I CAN!!!!!!!!!!!!

I couldn't be prouder, my little reader!

Beatitudes for Disabled People by Majorie Chappell

This was too beautiful not to share!!

Blessed are you that never bids us "hurry up" and more blessed are you that do not snatch our tasks form our hands to do them for us, for often we need time, rather than help.

Blessed are you who take time to listen to defective speech, for you help us to know that if we persevere, we can be understood.

Blessed are you who walk with us in public places and ignore the stare of strangers, for in your companion ship we find havens of relaxation.

Blessed are you who stand beside us as we enter our new ventures, for our failures will be outweighed by times we surprise ourselves and you.

Blessed our you who ask for our help, for our greatest need is to be needed.

Blessed are you when by all these things you assure us that the thing that makes us individuals is not our peculiar muscles, nor our wounded nervous system, but the God-given self that no infirmity can confine.

Blessed are those who realize that I am human and don't expect me to be saintly just because I am disabled.

Blessed are those who pick things up without being asked.

Blessed are those who understand that sometimes I am weak and not just lazy.

Blessed are those who forget my disability of the body and see the shape of my soul.


Blessed are those who see me as a whole person, unique and complete, and not as a "half" and one of God's mistakes.


Blessed are those who love me just as I am without wondering what I might have been like.


Blessed are my friends on whom I depend, for they are the substance and joy of my life!!

She'll get it!

Well, the first full week of Kindergarten is in the bag. And aside from getting into "time out" for running away from her teachers(she just loves to be chased, thinks it's hilarious) Riley did pretty great. I am so grateful to her teachers for their patience and understanding. Her teacher said "when she runs away, I put her in time out, she will get it" And knock on wood, she was good and got no time outs the the later part of this week. Of course I'm sure the good behavior had nothing to do with the bribe of M&M's I offered as an after school snack if she didn't get into trouble, lol.  Not only are her teachers(regular classsroom, and special ed) wonderfully encouraging, but the other children have been great too. The older kids who  are on the safety patrol look out for her, and after 1 week, she is walking to kindergarten all by herself. The first few days of school, I parked the car and walked her to kindergarten which is in a separate building in the back of the school. Now, she gets out of the car, and walks in with all the kids, the first day of her walking by herself, I called to make sure she made it and didn't end up in 5th grade, and sure enough she did exactly what she was supposed to, and walked to Kindergarten. Now she looks like such an independent "big girl" with her Dora backpack, prancing her way into the school and out to Kindergarten, my baby is growing up and I'm so proud of her.

Kindergarten, off to a good start

Well, we made it through the first (partial) week of Kindergarten with no problems. Riley loves school and has adjusted pretty quickly to the school routine. The first day, there were tears(mine not hers) she said bye mom and was ready to get started. I am so proud that she loves school and learning. And I know that having some excellent daycare teachers and a very special Pre K family made this adjustment so much easier for her. We have started working on her sight words, and it amazes me to think that she will be "reading" this year. I am so blessed to have a beautiful daughter with such a great attitude, yes she may learn a little slower, but she is determined to learn and that is all I could have hoped for. I will keep updating on her progress. Thanks for sharing in this crazy journey with us!

Wordless Wednesday(first day of Kindergarten)

Testing???

This morning I took my big girl to school for her scheduled testing. It was a standardized test(part of which was given at the beginning of pre k, the other half, administered before Kindergarten):( Riley wanted to play in the classroom instead of sit and answer questions, so I worry she didn't test up to her potential. It is very frustrating for a parent who knows their child knows/can do certain things, but isn't given credit for them because it she doesn't demonstrate them at set instance. I know I shouldn't worry, the test doesn't determine grades or anything else, it is just so hard because you want everyone to see the progress and potential in your child. Other parents do you have the same concernns? How do you handle testing??? On a positive note, I did hear some of the questions so I know what to work on with her. Also in the naming body parts section, I knew she knew arms, legs, eyes, etc., but was plesantly surprised when she correctly identified ankle. She's so smart. I love my girl!!

Wordless Wednesday(a look back!)

Back to School Night

Tonight was Back to School Night at school. We had such a great time. We got to meet Riley's teacher and check out her new classroom. She had such a good time playing in her classroom. In addition to meeting her teacher, we met the special ed teacher who will be working with Riley. The special ed room Riley will go to when she is pulled out for Reading and Math is actually rig
ht next door to her kindergarten classroom so she won't have to go far. We also saw some familiar faces, including Riley's speech therapist who she loves and performs well for! I'm looking forward to a great Kindergarten year and I'm so excited to see how much Riley grows and learns. Here are some pics from Back to School Night.
P.S. Check back tomorrow for Wordless Wednesday(a look back) I will be posting pics from Pre K, a look back before we start this Kindergarten adventure

Starting School

Sorry it's been awhile, it's been a long hectic summer. But we are getting ready for school and hopefully getting back into a routine. I still can't believe this tiny little girl who I feel like was born yesterday will be starting Kindergarten in 2 weeks. I know she's ready, she loves school and has really missed her friends. After school supply shopping this weekend she wore her new school shoes and backpack around the house for hours asking if she could go to school. This year will be different as she will be pulled out of her regular kindergarten classroom to go to special ed for an hour for math, and reading each day. She will continue to receive her speach, ape, ot, and pt therapies, and because she attended pre k at the same school she already knows her therapist and has bonded with them which makes her perform better for them. I hope that she does well and countinues to love school and learning. I'm confident that she will do her best! And as a parent there is nothing more I can ask of her. It is my goal to update the blog on a regular basis this year as we start this new journey into elementary. If there are any parents with tips, tricks, suggestions, on how to make this year successful, please comment. I love hearing from other parents! Also we signed up for the "Dream Team" a cheerleading team for kids with special needs, it starts in September and I can't wait to see her in her little uniform. I promise I will post pics. Have a great day and Always remember "the only disability in life is a bad attitude!"- Scott Hamilton