Uncle Brian Does it Again!

Alli, Brian and Laura

Uncle Brian (my brother) and his wife Laura
have become quite the advocates for Neavey's
visual stimulation. Over the last year and
a half they have been contributing
to her "Sensory Theatre"with some
great sensory solutions to enhance
her visual attention.

Many of you have seen or read about her Laser Star
projector which is still a favorite not just for Neavey,
but for us as well. For Neavey's 10th birthday,
Brian sent a Space Projector that casts a lava
lamp-like effect on to any flat surface. Just pop
in an oil effect wheel and watch the bubbly goo go!

The latest installment intensifies the effect of the
Space Projector. The pod Neavey is lying in
brings the bubbles within inches.
Visually stimulating indeed! The pod pops
open and folds down like one of those dashboard
sun visors. Easy, breezy fun time.

Thanks little brother! We love you guys!

November

Bundled up and waiting for the zoo to open.

The highlight of November was Neavey's Class Field Trip to the Houston Zoo. The goats in the petting zoo were the only animals Neavey paid much attention to...

Group photo, and random girl walking by.

Neavey was very perky in the Gift Shop! Must be my kid?

Mid- November: Neavey is supposed to be in her standing frame about 45 minutes two times a day. She used to mostly put her head down on a pillow. Lately, we are seeing a little more energy She is holding her trunk and head up very well. We think this is the benefit from her new vitamin D regiment.

Turkey Day!

Hi, Aunt Di!

The tickle progression

Neavey, pretending to ignore the tickling.

But wait, maybe she'll succumb to the giggles....

And...Di has achieved full on TICKLE TORTURE!

Keith's Aunt Di came to visit in October. She loves Neavey to pieces and Neavey really enjoyed all the attention. It was so nice to have Di come hang out with us. We enjoy sharing Neavey with anyone who can find the time to visit. Book your spring and summer visits now!

New Feeding Smock

One of Neavey's honorary grandmothers, Linda, made this feeding smock from some sketches, an old smock about 10 times smaller and some materials I sent plus some from her own stash. It is working out great. Now we only need about 10 more.

Excercising with Keith

Cool Capri's

Neavey's gaining strength back after the swine flu.

Huge accomplishment here for Neavey to sustain this position with only a mild assist.

Home Again - Home Again

Heading home on Saturday - Goodbyes to nurses

Saturday night set up with suction machine that my mom( the airway pro and RN supreme) helped me acquire. And Oh did the hospital bed that Mr. Jason gave Neavey years ago come in handy.

Monday - Not ready for school yet, but happy with balloons (from one of the publishers that Keith works with) that had met us at home upon our return.

H1N1 Crisis

Night 4 - still on O2

No rest for the weary! Physical therapy started for Neavey on day 3. This is day 6. She was starting to perk up a bit

TCH provided a standing frame as well as a therapist while she was in hospital.

asleep in standing frame

Day 6 - acting more like herself with Keith.

September 11th Neavey's rapid flu culture came back positive. We will never really know if she in fact had the swine flu because Harris county had stopped differentiating between the flu strands after a month of 95% of the follow up testing coming back positive for H1N1. We were told to assume it was H1N1 and to proceed with caution.

Because Neavey cannot clear her own secretions very well if at all when she is sick, we were forced to take her to TCH's ER the next morning, She was admitted and spent 7 mostly hellish nights on the Neuro. Floor. Thank goodness for awesome night shift nurses who don't freak out over seizures (you'd be surprised how many nurses do) and rock out the at upper airway suctioning. Thank you Michelle! Neavey started acting a little like herself around day 4 or 5 but continued to: run high fever every other night, need oxygen, and need upper airway suctioning. Alas, she did get to come home one week after being admitted and has hung in there since then. Keith and I survived only with the help of great nurses and friends. Thanks to all of you who made us meals, brought supplies to TCH and provided rides to and fro.

July Rocked!

June was definitely a warm up for July. Neavey kept up her perky-ful tempo!

Neavey has a knack for the camera. By knack, I mean the moment the camera goes on she immediately stops doing the cool, great thing that prompted filming. Curses!

Le Bleu water bottles make the best shaker toys! They have a perfect narrow neck that Neavey can grasp. I've only been able to find this water at Specs.

Last Christmas my mom, brother (Justin) and his partner (Amy), Keith and I filled many bottles with bric-a-brac and assorted rattley bits for Neavey. They are the perfect handheld toy for her.

Sitting with Keith

June was an energetic month.

Other May Moments

Bubble time is a fun weekend event. We have Neavey's former occupational therapist, Sue, to thank for this fabulous birthday gift.

Neavey during office hours. Neavey sits in a tumble form chair with a tumble form tray and pushes her blinking, vibrating and music playing (the trifecta of therapy toys!) therapy button toy.

Keith mastered the art of a half ponytail!

Grandpa Larry and Barbara sent this therapy tool. The blue snake vibrates and can be manipulated into different shapes and postitions for muscle stimulation.

Sometimes Neavey is just sooooo cute she can't help herself. And the big drippy drool just adds to the cute? I just brought her home from school here. She is hangin' out with me for a few minutes while I put away her lunch kit things.

Last session with Jennifer

In May Neavey's speech pathologist of the last few years moved to England. Yay for her...Booo and hiss for us. We will miss her!

Neavey's 10th Birthday party

Hippity Hoppity Eastery Time

This year's Easter theme for Neavey was SUNGLASSES! She took sunglasses to her classmates in her Multiple Impairment

classroom. She also took Moeller's cupcakes to her teachers!


The Easter Bunny brought her these cool Ronnie Milsap inspired shades. Why Shades? Well, we have learned as the season is slowly changing down here in Tejas (yes, we do have more than one season. Although one season is called "hot humid swamp" and the other is called "it's sunny outside and we won't broil if we go out for a few minutes") that Neavey's new special needs swing set, the one set in 200 pounds of concrete, is positioned so that she gets blasted with intense rays during our prime swinging times. These "Barbie" brand UVA/UVB shades are doing a great job.

And, who doesn't love Ronnie Milsap, Barbie and Neavey??? If you didn't already check out the Ronnie Milsap video, WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR? It's Pure Neavey!