My Little Diva

Casey has not been feeling well, so she has not been back to school since her first day.  She was finally up for going today.  I helped her pick out her pink polka dot tutu and then I left her with the her nurse to finish up while I got the car ready.  When I came back in Casey had added quite a bit of personality to the ensemble.   She added a pink Cinderella ring, her fuzzy pink purse with a unicorn inside, fuzzy pink boots, pig tails (with pink bows) and all the diva attitude she can fit into her little body.  She makes me laugh sometimes.  I wish I could pull off one tenth of her style :)

She got to go to the library today.  She LOVES the library.  They got there a few minutes before the 1st grade class and the librarian was showing her some stuff.  After the rest of the class joined her the librarian showed the rest of the class what she had shown Casey and asked them some questions.  Casey's nurse told us that she would ask the question and Casey would answer loud and proud.  I'm sure she had the answer, if only she could make the words.  Of course when it came time to get her books she found her way to the elephant section.  I thought for sure last year that she read all the elephant books they had.  She found a couple more today.  

This evening Casey started having a hard time again.  Hopefully she is not getting sick so she can do the rest of her week's activities.  I guess we will have to just keep an eye on her and see how it goes.  I don't have much more to post today, just had to share the picture of the little diva. 

Updates

A lot has happened since our last post.  Casey has started school, and dance.  I have been wanting to update on these things, but at the same time that Casey was starting all of these new things, we were also saying goodbye to my grandmother (see previous post).  Needless to say, it has been a very emotional (good and bad) week and half for us.

Casey started school last week and has a new teacher this year.  The new teacher seems pretty nice.  She has not worked with medically complex kids like Casey, but she seems open to learning from Casey's nurses and therapists.  Casey was really excited about going to school and had a good first day.  She was excited to see her princess tent and some of the therapy toys she really likes.  I think it will be a good year for our little first grader.

This week Casey started dance.  She had the tutu and ballerina bun and was ready to go.  She was really funny.  There was a little girl with a toy microphone that kept putting it in front of Casey.  As soon as she would Casey would sing and sing.  She does love to sing.  I think she had as much fun singing with her new friend as she did dancing.  She was so excited all day, then gave it everything she had.  On the way home she crashed.  I think she is going to really like dance.  Her grandma was in town and got to go with us.  I think she enjoyed it as much as Casey did too.

Casey has been having a rough couple of days.  Sometimes when her schedule is out of whack she has a hard time adjusting.  We are going to have a quiet relaxing weekend.  Hopefully that will get her back to her usually spirited self.  Next week she has music, dance, school and therapies scheduled.  It will be the first full week of her new schedule.  I think it may take a few weeks to get into the groove (for all of us).  She is only in school for 2 hours 3 days a week though, so it's not too bad.

We hope that everyone is well, and thank you again to everyone for all of your support while we were going through a really hard time saying goodbye to my grandma.  We appreciate all of the kinds words, cards, and prayers. 

Casey working hard with OT on her first day of 1st grade

Casey with Mom & Dad on her first day of 1st grade

Casey's first day of dance with some new and old friends

Casey wiped out on her way home from her first dance class

Gone but not Forgotten

Yesterday was a very hard day for our family.  Casey's great grandma, Evelyn Creel, was laid to rest.  She was 86 years old and the best grandma (mom, aunt, friend, wife, great grandma, etc) that you could ever ask for.  I have so many wonderful memories of her over the years.  She and I were very close.  She loved Casey with her entire heart as well. 

About a year ago they moved into assisted living just a few blocks from our home.  Partly they moved so that I could help get them to and from appointments and things, but mainly they moved to be able to be closer and spend more time with Casey.  I know she will watch over Casey now and that gives me a little peace. 

I could go on all day about how much she was loved (is loved) and how much we will all miss her, but I think instead I will keep this post short and keep those memories for myself to cherish when I find myself missing her.  Thank you to all that offered your support, prayers, and love to all of us (especially her) over the past week and half.  It has been hard, but all of the support from family and friends has helped us through it.