Music Informance

These are a few images from Maddux's classroom and from her first performance for the parents from music class. She practiced very hard at home and did very well in front of everyone. Can you believe Maddux has a writing journal! I am sure I'll find a company that will bind it for me as a leather keepaske album!

Happy 6th birthday!

I can't believe we have a 6 year old now! And because Maddux is now 6 that means her baby brother is now 2! This was the best brithday ever. She understood it was HER day and she was going to have cake and presents! She even made "birthday beads" to wear in her hair to school that day so everyone knew it was her special day. She almost ate the candles in this picture but we were so happy we did not care!
Happy Birthday sweetie!

We call her cake the pantry surprise! I told her to look in the pantry so she could decorate it with whatever she wanted! Never thought a cake could look so beautiful...

My favorite thing this year... so far

Madddux was asked to draw a picture of herself doing her favorite thing. Well she drew a picture of herself eating a quesadilla. Then she was suppose to spell the item she was eating. Only Maddux would pick a Spanish word to spell. Here is Maddux's WONDERFUL version of quesadilla:

KSUDU
(looks right to me!)

100 Days Smarter

Maddux just had her 1ooth day of school. She is far beyond 100 days smarter. She is now beginning to spell 3 letter words and read small books. Holly Grove has done amazing things with her and I cannot wait to see what this semester brings with a revamped IEP and awesome goals!

One semester down!

One semester is down for our amazing Maddux. She has adjusted well to being





mainstreamed and has surprised us with her transition and her ability to make friends. I go to eat lunch with her often and it is nice to see the 5th graders say "Hi" to her. Everyone knows Maddux. She received her first report card yesterday. She is on a steady pace upward and is improving everyday! Miracles happen for her and for us everyday! Her teachers are so talented and patient and are the reason she has done so well! THANK YOU!

Fall festival

Words written on a page for us means so much more than it does to anyone else. Anything that comes home that Maddux drew or wrote gets laminated or put in a frame! It goes far beyond the act of just writing. It is the control she has learned to hold the pencil, the ability to look one page and copy to another and the fact that she can read it after she writes it goes beyond our most powerful dreams for her.

Ken's Korn Maze Field Trip

Maddux and her class took a field trip to Ken's Krazy Korn maze in October. Maddux's friends "know" she needs extra help and they follow her around and make sure she stays with the class. It is nice to know her friends care for her almost as much as we do!

Museums and Music

Her Family

Lessons learned

The one thing that I have learned most up to this point is that Maddux is ours for a reason. God did not give her to someone else. He felt we were the best parents for her and that only we could provide her wants and needs. Most of the time I think the exact opposite happened. I was not half the person I am today before she came into my life. My husband was not half the person he is today before she arrived. I think the same can be said for the rest of my family. Maddux has brought so much joy into our lives that it has made it so enjoyable to be around her. I thank Him everyday for giving her to us, epilepsy and autism included. Sure, there are times that I would rather tell her something once rather than 6 times because she pieces it together each time to make a full statement. Not always, but sometimes. And there is not a bath given that I don't want her to wash her own hair and make her adversion to bubbles disappear. Then I think about her. I can not imagine anyone who would want to have these issues. She probably doesn't want them as much as I wish she didn't have them. One thing remains the same and that is that she's our Maddux, issues or not. I know she will continue to recover and heal from all of her trials and we will all be here to continue to cheer her on!

The trauma you faced was not easy.
And God wept that it hurt you so:
But it was allowed to shape your heart
So that into his likeness you'd grow.
Russel Kelfer