Lots of News.......

Just checking in to let everyone know how well Reagan is doing.  Haven't updated in awhile but we have been busy enjoying having Daddy back home from Afghanistan and kicking off the new school year with all of the activities that go along with a new year.  Nolan (2nd grade) & Reagan (Pre-K) both started back to school in late Aug.  They are both enjoying school and doing so well.  

Miss Reagan does her work at home with Mrs. Melissa, her homebound teacher, that comes 4 days a week for a 30 min. session.  And let me tell you, the girl learns alot in those 30 min.  Last year, she basically mastered recognition of all her shapes, colors, letters, numbers, etc.  Mrs. Melissa is now moving on to tougher objectives like counting, more/less, reading small sight words, reading comprehension, and doing it all through fun themes.  As mentioned before, I used a program this summer with Reagan called Handwriting without Tears, to help her improve her hand control, hand strength, & writing letters & numbers.  She has done so well as you can see.

Because she liked the idea of "homeschool" so much and requests it daily, I decided I would continue to teach her daily lessons during the school year as well.  I am trying to focus on phonics, sequencing of stories, rebus reading, counting, one-to-one correspondence, more/less, etc.  I do have my degree in early childhood & elementary education so I figure maybe I should put to use the ability God gave me to teach.  After all, parents are their child's first teachers!
On top of school, Reagan still has her "ther-wa-pa-we" (a.k.a. therapy). She goes to a clinic for Speech & Occupational Therapy twice a week and has made huge progress in both.  Thank you Mrs. Liz, Lauren, Emily & Meg for all you do!!  It's definitely paying off.  Reagan also has Physical Therapy once a week with Ms. Donna who has brought Reagan, as a baby, from laying on the ground crying because she didn't know how to set herself up, to now walking, running, & even jumping.  Because we had such a hot summer in Texas this year, we swam alot and Reagan has really gotten used to the water now, including blowing bubbles, going under & jumping off the side.  Due to her acceptance of the water right now, Ms. Donna is taking her swimming for her therapy when her schedule allows & building up those muscles even more.  Ms. Donna, you are the greatest!!
Over the last year Reagan did gymnastics once a week to help improve her strength, endurance & body control.  This year, we decided we'd switched gears and try ballet.  She now takes a Pre-Ballet class once a week with 4 other little girls and loves it!  She is doing great.  I can't wait to see how she's doing come recital time next May.  It ought to be interesting!!

Speaking of next year, I guess there is no better time than now to officially announce that we will be moving next year.  Rod has orders to Ft. Belvoir, VA (Washington, DC area).  He has to report in January but we have decided the kids and I will stay in Texas until summer so both kids can finish their school year.  We are all saddened by the move as we are native Texans and have been blessed to have been here the last 7 yrs.  The positive in this move is that Daddy Rod won't have to deploy for 3 yrs. as Ft. Belvoir is a non-deployable base.  I have known for almost a year about the move but have had to have alot of prayer/quiet times about it as I was not handling it very well.  There are not many bases we can go with Reagan due to all the services/specialists she requires and the Washington, D.C. area not only has everything she will need but also has one of the top ranked school districts in the nation.  God has had to work on my heart in getting me to be o.k. with the move but I know He will not lead us where He has not already prepared a table before us.  Just the thought of starting over with all new therapists, teachers, doctors & hospitals, etc. makes me a little- or should I say alot- nervous.  God is at work though,as I can already see, because the last time we saw Reagan's cardiologist in Austin he informed me that one of the cardiologists from the group in D.C. will be joining the group of drs. in Austin next year and he would talk with him about who would make a great cardiologist for Reagan when we move. Awesome!!  I think that's the "table" I referred to earlier being set before we come.
In closing, I'd like to thank all of you who prayed for our friend, Callie.  She had a successful surgery but did have a very scary complication 4 days later through which she came through beautifully! I know it is your prayers and the prayers of many that got Callie & her parents through that tough time.
Thanks again!