Preschool Christmas Show

Liam was too busy to stop and get his picture taken, but here are plenty of video's of his performance at the preschool Christmas show.  Lyla timidly sat on stage occasionally shaking her jingle bell, while Liam proudly waved to us and sang his heart out.  Enjoy!

  

 

Bernie the Elf

 Bernie the Elf arrived with new Christmas stockings for Liam and Lyla.

 One night he brought new PJ's for Liam and Lyla.

 Modeling their new jammies.

Lyla's first ponytail!!

 

Our Elf on a Shelf, Bernie, arrived from the North Pole bringing new Christmas stockings for Liam and Lyla.  They replaced Duane Reade's finest stockings we bought in NYC the night before Liam was born.  Periodically he brings gifts back with him from Santa, Christmas goldfish, silly putty and playdough, and new Christmas pajamas.  We took a car ride looking at Christmas lights with the kids wearing their new jammies.  Spoiler alert: he is bringing a gingerbread house back with him tonight and has been working on their new Christmas ornaments.  Stay tuned for more of his antics!

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lyla's acceptance into the Conductive Learning Center

For the past couple of weeks we have been working on sending in Lyla's admission packet to the Conductive Learning Center in Grand Rapids, MI.  Her physical therapist had recommended the program for her, she had a previous patient go a couple of years ago and that patient made huge strides in her development after spending a month there. 

Information on Conductive Learning--
“Isn’t there something more I can do for my child?” The Conductive Learning Center serves children birth to age 26 with motor disorders related to complications of prematurity, Cerebral Palsy, Spina Bifida or brain injury. For these children with motor disorders, even the smallest tasks – eating, buttoning a shirt, sitting in a chair –can be monumental. The Conductive Learning Center (CLC) can change that.

Conductive education methodology has a transformative effect on mobility and independence. Using a holistic and intensive approach that combines medical knowledge with educational methods, your child can gain control over his or her body – and accomplish tasks you may never thought possible.
With increased mobility, strength, problem-solving skills, confidence, and self-esteem, not only will your child’s quality of life be improved, but so will the whole families.

Conductive Education is a psycho-educational approach that focuses primarily on the child’s personality and lifestyle, integrating physiological and medical aspects. It is a combined special education and physical therapy, based on Peto’s theory that motor control can be learned. The approach focuses on improving the physical effects of a disability while encouraging motivation to become independent and increasing self esteem. The desired outcome is maximal independence called orthofunction, which refers to the ability to enter school, the community, and ultimately the workforce with minimal or no artificial aids. This total approach to learning and training targets children under the age of six, when the potential for impact is greatest, and they can be prepared for the traditional classroom. “When you do not educate the child to be independent, you educate the child to be dependent.” Maria Hari, former director of the Peto Institute.

We are thrilled that she was accepted, she will attend March 12 - April 5, M-F 8:30 am - 1 pm.  Now we are trying to iron out the details: a place to stay in Grand Rapids for a month, how to take care of Liam while Lyla and I are gone, and figuring out when Preston and Liam can come and visit.  Any suggestion are welcome! 

Here is a youtube link for the video part of her application.  http://www.youtube.com/user/prestonstaudt

Much to be thankful for

 Differing opinions on which path to take at Gibbs Gardens.

 Grandma Staudt and Liam.

 Lyla is loving her walker!

 Stopping to pick up leaves, this is what she did the entire time.

 Liam enjoying Grandpa Staudt's ice cream treat.

 Lyla loved it as well!

 Check out Lyla's new stick.  Daddy and Grandpa Staudt figured out a way to steer her walker without having to bend over!  Plus I use it to tow the walker behind me when I carry her!!

 Enjoying a lovely fall day.

 Liam's received his birthday present a little early; Nana and Papa got him a Lightening McQueen bike!

 Papa, Liam on his new bike and Nana.

 

 Having fun with Nana and Papa.

 Lyla coloring with her new crayons.

 Lyla's best friend, Molly, or as she calls her "Moll-Moll."

We were too busy cooking and eating, here is the only picture we have of Thanksgiving!

We were lucky enough to have both sets of grandparents visit us this November.  Grandma and Grandpa Staudt came in the beginning of the month.  We took them to Gibbs Gardens where Liam led the way reading the map.  This was the first time we took Lyla in her walker.  She didn't move very fast, she was too busy bending over to pick up leaves and rocks.  She had an amazing time walking up to the trees all by herself.  Preston and his dad (along with Liam's help) spent a couple of hours at Home Depot and came up with an ingenious way to lead Lyla around in her walker.  You will have to ask them for the specifics of it.  It is going to save my back!!  Plus now I can tow her walker behind me instead of carrying it and her (which is too heavy for this mama).  Liam even helps out by towing it after school.  We had wonderful fall weather while they were here.  We were able to eat dinner on the back deck and the kids enjoyed one of many of Grandpa Staudt's desert suprises.  They both love chocolate and ice cream and enjoyed the rest of the box after they left.  Both kids had so much fun playing with them, and Preston and I enjoyed a rare moment of peace.  They were able to come to one of Lyla's physical therapy and occupational therapy sessions.  She worked really hard showing them what she is capable of doing! 

A couple of weeks later Nana and Papa Middaugh came to visit for a week for Thanksgiving.  Once again, Preston and I took advantage of extra hands, we even went to see a movie!  Liam received his 4th birthday present a month early, a new big kid Lightening McQueen bike!  He loves it!!  He got right on and started riding all by himself.  Nana came to one of Lyla's PT and OT sessions and had all sorts of great ideas of new things for her to try at home.  She has been busy coloring at the art easel with her new crayons, her walker rolls right up to it at the perfect height.  She also has beads to string on a necklace to practice her fine motor skills.  They were also able to watch her speech therapy session.  Her vocabulary is really developing!  Her new favorite word is "Moll-Moll" for their dog, Molly.  Lyla loved chasing both dogs around!  We had a wonderful month with lots of entertainment for the kids and down time for us.  Can't wait to do it again at Christmas!

Preschool Thanksgiving

At home before their Thanksgiving Feasts.

Lyla LOVES Liam!

My happy boy is so excited to see me at his feast.

Saying the blessing before lunch.

Lyla's Thanksgiving Feast, parents weren't invited (the babies get upset if we show up and leave them there) but I snuck a picture when I was picking her up.

Liam's placemat.

The holiday's are so much fun with little kids.  Their preschool has a Thanksgiving Feast (lunch with mom and dad) which Liam looks forward to so much.  Even though we talk about it all month, he is so shocked to see me for lunch at his school.  He leads me by the hand all around and shows me everything in his classroom.  He held my hand the entire lunch and proudly introduced me to all of his classmates.  I hope my sweet little boy remains this sweet forever!  Lyla's class has a feast but the parents aren't invited.  Just as well as I couldn't be in two places at once!

New Blog

As we ran out of space on our old blog we created a new one!  For previous posts visit http://thestaudts.blogspot.com.