Early Steps Evaluation

Yesterday we had an evaluation with early steps. They look for physical, occupational and speech needs. Since Ansley is developmentally delayed due to vision problems and Lissencephaly, a lot of her "skills" are newborn-2 month level. They played a lot with her on the floor to see what she can do. She's so close to rolling from tummy to back! Her grasp is improving and she's way more flexible. They were concerned with the delay in her skills, that she isn't sitting, bringing feet to mouth, grasping toys, holding bottle, etc. We are going to start with a weekly occupational therapist who will work on all this including her feeding (suck/swallow) issues. If she can't get those under control we will call in a speech therapist. They were very sweet and just loved Ansley. We set many goals for 6 months and looking forward to see Ansley  reach and surpass these goals. 

Want to help? Prayers are very appreciated as well as donations. We have a paypal (benkatierice@gmail.com) or http://www.gofundme.com/f3a2n0

Vision Therapy

Ansley had her first vision therapy this week with the Parent Infant Program with the Fl School for Deaf & Blind. We are blessed with the sweetest therapist. She just adores Ansley. This first few weeks are trying to establish a "baseline" on Ansley's vision. We know she seeks lights so thinking she sees lights. She doesn't track or reach/bat for toys as she can't see them. Our goals for vision therapy are to get her to try and focus, see shadows, etc. Of course ULTIMATE goal is for her to see everything! But that's up to God. 

Our therapist played with Ansley on the floor with different textured and light up/musical toys. Ansley keeps her eyes closed a lot so we are trying to give her something interesting (sounds/textures) so she will open her eyes. The more

She uses them *hopefully* the stronger she will get. :) our therapist is geting us alight box and were working on building a black box.

We will have therapy every week and work on new things. Will keep you posted! Thanks for the prayers and concerns!!! 

Want to help? Prayers are very appreciated as well as donations. We have a paypal (benkatierice@gmail.com) or http://www.gofundme.com/f3a2n0

Wow... & updates!

Wow is basically all I can say. We feel soooo humbled! Looked at our GOFUNDME account and you all have graciously donated $1600!!!! That has helped us pay off some bills we have been lagging on due to unexpectedly being a one income family. We have decided that for right now I will stay home with her as she needs one on one attention and we have numerous weekly appts and therapies will start soon. Has helped purchase necessities for Ansley, as well as a few "wants" for her. 

Thank you so much. Our hearts are overwhelmed. 

Also, an update!!! We met with our early steps coordinator yesterday and have an evaluation next week to see which therapies she qualifies for (speech, physical, occupational). Very excited to get her started. Should start vision therap within the next week or two!! We recently discovered a few musical apps that Ansley loves. She loves to lay on her tummy (on boppy) and listen to the music and see the bright screen of the iPad. It's so cute!!!!! She's also smiling and laughing a lot more. She cooes and talks to us which is seriously the sweetest sounds ever!!!!!!! 

Want to help? Our paypal is benkatierice@gmail.com or our gofundme address is http://www.gofundme.com/f3a2n0

Room tour!!!

We have been so BLESSED with so many handmedowns and gifts!!! Ansley's closet is never lacking :) She sure is fancy!!!!! We can't thank God enough for his many many blessings!!!!!! 

Our next steps

There are so many variables we are trying to figure out with her Adoption, Neuro issues and vision issues.

We should have our adoption finalized in November!!! Wooooohoooooo! Can't wait to go in front of that judge and here them say she is FOREVER ours! Pure bliss. 

For her Lissencephaly, we are kind of taking a "wait and see" approach with the severity of it. We are still trying to get a handle on the infantile spasms, they are tricky. So we are trying different dosages of steroids and different things. We have sever tests coming up for them. 

For vision, we start Vision therapy within the next week or two. Super excited. She absolutely loves her Christmas lights!! She "looks" for them now in certain areas! 

We have an evaluation with early steps in 2 weeks to get her set up with speech, physical and vocational therapy. 

She keeps momma and daddy busy but we've waited 6 years for her so we've got extra love and attention to give! God made her perfectly and put us together for a perfect reason. :)

We wanted to say thank you so much to those who have given. We were able to use that $ to catch up on bills that we were lagging on due to me unexpectedly not working :) we find different product ideas daily we could use for Ansley. These are what we currently we are trying to save to purchase for Ansley:

And just because, here's some Ansley is fancy loving 

To donate you may send via paypal to benkatierice@gmail.com (no fees)

Or send via gofundme http://www.gofundme.com/f3a2n0

Thank you so much! I pray many many blessings for your family!