New Year 2013

I am very embarrassed to see I have not posted. Life is busy, but we are blessed!!! I went back to work and it has been a huge adjustment to my energy level and down time between therapy, karate, school, and church, Bible study....no time to excercise. No time to catch my breath. I have enjoyed teaching, but honestly it takes time away from my duties at home in order for our house and schedules to flow.
Carley is a green bet in karate and starting to participate in tournamnets. She enjoys it and we are excited she has something all her own. We are so proud of all her hard work at school as she continues to be on honor roll and is a great artist and author.
Caroline is thriving at her new school. Her language is blossoming and she is talking in small sentences more often than one word utterances. She enjoys coffee milk as her mom seems to drive through Starbucks all too often. She even requests coffee in the am while I am making my coffee on the keurig.
We have a new dog we were able to rescue from the GREAT rescue .She is a red golden and her name is LACEY. We still have pictures of our Lucy Pup and remember her sweet calm temperament and what a great pet she was. Lacey is sweet and about 3.5 years old. She loves being the center of attention. Her and Caroline seem jealous of one another. Cameron seems to be the only one to walk her these days. But she loves laying wiht me on the couch and in my bed. She keeps me company.
Caroline is receiving great therapies at school and is standing with leg braces and asssistance for longer periods of time. She is a big girl and a joy most times. I am struggling to handle her moods and her body physiclly as she is now 49 pounds. One of our newest ways of God's provisioin in our life is through Shriner's hospital. We go about three times a year the orthopaedic hospital happens to be in Tampa. Most of her physical needs medically fall under orthopedic. We will get new foot braces and a new back brace for her scoliosis this week. We are under no obligation to pay for her braces or x- rays - or doctor visits. We are able to take her here until she is 21 years of age. We are on a waiting list to receive help with her diapers and respite needs as we need help continually with  getting a break from her care to take Carley places or just a physical break. We are on a four year waiting list. My hopes are to potty train her and my only hope is time training at this point. It is a challenge that she does not walk and her muscle weakness affectes her bowel and bladder control. Just not giving up on my dream of her walking and potty training.
Please pray for Caroline to lose weight. Please pray for my stamina as a mom for both of my girls.
Happy New Year and Happy Valentine's Day!!!!

May - 2011

This month has had many highs and lows for our family. I have so much to talk about I will try to be brief! We lost our beloved pet of almost eleven years at the start of this month. I have really missed her company and wish she had not gone so fast. Golden Retrievers are very sweet and have an easy nature about them. Caroline thinks she is in her crate. Carley is understanding as much as she can that Lucy is in heaven. We were all able to say goodbye before she passed away. We decided to take a mini vacation with the girls after such a heavy month. We rented an RV and took the girls camping at the Fort Wilderness Campground. We really enjoyed our down time and Caroline and Carley did great! I have to say it beats tent camping! We also spent some time in Longboat Key with some dear friends from Tennessee. Then the last week of school came and went and we are right in the middle of a busy summer. Caroline has therapy twice a week. Carley has karate and art classes. And I have begun my search for a golden retriever. Before Lucy got sick I began the process of applying for a scholarship for Caroline to attend school in our adjacent county with a great special needs program and knew it may be tough to get into. We received her scholarship last Thursday and had a school tour last Friday and met with assistant and head principal. We were not guaranteed a spot, but received our letter of acceptance yesterday! We are thrilled!!!! She will be able to be there through fifth grade. We will not have to re apply for her scholarship. It is a much more positive and smaller environment for Caroline. She will receive music therapy, OT, PT, and SPL as well as adaptive PE.
She will be in a room of varying exceptionalities K, 1st, and 2nd graders. The last two years have been hard and quite an emotional roller coaster learning the way to navigate my way thorough the public school system of special needs and I.E.P meetings and attempting to meet Caroline's needs.
I am truly grateful for God's timing and allowing all of these things to fall into place for our family. The Bible tells us that our steps are ordered by The Lord. It is a great comfort in knowing when things are chaotic and the way is rocky that each of our steps are ordered by God. Carley has some pretty exciting things going for her next year too! She is able to loop into second grade with  her  same teachers from First Grade. She has two full time teachers and they are both equally wonderful and we will get to have them again next year! She received awards for all E's this year and a year of great behavior and citizenship! I am encouraged that we hopefully will find a dog soon that will be a good fit for our family. I just never knew how much Lucy would be missed.

School next fall

We need prayers for direction and peace for Caroline's school next year. We have applied for a scholarship that will allow  her  to attend a public school in the adjoining county without us home or moving. I however wanted one more year at her private school, but may not be able to do both next year due to receving the scholarship. Caroline's speech is really flourishing. She is beginning to speak in   one to two words and even sentences. She told me, " I want milk." and  "No, I want it!"
She has a great personality and is very aware of things going on in her environment. She is able to even notice when things are out of place. Her way of communicating the differences to me crack me up!!!!
We recently have hired a college student to help with respite care. My back is hurting as well as my hip. I need help almost daily, but we are affording two times a week. It has been a huge help!!!
We also have been accepted to Shriner's for orthopaedic care for Caroline. We will receive a free evaluation as well as possibly a back brace, wheelchair, and orthotics. We are thrilled at God's continued provision for our little girl!!!!

Mole

Caroline had  a very dark mole on her head underneath her hair and ws not obviously visible. I noticed it a year ago. It was noticed again about 3- 4 months which I decided we needed to go see the pediatric dermatologist.  She biopsied it right away and called me Monday night and said  it all needed to be removed as it was precancerous. We are so grateful we caught this in time!

Spring 2012

It has been a long while since an update from the Abbott family. So we are in full swing! Looking forward to summer. We spent spring break at home this year. Carley has started back to karate and is really enjoying it! She stillloves first grade and I love her funny personality! She loves to read and play Barbies. Most of all she really likes playing with her friends! She just recently went down the waterslide in our neighborhood after two years of coaxing! She has strong opinions and a mind of her own and pretty much only does things when she decides.
Caroline is usually her happy self. She is really into listening to music CD's in her room more thanbooks these days. She can turn the volume up and down and knows which songs are on which CD. SHe pops them in and out at her discretion. We call her DJ Jazzy Caroline. She is growing longer and wider unfortunatley. She can get frustrated when she is told no and easily angers into a crying fit. Her speech as really taken off and she says two - to three word phrases.
We were given agreat gift in December a wheel chair that has really helped us with mobility and travel. Caroline still has a stander and a gait trainer. She enjoys her trike best, but needs to develop stronger muscles and stamina to stand and step. It is a long long journey. We have not been wearing th a back brace often enough because it is so restrictive and cumbersome. She also now sleeps in leg braces calle dpedi wraps becaus eher legs are getting stiff a teh knees and bowing. I worry she won't stnad and yeat get pretty discouraged with all the details of her braces and daily treatment machines and her wheel chair and stander. Sometimes I feel overwhelmed and that it is alot. I feel her pain when she cries. She jsut plain gets sick and tired of always being put in devices and never allowed to decide things for herself. I get it!!!! But time is not on our side so I try to roll with it and do what I can. I need strength adn more consistency in her daily therapy needs. We have recently hired a college stuent to help us with Caroline twice a week to bathe and feed her and tak eher on walks and do her treatments. I have really enjoyed being able to take Carley to karate and get our hous ein better order while I have special help. Our college girl is great with Caroline and is just the extra pair of hands I need!

A New Year 2012

Happy New Year! We have had eventful eventful 2011. I will recap some things about our busy lives. Carley is enjoying school and Girls Scouts this school year. She is learning to ride her bike and roller skate. We are hopeful for her as her mom was uncoordinated in these areas. She loves to read chapter books and barbies and playing with friends.
Cam is continually busy at work, but seems to get home a bit earlier than last year. He also has been provided a company car which allows us to meet Caroline's needs. We hope this is not a temporary thing. I have been able to join weight watchers and substitute teach at Caroline's private pre-school. I love it!!!! Caroline has progressed to one and two spoken words in her speech. Her personality as come shining through. She is funny, but so very opinionated and stubborn. She asks me every day to take her "shoes off" and "clothes off". She is not able to crawl or walk yet. My deepest desire is to have her stand and take side steps this calendar year!
She has a great pt who donated a new gait trainer to us and we are hopeful as it is just the right size for her. She still uses her stander for leg strengthening and a back brace at night for scoliosis.
We also were given a huge blessing as our insurance will not cover all of this durable medical equipment. We have special friends and neighbors who are allowing us to use a whee chair that happens to fit Caroline perfectly. She is 35 pounds of dead weight and cumbersome to hold and move now. The wheelchair allows us to go to church easier and walk in parking lots. It allows us to give her a place to eat when there are no highchairs. And it takes the stress off of my back.
She loves to be sitting tall in a very comfy gel seat! This was a tough decision for me to decide because I do not want to give up on her walking!!!! However, God used my friend at the right time to say we want you to use this. I needed it , but was so afraid. It is a blessing and she likes it!
We are at a school five days a week and private pt on Wednesdays in St. Augustine. We have a nice schedule. But I could not do it without my friends who help with Carley when I need assistance for pick up. God hears our prayers and provides for our deepest needs. I pray this year will hold much spiritual growth for myself as well as you. Thank you for reading our blog and praying for us as you think of it! One more praise! Caroline has had no seizures on her medicine!!!!

New walker

Caroline was sick with a tummy bug on Fri. We were up all night. I can't believe how well she bounced back. We were able to run errands and get our cards mailed out. We shopped a little and enjoyed spending time together. Caroline is starting to say small sentences. She patted Camerons arm today and said, daddy, milk please. It was so cute and directed at him. She is funny toomwithnher expressive eyebrows. She also has a new walker that we are able to borrow and she is learning to enjoy. And manever she took four steps forward in it tonight with an audience. She was so happy and so was I.

Trip to the ER With Caroline

Well this morning was an adventure with Caroline. She has had an upper respiratory issue for the last 6 days and now it just keeps getting worse. This morning she was really having a hard time breathing. We drove her to the local ER close to the house. They did some preliminary tests and told us that she would have to be transported downtown to Wolfsons Children's hospital for further testing. Caroline got to ride in her first ambulance. We are now at Wolfsons hospital getting tests to see whyshe is having so much trouble breathing. They are ruling out psnemonia. More info to come....

Almost Fall

It is past time for an update. We have been busy with our new school schedule and other exciting adventures. The girls have adjusted to the new schedule. If you ask Carley though, homework is dumb and boring! Caroline is happy going to school everyday and has increased her activity with bike riding twice a week and practicing her gait trainer three times a week. we also have added water therapy which is amazing!!!!Our therapist wants her in the water three times a week which is a challenge for me....usually does not happen. Cameron stays busy at work. He and Carley took a trip to Greenville to see cousins, Nana and Papa. They are watching the Auburn game today! Caroline and I are relaxing at home watching Barney.
God has opened doors for me to work very part time with my degree. I am subbing at Caroline's pre-school at our church. This place makes me smile and makes me happy. Caroline is welcomed with loving arms and extra help for me! She has three teachers with ten children in her class. I have been able to meet and know most of the teachers since Caroline has been there in some capacity since she was 2. I love seeing the kids and the teachers and all the learning and singing going on....it is in my blood. I have two friends that I walk with weekly which is a huge inspiration for me to get out and be active. God has brought me special friends even though it has taken almost three years to feel at home here. I miss fall and the change of seasons every September and October.
We have had two sets of company this past month. We were thrilled to see and visit with our BFF's from Texas, Brent and Mimi came out and we did a lot of eating and laughing and having fun being friends. We try to see them every year. They are our oldest standing couple friends of ten plus years. we also have been able to see our friend , Jud, college buddy. He is in town working and we have had him for dinner. He sat for us to go on a date and we have loved having him. Cameron stays up late and talks, they went on a fishing trip and played magic trips. This makes life exciting and worthwhile as we treasure our friendships.
I have also started selling Thirty - One gifts. I am addicted to bags. I have purses and lunch boxes and mommy totes. So I am always finding what I need. I am making a little bit of money, but able to have fun and have about 2- 4 shows a month. People actually stop me and ask is that a Thirty - One bag? Why yes!!!! Here is my site:www.mythirtyone.com/kimabbott
Blessings to you for stopping by. Please pray Caroline learns to walk this year. She is capable needs stamina and motivation. We have our back brace for scoliosis and it is really terrible. For now she only sleeps in it as it keeps her trapped from moving. Please pray her spine curve does not get worse. This could mean back surgery in a few years.

Ortho Visit

Caroline has finished summer school. Carley has finished art classes. We just got back from Myrtle beach and had a lot of fun in the sand and pool. The new thing we did this summer was letterboxing. The kids loved it. it is almost like treasure hunting in a new city while creating your own family mark in a stamped notebook. We also are starting to have more doctor appointments and yearly check- ups. Caroline is four and will need her four year check. Two weeks ago we went to see the orthopedist and now will be wearing a scolio back brace in a few weeks. we will go on Monday for casting. It is one more thing on our list of woes, but hope it will aid in Caroline standing and walking soon. I can only dream and hope as it seems like it may not be a reality after four years. She is starting to wear on me physically as we have both gained weight. So I have begun gym work outs nearly every day and i need to lift weights and strengthen my body as I am her main caretaker. We are enjoying a quiet day at home. Caroline is napping and Carley is playing barbies. Cam is at work unfortunately. We are thankful for God's continued care and provision, but sure would love for our Daddy's work day to be less. We do not want to grumble and complain. God meets our daily needs and that is all we can ask for. We also sold our Durango as Cam also has been given a company car. This is another answered prayer as we need car payment money for Caroline rather than another car at this time.

Caroline is back to school.....

We seem to have been a bit more busy than the school year. I think we have been to the pool once a week and a play date with friends once a week. Carley has been taking art classes daily for three weeks. She absolutely loves them. There is a lot of planning and painting and sculpting going on. Our sweet friends also have a pool in their back yard and we have been there alot.
It is cloudy and rainy here, but we have a day planned to dress like cows and go to Chick - fil - a.
Caroline went to summer school this week and seems to be happy. This has allowed me to grocery shop and go to the dentist and spend a little time with Carley too!
Caroline plays outside, paints, plays inside the sensory room and takes a nap. I pick her up around 2:30pm. Cam has been kind enough to drop her off so we all do not have to be ready!!!!
we have an orthopedic appt coming up next Monday and a birthday next Tuesday!
Caroline is working on standing and sitting and really starting to bear weight more on her legs. She is getting therapy at school as well as private PT twice a month.
we are not having a big party this year and have hopes of starting a special needs trust for her which will allow Caroline to have the best possible care in the future if she outruns us! It is a high start up cost and we are using birthday party money toward her fund. Please be in prayer for our SSI approval. We were denied once and I have researched more information and am going to apply four times in a row and then higher a lawyer to see about obtaining financial benefits for medical care and costs for Caroline. It is a long process and quite tedious on my part.
We have hopes of ordering a device that will help her crawl which runs $550.00 and she is no where near potty trained so we constantly need diapers. She also takes two meds that run 55.00 a month. We will also need to get a wheelchair in the next two years that can be 2-3,000. I never thought she was expensive, but SSI would cetrtaintly allow us to help her more and maybe add more private therapy. I would love a date night once a week as Cam's job and Caroline's condition often can take a toll on everyday life as tasks become burdensome and cumbersome as she does not walk. Please pray for my daily strength and care I give to my girls. I want to portray Christ's love and actions even on the weary days.Just wanted to update family and friends on our ideas and goals for Caroline in the coming days.

Summer is off with a bang

We have already had a lot of fun since school has been out. My favorite part is that I am not rushing my kids out the door and I can enjoy them in the morning along with my cup of coffee. Caroline is really funny when she wakes up and wants you to come get her out of her bed. She says Hi and Up and Help and mommy until you come. we are only doing private pt this summer. Caroline will also attend a three week special needs program at the public school and she will receive speech, pt, and ot. Our two new goals are potty training and standing!
Her speech is coming along some of her new words are go and car almost everyday...she seems to be bored of she is stuck at home all day!!!! This week it was "malmart" and "mummy!!!" That is for walmart and money. She is making lots of connections and this makes my heart happy.
Yesterday I took Carley bowling and to lunch while Caroline stayed with Miss Catheleen.
We have been to Orlando for a few days with friends at a condo. We swam and played and had alot of fun too!!!Carley tried the trampoline attached to a bungy and rode the big water slide multiple times with her friend Merci.
We also have official library cards ...I can't believe it has taken me this long for them to get books and free mid movies....they had a ball. today we are running a few errands, but the wild fires and smoke are bad enough to keep us indoors.
Today is also our eleventh anniversary!!!! Happy Anniversary Husband!!!!

Spring

Tummy Bug

So Just when we thought we were settling in....Cameron stated with a terrible horrible virus that ended after three days and a trip to ER for dehydration. He just returned to work today. I tried to totally sanitize the house hoping for the best....that we would all dodge the bullet, but alas we all ended up with a touch of it compared to Cameron. Caroline and Carley are still recovering and I just have a stomach that flops today. It seems the best thing to do is sleep many many hours consecutively to feel any ounce of energy. Carley had a three hour nap today. I had no nap. And Caroline had a two hour nap nearly after waking this morning. The hardest thing for me is to not see her cheerful smile. It is also hard to tell if she is tired from her new medication or from being sick with two viruses back to back. I am not looking forward to the numerous bills we will receive from each department and x - ray and radiologist involved. On the other hand our nurses and doctors were wonderful and did everything in a timely manner and really listened to me concerning Caroline's medical history and health concerns. We also found out we have a small hospital indemnity plan from Cam's work that will help pay a percent of days spent in hospital. Thanks be to God for always faithfully providing our needs. We have two groups of people who have really become God's hands and feet in our lives. Our SS class provided meals until I denied them at the onset of tummy virus. Then We had three friends make trips to the store to get cleaning supplies. food, snacks, gatorade, and meds. We feel loved and cared for down to every detail. Thank you special friends!!!!! We also have been blessed by our small group and friends made at Mandarin Presbyterian and Great Banquet Community!

More Seizures

I am disappointed to say the least....not in Caroline, but this virus and her sickness that has overcome our lives this week. It is ugly and heart wrenching. I am tired. I want us to continue in our old normal. I never anticipated this because I did not know how I would feel or how it could change us. I am fearful. I am loved and encouraged by the body of Christ! I am sad. Please pray for our family as it affects us all in different ways. Please pray that I will be able to allow me to trust people to help me with Caroline and my needs for relief.
I want her to walk and talk and laugh and be seizure free....those are my big desires for her little life. Caroline has been sick for a week now with a respiratory virus that has seemed to bring this on. we have been to two docs and ER and we may have to admit her for EEG and observation and blood panels since she is not recovering well. The seizures are becoming more frequent.
we do not want seizure meds unless absolutely necessary. Please pray for direction and wisdom.

Seizures.....what an ugly word

Spring Days

It is amazing how much our lives seem to depend on technology. We have been without a computer for two weeks and I feel lost without checking all the fun design blogs and mommy blogs. I also wanted to swnd an update here on Caroline. She is talking and starting to say two word phrases which is always music to our ears!!!! We have had several school meetings and so far I have decided ontwo things. She will be moved to the three year old class next year at Fruit Cove her private school. She will also attend summer school this summer for three weeks at her special needs school and have therapy and nap there while I am able to spend sometime with Carley and do her swim lessons, etc....I am leaning on pulling her from fall ESE next year and only having her receive free therapy there because she has not gained much from the whole environment. I lack one more meeting for next years plans.
Cameron and I were able to get away and spend much needed quality time with one another and our dear friends. My mom and dad graciously took care of my kids for four days. I am looking forward to next weeks visit from my college roommate. It will be so much fun!!!!!
We are really enjoying the spring weather here in Fl. Carley and I have been able to do some container gardeing in our back yard with cone flowers, sunflowers, and purple petunias. We hope our seeds sprout soon!!!!

Genetics Visit 2011

We seem to have scheduled ourselves full this week. Caroline has only three specialist and two of her yearly visits fell this week. We will visit Ortho next month as well as the dentist. Today we spent almost an hour with Dr.Percyk. He is very patient and kind. It was exciting to see Caroline interact and talk to him although it has been 14 months since our last visit. We were able to view Her brain scan form a year ago and discuss new developments. She has lots of room for growth and some wide ventricles that are not completely shaped as ours....but he expressed the areas of damage are somewhat repairable with time and if she continues to progress she could regain 60- 80% of the damaged areas. Making connections and spurring her on to new things is encouraged.
yesterday we went to the ENT and things are good from a hearing perspective. She does have a cold and possible ear infection. I have a script in case we need it.
Caroline has been out of school all week and will return to her pre-school tomorrow. I also have and ESE meeting to get her accepted into speech and language services at her special needs school. I have decided I want her to only attend her private school next year and receive services within our neighborhood school. This will save me time and gas money. More importantly my peace of mind. Caroline does not seem completely happy at her other school. One day she will have to be there....but next year it is still my right to send her to a private school and receive therapies at no cost through the school system. So I think two more meetings to convey my thoughts. Pray that this will be a reality and bring us comfort.

School MEETING

Oh Wow! I seriously do not know how I am supposed to know and learn all these crazy rules and procedures of a special needs school. I have three things to determine and pray about:

1. If Caroline will continue as public school next year or only receive services there.
2. If I can apply and get her moved to Saint John's county so she can have both schools near.
3. And if she may receive language services in our neighborhood school.

I had a meeting yesterday with the speech pathologist, site coordinator, and classroom teacher concerning several things for Caroline. Her IEP goals are not appropriate so they will need to be changed...she is not receiving language services and I want her to be....and I just do not want her at that school until she legally has to be. But I cannot have my cake and eat it too.

If I get her approved for Saint Johns she may could receive therapy at her private school and have an ESE teacher check on her progress, but this is a dream and a shot in the dark....so more frustration and thinking!!!!!

More on couponing

Just wanted to share more information on couponing. We have another site we like and have read entirely. You may have seen this cute mom on TLC and the Nate Show. She has great ideas and tips. www.thekrazycouponlady.com