The annual holiday shopping trip with Kayla usually lasts about 15 minutes. It entails running into two shops and getting a gift for her father and one for her sister. This is always well planned out; we have a gift already in mind and ask her to make few decisions. This year we decided to set the bar a little higher and add one extra gift, dinner, and ice-cream. The adaptive stroller was a must, and Kayla was fixated on having it packed in the car. We created a lot of social stories prior to our departure in regard to how many people would be out, where we would be eating, and how many stores we would visit. So off we went with Kayla looking a little anxious. Kayla was in awe of the beauty of Church street and how all the lights shined. Dinner went off without a hitch. Shopping was another story, but we managed to go to three stores, quickly pick out items, and enjoy the outside. The highlight was a big ice-cream from Ben … [Read more...]
Danform Shoes
We took another trip to Danform Shoes to purchase winter boots! Unfortunately, as Kayla gets bigger, so do the braces she wears on her legs. Trying to find a winter boot that we can jam the braces into has always been a problem. Last year we finally ditched the idea of getting the braces into a boot and looked for a boot that offers a lot of support around the ankles. Katie, one of the women who works at Danform, found a great Merrell boot last year that allowed Kayla to go outside and enjoy the snow without rolling her ankles. Merrell no longer makes that boot so the employees at Danform did a little research and found some great Keen boots that offer Kayla sufficient support. We had the best visit we have ever had for shoe fitting. Kayla got her foot measured, tried on two pairs of boots, chit-chatted with the staff, followed directions, and actually smiled! Of course that was after she picked out a pair of beautiful … [Read more...]
Hair Cutting without Tears
Kayla has been seeing the same hairdresser, Sara Jean, for over 3 years now. Cutting Kayla’s hair requires A LOT of patience because she hates to have her head touched, brushed, or washed. We have gradually progressed over the years from lightly spraying water on her head and cutting quickly to making her head really damp and taking a little more time to cut. A miracle happened a few months ago when Kayla agreed to have her hair washed! A second miracle happened this afternoon when I walked Kayla into the salon and she stayed with Sara Jean by herself. I came back 15 minutes later and Kayla's hair was washed and she was sitting upright in the chair as Sara Jean was cutting away! This was just a miracle in my eyes and three years in the making. The Sequoia Salon (http://www.sequoiasalon.com/) on Kilburn Street is the best place to bring a child who needs a calm, peaceful environment to get their hair cut. All the staff are … [Read more...]
A Moment with Mike
Kayla loves to watch hockey. The last two weeks she has spent hours at the UVM rink watching the women’s team warm up and play their games. One of the many highlights of spending time at the UVM ice rink is riding the Zamboni. Kayla has become very social with all of the men that help keep the ice clean, especially Mike. He has gone out of his way to get her on and off the Zamboni, without having her miss the routine of giving high fives to the women as they go out on the ice. As a parent, it has been incredible to watch the transformation of Kayla as she has participated in Team Impact (http://www.goteamimpact.org/) over the last three months. Her social skills, confidence level, and independence have flourished. The relationships that she has developed with the players, spectators, and staff at the rink bring out the best in her. Although the UVM women’s team is struggling to win games right now, in Kayla’s eyes they are … [Read more...]
Incredible Art
Another place Kayla and I stopped on Pine Street was AO Glass Works, where the doors were open, 80’s music was playing, and glass making was in progress. The friendly staff invited us up to the shop to watch glass blowing. Kayla was in awe of the entire process. We stood there for over 20 minutes watching the multiple steps and artistic ability of the AO staff. For more information about this amazing place visit http://www.aoglass.com … [Read more...]