Tuesday, December 31, 2013

Are You Tired, Austyn ?


Yesterday towards the end of the afternoon I was in the downstairs playroom. I will often pop in to spend some time with the kids before heading home- they’re irresistible! Austyn came over to say ‘Hi’ and have a cuddle. However, before long he was snuggled in my arms and seemed to be drifting off to sleep!


Its not surprising that Austyn gets tired from time to time, he has a busy schedule each day. He comes to therapy three times a day and attends pre-school for several hours in the afternoon as well as doing strengthening exercises with his nanny- that’s enough to tire anyone out! We make sure he doesn’t get too tired though, and he is making great progress each week.


This week during O.T. sessions Austyn has been learning to turn pages in books- he likes large, colourful ones with plenty of pictures! Austyn turns page after page and will look with interest at the different things on each page. He also loves to bounce on the therapy balls, and is very ticklish under his chin! Therefore, both of these things also happen during therapy sessions, and Austyn can often be heard giggling away or singing to background music in the room. 


Austyn is getting bigger too! He has quickly outgrown the first chair he had during pre-school, and so needed something bigger and better; we think he looks rather royal in his new chair- what do you think?



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This post was written by our Occupational Therapist, Jenny

Monday, December 30, 2013

O Taste and See...

Talley's facial expressions when sampling cake have to be seen to be believed.


 






 Want more pictures of kids enjoying birthday cake ?  Check out the scrapbook.



Sunday, December 29, 2013

Brendan's Christmas

Brendan's urological surgery was scheduled for December 18th, just two days before our Christmas party! It was one of those surgeries where little boys must be still and calm for over a week, and Brendan is a very active little guy who loves to play. But he survived the ten days in the hospital and when he came home on Friday, he received his reward in full!






There was a pile of presents just waiting for Brendan in the playroom, and he sure did have a great time opening them up and modeling all of his new gear.











Seriously, can you guys stand just how adorable Brendan is? He's really a gentle boy with a kind spirit... but like any nearly-two-year-old boy, he sure can go! 

Merry Christmas, Brendan! We hope that this is the last Christmas that you have to spend without your forever family. 
Saturday, December 28, 2013

NDSouth: Wordless Saturday: Charlie's First Christmas










Friday, December 27, 2013

Staff Spotlight: Gan Lu

Have you ever taken a peek at our website?

Do you enjoy flipping through the latest scrapbooks? Reading up on the kids from their bios?

Do you love seeing pictures of the babies?





If you answered, "yes" to any of the above, then you need to meet someone. Someone very, very special, amazing, and gorgeous.

Gan Lu.


You can read a bit about Gan Lu on her bio on the website, but I want to tell you a bit more about this amazing person.



Gan Lu spends her days taking pictures of the kids, translating, taking pictures, uploading pictures, importing pictures, editing pictures, printing pictures, cutting pictures, preparing sponsor cards, choosing photos for sponsor updates, taking photos for sponsor cards, playing with children, taking pictures of children, translating text for the website, writing text for the website, writing web-code on the website, updating the website, taking pictures of the children, and much, much, much more!

In short? Gan Lu takes the pictures that you see here, on facebook, and on the website! And she's amazing!


While you may think that "oh, Gan Lu takes pictures and plays with adorable kids all of the time, she has the best job ever. I'm so envious" and those feelings are perfectly earned and natural, Gan Lu is SO. MUCH. MORE. than just a photographer. 

Her work is what connects you to New Day.

Without Gan Lu? No... let's not even try to imagine New Day (or the world, for that matter) without Gan Lu. 

During the Christmas party last week, especially, Gan Lu played a huge role. She knew where everything went, which present was for who, and how to manage the photography of nearly 50 sugar-cookie-giddy and wiggly children. It worked. Did you see all of the pictures? (Gan Lu sorted over 400 out of nearly 15000 pictures for you to see!) It was a special treat for all of us to see Gan Lu with arms full of her own presents. She sure deserves them!


We love you, Gan Lu! Thanks for being a piece of New Day's backbone... it's no wonder the kids all know and love you - you are amazing!

Thursday, December 26, 2013

NDSouth: Christmas in the South

Merry Christmas from New Day South! Nothing is much cuter than adorable children in Santa hats. 

Fisher is celebrating a lot this year. He has been matched with his forever family and will be leaving to join them sometime next year!


Is Charlotte beautiful or what?


Gorgeous Sally.


Sadie loves modeling her hat.


Leila was a bit goofy with her hat.


Merry Christmas! We hope this season of hope is filled with love, joy, family, and friends. Thank you for all of your love and support of New Day South Foster Home!
Wednesday, December 25, 2013

Away in a Manger