Miss Áine waiting for her neurologist.
Brendan hanging out in our backyard.
Ciara wearing and eating her fave color! (Teeth included.) We love Tutti Frutti fro-yo.
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Quelle surprise... a trip to the Zoo.
The Los Angeles Zoo seems to be our home away from home.
My sister, Annemarie, and my almost 2 year old nephew, Phelan, were visiting us from MA.
We spent a very hot morning at the Zoo, while Áine enjoyed a morning at school.
My sister, Annemarie, and my almost 2 year old nephew, Phelan, were visiting us from MA.
We spent a very hot morning at the Zoo, while Áine enjoyed a morning at school.
Friday, June 17, 2011
We now have an... 8th grader!
Ciara's last day of 7th grade ended on a happy note.
Mom, Áine, Nana, and Bruce attended the awards ceremony at school where Ciara earned certificates for First Honors (3.71 GPA), Principal's Honor Roll for being on the honor roll all three semesters of this school year, an award for outstanding academic excellence from President Barack Obama, and her favorite and ours, A Person of Character Award for Caring. Way to go, Ciara! WE LOVE YOU!
Mom, Áine, Nana, and Bruce attended the awards ceremony at school where Ciara earned certificates for First Honors (3.71 GPA), Principal's Honor Roll for being on the honor roll all three semesters of this school year, an award for outstanding academic excellence from President Barack Obama, and her favorite and ours, A Person of Character Award for Caring. Way to go, Ciara! WE LOVE YOU!
Nana and the former 7th grader.
Nana, the no-longer-a-7th-grader, and her ever squirrelly little sis.
The girlies -- whose grades have been left off this caption because Mom can't take it.
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Good-Bye, La Rosa!
Today was Áine Clare's last day at La Rosa.
The Madigan Family has spent many happy years at this beautiful school filled with beautiful people. We started with Ciara in September 2003 whose first day of school was 2 days after Áine's hemispherectomy. Áine joined her in late 2006 and they overlapped for a year before Ciara moved on to Nativity and Áine stayed on.
Until today.
Wonderful things are on the horizon for Áine no doubt. But I cannot express how madly in love withe La Rosa I am. It is a living embodiment of the word community. The people there collectively and singularly are some of the best on the planet.
Ms. Melisa has been Áine's aide for a while and a more perfect match you could not find. The tremendous comfort and relief as a mother I had leaving Áine in her care every day is a gift I have never taken for granted. We will miss seeing her smiling face every day!
The Madigan Family has spent many happy years at this beautiful school filled with beautiful people. We started with Ciara in September 2003 whose first day of school was 2 days after Áine's hemispherectomy. Áine joined her in late 2006 and they overlapped for a year before Ciara moved on to Nativity and Áine stayed on.
Until today.
Wonderful things are on the horizon for Áine no doubt. But I cannot express how madly in love withe La Rosa I am. It is a living embodiment of the word community. The people there collectively and singularly are some of the best on the planet.
Ms. Melisa has been Áine's aide for a while and a more perfect match you could not find. The tremendous comfort and relief as a mother I had leaving Áine in her care every day is a gift I have never taken for granted. We will miss seeing her smiling face every day!
Ms. Roxanna, Áine Clare, and Ms. Wu
These wonderful ladies are the tag team that took on Miss Áine Clare this year.
Along with Ms. Melisa they make for a mighty trio.
Their willingness to blend Áine into their class is extraordinary.
Ms. Roxanna has been part of our family for a long time. She started working with Áine in our home as a visual impairment specialist before Áine was three. Because of her, Áine was able to attend our local school, La Rosa, and have an incredible jump start to her educational life.
These wonderful ladies are the tag team that took on Miss Áine Clare this year.
Along with Ms. Melisa they make for a mighty trio.
Their willingness to blend Áine into their class is extraordinary.
Ms. Roxanna has been part of our family for a long time. She started working with Áine in our home as a visual impairment specialist before Áine was three. Because of her, Áine was able to attend our local school, La Rosa, and have an incredible jump start to her educational life.
Ms. Wu and Áine
Ms. Roxanna and Áine Clare
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
3rd Grade Picnic
Áine's last day of school is tomorrow, so today she celebrated at the park with her fellow 3rd graders in their tie-dyed shirts, a picnic, and water games... fun, fun, fun.
I know I have an incredible bias, but she is so cute in these next two pics I just want to munch her up!!
Getting ready for a nap following the picnic in the park.
La Rosa, we don't want to leave you!! We've been part of your incredibly unique, wonderful, welcoming school since September 2003. WE WILL MISS YOU!
Last Day at Rosemary Johnson
June 9, 2011
This was Áine's last day at Rosemary Johnson and Associates Clinic, Inc. where she has been receiving occupational and physical therapies since late summer 2001.
This is Christy, her long time PT.
This was Áine's last day at Rosemary Johnson and Associates Clinic, Inc. where she has been receiving occupational and physical therapies since late summer 2001.
This is Christy, her long time PT.
Sue and Áine. Sue has been Áine's OT since she first started therapy in 2001.
Sue started working with Brendan in 1996.
Sue started working with Brendan in 1996.
The hard working, fun-loving trio.
Áine's last ride on her beloved scooter board.
This departure has been a hard one for me. Since Áine will be going to a new school beginning July 11, 2011 - Cleta Harder Developmental School - her services are being moved to her new school. Doesn't sound like a big deal, but Áine has been at our beloved La Rosa school since April 2006 and Ciara was there starting in September 2003 for K-3 (as high as the school goes). In addition she has had the same speech therapist since November 2001. These departures are necessary I know, but nonetheless bittersweet.
Having to leave Rosemary Johnson clinic is especially hard for Mom. I started going there in 1996 with Brendan and since then, over the 15 years, my three children have been treated there and I have been at the clinic at the most 6 times a week to the least of 1 time a week. I have shared many of life's challenges and triumphs with the ladies there. I will miss that. I will miss them. They have been a tremendous part of my life and have made such a contribution to the growth of my children.
Áine has long-time bonds with her therapists. She is sure to have a period of adjustment when going to her new school and no one will be the same - not the staff,the teachers, the students, nor the therapists. I know she will be fine. But if I feel the need to grieve the loss of a life we have led for this long, I need to respect that she may also.
Everything happens for a reason. And the finding of this school was providential.
As for the Rosemary Johnson ladies, they can't get rid of my that easily. I plan to re-join their monthly book group in September.
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