Macey Update!

Macey is doing awesome.  In 2011 two major things happened that have changed her life!!  In February she brought home Joycie.  Because of this sweet dog we were able to actually make it through a sleep study and now she sleeps with a CPAP machine and has been getting real sleep for the first time in her life.  This has helped her energy level and attitude and Joycie has helped with her obedience and self confidence and she has been a much much easier little girl.  She still has her days but don't we all!!!

 Macey was on TV this last week and once she discovered she could see herself in the monitor she was all smiles!  Didn't pay any attention to anything else except Joycie - it was pretty cute which was great because her mother was a little nervous and liked the attention off her :)  We were doing a promo for the East Texas Down Syndrome Buddy Walk.  Next year Macey is going to be the Ambassador for the Buddy Walk!!!

She is in forth grade and attends science, lunch, recess & PE w/ her peers and spends the rest of the time in a Lifeskills classroom with an absolutely AMAZING teacher!  She's in a drama class for special needs kids and also attends AWANA at our church.  Had a routine she likes as long as mommy sticks to it and is a happy happy girl (the majority of the time!).

Wanted to post a few pictures of our newest family member. Travis, Macey, and I traveled to Oceanside California to pick up Ms. Joycie and spend two weeks training with her. She's been training for us for TWO years!!! She is incredible! She is the sweetest and best behaved skilled companion dog you would ever hope to find! Macey loves her dearly and already we can see her speach improving and she stays with us in public because she is holding onto her handle on Joycie's vest -- we call it making a Joycie sandwich (me and Macey w/ dog in the middle). I can not wait to see all of the things she is going to do in Macey's life. Having a great time getting to know her!!! Thank you so much to Canine Companions for Independence and all the trainers there!!! Also to her two puppy raisers - Maureen & Barbara!! You guys all did an awesome job and we couldn't love Joycie any more if we tried :0)

Macey reading Joycie a book about Marley :0)

Oh, my! I haven't updated this since before our crazy summer. So much has happened! We went to Disney in July to attend a Down syndrome conference and hit the parks for about a week -- Nana Pat & Pepaw went with us, too. On our way home we detoured through Georgia and visited with best friends from Seminary. Three sets of friends were all along our route -- it was so cool! Two of them that didn't know each other at Southwestern actually wound up about 20 minutes apart from each other. We had a WONDERFUL time and rarely a day goes by that one of the girls doesn't ask when we are going back to Disneyworld....

April & May Pictures

First -- I want to brag on my husband! He was voted teacher of the year at BrookHill and its only his second year teaching :0) I'm a proud wife!!!

Lily & Carsen have some ice cream on the last day of school

I'm not sure what this was other than cute. Never know whats going to happen when I leave the girls with Travis for a weekend...

When did she grow up?

Macey took "private ballet lessons" from one of Travis' students. She enjoyed it although she didn't participate as much as we had hoped. In August we'll start back up and include her sisters, too....

This is their favorite ride at Six Flags. They would ride it over and over again if we'd let them.

Easter Pic w/ Carsen

Macey takes over Nana Pat's desk

getting ready for Easter Sunday. Macey only kept the rollers in long enough for this picture

us :0)

We've got big plans for the summer. Both girls are going to summer school all of june and then Disneyworld in July. hoping we can fit VBS in at some point but not looking too promising. memorial day weekend we are headed to Circle of Friends at Camp Gilmont for some relaxation and fun....

We are all enjoying the snow and the unexpected day out of school!

The girls had so much fun at the Red, White & Blue festival! They earned money from Nana Pat picking up pecans in her yard and got to ride several rides!!! I can't wait to get a season pass to Six Flags this summer. I think they are ready....

Trick or treat'n in Tyler!