Pre K update!!!

Wow!! Its hard to believe that we are almost 6 weeks into the school year. I'm doing really well in school. I stay in the regular prek room for most of the day. I'm pulled for 30 minutes when I first get to school and then 30 minutes before lunch in order to work on my IEP goals. I'm also pulled for OT, speech, PT, and APE. All of my therapist are amazed at how much I progressed over the summer. In fact, my PT asked my mom what kind of therapy we did this summer because I am doing so much better with my motor skills. Mom said we just swam all summer. I can't tell you how much swimming helps with balance and strengthening. It has been one of the best things for me. Other than my therapies and pull out times I do things such as centers, circle time, and nap. During centers my special education teacher actually comes into the regular prek room with me and helps me. When we do centers the 2nd time during the day, a para educator helps me go to each center. Circle time seems to be the biggest challenge for me. Believe it or not me the little boy who has the entire left side of my brain gone which contains the speech center is getting in trouble for talking way to much during circle time. I've actually never been taught that I have to be quiet sometimes. I've always been encouraged to talk since I didn't talk for so long. So now we are working on when it is appropriate to talk and when I have to listen. It may take a while but I'll get it. I'm also eating lunch with my peers and doing pretty well. I have my moments but I usually straighten up once I'm corrected. Mom says I'm doing better than she thought. She put me in the prek room all day to start with to see how I would do and I'm staying in there much longer than she thought I would be able to. I lay on my mat for nap time. I have a para in there that helps me go to sleep but I'm taking naps with all the other kids. I'm also doing well with the potty. So far I haven't had any accidents at school. So yes I do have some things I need to do better with but overall I'm doing GREAT and my family is proud of me. Since I'm doing so well overall my mom and dad have to remind their self just how far I've come in such a short time. I mean I just started fully walking 100% of time this time last year. So when you think about that it is just amazing at what I'm doing. Here is a picture of me and my brother on my first day of school. Oh and I almost forgot. I'm not walking with a brace anymore!!! Thank you God for what you have done and continue to do in my life. Love you all, Jadon

I turned 4 today!!!!

Today I turned 4 years old. I'm sharing a video of me singing happy birthday to myself because I think it shows just how AMAZING I'm doing. I had great day. We had a big waterslide and Mickey and Minnie came to my party. I sure was excited to see them. I had a great day with my family!! I played, smiled, opened my presents, and ate cake. I did pretty much everything a four year old would do on their birthday. We are so blessed and thankful for my progress. Enjoy the video

Through my eyes!!!

Through my eyes the world is a happy place. I smile when I hear the birds and laugh when the wind blows through my hair. Through my eyes I never meet a stranger and I see the best in every person. I see everyone equally no matter what you have or what you don't have. None of this matters through my eyes. Through my eyes I see forgiveness. I've had nurses stick me one minute and then I play and hug them the next. Through my eyes I want to be just like my peers. I will follow and try to do everything you do. So just be patient I'm learning more from you than you know. Through my eyes I have the best brother in the world. I want to be with him and do everything he does. I don't understand when I can't do some things he does but mom says I will when I get his age. Through my eyes I see the importance of smiling and making others smile. I have the best personality and will do anything to get your attention and make you smile. I don't understand why some people choose to ignore me but just maybe I planted a seed in their heart. Through my eyes I love Jesus and I love reading and talking about God before I go to bed. My mom tells me all the time that the world would be a better place if everyone could just see a piece of the world through my eyes. So that is my goal. I hope that everyone can see a piece of this world through my eyes.

Mark 10:15- I tell you truth, anyone who doesn't receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.

Well check, eye doctor, and 1 1/2 years seizures free!!!

I've been staying busy lately going to lots of Doctors appointments. I went to the allergist last week to get my paper work done to bring my epi pen to school. Well while I was there I had to be put on antibiotic because I had a sinus infection. I have to go back to the allergist this Friday for allergy testing. They are also going to retest to see if I'm still allergic to ants. We are hoping that I'm not and that I will no longer need my epi pen. Once my allergy testing is complete we will go back to my ENT and see if I have to get my adenoids out or not. My brother and I had our well check today. Of course I showed out for the doctor. She was very impressed with my speech. I'm just a chatter box right now. My pediatrician was also impressed at how well and fast I'm developing right now. She checked me out and then let me play with her doctor tools. I told her to open her mouth and I shined her light in her mouth. My pediatrician thought that was funny. I'm such a little ham and am always making people smile. I also saw my eye doctor today. He said my eyes look great. He still doesn't know exactly how much vision loss I have. He said right now it is looking like I'm seeing about half of what I should be. We knew this was a side effect before we did the surgery though. He said as I get older he will be able to tell us more. As of now I do not need glasses or vision therapy. He said we will do vision therapy when I get a little older. He checked to make sure I wasn't color blind and he laughed when he said I'm not because I passed the test with 0 problems. I am able to point to colors when you ask me to point to a particular color but I will not say it when you ask what color something is. I'll get it before long. Mommy said now that she knows I'm not color blind she is going to push me extra hard to learn them. Other than doctors appointments I have just been enjoying my summer. I did get all my school uniforms and supplies. I'm getting excited about school and getting to go with my mommy and Jacob to LES. Thanks for all your prayers. I've made it a year and a half with 0 seizures!!!!!!

Neuro appointment!!

I had an excellent appointment today. My neurologist said I'm doing great. She said I'm progressing along wonderfully. She spent about 30 minutes with us talking, asking me questions, and observing. I talked to her the entire time and she noticed how much my speech has improved. She said that she would see us in December just to monitor my progress. I can't explain to you how much joy it brings to us to go to the neurologist and get nothing but good news. Not to mention we love our neurologist at Children's, she has gone above and beyond for us. After my appointment I got to go spend time with my cousins. My Aunt lives in the New Orleans area and she has a little boy and twin girls. I enjoyed getting to swim and play with them. We also stopped at Pizza Man in Covington on my way home. We love that place. If you've never been you should go. You can watch them cook the pizza through the window. I'm leaving you a few pictures of us today. As always, thank you so much for your prayers. Your prayers have helped my family greatly.

It's tough growing up!!

I'm still enjoying every minute of summer. I've had a couple of appoinments this past week. I went to the brace shop and I no longer have to wear my sure steps. I only have to wear my brace. The sure steps were helping me get my heel down and I'm now able to do it without them. I have to go back in two months to see how I'm doing. I also went to the dentist. He said everything looked great and my brother and I didn't have any cavities. So great news at those appointments. I have gone 4 days and 3 nights without my nunu(pacifier). If you know me, you know that this is a major accomplishment. I was so attached to my nunu. It has been my security through every needle stick, hospital stay, surgery, therapy, doctors visit, etc. It has helped me get through it all so for me to go this long without it is pretty good. I'm not gonna lie its been hard because I have a solution for everything my mom tells me. For example, the dog took my nunu so my mommy told me the dog took it and it was gone. Well I knew I had more than one so I told her I had two of them. She then said she lost the other ones and I said I find one in my playroom. (We always find them there when we lose them.). When we couldn't find one in the playroom, I just told my mom to go buy me a new one at store. All of this while tears are coming from my face. So yes its been hard and mom has cried with me but we are getting there. I'm only asking for it every now and then with no tears. I'm just growing up this summer. I don't have a nunu anymore and I'm potty trained. I'm going to be ready for prek for sure now. Our next thing to work on is finding a way to get me feeling secure on the big potty. My right sided weakness makes it hard for me to use the big potty. We are looking at different seats and stools to use to help with this. We will figure it out. For now we are satisfied with me being able to use my little potty and that I'm telling someone when I need to go. I've also been working on using my right hand. I'm working very hard and I'm able to use it as an assistant hand in order to help me string large beads. I'm also working very hard on naming the letters of the alphabet and their sounds. I can name 8 letters and I know 17 sounds. Oh and I'm able to jump now. I can't jump very high, but I can get off the ground and I love to show people that I can jump. I have a neurologist appointment at Children's Hospital in New Orleans on Tuesday. Please pray that I will have a good appointment. I can't wait to show my neurologist all my new tricks. I'll update you after the appointment. Love you, Jadon

Potty Training 101

My mom has been potty training me for a week now. I am proud to say that in that week I only had 4 accidents. 2 were #1 and 2 were number #2. For the last 3 days I have been going number 1 and number 2 on the potty with 0 accidents. This includes nights as well. I haven't had any accidents at night all week. I even get out of the pool when I have to go. My mom isn't ready to say I'm fully potty trained just yet, but wow I'm pretty close. My family can't believe how well I'm doing with this. It's been much easier than they thought for sure. Me I don't really see the big deal, when I have to go I just tell them. You have to remember this time last year I wasn't walking 100 percent of the time and one year later I'm not only walking and running but now I'm almost potty trained. Wow isn't that unbelievable!!! Thank you God for what you have done and continue to do in my life!!!!