Prebble Family Tales

After much preparation, anticipation (on Gareth’s part) and trepidation (on Mommy’s part), Gareth started school at Easter Seals on January 4. <%popup(20050107-goingin.jpg|640|462|Going in )%> | <%popup(20050107-mail.jpg|640|441|Gareth's mailbox and coat hook)%>

He was just a little clingy at first (he wanted to hold my hand for about the first half hour!) but then he settled right in and had a great time. I watched from the hallway for about an hour before I could leave!

Gareth used his Mercury to talk to his classmates at circle time, he painted the sun after a lesson on day and night (they are studying Space during January), he played with toys, and he went for a walk with his class while holding a little girl’s hand. I think he’s going to enjoy this whole school thing! <%popup(20050107-painting.jpg|640|425|Painting the sun)%>

Gareth will attend school three times a week: Tuesday and Thursday mornings from 9-11:45 and Wednesday afternoons from 12:45-3:45. He has two fantastic teachers, Miss Kathleen and Miss Heather, and his new therapists seem terrific. A nurse will go to school with him each day to suction him and to help him whenever he needs a little extra assistance with activities. We are very impressed with Easter Seals and think Gareth is going to have a great school experience. We’ll keep you updated with all of his new school adventures.

This Christmas was the absolute best one with Gareth yet! Gareth was such a great age to enjoy the festivities. He was completely enthralled by Santa, we couldn’t sing enough Christmas songs, he was entranced by the tree, and he thought the whole present thing was a blast! We started the season with an early visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus at the Keystone offices (where Gareth’s therapists work.) <%popup(20050107-santakeystone.jpg|640|426|Mr. and Mrs. Claus with Gareth)%> We bought a real tree for a change this year and Gareth spent many an evening sitting in the recliner gazing at the tree. <%popup(20050107-tree.jpg|464|640|O Christmas Tree)%>

On Christmas Eve, Gareth got a special visit from Santa at Grandma’s house. Gareth’s eyes were as big as saucers when Santa (who is a good friend of Pop-Pop’s) came through the front door! <%popup(20050107-santapop.jpg|640|491|Santa and Gareth)%> Santa gave Gareth a special Christmas Elmo for a Christmas Eve treat and a Polar Express bell to ring each year to say that he believes in Santa. <%popup(20050107-elmoelf.jpg|383|640|An early present)%> Gareth loved his visit with Santa so much that he cried and cried when Santa had to leave to get the reindeer ready for the big night. When we got home for the night, Gareth put out cookies and milk for Santa and then pretended to sleep so that Santa would come!

The next morning Gareth was so excited to see that not only did Santa leave presents but he also left a letter for Gareth thanking him for the cookies. <%popup(20050107-letter.jpg|640|470|Daddy reads Santa's letter)%> In typical fashion, Gareth was very spoiled this Christmas. He got tons of great presents and he enjoyed spending lots of time with his family. <%popup(20050107-rody.jpg|640|500|Riding Rody)%> | <%popup(20050107-soccer.jpg|640|502|Playing with his new soccer ball)%> | <%popup(20050107-swars.jpg|640|361|Having a lightsaber duel with Daddy)%> | <%popup(20050107-pappyandgar.jpg|640|440|Enjoying time with Pappy)%> | <%popup(20050107-keeganandgard.jpg|640|514|Hanging out with Keegan)%>

Travis was off for two weeks over the holidays, so we enjoyed having lots of time together. We ventured out one morning for bowling. Gareth was able to sit in his tiger chair and to push the ball off of the ramp. He loved bowling and we can’t wait to take him again! <%popup(20050107-bowling.jpg|640|391|Bowling)%>

Gareth had a subdued, and not always fun, third birthday. He had a rash all over his body caused by his stomach irritation for the first of his parties this year and he had a seizure on his actual birthday. All of those presents perked up his mood, though, and he quite enjoyed ripping into everything this year. <%popup(20050107-checkitout.jpg|640|432|Checking out the paper)%> | <%popup(20050107-card.jpg|640|411|Very interested in the Elmo card)%> | <%popup(20050107-drum.jpg|580|588|Drumming with Daddy)%> | <%popup(20050107-geottrax.jpg|640|413|Excited about train parts)%> | <%popup(20050107-candles.jpg|640|388|A little help from Keegan with the cake)%> | <%popup(20050107-xwing.jpg|508|640|You can never have enough Star Wars toys in this house! )%>

Gareth kept me quite busy during November/early December. We spent a big bulk of time getting things ready for Gareth to start school in January. We had several meetings with Gareth’s team of teachers and therapists, did practice days at school, and got equipment and his speech systems ready for the big transition. When we weren’t dealing with school stuff, we were dealing with health stuff. Gareth’s stomach button is still leaking a ton and despite an unscheduled endoscopy and dilation procedure in December, his belly is still causing him a lot of pain. Hopefully we’ll get that straightened out soon! Poor guy. On top of that, Gareth has decided to further act like his Daddy by starting to have seizures. He’s had four now, one the first week of each month since September. He is on seizure medication, but the seizures continue to occur. We see a neurologist in early February and we’re hoping to get more information then.

We did have time for some fun during these months; life wasn’t just stress, school, and doctors. Gareth and I spent lots of time just playing during November and December (I guess I wanted to just relax and enjoy our last full weeks home together before preschool!) During one of our fun afternoons of play, Gareth hammed for the camera with his baby. He loves to feed his baby, change its diaper, and play with it. Here he is kissing his baby… <%popup(20050107-baby.jpg|640|429|Smooches! )%>

Some exciting news…Gareth’s work with Janice Light from PSU is being featured in a book and is featured on the Internet. Check it out at http://www.ncddr.org/du/success2004/index.html Scroll down about 12 stories on the page to read “Gareth’s Story”