CHARGE get together

Sunday was a wonderful day. Our family drove to Seattle to spend some time with our CHARGE family here in WA state. We never have too little to chat about and there is always something new that our kiddos are doing. Most of all it is fun to see our kids progress every time we meet. We usually meet in the fall and spring to avoid crazy summer schedules and cold and flu season. Unfortunately a number of kiddos were under the weather and could not attend. However the two oldest CHARGE kiddos were there (they are both in Kindergarten, and headed for 1st grade next year). So it was a great opportunity to hear about their school experiences, and to see how they both are doing medically and how their communication is coming along.

We were so impressed with these two big kids! One of them has been off his feeding tube since he was two and has some hearing so his speach and ASL are pretty impresive. When I first met this boy he had just "graduated" from using a walker due to balance challenges. Now he and his BIG Brother are always running around, playing imaginitive games and just being boys!!!

The other girl is so neat for us to connect with because she is the big sister to two little siblings (like Maya will be). Her little sister is just 20 months younger and it is so fun to watch them interact and watch the younger one care so greatly for her big sister. The CHARGE girl has just made some HUGE progress this year in many areas. For a long time her heart kept her from being as active as she otherwise could be and since her heart surgery a few years ago she has learned to walk independently, started going to school, and this year has amazingly learned how to eat all of her food by mouth rather than needing to use her tube...how cool is that! The other amazing thing she is doing is communicating like crazy. She has a Cochlear Implant that allows her to hear, however verbal communication has been a challenge. She has been learning sign language this year, and it is amazing to watch her communicate...oh to see the day Maya can communicate like these two kids would just be amazing!

Both kids are also really healthy and do not have to be SO concerned with germs, though it is still a bit more challenging for them to get over a clod than the average kiddo. I am so blessed by these families and their beautiful children. I am reminded too at how special the siblings are as well. The care their siblings have for them is unbelievable...they also seem to be extremely compassionate children who are very protective of their CHARGEr sibling. Thanks families for being such an inspiration to our family. You are all so wonderful and I look forward to a gatheirng in the Fall. Hopefully more of our younger friends will be there too! I think by then, some of them will be walking!