Kelly's Teeth

Lost another tooth!

In March we saw the CHOC Craniofacial-Cleft Team, for Kelly's annual appointment.  This is a 3+ hour long appointment with about 8 specialist, all on the team that treats Cleft kids. Kelly's appointment went well, with no surprises.  We are in a "holding pattern" for a few months.

She will continue to see her Speech Therapists (1x week for an hour privately and 2x week at school for 30 min.) which we expected.

One of her ear tubes is out, so that will be watched, not necessarily replaced at the moment.  I was pleased to hear the ENT wasn't in a hurry to replace it, like the last time they came out (this is her third set).  Most Cleft kids have tubes much longer than typical kids, sometimes having tubes forever, as the cleft issues can effect hearing dramatically.   We'll revisit this in July when she has another hearing test.

She will need to start Orthodontics in the next year or so, and that will be our next, big, challenge.  Cleft palate can have a HUGE impact on the placement of the teeth, and bone.  We anticipate many years of extensive Orthodontics...but at the moment we are really only dealing with the Tooth Fairy!  Kelly has lost her 3rd tooth, right on schedule, and was excited to place that tiny little tooth under her pillow.  As you can see from the photo, she has a serious underbite, along with some "Geminated" teeth (fused) and a tiny little lateral tooth that is finally exposed, now that the top front tooth is out.  All part of being a 6 yr old cleft kid.

Amazingly enough, she can still whistle a pretty decent tune!

Easter

Easter is always a big day at our house.  First is the egg hunt in the yard, but then in the afternoon we have a huge egg hunt in the neighborhood.  It happens on our old street, we used the yards of 8 houses, there are about 1,500 plastic eggs filled with candy and around 40 or 50 eggs with gold $1 coins and a few with a $5 or $10 in them.  The big money eggs have clues to where they are hidden, Ron and another neighbor give out the clues to the older kids, or make them figure out riddles or problems to find each clue.  Keeps all the kids (even the grown up ones) busy and the little ones move from egg hunting to the bounce house as the afternoon progresses.  We have a huge potluck and everyone has a great time, and goes home exhausted.

Cory flew down a few days before, and Jamie came the day before.

                                             

Random Pictures

Wow, were did the time go? 

Seems the memory chip from the camera that took the Thanksgiving/Drew's birthday/Christmas photos is missing.  Well, not really missing, more like buried in a "to-do" pile somewhere.  My excuse for not posting has been that I can't find those pictures, but by now, I figure I needed to post something.

So here goes, a bunch of random peeks at what the Littles have been up to:

 Chinese New Year was fun, but the Lions were a little scary for Drew

Kelly has been learning all kinds of things: jump rope, roller skating, gymnastics.  So great to see her growing and having such a great time.

 Drew has some buddies she sees most everyday when we drop Kelly off for Kindergarten.  Here she is with two of them checking out some bugs.  One cutie she claims to be her "Prince".  Yup, as you can see from the following picture, she is a true girlie-girl.  All clothing must now be "a dress; flowery, sparkly or "fuffuly" (cross between fluffy and ruffly)".  

Kelly dresses up sometimes, but the cowboy boots with the Chinese traditional dress are as fancy as it gets for her.

  And believe it or not, they still sleep in the same bed.  We have two beds in the room, but even when I separate them, which isn't often, it doesn't last more than an hour or so before one of them gets up and goes to sleep with the other.  They are such "sisters" now.  Annoying each other, tattling on each other, sharing food, giggling till they fall down, and crying when the other gets in trouble.  
Life is so good.

October

Halloween is always a crazy and fun time at our house.

annual Carmel Apple Party 

Jamie came up and brought friends

Who needs Halloween candy with these around??

Pumpkin carving at the neighbor's party

Kelly's kindergarten's Fall Festival on Halloween day

Every year Ron out-does himself with a new and spooky creation.  This year it was a moving dragon head, complete with "smoke" coming from his mouth.  The biggest "kid" in the house always has more fun than anyone else in the neighborhood.

                                    Kelly was Princess Jasmine and Drew was Little Bo Peep

                                                               Ron and his dragon.

Summer Recap

Kelly trying out the spring board at swim lessons

Drew thinking about trying out the spring board at swim lessons

Family hike at the Isthmus on Catalina Island

Two new Aztecs helping Jamie move to San Diego State University

First day of Kindergarten, new luchbox, new snack bag, and newly lost tooth

Well Summer is over, school has begun, and I've finally found some of the pictures that show a few of the highlights of our summer.   

  Kelly and Drew both did lots of swimming, lots.  Kelly is not only pool safe but has some nice style in her strokes.  Drew thinks she's pool safe, but that won't really be till next summer, though she loves the water and is very comfortable, and can get a little way on her own.

  We were able to fit in a great weekend on Catalina, just the 6 of us, on my parents boat.  Beautiful weather, great time and lots of fun.

  Late August we all drove Jamie to her dorm at San Diego State University to drop her off.  This is my second experience leaving a child in a new "home" and driving away.  It hasn't gotten any easier; as a mom it is still really really hard. Really hard.  On a positive note, Jamie seems to be very happy and settling in well, even with a hectic schedule of rowing and school and managing to fit in a social life.  Ahh to be young!

  Then Ron drove Cory back to Cal, for her senior year (did I just type that?!) She had worked hard here this summer and I think was looking forward to seeing her friends and getting back to school.  Same house and roommate as last year, so very little changes for her in that regard.

  Kelly started Kindergarten in Sept.  After much hoopla talking it up, and prepping for the big day, she sat at the breakfast table that morning, calmly eating her breakfast, and mentioned that her tooth was "out".  I corrected her and said, "no honey, your tooth is loose, not "out" yet, but soon."  She promptly handed me her tooth, finished her breakfast and got ready for school.  Ok...so first day of school AND first tooth lost!  Such milestones.  She is handling school very well, enjoying it and comes home chatting about all that went on.  This is great to see, as we had kept her from starting school last year when she was technically supposed to start, but obviously (to us) not ready. Nice to make a call like that and see your instincts were correct!

  So with all those young ladies off and at their schools, it leaves Drew and I to hold down the fort.  Drew does go to preschool 2 1/2 days a week, which is great for her (and me), but the transition of both older girls leaving and Kelly at a new school has been very hard for Drew to deal with.  I often forget that things like that are still difficult for her sometimes.  She has come so far, but between being a 3 yr. old and still learning to control and modulate her emotions there are still long days here at the old homestead.  "This too shall pass" as my mom says...

  

A "Dolphin Princess"

  I swore I wasn't going to jump into all the typical "kid stuff" early with these younger two....plenty of time to do all that.  But I forgot that I am not in this alone.  
   Jamie and Cory began asking when Kelly would start AYSO soccer last year.  I said "later" and meant a few years later.  They complained and demanded.  I ignored them pretty much, but realized in May that every time I came to pick Kelly up at Preschool, she was not playing dolls with the other girls, or dress up, but more often than not, she was playing soccer with the boys.  Hmmmmm.   So I signed her up for Fall and today was her first practice.  Great location (her soon to be new school), great time, and looks like great coach and girls.  She was pretty unsure of herself for the first few minutes, but by the time she was done, she was hooked.  I know because of the grin at the end and when I asked her how it was she replied: "It was STUPENDOUS Mom!"  Didn't know she knew the word.  The girls decided the team name would be "The Dolphin Princesses".
   It's been a busy, sometimes a little rough, summer.  Her surgery held no surprises, thankfully, but still was a kink in the summer eating and fun.  We go tomorrow for the post-op (8 weeks now) and expect the Dr. to be pleased.  The Speech therapists are, and now the work starts to correct all the compensatory speech issues that Kelly used to self correct her fistula and short soft palate.  They are very hopeful that most all the remaining issues can be worked out.  YEAH!  Kelly will still see the private SLP and will start with SLPs at school again, after being out of the school SLP program for a year (not by choice).  We expect to continue to see improvement in the next year.  She is growing, speaking more and more and is SO ready for Kindergarten, we can't wait to see her take flight this year.  She is an easy going, sometimes shy, sweet kid, who wants to please.  Kelly is also getting a little bit tougher and a little more crafty, thanks to Drew....who is a Tasmanian Devil in the body of an adorable little 3 yr old.  Come on 4th birthday!  So far, the other 3 girls have all made their magic turn-around at about 4yrs. old...so I am ever hopeful for Drew.  Thinking soccer might be happening early for the little gremlin, anything to wear that one out!

Montecito Sequoia Lodge

My parents celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary (yes, 60th!) this June, and very generously took the whole family to a place called Montecito Sequoia Lodge Family Camp for a week.  It is a beautiful lodge in the Sequoia National Forrest that has all kinds of fun activities for people of all ages.  We had a blast, spent time in the redwoods, and most importantly spent time with family.  What a wonderful gift they gave us!

Mom and Dad, toasting their 60th

                                                               The Runner family

                          Kelly dressed for Cowboy Night on the 4th of July, practicing her "wink"s

                                       The beautiful lake was great for all kinds of activities.

Drew loved her counselors and the cool new things she got to try, like horseback riding.