Jadon's 12th Birthday

Jadon turned 12 on November 6. Unfortunately, it was not his best birthday ever.

The day did not start well. Jadon needed lots of suctioning during the night, unusual for him. He ended up sleeping with his CPAP and propped on three pillows. He woke not feeling great, due partially to the lack to sleep, but he really wanted to go to school. I got a message around 10:15 AM from Masumi saying he was not feeling great. Jadon really wanted to make it to lunch, when the decorating committee decorates your desk. I agreed to get him at 12:15 PM, just after lunch started. He was happy he made it to lunch and he loved his desk decorations made by his classmates, all Star Wars themed.

When we got home from school, I had a surprise waiting for Jadon. A friend helped create the perfect birthday cake for Jadon. I made the cake and she did the decorating. Jadon was very surprised and he loved it, well, to look at it, not eat it. We had a quiet birthday evening. We decided to put off the special birthday dinner until Jadon was feeling better.

Jadon stayed home from school the next day. He felt a little better but still not 100%. I talked to his doctor and he started antibiotics, to try to keep him from getting worse.

The next day was Saturday. Jadon woke feeling better but Kalina was now sick. Kalina was worse than Jadon was. She needed lots of suctioning and her oxygen levels were low. We spent the day snuggled on the couch with CPAP and oxygen. We missed Jadon’s party.

Jadon had a cosmic bowling party. He and his friends had fun. After the party, Andy took Jadon and two friends to see Big Hero 6 at the theater. Then they went to Red Robin for dinner. Jadon’s good friend Matthew spent the night. They had fun being crazy.

Despite the illnesses, I think Jadon would say he had a pretty good birthday.

Birthday Boy!

12 years old!

Birthday surprise.

Awesome cake!

Not feeling so great. 

Birthday party.

Birthday party cake.

Vancouver - October 2014

The week after Kalina’s birthday, Andy attended a conference in Vancouver, Canada.  We decided to drive to Vancouver on Friday and spend the weekend there.

I got Jadon and Kalina a little early from school and we headed north.  The drive was not bad except there was heavy traffic once we crossed the border.  We expected the drive to take about 2 hours and 45 minutes but it lasted 5 hours.  At least Jadon and Kalian were good company on the way there.  We were starving when we finally arrived and enjoyed a delicious Italian dinner. 

We spent Saturday exploring Vancouver.  We had not been there for a few years.  We went to Granville Island and walked around Stanley Park.   Kalina got to spend a little time in the pool in the afternoon and she loved it, like usual.  We walked to dinner and enjoyed the n ice views while we ate. 

Andy went for a run in Stanley Park Sunday morning.  Then we walked to a nice little place near our hotel for breakfast.  We drove through more of Stanley Park on our way out of town.  We stopped for lunch in Bellingham, WA.   

It was a short trip but we had a good time. 

 

Saturday breakfast (Kalina brought some friends with her).

Granville Island.

Jadon by the pool.

Pool buddies.

We found yummy gelato on our walk.

 

Vancouver.

 

Our walk to dinner.

 

One silly dinner companion.

 

Another silly dinner companion.

 

Sunday snack.

 

Nice view.

 

Back in the US for lunch.

Kalina's 7th Birthday

Kalina celebrated her golden birthday this year – 7 years old on October 7.  She was excited to turn 7.  The night before her birthday she told us the best thing about turning 7 was that she could go to Camp Korey! 

The birthday celebrations started the weekend before her birthday with our good friends, the Hamminghs.  It included a trip to the pumpkin patch.  It was a beautiful day and we all had a great time.

Kalina enjoyed helping me make her birthday cakes – one for home and one for her party.  She carefully studied the making baking books we have before deciding on just the right cakes.   We had fun going to the store to pick cake and party decorations.  Kalina still does not really like cake but she thinks a little frosting is ok, some decorations are ok, and vanilla ice cream to go with the cake is the best!

We had fun decorating the house so Kalina would awake to streamers and decorations.  She took individual bags of popcorn to school to share with her friends on her birthday.  We went to Red Robin for dinner, the birthday girl’s request.

The Saturday after her birthday, we had Kalina’s birthday party with friends from LPA and school.  She decided to have her party at a local toy store, Snapdoodle.  The girls got to so some cool crafts and we had cake and ice cream.  A fun time was had by all.  Jadon was a super helpful assistant. 

 

Fun at the farm with the Hamminghs.

 

Cool cupcakes Aunt Jayne made.

 

Birthday girl!

Assembling cake number one.

 

Finished cake number one.

What a sweet girl!

Party time!

The girls made crowns (and flowers but I did not get a picture of those).

Picking a tea set for the party.

Happy birthday memories.

 

 

Kalina - First Grade

Kalina had a fabulous first grade year with Mrs. Hadreas.  The transition to full day school was no problem for her.  Peggy was with her again as her nurse.  It was their fifth year together – what a gift!

Kalina learned a lot this year.  She discovered Magic Tree house books and enjoys reading them and learning from them.  Kalina is a very creative writer.  We always enjoy reading her stories.  Mrs. Charouhas, Jadon’s third grade teacher, predicted Kalina would become a great writer and I think she may have been correct.  Kalina thinks math is pretty fun and she had no problem picking up new concepts.  Mrs. Hadreas did a great job of incorporating science and social studies in the class and Kalina always looks forward to those lessons.

This was Kalina’s first year of having music and PE.  She loved them both, just like Jadon.   Library was not a favorite.   It was a little too disorganized for her liking. 

Kalina has a kind heart and she really took it upon herself to help others in her class.   She liked making new friends and playing with her friends at recess.  Visiting the student store was another favorite activity.

Kalina was also very interested in the Sister School project.  She was excited to finally be able to go, as a student, to all the assemblies this year.  She loved the Dolphin Dash and the field trips to Remlinger Farms and the aquarium were lots of fun. 

Buying milk at lunch was great.  She tried buying some lunches but decided lunches from home are better. 

Once asked how Kalina was doing socially in class, Mrs. Hadreas responded that Kalina could run the class.  She is definitely not as shy as Jadon was.  I think she could be a great teacher someday. 

 

Kalina continues to receive speech therapy and OT/PT at school.  Thanks to her awesome therapists, she is making great progress. 

I was fortunate to be able to help Mrs. Hadreas and the class.  I enjoyed working with the students and seeing them grow and learn throughout the year.

Kalina is excited to go to second grade with Peggy next year.  I can’t wait to see how much she grows and learns. 

 

Welcome back night.

 

Ready for school.

First day of first grade.

First bus ride of the year.

 

 

Kalina in the hay maze at Reminger Farms.

 

Dolphin Dash, here I come!

Kalina's class at the Dolphin Dash.

What a fun day!

Kalina and Peggy.