Finally Unpacking!

We found out we had to move right after New Years. We moved into a home that had a finished upstairs and they were remodeling down stairs. What was projected to take a couple weeks took nearly 3 months. They finally finished it on Thursday last week! I started unpacking as quick as possible! I'm so happy Ava finally has more space to move and play. We outgrew our condo pretty much as soon as she started walking 3 years ago and I've struggled with feeling guilty about her not having a lot of space. This makes me so happy, I can't even explain. Plus I can start sewing again!!!

 First project I made in my new office was Ava's Easter dress :)

Farm at Thanksgiving Point

4 Year Well Check

Ava had her 4 year well check last week. She measured in at 43 pounds 3 ounces and 43 inches tall.  Her BMI is about 16.5 and in the healthy range. She is passing all of her developmental milestones (some just barely) but still very happy about this! shes been behind in at least 1 area since she turned 1.  The doctor was happy with the progress she has made. They did a vision test and she did about 20/50. They recommended us to go see a pediatric eye doctor to look into glasses.

I'm so proud of the progress Ava has made this year.  I went back and watched some videos of Ava a year ago and her limited speech, her speech was mostly memorized echolalia and she did not respond to her name well at all.  She now can communicate with us better, talks a ton more, and responds to us better. Shes also cover her ears a lot less and listening a little better to directions.

We have started taking her to a therapist who specializes in autism to help both Ava and I to learn how to communicate better and help her with some behavior issues.  One big issue for Ava has always been transitioning between activities which is a common issue for kids with Autism.  An example of Ava struggling with transitions is leaving the park. She literally cries and screams and can't understand what is going on when we leave the park.  The therapist has already helped us alot in this area with her suggestions and modeling! Im so grateful for the help we are able to get even if its not as much as I'd like to be able to provide for Ava.

Tomorrow we have Ava's IEP meeting with her preschool. Ive been anxious about this meeting. I'm hoping we can work on some good goals for Ava for next school year and keep all her therapies through the district for next year. I'm so grateful for the help she gets from the school district, its a huge blessing.

I went to the store one night and Ava asked Dan to send me this message. Melt my heart! I'm SOOO proud of this girl and all that shes achieved this year!

Ava's 4 Year Interview

Favorite Color: Blue (turquoise/bright blue or what she calls "elsa blue")
Favorite Toy: Dress up clothes and princess dolls
Favorite Fruit: Cutie oranges
Favorite Movies: Frozen & Tinkerbell and the Pirate Fairy & Wreck it Ralph
Favorite Lunch Food: Corndog
Favorite Outfit: Anything that blue or looks like Elsa's dress
Favorite Game: Hide and go seek
Favorite Snack: Cookies and Chocolate Bars (which are zbars)
Favorite Animal: Elephant
Favorite Song: Farmer and the dell or anything popular on the radio
Favorite Book: Pigeon Books
Best Friend: Jessica
Favorite Cereal: Crispix
Favorite thing to do outside: Go to the park
Favorite Drink: Lemonade
Favorite Holiday: Christmas
What do you take to bed with you at night: Flashlight, cup of water and dolls
Favorite Breakfast: Pancakes and eggs
What do you want to eat for your Birthday dinner: Hotdogs
What do you want to be when you grow up: Mommy

4 Year Birthday Photos

Disney On Ice

Happy Valentines Day

Random Instagram photos from January/Feb (so far)

Don't let the pigeon drive the bus

All moved in

We got all moved into our new place. Not without lots of hiccups and disasters. Ava got sick just over  2 weeks ago. Had a high fever for 3 days. Then we started moving. Well I started getting sick rights before our big move day. By big move day I was sick and in bed for 2 full days after the move. Dan also started getting sick. He stayed home 3 days last week. On Wednesday we had cleaning ladies come finish cleaning our old place. I went over to help but my ear was killing me. By 4:30 I took myself over to urgent care to find out I had a major ear infection in one ear. A small one in the other. Tonsillitis and the end of the seasonal flu. In the middle of the night my ear drum burst. The next day we found out Ava had a sinus infection and we woke up today with Dan in extreme pain and took him to urgent care with a double ear infection as well.

We pray we get better quick so we can start to unpack and settle into our new home.

Moving

We found out on Wednesday that our landlord is selling our condo ASAP. Our contract is up the last of this month but we were planning on renewing it not moving yet. He told us we could stay but if the new owner wants us out we would get 30 days notice to leave. We decided we didn't want to play that game.

Within 48 hours we had a place to move. We will be moving to a rental close to the mall and closer to dans parents. We will have a lot more space and a yard but no washer and dryer and a few other luxuries. And we have to live with them renovating the basement for a few weeks but it will be worth it for all the space once they are done. We can start moving this next week.

Sledding January 2014