Kinast Connection: The Rivers Ripple

12.26.2016

The Rivers Ripple

Time flies when you are having fun!

The Rivers had a full fall.
Olivia has been enjoying Kindergarten. She's learning something new every day! (although when asked, some days she did "nothing" at Kindergarten) Her right ankle has continued to heal through the fall and Olivia was able to start gymnastics back again in November. She does occassionally still roll it and we baby it for a few days. Both girls took swim lessons in October and November. Olivia got her first lap pool experience during this time and can swim 25 yards of front crawl and back crawl. She tried basketball last weekend, with a camp through the Maize South Girls Team. Most days you'll find Olivia completing her homework, creating something (art, game, etc), playing with Kinley, playing Animal Crossing, watching Wild Kratts, or playing outside.
Kinley has been attending preschool and enjoys it once she is there and in class. Kinley prefers to move slowly in the morning and have the opportunity to wake up and leisurely prepare for her day. She has been doing Starlets (parent/child preschool) with Sarah and Emily this fall on Mondays too. Wednesdays for Kinley include something new to us--dance. Kinley genuinely enjoys it and has asked to dance again in January (thankfully these classes are month to month and the instructor doesn't mind that Kinley prefers no tights and her hair down). Kinley loves to play Lalaloopsy's or whatever happens to be the theme of the day with Olivia. She also loves to color pictures. Kinley saw an allergist this fall and has been diagnosed with a milk allergy. She has done very well with the removal of all dairy from her diet (no more ice cream, cheese, butter, chocolate). Thankfully there are some alternatives to her favorites from the dairy list. Our most recent discovery was a hot chocolate recipe (vanilla almond milk and Enjoy Life Chocolate Chips--yum!).
Emily has made some nice gains this fall--sitting up is probably the most noticeable. She is also exploring her toys more, engaging in songs with movement, and etc. She had a sedated MRI on Nov 17, which went well. We were very nervous to have her sedated, but needed to check her ventricles in her brain. They are stable, but still measuring large so at this point we just watch and wait. She recently had some virus, but that was really the first time she's been sick--she's just had a couple of colds. Emily does therapy 2x/month, PAT once a month, and swimming 2x/month (if it works in our schedule). She's a cuddle bug, and still continues to be easy going. Hard to believe the next time we post, she will have celebrated her 1st birthday!
Sarah drives the Rivers Taxi Service van 5 days a week getting small children to their various schools and activities. She's been squeezing in a work out at the YMCA 2x/week with her friend. We've tried cycle, pilates, PiYo, and Barre classes. Bunco 1x/month was added this fall as a night out--the neighbor gals, along with others play Bunco. So far, she's been the biggest loser once (and came home with money)! She still participates in MOPS 2 nights a month and also helps out with Special Needs Support Group 1x/month. And that is plenty for now!
Dan has settled into working from home and we enjoy having him around during the day. We often see him around lunch time. Dan usually escapes the man cave to the Y over his lunch break. He's been playing with church band and working with another band in town that hopes to be playing some gigs in the new year. Dan ran the Say Grace 5K and also the Prairie Fire 1/2 Marathon this fall.
Brisco turned 10 years old in November and continues to be a spoiled dog. Since Dan has been home, if he is left completely alone there will be vengeance usually in the form of eaten small pieces, shredded toilet paper, or once a small scarf.
We hope you all had a wonderful Christmas celebration and wish you a great start to 2017!