Her daddy

It is guaranteed that where there is a carousel Maddux will be on it with her daddy.

That's our Maddux

As each week passed Maddux was improving. It was painfully slow but atleast it was happening. The one thing I remember most from this year in school is asking her everyday when she got in the car, "What did you do today Maddux?" I never got an answer. I continued to ask everyday because I knew one day she would answer.

Introducing Baby Cade

Maddux's brother, Cade, was born on January 21, 2006. Maddux welcomed him with an open heart.

Happy 4th birthday

What a difference a year makes. The pictures from her last birthday to this one are like night and day. Here she opened her own presents and blew out her birthday candles 8 times. We have never been so happy to light candles over and over again in our lives.

Preschool-self contained

Maddux started preschool in March 2006. She was in a full-day, self-contained classroom for 2 years with OT, PT and Speech services inside the school system and outside at Leaps N' Bounds. She was surrounded by some wonderful people. Her teachers and therapists treated Maddux like their own. During Maddux's first year in Preschool she had a one-on-one aide named Heidi. She was so great with Maddux and she adored her.


Miss D was Maddux's teacher for second year in preschool. God bless her for having to put up with me. She was young, vibrant and really helped Maddux to control her break downs and "use her words" when she was upset. Thank you D for caring so much and for letting this year be so fun for both Maddux and me!




What can I say about Ms. Betty. I adore her so much. She was Maddux's aide in Miss D's room. She loves Maddux almost as much as I do. We miss her very much and she really helped Maddux to become more independent around the classroom. Thank you for being you and for loving her like you did. We miss you.

It is all about each person in her life

So far all I have really posted are pictures of Maddux, her therapist and her teachers. But there is a huge piece missing in her blog. Family. Lenny's and my family have had to go through this ordeal from 3,000 miles away. Sometimes phone calls about her progress are not enough. Each time they would come visit her they could see the progress she has made. Each one had to follow my way of handling her. She was fed different foods, had to sleep in a certain bed and had to be sure her meds were given at the right time and in the right order. Where would Maddux be without her teachers and therapist but more importantly where would we be without this family. Grammy and Gramps, Nana and G, Aunt Jen and Uncle Scott, Uncle Ryan and Aunt Kish (now Uncle David) and Kenzie, Jackson, Ryan, Raegan and Kenna are all our saving grace. Without having you all to lean on, talk to, ask for help from, and pray with we would not be who we are today. Thank you so much for your guidance, love and prayers.

Last few images

These are some of the last images of Maddux that you will not see her presence in them. The pictures are still important stages in her life and each one has a special place in all of our hearts. I know when each one was taken and how she was developing in each one.




During this time, I came aross a special diet called the Specific Carbohydrate Diet (SCD). It is similar to the Gluten free, casien free diet but on a smaller scale. I stared her on this diet of no preservatives, all fresh, organic foods and nothing processed. If it was sealed in a package, she did not eat it. I really started to see a change in her ability to communicate, think, walk and process information. Her auditory processing time increased. She started to come back.

Moments of beauty

The hardest lesson we had to learn...

Surrender yourself to the Lord, and wait patiently for him.
Psalms 37:7

Bubbles say POP

These two pictures have a special meaning to us because it took Maddux until she was 4 years old to learn how to blow bubbles. Something so simple you think every child knows how to do is so hard for her. Constant repetition and using the same bubbles in the same spot of the backyard as you did the day before. Then taking the bubbles to the park and teaching her that it still works the same there as it does at home in our yard. And now the bubbles SHE blows are so beautiful!

Our patriotic girl

This picture was taken on the way home from a day of shopping at Short Pump in Richmond, VA. The flag she is holding has not left her side since! She has always had a fascination with flags and we turned her obsession of wanting to count the stars into a history lesson.