Step Up for Down Syndrome

Today was our annual Step Up for Down Syndrome.  

It was blustery cold but that didn't stop us from having a great time.  

We thank everyone who donated and supported our team.

We missed half our team as the Heigele crew we busy adding, Effie June to their family last night.  

Congrats Heigeles!  Both mom and Effie are doing well.

Climbing on up

Poppin' Joes Kettle corn is the best.
Joe has down syndrome and autism and runs this business.

Someone LOVED the pony rides.  She went back 3 times!

Alayna's beloved Juanita

Here you go, Taylor you are totally blog worthy!
♥

Our sweet friend, Sarah was there taking pictures.  I will be sure to share those when I get them.

Fall Family pictures

Our sweet friends at SOMA photography blessed us with fall pictures.  It was a beautiful day at the park, all until Dariya decided she would take her glasses off and throw them in the lake.  

I am blessed.

Sweetness

She loves the camera

My baby boy is growing up too fast

Here she is trying to make her escape after throwing her glasses in the lake.

Thank you Sophia and Thelma, you have no idea what a blessing these are to us.

Awesome check up

Alayna had her 4 year well child check up today and lab work.  She was such a BIG girl.  She let them draw blood, held still, no tears and sang songs with our favorite phlebotomist.

Then it was on to show off for her pediatrician.  Alayna counted to 20, told her her birthday (month and day), said her first and last names, told her the days of the week, months of the year, sang the ABC song and even showed her a couple of her latest dance moves with no signs of slowing down.

 I literally had to cut her off so we could get out of there by lunchtime.  Our pediatrician wasn't stopping her she was LOVING the show.

Typically, Alayna is very quiet and shy when we go to the doctor so this was totally a crack up to watch her show her stuff.

She is still a skinny little thing weighing in at 31 pounds and 36½ inches tall.  That is 2 pounds and 2 ½ inches since last year!  My baby is growing up and spreading her wings.  What a beautiful thing!

Please don't tell Alayna that her sister has put on 4 pounds and 3½ inches since February!  WHAT?

Both girls got their flu mist and were proclaimed to be the cutest and smartest kids ever and off we went.

We love our pediatrician.

Hope everyone has a great weekend!

Wordless Wednesday :Happy Fall

Potty training celebration: Throw out the pull ups

Two weeks ago I bit the bullet and ditched the pull ups on Dariya.  I knew she was being lazy and not stopping to go to the potty when she needed.

The first day at preschool she had two accidents but, after that has had no more accidents! As in not at school, home, church NO more accidents! She has rocked panties with being dry and going to the potty when she needs to.

YAY Dariya!  Extra ice cream scoops for you tonight big stuff!  We are super proud of you!

In another potty training/independence note....this morning before we headed out to walk to our park I told the girls we needed to go potty first.  Alayna marched in to the bathroom, put the potty seat on the toilet, moved the step stool  in front of the toilet, got undressed, got on the potty and went all by herself. She then was so proud she got off and remembered to move the step stool to wash her hands. Dariya followed suit and I sat back and watched.  One happy mom!

The cancer journey begins again....

Many of you know that I had thyroid cancer in 2004.  Thankfully I have been cancer free since then.

As of this summer I noticed a lump on my left hamstring that did not go away.  I went to several doctors before getting the diagnosis of sarcoma.

I have set up a Caringbridge page so that you may follow the journey if you wish.  I am going to keep this blog to our family and pics of my cute kids ;)


http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/rochellecannon

We appreciate all the love, support and prayers that are being offered up on our families behalf.  We know our Almighty God is walking with us through the difficult times.

Happy 4th birthday, Alayna!

Four year ago today a beautiful treasure graced our home.

You surprised us at birth and are so much more than a 'syndrome'.

You continue to amaze us everyday,

conversations galore and reading already, NO WAY!

Your giggle is contagious as anyone can see,

your antics hilarious and a bit cheeky.

God knew just what we needed when he handed us you,

a tiny package of love that is beautiful and true.

We love you and can't wait to celebrate you today

you are a blessing and over you we pray.

Now bring on the party, presents and sprinkle cake.

"Yummy, Yummy" you say of this you will partake.

Alayna Faith, may you follow God's path laid before you

soaring high for the dreams you choose to pursue.

Happy 4th birthday, smoochies, hugs and love

we are thankful daily for this  precious gift from above.

We love you,

Mommy, Daddy, Aidan and Dariya

Almost Wordless Wednesday: Potty training success!

Ok, so she accidentally spilled her water on her pants so had to change but that doesn't count!

She was so excited she signed panties dry as I was getting her off the bus!
Woot Woot Dariya!

2 steps forward, 1 step back and the potty training continues...

As the kids were off school the end of last week for conferences, I decided to go full steam ahead on getting Dariya out of pull ups.

Last spring she was letting me know when she needed to go potty.  However, I think the pull ups that she wears have caused her to become lazy and just not have to think about stopping to use the potty.  After all they are more like a diaper than panties.

I never used pull ups on Alayna she just went straight into panties at 2 and never looked back. With Aidan I used them for naps only because he too figured out quickly that they were just like a diaper.

Day one wasn't super successful as she had 2 or 3 accidents. But, she helped me clean up and she then put new panties on.  Day two was much better she only had one accident late in the day close to dinner time.  Day three she had one accident (on grandma's lap, sorry gma!) and day four was accident free.  She is getting to the point where I can say, "potty time" and she will go in and go all by herself.

I got really brave on Sunday morning and decided we would attempt to go to church in panties.  Well what do you know.  Dariya did it!  She even let me know during class time when she had to potty.

I debated sending her to school in panties this morning, knowing that she is far more successful when I am in close proximity.  But, she has all the skills to pull her pants down and up, get on and off the potty, and wash her hands all by herself so now is as good a time as any.

She sat on the potty a long time before she left and did her business and made it through almost the whole morning, 25 minutes before time to come home she had 2 accidents within 10 minutes of each other.

This has been a slow and steady process with Dariya as she was very traumatized by how they made her stay on the potty in Ukraine until she produced.  She has come a long way this year.  We know there will be more accidents but, we also know that she understands and is making great progress.

Thanks to the great EC team that wants to see her succeed as much as we do.

Looking forward to the day when we have no more accidents!

"Did you hear the news? I am wearing panties?"