Happy Halloween

Happy Halloween from the Kennedy's and Miss Piggy!!

Hope everyone has a good time trick-or-treating tonight!!

Preschool Halloween Party

Bella had her preschool Halloween party today. I was lucky enough to be able to stay and enjoy some of it. They had a parade in the morning, where all the kids from all the different classrooms went around to trick-or-treat. Then the KCPT employees came into the gym all dressed up and handed out candy. They normally do a trunk-or-treat, but the weather was cold and rainy so it was moved inside. Bella did a great job and kept her costume on the whole time. I unfortunately forgot my camera, so I'm hoping some of the teachers can send me some pictures. We will be sure to take more this weekend so we can show off her costume.

I did realize that I forgot to post pictures of our birthday present to Bella this year. We got her an outdoor swing which she loves. We can sit outside and now she has a place to sit and look at all the trees in our backyard.

Pumpkin Patch - Bella Style

Bella has now been to two different pumpkin patches, although neither one was a true experience.

The first was held at daycare, where they brought in animals and pumpkins, and took the children around. Bella brought home a mini pumpkin from her first experience.

The second trip was to the Deanna Rose Children's Farmstead. This is a great place to see lots of different animals, and for the fall season they have a pumpkin patch. Granted we didn't actually travel to the patch, as that was at the cost of $7 a person. And we didn't think it was worth $21 to take the three of us over there just to pick out pumpkins. So instead after we left the farmstead, we headed to a local church that sells pumpkins to help support their mission trips. We hope to carve at least one of the pumpkins this weekend, but we'll have to see if there is time.Bella and the cow.

The goat checking out Bella, and really wishing she had food to feed him.

Bella in the tepee.

Mr. Buffalo

Bella actually seemed to be paying attention to the animals, but from her vantage point it was a little hard for her to see all of them. There is always next time.

Just a little sore

Bella had ear surgery on Tuesday. She was born with little pits at the top of her ears, and for the past year they have been infected. So we elected to have them removed. We also did a hearing test while she was under anesthesia. So we were at the hospital bright and early Tuesday morning, 6 am.

The hearing test came back with results showing slight hearing loss in the right ear, and moderate hearing loss in the left ear. Although at this point, we still can't tell if that is because she actually has hearing loss, or because she constantly gets ear infections. The audiologist explained to us that hearing for Bella would be similar to being under water. So we are going to have to be more aggressive in treating the ear infections, and then at some point do a repeat hearing test.

The surgery went alright, although it took longer than expected, being that the pits and canals that were being removed were infected, and therefore inflamed. In fact a mother in the waiting room was telling other people they had waited in the pre-surgery room for quite awhile as their doctor was behind due to complications with a current patient. I had a feeling that she was talking about Bella being the complication. And of course she was. Pretty typical for us, anytime it has to do with Bella, Bella is always the exception, and things always take longer for her.

But one day after surgery things seem to pretty much be back to normal. We are just hoping she is able to sleep through the night tonight.

The Apple Orchard

On our way to Plattsmouth last weekend, we stopped in Nebraska city to visit the apple orchard. We didn't have much time, so we did a quick tour of the inside, bought some caramel apples and some apple butter, and then did some photo ops outside. Maybe someday when we have more time we can actually take a hay rack ride.

Erin's Wedding

Here are a couple of pictures of Bella hanging out right before Erin and David's ceremony.


This post is hard to write, but I vowed to be honest.

This past weekend we were up in Nebraska attending my sister Erin's wedding (and David's too). It was a beautiful wedding and we all had a good time. But it also was very difficult and depressing. Everyone kept asking me why I was so serious as I walked up the aisle, I was the Matron of Honor. I didn't realize I was being so serious, but I have a feeling I know why.

Bella.

Bella was having a hard time that weekend. She was fussy and crabby pretty much the whole time. She wasn't content to do anything. And of course she woke up early and wouldn't nap, which just adds insult to injury. We tried to take her to the rehearsal dinner on Friday night, so people could see her. But she fussed and cried the whole time. Luckily we had arranged for Jesse's parents to watch her if needed the night of the wedding. And it was pretty apparent that it was going to be needed. She barely made it through the wedding, and afterwards was fussing and crying again. So we didn't even bother taking her to the reception and had Jesse's parents come right over. We thank them for that, as we were able to enjoy the dinner and dance.

But why was the weekend so depressing. Well because it was Bella's aunts wedding and she should have been able to participate more in the wedding. Erin made her an honorary flower girl. But it was still sad that she couldn't walk down the aisle and be the cute little girl dropping the flowers. Or maybe being the shy little girl who didn't want to walk down the aisle alone. Or maybe she wouldn't drop the flowers and would keep them all too herself. We will never know.

And she couldn't be one of the little girls dancing and enjoying the music. Taking over the dance floor during the important dances, because they are having a great time and can't be persuaded to get off the dance floor. No not Bella, she couldn't even be in a good enough mood to see family that doesn't ever get to see her, not for a little bit, let alone all night long.

So that is why is was depressing and sad for me. For all the opportunities that Bella will miss out on. Luckily on most, she won't even be aware that she is missing them. But rest assured Jesse and I are painfully aware.

Apples

Did I mention I love fall. And what else makes you think of fall? Apples. Bella learned all about apples her first two weeks of preschool. So we decided to make apple strudel for dad, since he was working late tonight.

Bella's help consisted of watching me work. She did do a little sampling of the apples, just a little more sour than her normal applesauce.

I don't know how I am supposed to eat that..........but it sure looks good.

**And it was, good thing it made two, since Bella was already in bed before we were able to sample the strudel. I'll have to process some tomorrow for her, so she can try it.

Autumn is Here!

Bella helped me plant some mums this afternoon. I love how mums just scream "fall". Now we just need to get to a pumpkin patch, so we can add some pumpkins to the front porch.

I am the child who can not talk

What does it mean when your child is non-verbal? Well I would say that Bella is non-verbal at this point. She makes noises, she realizes she makes noises, she recognizes that if she is in a room by herself she has to make louder noises for us to hear her. But her noises are all the same. She has happy noises and sad noises, but other than that, we don't know what she is saying.
Take last night, Bella was tired all day long, and when we made it home from pre-school she was fussy and making lots of noises that we know mean something is wrong. But it's a huge guessing game to know what is wrong.
We tried feeding her, multiple times, we tried giving her something to drink. We tried gas drops, we gave her a bath, we tried ear drops, we tried orajel for her teeth, and lastly we tried her night bottle with Benedryl.
Well after the night bottle, she finally went "bm" and wasn't fussing anymore. But after all that we tried, we really have no idea which was the answer. If I had to "guess" I would say it was the gas drops and the relief of her having finally gone to the bathroom. But we don't know, and it looks like we might never know.
So what happens when she gets older and her list of problems can be greater? I would be happy with having her learn to point to what bothers her, but I don't know if she even knows what it is.

I am the Child

Author unknown

I am the child who cannot talk.

You often pity me: O see it in your eyes.

You wonder how much I am aware of .... I see that as well.

I am aware of much.... whether you are happy or sad or fearful, patient or impatient, full of love and desire, or are just doing your duty by me.

I marvel at your frustration, knowing mine to be far greater for I cannot express myself nor my needs as you do.

You cannot conceive my isolation, so complete it is at times.

I do not gift you with clever conversation, cute remarks to be laughed over and repeated,I do not give you answers to your everyday questions, responses over my well-being, sharing my needs, or comments about the world around me.

I do not give you rewards as defined by the world's standards.... great strides in developments that you can credit yourself;I do not give you understanding as you know it,What I give you is so much more valuable..... I give you instead opportunities.

Opportunities to discover the depth of your character, not mine; the depth of your love, your commitment, your patience, your abilities;the opportunity to explore your spirit more deeply than you imagined possible.

I drive you further than you would ever go on your own, working harder, seeking answers to your many questions, creating questions with no answers.

I am the child who cannot talk.