Last session with Nikki...

Well, yesterday was our last session with Nikki as our PT Sandy is coming back next week. Nikki was great too though and showed us lots of stuff to do. She has worked with a number of Down syndrome kids and so it was neat to have a change, but we are anxious to come back to Sandy as well. Brayden has gotten quite a bit stronger these last 4 weeks. He is trying so hard to pull to stand on his own, he mainly tries to do this in the slippery bathtub, go figure. Brayden has mastered getting from on his tummy to sitting... back to on his tummy etc...he loves doing this. He also can stand for short periods of time and is able to bend his little legs to sit down. So here are a few pics from yesterday and a couple little videos...

I wish I had one of these adjustable tables....so great!

His determination is so great to watch...

This was at the end of the session and he just collapsed and stayed there ...I think he was trying to tell Nikki he was ALL DONE....

Posing for the camera...he is not camera shy that is forsure. Thanks Nikki for 4 great weeks of therapy. Good luck with all you do for CUSD...I know everyone is going to LOVE you!

Just a short video of Brayden being a little stinker...he loves to just go into sitting position instead of working on crawling...another little trick he has learned is how to say no...he shakes his little head when he wants to say no, with a smile...

This one is showing a little bit of crawling...We love you little guy... and we are so proud of you!

Another busy week...

Well, I haven't been snapping the pictures this week as I have forgotten to bring my camera to all of our outings...We have done plenty too! Let's see we have gone to the park a couple of times...that was fun! Brayden had PT this week and is continuing to progress with everything...still not army crawling (which I am kinda happy about, but know I shouldn't be) I just don't want him getting into everything! He is moving around though, whether it be on his bottom or lunging forward, pivoting, rolling, etc. He is wanting to stand all the time though, which has been fun!

Yesterday we went to a new Occupational therapist...she is from South Africa and I just love her accent. Her office is decorated like a safari, sooo cute! She is awesome and KNOWS her stuff. Right off she was telling me soooo much information...I seriously am on a little overload, but at the same time excited to work on a lot of things. One area we are going to work on is his sensory behaviors...I know he hasn't liked to touch slimy things or get his hands messy, or touch odd toys, but never really thought much about it other than I probably wouldn't want to touch that stuff either...but I guess this can really hinder their developmental growth if they are sensory/tactile delayed??? I don't know if that is the right lingo. So, she said we are going to work on this FORSURE! So, my homework is to have a toy bin FULL of sensory item toys, etc. He wanted nothing to do with her bin. She also suggested brushing different items on his arms with the way the hair grows, he didn't like this exercise either!
Then there are oral exercises to do...3 times a day she wants me to stick my finger all around on his gums and work the inner cheeks...also dabbing his lips every so often, to always wake up his mouth muscles...SHEESH! There is already soooo much I am constantly trying to remember to do! I just hope all these little exercises I can remember! All babies with Down syndrome have low tone...he has always been on the high side with his tone, but he still has low tone so this is to prevent him from getting lazy. She works on so many things, so I am excited to get started...just hope I can succeed with all I have to remember.

Another issue with Brayden right now that I am a little frustrated is he suddenly doesn't like too many healthy foods! He loves yogurt...and fruit! I had my other two off of formula at a year...but I feel like he doesn't eat healthy enough to take him off of it??? Plus he loves the stuff! I know many of you have switched over to regular milk, but I feel like Brayden won't get the right nutrients if I switch since he isn't eating that great? Any other people going through this or have gone through this? any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

We are looking forward to trying to keep cool this weekend as it is going to be over 100 degrees out! Tomorrow we are heading to Yodiggity ! and then Transformers 2...treat/reward for doing chores for 2 weeks for Cody and Kaylee. Until next time, have a great weekend!

A few more days of fun!

Physical therapy session this morning! Brayden is making such progress with his strength in sitting to standing...he LOVES to stand and his PT says that his feet are looking STRONG and sturdy...often they worry about the weight on Down syndrome or low tone kiddos ankles and them needing braces to help stabilize and at this time we are going to just monitor Brayden until he is pulling to stand on his own. His balancing is awesome too...she had him on a rocker platform today and he was able to keep his balance without falling over...We are so proud of him...he even had the distraction of my 4 other kids with me at therapy...but they were very well behaved. Here are some pics from today...

Fathers Day at the Woodward Park

We had a great time with Jared's parents and grandparents at the park...the kids played frisbee, bocce ball, baseball, soccer and ate a picnic lunch...the weather was beautiful and it was very relaxing...Thanks for the fun idea and putting this together Grammy!

As we were relaxing, we kept hearing this little "Meow!, Meow!" so the kids and I went on a search and noticed this tiny little kitten crying out of the BBQ...yes, the brick BBQ...he was so scared, so we pulled him out and the kids were of course BEGGING us to take him home. Well, Jared hates CATS, so I knew this was NOT going to happen...Cody said a prayer that he would find a home for the kitten before we left...and guess what, WE DID! Some dad swooped him up and took him home...(hopefully!) Anyway he was great entertainment for about 1/2 hour. We named him B..B..Q..



Here is an awesome day with his 3 kids!

I wanted to share a few photos from our Littlest Heroes Project that were taken a month or so ago...For any of you who haven't checked out this wonderful website...it is www.littlestheroesproject.com Our photographer came from about an hour away and donated her time to take our photos...She was wonderful and actually has a brother with Down syndrome...so it was neat to hear her experiences too. I can't wait to put some of these pics up on our walls.

Can I just say, I am SOOOO thankful for all I have! I love my little family with all my heart and can't thank all those around us for their love and support as well. Our journey has been nothing but a blessing. I sometimes get so overwhelmed with all we are into, but at the end of the day...I am so blessed to be able to be so involved with Brayden's development and enjoy the time with my kids...and it all couldn't be possible without my wonderful husband...:)

All in a week...

DANCE REHEARSAL/ Practice


My dancing girl...Kaylee's dress rehearsal was this Tuesday...She did so good. Her recital is this Friday night. She is dancing to "At the Hop"...at the very end, she has to hold this leg lift for about 10 seconds and she has been practicing like crazy. We are so proud of her and look forward to more dancing next session as she is adding a Compitition jazz dance...so yes, we will just be busier than we were before...LOL. She loves it though!







Birthday Time
Last Saturday we celebrated Cody and Kaylee's birthday at my brother's house...Disneyland was their choice over having a big friends birthday party, so it was so nice to not have to plan much other than a family bbq...and everyone brought something, so that was even better. My uncle Tom and Aunt Suzy were in town, so they came too and it was nice to catch up with them! Kids swam, had great food, cupcakes and ice cream...fun!




Some of my nieces and nephew...group pic!

Cody enjoying the pool...

Kaylee awaiting her cupcake and ice cream...

Daddy brought birthday balloons for Kaylee...She does like Spongebob...only Daddy would pick that one out for his girl...LOL.

Kaylee decorated all the cupcakes...she called them her TIE DYE cupcakes...they were yummy!

Cody and his birthday balloons brought over by his friend Corbin. We went out to dinner at Me-n-eds that night with our friends...he had a fun birthday as it was his last day of school too!

SLEEPY TIME
The following two pics are of Brayden sleeping in his bed...now that he has the hang of getting into sitting position all by himself, he does NOT want to stay lying down, even though he is so tired and ready for a nap...so he falls asleep like this. If there are any pointers on helping with this let me know, I go in after he falls asleep and lay him down...but it just looks so uncomfortable.

I found Brayden one morning waking up talking to his teddy bear...this bear was given to him at the hospital after he was born by a good friend and has been with him ever since...Thanks Brandy ...

One of the MILLION of kisses we get a day from Brayden...poor Kaylee sometimes gets all kinds of hair pulled out with his squeezes...but she LOVES it!

OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY/ TEACHER TIME
We were at our CITI kids center the other day for our last session of OT with Erin before we start at another agency and Teacher Paula who is his Developmental teacher worked with him too. He loved this bar where he stood all by himself and looked at himself in the mirror... When Brayden turns 18 months he will be coming to the center twice a week for toddler time/play time...he will also be having Speech therapy start at 18 months...so 5 visits somewhere EVERY week...oh, we are going to be so busy!

Then it was play time on the floor with the stacking rings...

OT session with Erin, we are still really working on SELF-Feeding...he likes to eat, but he doesn't want to work at it too much. So she played games with him putting his puffs everywhere and making him put them in his mouth...he did pretty good with this...so we have been doing the same thing at home.

Yay, in the mouth!

We finally mastered pounding two cups together, or two toys together, and clapping hands together...it really took a long time to get here, but we did it all last week A LOT! So, yep...now time to move on to new stuff! When we showed his teacher and therapist what he could finally do, I was so excited...and when they said, OK..time to do some new things now...I said," Noooo...we just mastered this! It took forever for us to do this, can't we just stick with this for awhile?!" I'm sure those of you with little ones with Down syndrome can relate?

And then there is my Cody boy...he ended 2nd grade this year with some fabulous awards! We are so proud of him...he received the Academic Achievement award...(students have to maintain a 85% or higher average on all spelling tests for the whole year, pass all math benchmarks 11 all together with a 85% or higher and pass all levels of reading for 2nd grade...he also got a reading award...Way to go Cody! You are going to be a great 3rd grader and such an example to your little sister who is going to be going into Kindergarten!

Physical Therapy...

Brayden has been working with another therapist Nikki, who is wonderful! Sandy is doing an intensive therapy for the month of June...but I have enjoyed everything Nikki is doing as well...I think it is good to have a change once in awhile...although we LOVE Sandy too! Brayden has started to want to stand against many things and try to pull to stand on his own...we are looking at getting our IN STEP braces ( I think that is what they are called) very soon...he has also learned how to scoot around on his bottom...not the way I am wanting him to get around, but yes, once they figure out how they can get somewhere...they will do it. So now he is fighting the whole crawling thing again...maybe he will just start walking instead??? There are many things we are working on, thanks to all of Nikki's suggestions. Brayden loves sitting on the step stool and having to bend down and pick up toys off the ground as he is trying to balance sitting on the stool.

Brayden absolutely LOVES the camera and has started to smile a cheesy smile everytime I turn the camera on. I am so thankful that his therapists don't seem to mind all the picture snapping I do!

We are so proud of his progress and I have enjoyed his PT's so much! I love that there are people in this profession that have such huge hearts, patience and concern for our children.

I forgot to mention that Brayden turned 14 months today...wow! I can't believe he is that old already! What a blessed 14 months it has been. I truly thank the Lord everyday for him!

Just another week in the life of the Lehnick Family. Summer is always a busy time, but we love it! We have created chore lists for the kids this week and implemented them, with goals at the end of each week...so far they are doing well. Cody has began his upper level soccer league and is practicing twice a week...Kaylee is starting her 2 dance classes this next week..and Brayden has his 3 therapies scheduled for this next week...LIFE...BUSY, busy, busy...

Happy 8th Birthday Cody!

I can't believe it was just 8 years ago you were born! What a special boy you are...I admire your caring and loving ways, your strength yet very sensitive side, your smile that is so radiant, your character and your example to so many. You are such a fine young boy now, who daddy and I are so proud of! ( Not to mention teachers, principal, grandparents, aunts and uncles are proud of too!)
I love that you are so big, yet not big enough to NOT snuggle with daddy and mommy. (even your sister and baby brother) We love you so much and hope you enjoy your special day today!

Happy Birthday Cody! We all love you so much!!!!

Another fun weekend...

What a fun couple of weeks we have had...this weekend, we headed to Shell Beach/ Pismo / Avila and had such a great time. My mom got married to a wonderful man this weekend in Shell beach...she actually got married at the same special place Jared and I got married at Margo Dodd Park and it was so neat to be there almost 10 years later watching my mom say her vows to a man she loves., Skip Miller...The same wonderful minister Mike Taylor married her and made it so simple and so sweet ...my brothers gave her away as they did in my wedding...I can only wish her much happiness and a long life together as they dance away! They met 21 years ago dancing and met up once again about a year ago dancing... We had a small reception/ lunch at Marie Callendars in Pismo after the wedding and the kids had so much fun! Then we hit the beach. (I have pics but they are on my sis-n-laws camera as my battery died...so I will post some when I get them) for now enjoy some others from the wedding...


Bryce and Cody...two peas in a pod



My beautiful mother Brenda with her handsome groom Skip...even the whales were out in the ocean for the day...so neat!




My mom with her mother Betty...Love you Grandma!





Our little princess Kaylee...isn't she too cute??






Daddy and Kaylee (Of course I am not in any of these pics :(....)

My adorable nieces and nephew Kaitlyn, Bryce, and Alyssa

My brother's family...Kristelle, Jay, Kyra and Nyssa

My other brother's family...Wyatt, Cheryl, Kaitlyn, Alyssa and Bryce

Our little happy guy Brayden with his Mimi and Skip before the wedding...we were so fortunate to have a friend of mine Jill Ellingson who is a photographer come and take my mom's photos for her wedding. Thanks Jill!

My brothers were actually carrying her in the start of the walk down the path...it was very cute!

Here are my brothers getting ready to hand her off to Skip...

Enjoying some spa time....Kaylee and Alyssa

Occupational Therapy last week...I am so sad because we only have one more session with Erin, Brayden's OT...our agency CITI kids is cutting OT services out of the budget and we are having to be referred out...I love Erin and so does Brayden! She is so thorough and focuses on everything that he needs to be working on and I can tell she loves it...hoping we can get another OT just like her!

We are working on getting our hands in his yogurt to work more on self-feeding...I have got to let my guards down and just let him go for it!

Bath time...just having some fun!

Brayden has began standing quite a bit and just started standing at his activity table...we are also working on kneeling and crawling...he is trying to pull to stand but not quite able to do it yet...I got some pics from PT today and will post on my next post. Overall he is doing great! We have been on vacation these last two weeks so he hasn't had to practice as much, but we are back in the swing of things and mommy's going to try and get him back on his practice schedule...He did so good though on our trips...He just went with the flow, and didn't seem to mind getting off of his nap schedule...we love you little guy!