Update on how she's doing

So we're a few months into school now. We've made so much progress with her, it's been unbelievable. The day she wrote her name and you could read every letter, we cried. She can say the letters in her name too. She's drawing and learning new songs and she loves her friends at school. But has it been easy......ummm......no.





We're working with just about every agency we can. We started "from the bottom" and are working our way up to deal with the " big stuff." We first had her hearing tested. We noticed she'd complain about certain noises being too loud, noises that really shouldn't have bothered her. Sure enough, there is a muscle in each ear that does not expand and contract the way it should be. Her hearing is fine though, it's just the loud noise issue. Although it wasn't something that needed to be done immediately, it was suggested to us to have neurological testing done to determine if there were any other problems.





We are also going to begin speech therapy soon. There are many letters she can't say properly. We're also working on getting her to stop sucking her thumb and index finger, since it is not only affecting her teeth, but her index finger as well. ( she twists it so oddly that her finger is now beginning to turn)





We also will begin counseling in a week. It's all done through play therapy, but I just feel that things will probably get worse before they get better. But there has to be a beginning where she can begin to heal from the wounds that she has. She still thinks she has to leave again, and it's hard to explain " forever" to a 4 year old that doesn't really know tomorrow or yesterday. We've tried telling her she'll never have to have another mommy and daddy again, but she is very sceptical about that.





Overall, she is doing fine. She is blossoming and learning better then we expected her to. She has her days where we're all ready to tear our hair out, but it was to be expected, and we know it won't be over for quite some time. We just love her, and pray that she can "catch up" on just being a little girl.

Fire Safety Night

Fire Safety Night...not a whole lot displayed, but in Key West, as parents you attend EVERYTHING that is kid friendly, because those events are too far and few between!

The whole gang in the bounce house. Nothing like a bounce house with 95 degree temps outside!!

Monkeys in the bounce house!

Miss K and Miss B...more monkeys!!

Madi becomes a fireman! Firewoman? Fireperson!! What's politically correct these days??






Madi and Mr L finally tire of seeing Sparky the firedog!

WHoohoooo...it's Sparky!








Run Sparky run! The whole gang is going to ambush you!

Mr J really looks like he's interested in being fire smart!!

Daddy re-enlists

The "Ask my Dad He's the Chief" shirt!!!
Kissing retirement goodbye.....

Madison didn't know, but she was getting an "award" too!!

She was so excited to get her Certificate of Appreciation!!

She made everyone crack up when she turned around and asked, "Daddy, what'd you do with your gum?" And then everyone laughed wondering if she was flipping him off!! Luckily I had taken the picture at just the right time!!

Madi's Certificate! proud little girl!!

Coloring at the table where we went out to eat the next day

Checking out the Key West chickens that went running by while we were eating.

School time!!!

Key West's newest "Superbee!"

Getting to visit the classroom before school starts

Her teacher gives her a tour of the things she'll be learning soon! Luckily we'd already met the teacher at the playground this summer, so Madi wasn't as intimidated by her as I think she would have been. She was always concerned about not doing anything that the teacher would fuss her for!!


muggin for the camera when she ran into her friend Mr J during open house

Some Mommies and their kids that are part of the PTO and are friends with Madi!

Are we leaving for school yet?

Double checking the backpack before we leave for school.

Watching the kids coming towards the classroom.

First day of school and already getting "scolded" by the teacher!!

Dog days of summer

Posing in the goggles.

Aunty Em!! Aunty Em!! Key West water spout.

The Atlanta Braves first female player. Watch ESPN in say, about 16 years!!

SLUGGER!!

Nah, we never get bored! There's always something to do!!



Heat index: 105 degrees. Having to wear chenille gloves....gotta love it.

Catchin rain with Mr L.

Madi on her cell phone. I think she was calling the weather channel.

The many faces of Madi.

30% chance of rain today.








Miss B has a wardrobe malfunction.

Maybe I'll just float away....give me a shove Miss B!!

Playing with friends!/Misc pics

Dancing with a Prince.

Nope, not Halloween! Just a usual dress up day here!
Gotta love it. Miss B wanting the pom-pom and Madi trying to get the matchbox car!

Sweaty hair and messy face. I don't know how she does it, but she manages to always get more food ON her then IN her!

Making Daddy's birthday cake. First you crack the eggs................



Then you "mix it all together" and hope it stays in the bowl, and not flung on the walls.

Great thing about Key West....when the base pool is closed, we can go to local hotels and swim in their pools and the hotels don't mind! Madison and the gang having a snack.....and surprisingly, everyone was getting along! Food does that, doesn't it??

We went to the bird sanctualry to check on "daffy duck" ( injured seagull we took in with a broken wing) There is a nature walk there and at the end is a pond full of turtles. They give you dog food to be able to feed them. There was also a pretty good sized Iguana there we fed too, but my camera batteries died before I could take his pic. Note to self, always bring extra batteries.

here turtle, turtle, turtle!!! ( Again, I wish I had a camera that had worked that day, there were about 50 turtles in this pond.) The girls had a blast. We ran out of dog food, so thanks to Miss N, and her fully stocked backpack....we also fed them raisins and cheez-its.....lol.

Madi points out that the neighbors driveway has a much bigger puddle then Miss J's!!

But hey, this puddle works too!

Now that we're shriveled up like raisins, might as well go home!