Santa Claus is Coming to Town!

Life sure is good when you are Living Leffew!  

We have so many blessings to be thankful for this holiday season!

We wish you the Merriest Christmas and the Happiest New Year!!

The Leffews

Todd, Kim and Laik

My Testimony for the GPS December Christian Life Program

Untitled from Kim Leffew on Vimeo.

On Thursday morning, I had the honor of sharing my story with the entire student body at GPS. Being able to open up to an audience of 600+ was not the easiest thing to do, but I was very pleased to do it. Each of these girls may choose motherhood in their future, and if one, just one, has a child with a disability or disorder, I hope that they remember my story. But most of all, I hope they realize it will be ok. God will provide the strength needed. I am very blessed to work at an institution that has open ears and hearts to hear my testimony.

To my students, colleagues, and friends....thank you! I am truly blessed to share your presence each day!

My cup runneth over!

Happy Christmas Season!
Kim

Mark 11:24...We all need to believe as this verse tells us we should!

Jingle Around!

We are just a "jingle" away from being a boy on the move!  

Happy December!

1st Day of School

Laik entered the world of "school" today.  And like every mother before me, I am sad, but very happy.  Todd and I toured the Siskin Children's Institute the Monday prior to Thanksgiving.  We agreed that it was the perfect place for Laik to be.  Luckily, a spot was available for us to attend two days a week.  (and we found out, we will get a third day beginning in January)  Just yesterday on November 30, we had our meeting with the TEIS team and the Siskin team to set new goals for Laik while attending the Institute.  And today, December 1, 2011 was Laik's official first day!  What a way to begin such a special holiday month.  We have so much to celebrate this holiday season!  The journey is just starting...

After several stops and an intense search for an "art smock" I was finished with the "Supply List" for his class.  We labeled all our goods, double checked that we had everything, and packed the bag.  Oh, and chose the "first day" clothes, and we were ready to go.

Laik was up at 6:30 am this morning, it was as if he knew he had to get up early today.

We arrive, yes, all three of us, and enter the butterfly gate to the main entrance! Siskin has such a beautiful area for the children to play.  (Weather permitting, the children go out twice a day.) 

 Daddy and Laik are at it again, the big first day is an event to be documented.

Down the hall and checking everything out!  And there is plenty to see.  

Here is his classroom door.  I did get teary eyed when I saw the ornament (purple) with Laik's name!

In the classroom, meeting Laik's new friends!

Ms. Amber, Laik's teacher.  How long will it be before he has her wrapped around his little finger, too??

The classroom view, Ms. Mary, our classroom Foster Grandmother, is in the rocker waiting on her babies to arrive for the day!  

A view from the other side of the room.  (Look at "security" checking out the new friends and teacher!)

Friends playing and making the "new kid" feel welcome.

Is that an Alligator Xylophone??  Oh, Laik is going to be just fine....possibly his favorite toy!

The two of us having our "serious" conversation about the day ahead!  ;o)

And then, I left.....I made it to the parking lot exit before the waterworks turned on!  I just left my baby with complete strangers!  The feeling I had when I left him in the NICU was just the same....he is supposed to be with me!  But then I returned at 3 pm and found this precious boy in the swing!

He was smiling and laughing, all the while with his hair blowing in the wind!  And in different clothes....he introduced Ms. Chris to some of his "fountain" potty skills during a diaper change!

Laik and Ms. Chris.  Looks like he might be trying to swoon her with an apology about the diaper.

And then, it was time to go back inside.  This might have been my favorite thing to see!  He and his friends look like they were at an amusement park on a ride.  Their "ByeBye Buggy" was the cutest site to see!  I am unable to share all of my pictures, out of respect for other families, but it was so dang cute!

Look at them!  He does look like the big boy on the top row!!!

Back in the car and headed home to tell Daddy all about the great day!

Overall, two big claps....which in Laik's world means.....I LIKE IT!!!  GIVE ME MORE AND DO IT AGAIN!

His daily report included, THE diaper event, a breakfast of cornflakes with milk, a lunch with tacos and black beans, a  nap of 3 hours (not unusual for the new kid adjusting to the schedule), PT and meeting 10 new friends!  

We are going to like this....we go back next Tuesday!  

Thankful House Full!

Thanksgiving is such a special time to spend with family and friends.  This year, Todd and I welcomed my mother's side of the family for dinner!  And the house was filled with great food and laughter!  To be exact there were 45 of us this evening, but I wouldn't trade it for anything!  

My most precious two, Todd and Laik!

People were spread out everywhere to eat!

And the line begins!

The kitchen table crowd!

Todd and Laik, who looks like he is getting ready to enter a sweet potato coma!

More eating!

I love this crowd!

This picture really doesn't show just how many cars were in the driveway...

One more of the smiling boy...

Now, these are the people that continually support us.....Todd, Laik and I are very thankful for each and everyone that entered the doors this evening!  These are the folks that make our journey joyful!

Happy Thanksgiving!

New Territory!

I quit reading the "what to expect the first year" book when Laik was about 2 months old.  So, I do not know exactly when an infant is truly expected to self feed.  But today, Laik did it!  This afternoon was the big day....put a check beside MILESTONE MET!  We have been working on this for a while.  He has done it before, though by accident....slobbery hand + dry puff = stuck to hand!  Needless to say, Todd and I are very proud of Laik.  Upon sending the picture to close friends and therapists....one replied, "Food is the way to his skills!"  I could not agree more.  The Leffew family is all about tasty treats as motivators!  So, celebrate with us and enjoy a cheese puff!

More Good News:

Several weeks back, Todd and I agreed that it was time to pursue getting Laik into a center based program.  I sought out advice from a few close friends and professionals too.  We were all in agreement, it was time.  Laik has progressed and he has been doing great, he just isn't too motivated to move!  We think that being around other children his age, non-typically and typically developing, will ignite a spark in our boy to get him moving.

After a few phone calls and lots of prayers, Laik was approved for two days a week at Siskin Children's Institute.  He hasn't started yet, but we should know very soon when he will begin.  Todd and I are a bit anxious for his start at Siskin for multiple reasons.

• This will be Laik's first time in childcare outside of our home.
• We will have to say goodbye to our current EI, PT, OT and FS....all of whom we LOVE!!!
• We will be meeting Laik's new therapists and teachers....
• We will be getting ALL 3 of US showered, dressed, packed and out the door by 7:30 am daily!!  (This could be the most difficult of our MY concerns!?!?!) 

It is going to be a new experience for us, but it is certain to be an adventure!  Because Living Leffew is always just a bit different from the norm!  Join us in the laughter, tears, celebrations and blessings to come! And please, add us to your prayer list, especially those of you that pray each morning!  :o)

Halloween Bubble Bath

I realized the other day that it has been a long while since I have posted!  Sorry about that!  Things are going on around here and we are busy.  Laik is doing great! The toes are healed and Laik is wearing shoes much more now! :o) He is babbling A LOT!  Such a great noise to my ears, he often uses  babababa, mamamama!, hahahaha, and an occasional daadaadaadaa!!  He has finally started rolling more and he is eating more and more table foods (smashed) but we are still working on self feeding!  Things are constantly improving and that makes me oh-so-very-happy!  And we are looking to begin attending Siskin's Childrens Institute at least 2 days a week.  (You prayer warriors out there:  add that to your list, please!)  

But what is going on today!  It's Halloween!  Todd and I knew that neither of us was capable of carrying Laik all over the neighborhood to trick-or-treat, so I used the Radio Flyer as our very own bubble bath tub!  A little foam board and some balloons, plus a rubber duck, a bath tray, Laik's robe, and shower cap and WHA-LA....we had a Halloween costume that was going to be easy on the back!

 And we are off to the first house we go!

 He wasn't too sure of the shower cap, but he was a trooper.  I did have to adjust it numerous times to keep him happy.  And we had to have a few toys too!

 I'm not sure that it gets much cuter than this baby!  I couldn't stop smiling when I looked at him!

 About half way through our planned route, Laik fell asleep.

  OR did Addie the Witch cast a spell on him?????  

 It was a fun night for all, but Laik knew it was past his bedtime!

 Pulling in to finish our evening of Trick-or-Treating~

 Are we back yet?  I think I see him sneaking a peak.....he knew a bottle was at the end of the trail!

Needless to say, once again, we had a great Halloween.  Last year, Laik was a Bunch of Grapes.  This year, he had his very own Bubble Bath on Wheels.  Who knows what our next Halloween costume will be?!?!?!?  But what I do know, Halloween is more fun as an adult parent than it ever was as a kid!  I hope your night was full of TREATS too!  

Happy Halloween!...Now, there's a bubble bath waiting....

The Toes...Part 2

Surgery day has come and gone and boy has it been an experience!  I have to say, I was very anxious all day the Monday prior to surgery.  I didn't sleep well that night and having to rise early on Tuesday morning to be at the hospital made for a tired, long day for all of us.  Todd and I were ready to leave the house by 5 am for Laik's 6 am arrival to Children's.  Laik was also up and in a very playful mood!  This excited me and made me sad all at the same time.  My precious had ZERO idea of what his daddy and I had signed him up to do!  (well, have done to him)  But in the end, I know his procedure will be worth it....so I am told.....I hope the doctors and therapists are right on this one!  I'm sure it was a good thing!

We arrive at the hospital, check-in, meet with all the key players to be involved with Laik's surgery, and then the anesthesiologist arrives....let the sleepy time begin.  All things are a go and he is wheeled on his gurney to the operating room.  Then two and a half hours later, this is how we see him when Todd and I go to the recovery room!  We had both a feeling of relief and a moment of laughter when we first saw him.  There he was with his feet wrapped in lime green Coband and an IV in his arm sleeping.  Not to mention, the "spray tan" of betadine on his legs!

Laik's surgery included "chiseling" down the bone of the metatarsal of the big toe of each foot.  He has stitches on the inside and glue, plus steri-strips, on the outside.  His feet were wrapped with protective gauze and Coband.  Todd affectionately named the wraps "boots" and we were able to remove the wraps on day 5 following surgery.  Also, during the procedure, Laik also had a skin biopsy (a piece of skin 4 mm in diameter was taken from his right hip area) and a blood sample taken to send to The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia for a study being conducted by Dr. Ian Krantz (Molecular Analysis of Pallister Killian Syndrome.)  Once being notified that Laik qualified as a patient in the study, Todd and I decided to submit his medical records and the samples.  In our opinion this study is just a small step in understanding and knowing more about Trisomy 12p.  We know there is no cure for Laik's chromosomal disorder. But if there is anything we can do to help research the disorder, we are willing to do so, as long as it is not invasive or potentially harmful to Laik.   The purpose of the study is to understand how having extra copies of the 12p chromosome region leads to structural birth defects and cognitive delays  AND to identify the critical gene(s) that lead to the physical features associated with the diagnosis.

As you can see, Laik was back to himself within 24 hours.  He was back on his play mat in the floor banging away on his toys!  There is not much that slows this boy down.  

On day 3, I entered the nursery to find Laik with his feet propped up on the side of his bed.  I was concerned about bumping his feet and he was just rolling around as usual!

Finally, we arrive to day 5:  Remove the wraps and bath day!  I anticipated seeing what was under the wraps and I was excited about being able to give him a bath!  Five days of no baths with Sir Sweats A Lot = Smelly Boy!  I think he was excited too!

Slowly, I begin to unwrap to see what is underneath....

This site of blood worried me a little, but I expected to see some....

And finally, we see the steri-strips and the bruises!  I did tear up and cry a little!  

All along, Laik watched as if he was wondering, "why is Mommy taking off my cool green boots?!?!"

I just had to add this picture.  He looks like, "WOW....are those my toes!?!?"

Poor little toes,  we hope to see them straighten within a year.  Dr. Moses told us it is a wait and see game to see how the bone reacts.  

The next series of pictures are from one week post-op. Steri-strip free, bruised and as close to betadine free as can be!

Todd and Laik were playing on the bed and I could not resist this toes curled opportunity.  See the bruises on the bottom of his feet too!?!?

A bottom and a top view give you an image of the space between his toes.  The left foot is the worst, but the incision looks the best!  

OBVIOUSLY, his feet are not bothering him too much.  He continues to grab and play with his toes and feet.  

Look at the hold he has on his big toe!  

Yes, he, the gummy grinned boy below had surgery just one week ago on both of his feet!  And don't let me forget to tell you, the gummy grin has gained ANOTHER tooth!  So, Laik now has TEETH!

Laik is recovering very well.  We have had a few long nights due to the teething process.  He continues to do well with his therapies and each day his personality is developing.  Everyday we continue to wake to sweet sounds through the monitor.  It is a sound that fills our home with happiness!  As we continue on our journey, I will keep you up to date on all things Laik!

Most of all, thanks to each of you for the continued daily prayers for Laik!  

 He brings joy to Todd and me like nothing we have ever known before!