1/19/01
I like:
Watching football, listening to music on my portable CD player, listening to music on my boom box, riding the school bus, going to Preschool, playing with my friends, playing games on the computer, reading books, playing with my switch toys, reading books, snuggling with Mommy and Daddy and anyone else who likes to snuggle, being independent, watching my favorite TV shows and videos, watching "big boy" movies with Daddy, taking bubble baths, sleeping late, getting back rubs, riding in my van, etc.
My nurse, Sue, started me on football. She loves football and he two boys play for their schools. So one day she put on football to watch an important game while she was being my nurse, and I loved it! I love watching the guys run, get tackled and fall down! I get very excited! I am a Giants fan like my Grandpa Canosa and Uncle Bob.
I have always loved music. It makes me smile and feel good. I LOVE my CD player. I can listen to it and kind of tune out everyone else and be by myself and my music for a while. I love pop music the best. I love the Backstreet Boys, 'NSync, B B Mack, Aaron Carter, Brittney Spears, Christina Aguilera, and The Sugar Beats. I have quite a big collection of CDs! Mom and I wash up together on the weekends (during the week we have nursing in the mornings) and we listen to Casey Kasem's Top 40 and Rick Dees. I love when she sings to me. She is good about making up the words if she can't remember them. It's our special time together.
When I'm in my room, I have my boom box. I listen to our local pop station a lot. At nap time and night time I like to listen to my relaxation CDs. Lillian, who does my Jin Shin treatments, has let me try out a lot of her special CDs. The ones I really like she makes copies for me. They are kind of new age. They certainly relax me and prepare me for sleep. I also love to listen to Nicki Ard's CD, "Walk with Me." She has SMA type II. She has an incredibly beautiful voice. She was elected Miss Wheelchair USA for 2001.
In December I started going to Preschool at the local elementary school. I get to ride on the school bus sitting up in my wheelchair! When I ride in my van, I always have to lay down on the seat and use my EZ on vest. (Someday Dad will fix it so I can ride sitting up) I love being on the bus with the other kids. Three kids from my class ride with me. I sit in front behind the bus driver. I yell loudly if we have to stop at a light. I like to GO! I can see so much sitting up in my chair. It's a whole new experience for me. Mommy is kind of nervous, but she tries not to show it. When the bus pulls into the driveway, Mommy and my nurse bring me out. Sharon, the bus driver, puts the chair lift onto the ground. I get rolled up to it backwards. Then Sharon pushes a button and up goes my chair! Into the bus I go, all by myself! I just know Mommy wishes she could be on that lift with me, but I really do feel safe. When we get to school, I get to get off the bus first. My teachers and classmates are waiting for us. They all say, "Hi Casey, hi Casey!"
Preschool is so much fun! Right now I only go once a week, but maybe soon I can go 2 days. The classroom has lots of cool stuff to play with. Every week there are new art projects and activities. My favorite part is circle time. When we first get to class, we all sit around the circle together. I sit in my Tumbleforms chair so I can be at the same level as my friends. Jennifer, our teacher, leads us in singing songs. I love it even though I can't sing the words, I sure can make my happy noises! Mom or my nurse help me to make the song gestures and it is great! Jennifer also reads us a book in circle. Then she dismisses us to play. Sometimes my friends ask me to play with the and sometimes my teacher wants to do something special with me. I like to play house with my friends and do arts and crafts and play with the blocks. All to soon it is time to go. On the way home I get to go up and down on the bus lift again. Sometimes, when I first get home, I cry for a bit. I love school so much!