Kindergarten and summer vacation

Ruby graduated preschool this year and is now a big kindergartener.  

 
 

She is doing amazing and has started kindergarten with her cousin, whom she adores.  She has told me so many times how happy she is that he is in her class.

  

She and her brother did swim lessons this summer and absolutely loved it.  Ruby is a water lover and is really the happiest when in the water, as all of her teachers and family members will attest to

I am not sure if there is anywhere on Earth Ruby would rather be than in the pool.

It took a little while for Oliver to warm up to being in the pool but eventually he was loving it too.

 

Thankfully, life for us has been very uneventful.  Ruby is making amazing progress every day, both physically and intellectually.  She loves her brother and is a really good big sister.  Her brother is quite a character, as is she.  They love to make each other laugh and have been having "sleep overs" almost every night lately because they really enjoy each other's company.  I am so blessed to have both of these little ones.

Thank you for following along our journey.

 

 

The Adventures of Ruby and Oliver

It is hard for me to look back on pictures like this and really believe this is the same child that wakes up chatting my ear off every morning.  It has been over two years since Ruby's Hemispherectomy and so many wonderful things have happened.

I know I write this every time, but Ruby is amazing.  Never in a million years would I have believed how well she could do after such a drastic surgery.  Don't get me wrong.  There are bad days.  We still hear news every once in a while that takes me down a notch from my excitement on her progress.  But in general, she is doing amazing.  

 

This video clip is of Ruby explaining what she would do at the park.  She is looking at a rendering of a park that is going to be built in her honor.     

       She has been such an inspiration to me and has opened my eyes to the world in a profound way.  I am not saying she is a perfect angel all the time.  She has outbursts like all kids do and has the will of a Lion.  When she puts her mind to something there is no getting around it.  It is very challenging for us sometimes but when it comes to what she can and can't do.... When she wants to accomplish something- Watch Out!

We recently took a trip to Monterey and the kids loved it.  We were celebrating 2 years seizure free!  It was a great time and a really nice chance for us to have a weekend with no distractions where we could just enjoy being together with no stress.  We've had enough of that for a lifetime.

Ruby will be entering Kindergarten next year with her cousin, which is very exciting.  She will be in a mainstream class with her peers.  So far, we have noticed very little in terms of intellectual deficits because of her stroke and surgery but just like anything in life, only time will tell.  All we can do now is offer her what is available and love the crap out of her.
Her little brother, Oliver, is quite the little firecracker too and I strongly believe that he has helped enhance all of our lives.  He is a really good little brother and takes orders well from his very "helpful" sister, although he is just starting to see that he doesn't actually have to do everything she tells him to.  It's getting very interesting.

If you want more information about the park that is being built with inspiration from Miss Ruby, you can check out our new website at www.BigDreamsPlaygrounds.com