1st Day of Preschool!

We had open house at the UCO Edmond Regional Preschool for the hearing impaired last Friday.  Me, Darin, Parker, Ms. Kayla and Tessa all went to meet all the wonderful people dedicated to this program and to all the precious little ones.  It has been really exciting to anticipate this year of Friday mornings at UCO.  Thanks to our wonderful nanny (Ms. Kayla) and her willingness to make this 60 mile round-trip journey every Friday, Tessa will get to have new experiences, new friends and hopefully/prayerfully access to new forms of communication!  

Today was Tessa's 1st day!  It is from 9:00-11:00 every Friday, and I was so thankful to be able to be apart of this new chapter of Tessa's life today!  I met Kayla and Tessa at UCO and we embraced our first day of this journey together.  

And here is the moment that shocked Kayla and me both!  We were helping Tessa sit in this little jungle gym that had a mirror.  She was fascinated by the mirror and check it out!....this is the first time that Tessa has ever sat, propping all by herself!  And she stayed there long enough for at least 5 or 6 pictures.  

These are the best two. 

I think this is just a tiny glimpse into what these new experiences will do for Tessa.  I think being around peers and wanting to participate, put her into "conquer" mode.  I realize the mirror was highly motivating as well, but it's just so exciting to see such unexpected progress and I can't help but be thankful for all the new opportunities and experiences in her life!

Look how big she is!!!!!!!!! 

I love this girl with all my heart and it is amazing to me that God 

knows and loves her more than I could ever imagine.  

~Whitney

Summer+Parker=Fun

Parker may have spent lots of time at Tessa's therapies and appointments, but the two of us had some incredible adventures together this summer...ones I will never forget!  Over the last two years, my vacation time at work was used up quite a bit with hospital stays...so it was very exciting to have time this year to use for FUN!

We did lots and lots of swimming together!

Saturday morning fun! 

One day I got to take Parker up to work to see my office.  It had been a long time since he'd been up and he had been really curious about what my office looked like. 

 He wanted his picture by the elevator.  He felt like big-time at mommy's work ;)

After that stop we went over to the theater downtown and saw Madagascar 3!

And then we took some time to see the sites in Bricktown after the show!

We made smores!...not the traditional way over a fire (which was rather disappointing to him), but they were just as yummy!

We had our share of wrestling matches....

 And he helped me lots in the kitchen.  He's my little chef and I love it!

We got to spend the day together at Andy Alligator's Water Park!

It was the first time we had ever been and it was a blast!

We probably raced 10 times down the riptide racers. 

And after 6 hours of fun in the sun...he got a much needed nap on the ride home ;)

Parker is a fan of photo shoots...so we always try to squeeze those in when we can!

And we got to spend some time at the park together.

And last but not least...and probably one of my new favorites

Mommy and Parker Dance Parties!

Summer and Therapy!

Darin, Parker and Tessa had a busy busy summer.  And before I go any further, mad props to Daddy for his dedication and hard work with both Tessa and Parker all summer long.

Part of their weekly routine over the summer was a Friday co-treat therapy appointment at The Children's Center for Speech-Feeding and OT.  I was so glad I had a few opportunities to go and be a part.  It was definitely a little distracting to have the whole family there for therapy, but it's always important to me to be a part of things whenever I can.  It was so exciting to see Tessa's progress and to see what she'll do for her therapists.  Sometimes I know I take it a little easy on her in the realms of eating and drinking because I still feel like I'm trying to gauge what she can handle.  Well, after a few tag-alongs to therapy...let's just say, I'm a little more inclined to make things a bit more challenging for her now ;)

Tessa's therapists are so great and these co-treat appointments are by far, some of the hardest work Tessa does.  To realize what all it takes for her to sit up, hold her head up, balance herself, chew, swallow, and drink...it's so much, and she makes me so proud.

These first pictures are from July 6th.  She had some vanilla pudding with some granola and cereal mixed in.  Then she had juice from the Nuby cup, some yogurt melts and she also drank from her pink cup without a lid.

Tessa is definitely a little resistant to things unfamiliar to her and sometimes it's a little hard to tell if she is being resistant and trying to push things away, or if she's actually trying to help participate in what's going on ;)

We all get a little resistant when things are hard...perfectly normal there! 

This is her helping....such a BIG girl!!

And so proud of herself after getting a drink :)

 Yogurt melts = the look of disgust on her face. 

If it's not on a spoon, and it's coming at her in your fingers...how dare you!

And if you're trying to put it in her fingers...you done lost yo mind!!!

Tessa worked so hard and did wonderful!  

It makes me tired just watching how hard she works sometimes.

This next set is from July 20th and I actually thought to take some video this time around.  This particular Friday was "Chocolate Friday" and man was it fun and messy!

Chocolate pudding, of course!

And Chocolate Milk...of course!

Let's see...how do we continue transitioning Tessa from bottles to sippy cups....

Chocolate Milk...of course!

Ha ha...notice the now almost empty cup!

This last video is of her eating a yogurt melt presented properly to her on a spoon!

Those are some pretty spectacular chewing skills!

These last few shots were from my last time at therapy.  This time it was Speech-Language first, then separate time for OT after.

Mad props to Daddy, but mad props to Parker too.  Lots of kids spend their summers rather differently than Parker did this year...but he's Tessa's big brother and it's not a role he takes lightly.  Sure there are days where he wishes it wasn't "another" appointment for Tessa, but more times than not, it just is what it is, it's what we do as Tessa's family and he finds his own little ways to show his love and support for his little sister and all her hard work!

I love the opportunities I have to help document Tessa's progress.  Tessa's therapies are hard work, but they are her fun and her social hours too!  She teaches me all the time, that if you have to do it, you might as well put a smile on your face and giggle through the process!

~Whitney