First day of school and Occupational therapy

Monday was the first day of Kindergarten for Kaylee and 3rd grade for Cody...I can't believe they are BOTH in school! Time sure flies by too fast! They absolutely LOVE their teachers and can't wait to get up in the morning and go again! So we are off to a fabulous start!

They had to get the silliness out of them before leaving...lol...

I had fun making Kaylee's matching hair accessories for her first day of school...she has been picking out her outfit everyday and wanting matching hair bows for every outfit she picks out...I think I have a mini MOMMY clone on my hands...what have I done?? I love it though!

Cody and his teacher Ms. Schwan....she is great and her little girl is in Kaylee's class and they have become good friends already....

Kaylee and Mrs. Prentice...We have known Mrs. Prentice for 4 years now and LOVE her to pieces! She can't wait for Brayden to be in her class too! She is a good friend and I can't wait for Kaylee to enjoy being in her class!

OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY

I am having a hard time thinking about decisions we are faced with for OT for Brayden...We started seeing a wonderful OT back in June...love her and her facility...unfortunately because Brayden has a secondary MEDI-cal intitutional deeming coverage( which he qualifies for because he has a diagnosis of Down syndrome, they do not look at your income), our CVRC (Agency) has stated that we must start going to an OT on the state contracted list...which is an agency through our local children's hospital...it is not HORRIBLE, but we went to an evaluation 5 months ago and it just isn't the same as what he is getting now for OT...I am trying to think positive and give the benefit of the doubt that maybe because we were just there for a mini-eval, we didn't get to see the entire facility...but you all know that every therapist is different and everyone has different approaches...Elsa'B , who we are seeing right now...KNOWS her stuff and you can tell her heart is in it for the RIGHT reasons...she absolutely LOVES Brayden...and he loves her! So, we are faced with next Monday being our last session, unless we pay out of pocket and even though she is willing to work with us...it is quite expensive...our insurance doesn't kick in until our $3000.00 per year for outpatient therapy has been met! UGH! If we switch to the other OT, 100% is taken care of by our agency/secondary insurance...anyways, I know I am venting here...but what a difficult decision this has been. If we opt to not have the secondary insurance...any tests, specialists we see , we will end up having to pay deductibles, co-pays that our primary insurance doesn't cover...we have good insurance but not the BEST! So, as you can see, with our little ones, all the extra tests or appointments that come forth...it is great to be able to have a secondary insurance for Brayden. I so don't want to leave our Elsa'B and I am going to have a hard time saying good-bye this next Monday...God knows the way...and will lead us to the right decision though...I am just going to pray these next few days and hopefully be comforted with the decision we make....here are a few pics from our session on Monday...

Elsa'B , you have made such a difference in the short time I have known you...we will truly miss you and your expertise...I am hoping for a change to come our way (insurance wise) ...See you on Monday....

A montage of Brayden

Make video montages at www.OneTrueMedia.com

I am speaking at a college in the next couple of weeks and like to end the presentation with a video...so I came up with this one. I am speaking to a class of students going into their career of special needs kids...wish me luck...

Huntington Lake trip II

We headed up the hill for one last weekend get away before school starts...my brother Wyatt and his family, my mom and her husband and my kids and I...Jared left for Japan this past weekend, so we missed him. We spent most of the time watching the kids play...relaxing...eating...taking walks...and throwing rocks in the water.


My brother Wyatt, sister in law Cheryl...their kids Kaitlyn, Alyssa and Bryce.



Kaylee playing in the water...

Brayden loved biting off chunks of the ice cream cone...

Thanks for a fun weekend family...can't wait for many more times like this!

Our vacation to Avila Beach...Warning! Many photos!

I am finally getting around to updating the blog...I'm telling you...going on vacation really puts you behind...but I am not complaining. We had a fabulous time and can't wait to visit our favorite beach spot again! We headed to Avila Beach with my mom and her new husband and stayed at their time share at the San Luis Bay Inn right in Avila...We love staying there as it is seconds from the sand...kid friendly, game room, pool, spa, kids activities, golf course...you name it, it is there...so we hardly left the resort. Kids had a blast and my brother and his family was able to come up for the weekend, which made it even more fun!


This was the moonlight at night from our room...so pretty. Jared and I took a few walks late at night after the kids were asleep, and the water was so calm and weather was perfect! There were soooo many sea lions in the water, watched them all day and night...



Kaylee just relaxing...there is a wonderful park just steps away from the resort...so we stopped by there a few times.

Brayden LOVED the beach until he took this NOSE DIVE...then he wasn't a big fan...but the pictures to follow will show you the good time he did have...

On Tuesday we headed to Morro bay, about 30 minutes away and walked the wharf and visited the oh so famous pathetic aquarium...I have gone here since I was a teenager. The poor seals are so sad looking and the marine life in the tanks are even more sad...but we always make our visit to them...

We ate a couple times at our favorite place in Avila...Fat Cat's. Just a small little place, but SUCH GREAT food! Here we are at breakfast.

This is our view from the room...so beautiful..just beyond that rock is Shell Beach and Pismo beach...

Kids enjoying some pool time...everyday! Brayden LOVED the water!

We also visited another favorite spot in Avila...The Avila Farm. Kids had some homemade ice cream...fed the farm animals, got some fresh berries and Pumpkin and Zucchini bread to die for! This is a must stop for anyone!

My niece Alyssa and Bryce having a blast with Cody and Kaylee...

My little beach ballerina princess!

Our little family on the balcony...

My mom, Skip and the kids...

This was a fun kid/family activity I saw in the Family Fun magazine...making your own beach bottles. The kids had fun collecting sea shells, (buying some sea shells), collecting sand and creating a masterpiece...

These last two shots I took the day before we left...he was loving being naked, so a mommy can never resist to take these shots...and well, sorry Brayden just had to post them! :)

We had such a wonderful week! We are looking forward to one last weekend getaway this weekend at the cabin in Huntington Lake...Jared is leaving though for Japan this weekend....so we are going to miss him. Then it will be time for school to start! Oh my!