Santa

Wednesday was a great day! We went with Sierra's class to see Santa. It was not the seeing Santa that was so great about it though. It was the interactions Sierra had that were so great! We first saw Santa and then went for a stroll around the mall. I ran into an old friend who I introduced to Sierra. Now...most of the time when I run into an old friend and introduce them to Sierra and then try to explain her difference to them I get and "oh" and then they move on. Well this friend automatically turned his attention from me and to Sierra. He was just great with her. I hated that we had to move on. Then in the Food Court while eating lunch Sierra saw 4 of her teenage friends from cheering. These are the kids on the typical squads. Some are buddies and some are not but they all came to our table where we were sitting with Sierra's class, teacher and aides and made her get up to talk to them and give her hugs. It was so great. I am telling you....Cheering is the best thing we ever did for her! The socialization she is getting with the community can not be beat. Her teacher, friends and aides were so impressed with these kids.

Then as we were sitting later waiting to leave a young mother with a tiny baby stopped to talk to us. It turns out that her little girl has Down Syndrome. The mother is clearly still distraught over the diagnosis of her precious baby. She had no idea during her pregnacy that her baby had DS and her husband is still absolutely reeling from the news. We just talked for a while about Sierra and her daughter . I just shared with her how Sierra has changed our lives for the better and told her....."You don't know it yet but this little girl is a gift and the best thing that ever happened to you and your husband and her siblings. I think she felt much better after we talked. She has a long road ahead but I am certain that we brightened her day! Sierra's teacher commented that there was a reason we were sitting there at that moment and she is right. Then on the way out of the mall we ran into my friend again. He went out of his way to come around and tell Sierra goodbye. It just warmed my heart that he was so natural with her.

The day was topped of with Sydney's Christmas pageant at school. It was soooo cute! Sydney was an angel and did such a great job! She is the angel in front on the far left.

It was just a day where everything seemed right with the world!!!

Cheerleading Rocks!!!

Things have been quiet around the Lane household lately but Sierra did have a Major cheerleading competion last weekend in Destin, Fl and we had to brag! She is such an awesome cheerleader and gets better every week! Mom thinks that she has to hover behind her throughout the entire competition process but Sierra actually would do just fine without her. Her Buddy, Ryan is awesome and Sierra is totally in love with him! He just about walks on water. He is the young man just behind her in most of the pictures.

Sierra does have a couple of more competions coming up. Birmingham on January 11, New Orleans on March 14-15 and a final one of the season back home in Pensacola on March 28.

I also wanted to share a couple of pictures of Sierra and her favorite things! One is her hammock swing in her room and the other is her bar chair that spins wonderfully! These have been her Christmas presents the past two years. The sensory input she gets from them is invaluable to her and to us! If she is a little out of sorts just being pointed in the direction of one of these for some spinning or swinging does the trick...

Hope everyone has a Very Merry Christmas!

The Lanes

Too much going on!!!

The past two months have been very busy ones for Sierra! Between Cheerleading and Miracle League Sierra stays busy all weekend EVERY weekend!

Sierra turned 11 on September 21. She had her birthday at her favorite restaurant....a Japanese steakhouse with Habachi tables. She get so tickled with the cooks and their antics.

During October, however, we have been constantly on the go.

Sierra has had games every Saturday and Cheer practice or exhibitions every Sunday.

Nothing like your kids social life keeping you on your toes!

This past Saturday Sierra had her first cheerleading competition in the morning in Mobile, AL...and hour from home. She was excellent! It doesn't hurt that her buddy is a teenage boy who she is completely in love with! She also received a medal for her performance. Dad video taped the whole thing and as soon as mom figures out how to download from camera to computer we'll get them posted.

We then raced back to Pensacola for her last Miracle League game after which she had an awards ceremony. We called her our little overacheiver that day for getting 2 medals in one day!

Earlier in the month the county fair came to town! We spent 8 hours one afternoon trying to ride as many rides as we could. Sierra and her sister had a blast! (and I must admit mom and dad did too!)

We also went to the pumpkin patch, picked out a couple of pumpkins and carved them. As usual Sierra loved digging out the gross insides of the pumpkin with her sis and best friend Jacquie.

Halloween was fun too! Sierra and her sister were both Cowgirls, mom was a pirate and dad was the executioner(don't ask! that's what you get for waiting till the last minute on a costume) Dad took Sierra to a party on Friday night since she decided last year that she has outgrown trick or treating while mom took Sydney trick or treating. We all went to a party and cousin Ryleigh's house on Saturday night!

Whew....There must be more but I think this will do for now! We'll try to write more often!

The Lanes

Introduction

Hello! Welcome to our blog......We have never done anything like this before so please bare with us!

Sierra is almost 11 and her little sis is Sydney is just barely 3 and full of fire!

Sierra has a neuro-genetic disorder called Angelman Sydrome. If you want to learn more about AS...(and I hope you do) please go to http://www.angelman.org/

The Lane house has had a pretty uneventful summer! Mom is soooo happy that School is back in swing on Monday. Sierra is in desperate need of her regular schedule to return. She has become very fond of purposefully agitating her little sis! Boredom is not a good thing!

Sierra has been busy with a new activity this summer. Cheerleading! This has become her obsession. She has cheerleading practice every Sunday at the Flip Factory in Pensacola. They just recently introduced a special needs squad. Mom was worried that she would not enjoy Cheering but as all moms want to live their lives vicarously through their children she decided it would be a great idea! Boy was it ever. Sierra is constantly doing her cheer at home and asking for help with it from mommy. Her little Sis Sydney has learned the cheer and loves to help too. Sierra has a huge crush on an older cheerleader on her squad named Ronnie. He must be at least 8 years older but he loves Sierra too and is the first one to volunteer to catch her in the basket toss! Last weekend brought the first exhibition for the squad at a Health Festival. Sierra did not even need her buddy! She did her cheer right in line with her teammates and was amazing! We are so proud and mom can't believe how much she underestimated Sierra. In November we will begin traveling with the other squads for competitions. We are so excited but also worried about how that will interfere with Miracle League. Another activity that is tops for Sierra. We will make the best of it and continue to participate in both!

Sierra also had a hair cut last week! She has always had her hair cut at home by daddy. This time she had a professional cut for back to school. Once the hairdresser handed her the water spray bottle we were good to go....go figure! Of course Mom and Dad were soaked but Sierra's hair (a good 9 inches shorter) is cuter than ever and much easier to manage! At least now we know the secret to an easy cut!

You'll hear more from us soon! Once school starts we will have lots to report!

The Lane's