or the right is getting worse??? I don't know. So back we go on Feb 1st to figure it all out. Hunter on the other hand is all done patching, it worked and we are done! Hooray!

SCHOOL

Kindergarten transition meetings are coming up soon. I have been stressing myself out about all of this. Ella will turn 5 on August 30th and because she turns 5 before the cutoff date of August 31st she is not allowed to return to her preschool class. She is currently integrated with an ECAEP class (kind of like Headstart, federally funded) and her class consists of 14 "typical" kids and 4 kids with varying needs. Apparently Ella has to follow ECAEP rules as far as age goes, even though we do not qualify for the ECAEP program. So because of 1 day, 4 hours if you want to be specific, Ella is being pushed on to Kindergarten. I have several concerns about Ella moving on to Kindergarten, that I won't specifically get into, including her safety, her size, and her maturity. I will say that had Hunter's birthday been on August 30th I would not have sent him to Kindergarten, and he has no special needs. So the school district wants to send my child, who is the size of a 2 year old, who has the language of a 2 year old (she was just re-evaled), isn't potty trained, and oh yeah has Down syndrome on to Kindergarten. I don't know, I just don't feel good about it at all. I see how much Ella has changed, how much better she is doing, from last years preschool to this year and think that one more year in pre-k and she would really be so much more ready for Kindergarten. So, I have been exploring my options and went and talked to the owner of the Montessori preschool that Hunter attended when he was 4 and they are willing to take Ella. I am going to go ahead and send her 3 mornings a week during the summer, which I think will be really good for her. I love that school! I really don't want to pay for school next school year, and am still going to try to fight for Ella to remain where she is, but it is definitely an option. It's all just exhausting and stressing me out. My opinion seems so logical to me BUT apparently not to the school district. We'll see where this goes.

FUN

Ella has been invited to a playdate with one of her classmates (typical classmates : ) so we will be going to her friends house on Sunday to play. I am SOOOO excited, oh yeah and Ella is too!

On MLK Day we went bowling with Hurricane Riley and his family! I was a little worried about how much time we would spend chasing Ella and Riley down the lane and about how many little fingers and toes would be crushed by bowling balls but the kids did fantastic!!!!! All 4 kids, the big boys, and the two littles had a blast! Ella would push the ball and stand waiting to see what happened, if she would only know over one she would put her hand to her forehead and say "aww man," but if she hit more she would throw her arms up and celebrate. Riley was hysterical, he celebrated no matter what jumping up and down all the way back. A fun time was had by all!!!!

"Hooray!" notice there is only one pin left up!

This is the giant smile that we saw every single time!

Crazy buddies!

I realize this is a crappy quality photo but I love it anyway : )

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Christmas 2010 pictures Part 1

We had a wonderful Christmas this year and I of course took a ton of pictures.....

So here goes round 1 : )

But first a little video of Ella singing on Christmas Eve. I caught her singing We Wish you a Merry Christmas!

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Christmas Eve

Cookies for Santa

Ella was very upset that the cookies were for Santa and NOT for her!

Hunter's note

Santa came!

These are always my favorite Christmas pics.....their sweet sleepy faces, all excited waiting to go see what Santa brought!

A Nintendo Ds!!

and a lego clock!

Stay tuned for round 2

Candle for Carly

As I tucked my babies in on Christmas Eve I thought of Joany Risner-George and how much she must be missing Carly. I cannot imagine losing a child and my heart goes out to Joany and all of Carly's family. Today we lit a candle for Carly......hugs to the George Family

Merry Christmas

Wishing you health, peace and happiness

We wish you a very Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year!

Love,
Chris, Kacey, Hunter and Ella

Sending you lots of love!!!

Ella's Christmas show at school

Last Thursday was Ella's class party and Christmas show at her preschool and I got to spend the day with her. Yes, I am a bad mom and forgot her glasses....we had stayed out late the night before at my mom's house for her birthday and so I had taken her glasses off in the van. The next morning we took the car and I had thought I left the glasses at my mom's but they were in the van, oh well.

Here she is coloring with a friend
After she "signed in" by tracing her name

Here she is when they first walked into the gym, looking a little concerned

Here is when she spotted us, which threatened to end the performance for her. She tried running to us but her teacher put her back and she actually stayed!!!

I can't believe how much bigger she looks this year compared to last year. She is still the shortest but it isn't as big of a difference this year. The little guy to her right is nearly a year younger that her and is the 2nd shortest in class : ) The girl behind her is her best buddy this year!

Ella and her best friend who brought her a present : )

Seriously....can't she just give me one good pic

The little pink necklace is from her friend. The friend's mom said they were at the store and the little girl spotted this and told her mom she wanted to get this for Ella for Christmas. So so so sweet! Ella loves the necklace, just hates having to stand still for pictures!

And here is the video of Ella's little Christmas performance. I of course cried as usual. I'm pretty sure that I will always be blown away by how well Ella does!!!!

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Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Hunter had his Christmas show the week before and to my amazement they sang actual Christmas songs like Away in a Manger, Angels we Have Heard on High, Silent Night, with the actual words in a public school!! Pretty cool. Unfortunately my videos of his night are so shakey, I had to hold the camera above my head the whole time and the videos move so much they make you want to barf to watch them. I do have one little part, which was my favorite, of him signing the words to Silent Night (while lip singing as well)!

Here is my handsome guy before we left for the show.

He's got moves : )

Here he is in his classroom after the big show.

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com