Snow time!

Over President's Day weekend we headed up to Mt hood to spent some fun time in the snow!

 While the older two went snowboarding Kami and Kori had fun tubing and playing in the snow.

 It was great that we found a quiet spot off by the 'slow' sledding slops to hang out, the crowds and noise got to be too much far Kami after about two hours and she was starting to melt down.  But, once we got away from everyone she immersed herself in the snow and relaxed.

 After awhile she was able to hit the tub runs again with my cousin and Kori, fun for all!

And two are gone

Kami was having some fun playing with Daddy before bed and took a little bump to her two front teeth.  Well, she came to me a little while later because one of these teeth was bleeding, I gave it a little wiggle and it felt firm in the gum, so I gave her a paper towel to soak up the small amount of blood.  Within the next 2 hours both of her front teeth came out!  Kami was very excited for the tooth fairy to come and retrieve not one but two teeth!

Party Time....

This little girl turned six.

 So, it is time for cake, or in this case, a cupcake!

 Beautiful birthday wishes.

 A great place to celabrate.

 With good friends.

Someone is Six!

Six years ago I held a beautiful baby girl who fought for her first breath.

 Every time I look into her beautiful blue eyes, my heart soars with love for her.

 Someday I will understand how her mind works, how she thinks....

 but, one thing I know is her heart and it is filled with love.

 I feel so blessed to be love by her, my dear sweet Kami.

The Need for Insurance Reform....

I recently had to present a topic for a my Writing 327 class, my topic was something that is close to me, insurance coverage for autism.  We are one of the lucky ones, since our insurance covers Kami's speech therapy.  BUT, we have still spent well over three thousand dollars so far this year on autism related therapy.  Please contact you senator and congressman to let them know that we need the Autism Insurance Reform Bill (Senate Bill 555 and House Bill 2214) in Oregon to pass in the next legislative session.

How to contact you congressman.....
http://www.leg.state.or.us/house/

How to contact your senator....
http://www.leg.state.or.us/senate/

New Adventures.....

I ignored my blogs this summer, I was busy with school and kids and it was easy to let go, but now that we are back on a schedule, here I am!  Kami took a break from speech therapy up at OHSU for the summer and had fun with ballet, playing with friends and going to the beach and hiking up at Mt Hood.  But, now she on a whole new path and a brand new adventure!

Kami is in all day kindergarten with her favorite teacher, she is taking swimming lessons and is in a new ballet class.  These are major changes for a little girl who does not take to change well, but she is pushing through her anxiety and doing the best she can.  Swimming is the hardest for her, I am not sure where the fear is coming from, she loves the water, but there is something about the pool, maybe not being able to touch that causes her enormous amounts of fear, but she is facing it!

Breaking Through.....

Well, we have broken through some of the Red Tape!!! I thought it would be a gratifying event, but alas, it was not. We had a big meeting with ESD and the local school district and I left feeling undermined and seconded guessed by people who do not even know my daughter. This was a result of the fact that I am keeping Kamryn in private school, this is where I know she will thrive, succeed and most of all be comfortable. The local school district thinks she will not. I find this hard to understand, since they have not met my daughter, her teacher, or visited her school. Also, I find it hard to understand how 30 minutes of autistic care group once a month (what she would have at the public school) is really going to make such a big difference. In her current school she has more time with her teacher, smaller class size and knows her environment and schedule. This is what is going to help her. Ok, rant over! :)