Catch up #4 - Camp Nugget

One of the hardest aspects of summer is for Katie. She NEEDS to be doing something, but most programs aren't equipped to be welcoming to kids with special needs. After many, many hours of searching, we found Camp Nugget at Cal STate Long Beach. It was a 4 week movement based program  - sports and swimming with social skills and other supports built in. It was perfect for her! Tehre were some amazing counselors - and I suspect that Katie taught them a lot about the real life with kids on the spectrum and with intellectual disabilities! 

I would say that she was really, really proud of her "Most Enthusiastic" award. Every day, when we got to camp, Katie would announce "this is my camp. I love my camp" - several times! 

This was her favorite best friend at camp! 

Massively blessed by the counselors who gave their time and hearts to my girl - she "loved her camp"! 

Catch Up Post #3 …or "Fabulous 4th Weekend"

The week leading up to the 4th of July weekend is pretty busy for Doug at work. Consequently, the day of celebration is one that we like to just kick back and relax! For the past 5 years, we have gotten together with our neighbors and had a picnic. Nothing fancy - just food and friends who also happen to be neighbors. 

The other very, very coo thing that we were able to do was attend a concert of Chinese music at the Hollywood Bowl. It was a perfect evening for outdoor music, and the perfect venue for the girls first classical music concert! 

 It was made even more special by the presence of Auntie Linda - 

The girls loved it - everything about the evening was wonderful. I especially loved exposing them to classical music; it's something my dad did for me when I was their ages and while I didn't truly appreciate it then, it developed an appreciation in the arts that I hope to pass onto them. 

The Love of Sisters

The best gift of summer is always family time. In spite of how hard it can be to have no schedule or structure for my little girls - the blessing of time with our big girl far outweighs the downside of the dysregulation! 

This year - we brought them to us! Cami and Becky were in camp, so Katie got to be the welcoming committee! 

Becky was in art camp, and Sis got to surprise her at the end of camp show. A gift for both of them - because too often Ashlee misses out on some of the daily accomplishments of her sisters.

Our big girl brought our very favorite littlest girl-and my girls LOVED being aunties! 

Ashlee's very favorite movie as a kid - a tradition being passed down! 

A lap full of love - 

Dinner time! That itty bitty little one ate two pieces of pizza - confirming her genealogy! 

The blessings of a lab - Sailor put up with a lot from the baby! 

Makes my heart happy and full! 

I have a lot of friends who are siblings with big age gaps, and they aren't very close to their younger/older siblings. Ashlee is one amazing sister - who makes a HUGE effort to truly be the big sister to the littles. It is such a gift - her heart for her sisters is huge. The age difference might be big - but the love for her sisters is far bigger. 

Blessed beyond measure - words can not describe how our non traditionally formed family is family through and through. Through the love of Jesus who love one another. 

Jana's Biggest Fan

There are some things that really, really resonate with Katie. Christian music is one - and especially Jana Alayra. 

To say Katie is her biggest fan might be the biggest understatement of the year. She knows all the moves to all her songs. It's her favorite after school transition DVD. It's what we listen to over and over and over in the car. 

We were blessed recently to have Jana at our church's VBS. Katie didn't go to VBS (she was at her camp) but Becky did. The last evening, there was a Jana concert - and Katie got to attend it. 

One of the most awesome things about Jana is that she truly loves the kids - and she involves them. Becky got to go up on stage with the 7 year old. Becky - who has a very, very high standard for everything declared the fist day of VBS "Jana is the very best thing about VBS this year." 

 She was concentrating SO hard to not mess up while she was up there

 Then - Katie got to go up. 

She was in stunned awe to be so close to Jana! 

 Even the dads got to go up (and the moms did too….but since I am super camera shy - we will be skipping those pictures!)

Huge, huge bonus…..Katie and Becky got to meet Jana! 

Meeting someone you admire is awesome for any kid - the line every day to meet Jana was huge! 

But for Katie - Jana and her music represent so much more than just great, fun songs about Jesus. 

They are a place that Katie gets to be just like every other kid.

She can't do a lot of what typical kids too - it's too much and too over stimulating. She can't go on play dates or sit through a movie or spend more than an hour or two at an amusement park. The OC Fair would be a nightmare for her - and she doesn't get invited to a lot of birthday parties. 

But with Jana - she can dance and sing all day long with Jana. When Jana is singing, and Katie is singing along, she's just another kid like any other kid loving life and learning about Jesus. 

Three weeks later, Katie still wakes up every single morning, and tells us "I got to hug Jana and go up on stage with her". 

Make my momma heart so warm - thanks Jana for bringing the gift of normal and music and Jesus to our girl. 

Catch up Post #2

This is that "random" post - pictures that don't really go together but are too cute or special to not share or record! This blog acts as our family scrape book - besides being a place to share general thoughts on our lives. These pictures are those moments that don't necessarily mean much - but they mean everything.

Everything because they represent lives being built and healed and transformed - from the hurts our kids experiences to some moments of just being "kids". To being able to be just a little bit "normal" (whatever that is!!)

My sweet girl who thinks 7 is FAR too old for a nap - but it's not really! 

We tried many contraptions to be able to circumvent the "no swimming" rule imposed by our doctor - none worked well - but for a few moments occasionally some fun was had! 

Not sure who was more tired….

Our sweet babysitter Ali - just days before they welcomed their new blessing into the world.

Queen Ester for "Super Hero Day" at VBS. Yes - I think Queen Ester is a far better super hero than any of the marvel characters! 

Night out with friends who came up to see us from San Diego. We love Brenda and Jerry - and we love that they love us enough to know that right now - to get to have time together, they come up to us. Sometimes the greatest gifts of friendships are knowing what your friends need and making those sacrifices for them. 

Neighborhood girls night out! We have the very, very best neighborhood. While I can get yard envy or house envy, the blessings of our neighbors who have become friends far out weigh any benefits more space could bring. 

Blessings wrapped in the every day moments. The moments that we can take for granted or assume will be there tomorrow - that maybe won't be. Two summers ago, very little of the above would have been possible - especially the time out. That is progress and healing and security and GOD! 

Miracle Moments

A few weeks ago (July 2nd to be exact!), I had one of those days that simply oozed with the presence of God-His grace and protection was everywhere. 

When we got to pre-op at 5:30, we discovered there had been a scheduling issue and we had been assigned an anesthesiologist who wasn't "approved" for Cami. The department head was on campus and came over right away. 

I have wanted to be in the OR every time they take Cami's pins out - they let me stay. 

We have been waiting on our LOA for Julie XioaBai - it was 10 days past the expected date and that is not encouraging. While in the recovery room with Cami, we got the notification it was done! 

We went to pick up Katie at camp-she had a bad day again, and we were told she couldn't come back without a one to one helper. My babysitter had come with us, she was free to be that helper on Thursday. 

We got in the car at camp - it was dead. Not "battery died" dead....but "no sound at all when you turn the key" dead. Called AAA. They came - and after trying a few things, he was about to leave, but stopped , grabbed his flashlight, got back out of the truck, looked under the hood, did something. The car started. 

I finally got everyone home and settled - and then headed off for two nights to the WIlliams Syndrome Conference. As I walked in - my phone rang, and the caller ID showed Katie's special ed teacher. There is only one reason a teacher calls you over the summer - and it's not to tell you that they will be staying in the classroom. Devestated - Katie's teacher makes the difference for her, and is literally gifted in ways only God can gift. But God…..the teacher that is replacing her is Katie's favorite aid, loves the Lord and Katie. She was trained by her current teacher - and it will be a virtually seamless transition for Katie. 

All day - it felt like the enemy was trying to derail me. It also felt like every time that happened, God stepped in with a hedge of protection. 

That's how good He is. He gave me a day full of reminders….

-

Catch Up Post #1

14 more days till school starts - and I thought I probably need to get caught up! It has been an amazingly good summer so far - everyone has been regulated and happy. Even though Cami hasn't been able to swim - we have found tons to do and it's gone by so quickly. 

So - in the interest of catching up and some major league awesome fun  - here is the first of several catching up posts….

"The Cousins Visit"

My step sister and I didn't grow up together. She was 11 when her dad married my mom, and I was out of the house and in college. Fast forward 25 years later - and we find ourselves in similar life circumstances. Loving the Lord. Loving our kids. Loving each other. For both of our sets of kids - their  "other cousins" are so much older that there is little ability to really have a relationship. Collectively, we two have 6 kids with the oldest being 12 and the youngest being 5! 

Her girls (10 and ) came and spent the week with us in late June - we had a house full of girls - and what a blessing it was! 

We did two visits to the aquarium (Katie was in camp - so she missed these)

Went and saw a movie  - and got excited about another one! 

Took an outing or two….

….for frozen yogurt! 

It was a super fun time to just be together and make fun summer cousin memories. We are blessed that through God's grace, our family may not be traditionally built but can certainly build traditions!