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Our Year in Review for 2022

 Highlights:

  • Zachy’s expressive speech, independent skills, self-regulation, and swimming skills grew so much last year! Music therapy and swimming lessons were happily parts of his weekly routines.
  • Sophia lost several teeth (now up to 7) and excitedly got lots of visits from the tooth fairy. She’s grown so much in her confidence and skills in the water through swimming lessons and in her use of speaking (and listening to) Spanish at home. It’s been fun for her and Kate to share that.
  • Kate got a new job at UnitedHealth Care that is an answer to many prayers, a great fit and provides many blessings and benefits to her and our family. She discovered and has greatly enjoyed bullet journaling, writing poetry, creating various artistic pieces, and participating with a small group of women reading the book The Artist’s Rule. She’s learning about the monastic and artist’s way of lift and various contemplative practices that have been enriching, healing, surprising and helpful.
  • Louie is enjoying his retro video game hobby, friends and events and has continued having a successful side hustle flipping and selling items to provide additional fun and project money for him and our family.
  • Kate & Louie celebrated 16 years being married with a few days in Rochester. We were also able to celebrate a few of our friends getting married, including a long weekend trip to Wichita, KS.
  • Zachy and Kate joined the 5th graders from his school to a week-long trip (Mon-Fri) to Wolf Ridge Environmental Learning Center. Zachy successfully participated fully in all of the hikes, adventures and much of the class-based learning too. He surprised many with how much he was able to do, showed what a great leader he is and was resilient. Kate was encouraged and enjoyed seeing classmates and friends including, celebrating, enjoying him on throughout the week. This was an enriching and memory-making experience, indeed.
  • Louie and Sophia had a fun night out to dinner and the Children’s Theatre to see a bi-lingual (Spanish) play, while Kate and Zachy were out of town at Wolf Ridge. Kate and Sophia had a fun Mommy & Me bakery date before the trip too.
  • Huge progress was made in efforts towards finishing our basement! Lots of construction, new electrical and additional heating was added, as well as framing out a new full bathroom and enclosing the utility and storage area. We’re enjoying continual progress and being able to use the additional space.

 

Hard things we got through, together:

  • Louie’s time working at PCA ended, due to Covid-related decline in attendance for students and families
  • Kate had a really challenging start to the year (Nov. 2021-April 2022), with declining mental health and extreme changes with her prior role at UHG. We’re grateful she was able to take the month of May off to rest and begin the healing and recovery process. Her new therapist and psychiatrist were helpful additions to her support team.
  • Several therapy and other staff changes were tricky to navigate at the beginning of the school year for Zachy and us. The new team members are so wonderful, caring and committed to him, and continue to be open to collaboration and communicating about what’s working/what’s not at home and school (to provide as consistent of support for him as we can). We’re very thankful for their partnership, especially through the learning curves.
  • Kate was assessed and diagnosed with having ADHD – Inattentive this summer. It was bittersweet information to receive for her. Thankfully she found the right medication, support and treatment to help her manage the symptoms and have improved focus and overall health.

 

Hopes for the new year ahead

  • Having another full bathroom completed
  • Finishing the basement project (painting walls, having carpet laid, setting up our new family room)
  • Continued growth, development, well-being, and connectedness with ourselves, each other, God, and others
  • Being able to host more friend and family gatherings with the additional finished space
  • Learning and enjoying new winter activities for the kids, to add to things we can do together outside, like skiing and snowshoeing. Sophia also hopes to learn how to ice skate this winter.
  • Openness to how God might be working in and through us and those around us, with gratitude and grace

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