Howdy from Louisiana!

This is your friend, Colbie Colbert, writing.  I'm the mama to three beautiful children:  six-year-old Kaitlyn Ashley,  seven-year-old Diamond, and almost-one year-old Granger Dalton.  I live in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

I am writing in here, with another update on my family, in particular, Kaitlyn Ashley, who has Down syndrome.

Kaitie continues to do well following her recent hospitalization/heart surgery.  She is just about healed and hasn't had any more problems (knock on wood; I pray this continues!).  It's the longest stretch of good health she's had for a while.  Her doctors are very pleased as to how well she is doing.

In the fall of 2010, Kaitie will start kindergarten:  more than likely, she'll be placed in the Special Needs class for kids with disabilities.  It will be an extension of the Early Intervention program she's gone to for the past five years, since she was a year old.  Hopefully she will continue to develop and/or do well in her schooling.

My other two kids (Granger and Diamond) continue to do great, too.  Granger is crawling everywhere, babbling up a storm:  we think he is getting ready to talk, but we're not sure yet.  We don't understand a word he says!  LOL   It's really cute to see him discovering the world around him.  As for Diamond, she is proving to be a gifted athlete, who excels at pee wee softball, gymnastics, and soccer.  She is incredibly talented.

As for me, now that the scary time of Kaitlyn's health is behind us (thank God!), I can concentrate on my schooling.  I am going to school part time to become a legal assistant.  When I am at school, my mother watches Kaitlyn, Granger, and Diamond.  When I'm not studying or doing homework, I am at home, taking care of the kiddos.  Life is very good right now; this is the happiest I have been in a very long time.

Well, Granger is crying (he must have awakened from his nap; put him down at eight), so I will get him up, change his diaper, and give him a bottle of apple juice; he is probably hungry.  I will also fix something for Kaitlyn; she is in the livingroom, watching "Sesame Street"; that's her favorite show.

I will write in here again another day; until then, this is Colbie signing off!  Take care and may God bless you always!

~Love, your Louisiana friend, Colbie Colbert.  :)