Emily has thrown in the towel on Gymnastics.

After a very long and painful battle with Osgood-Schlatter's Disease, approximately 8 months total on crutches, Emily has decided to end her gymnastics career and save what's left of her knees. This decision was not made lightly, and with much pain and tears.  Emily loves gymnastics, but sadly her body is growing too fast for her to keep going in the sport. It's a shame really, being in the gym is such a good thing for girls.

Now she'd like to pursue swimming!  So down to Sports Authority I go, credit card in hand.  New Speedo swimsuit, new goggles, gym bag.  She started out at the local swim club, only to have the building condemned within the first week of her training.  Sheesh! Back to the drawing board.

Everyone is suggesting diving for her, since she has a background in Gymnastics, but that's not what Emily wants to do.  She wants to swim laps.  Ok!  I am with her on this one.  I still picture Greg Louganis hitting his head on the springboard during competition.  OMG that was a parent's worst nightmare!  It's a wonder it didn't knock him out completely. No, I can't imagine Emily diving.  It was hard enough for me to watch her tumbling in Gymnastics. Coming back from a brain injury is no fun at all , this one I have first-hand experience with.

 So far we've not been able to get her involved in swimming, but I am still looking for a good fit. Maybe I can get her into dance if it's not too stressful on her knees.. we'll see.

Back at Gymnastika!

 After that horrendous knee injury, and over 4 months out of the gym and on crutches,  Emily's back with her friends over at Gymnastika!  I had her at Highland Hills and hoped she would want to stay there a little longer because it's not such a far drive, but the moment the doc released her, she begged to go back to Gay Lindsay's.  She loves her coach.  Even though the ortho doc hates girls in gymnastics, Emily has other ideas as to what she wants to do with herself.   Emily's  been working beam and bars and  working hard on conditioning.  It won't be long before she's back in competition form.

One month back in the gym, so far, so good

Well, Emily's been back in the gym for a full month, and still on very light duty.  She's lost her kip and desperate to get that back, she has not performed any tumbling on the floor yet and gets cleared from the doctor on December 7th.  We'll see how it goes. 

Meanwhile Emily has grown one inch, gained about 15 lbs and her shoe size has gone from a 2 to a size 4 children's, 5 ladies.  She's really growing fast, wider in the shoulders and a little taller but I fear if she doesn't grow soon, she'll be lucky if she makes it to 5 feet tall.  She takes after her Grandma June I fear.  Both her and Kerry Anne, her cousin are going to be the shrimps of the family.

Christmas is only 26 days away!  Happy holidays everyone!

2012 Olympics - Go Team USA!

Emily and I spent this morning searching for news on Team USA girls.  What a shock to find out that Jordyn Wieber did not qualify for the Individual All Around final.  More news at http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Olympics/2012/0729/Olympics-shocker-Jordyn-Wieber-US-all-around-gymnast-fails-to-qualify

Well, as Michael Phelps just discovered, 4th place is not where anyone wants to be.  My heart goes out to Jordyn, her coach and her family.  She's worked so hard, she's still the World Champion. 

We will continue to root for the ENTIRE US TEAM.  Personally I just love Ali Raisman's Floor routine and music, as for Gabby Douglas - she really can fly on the bars! It will always be a team effort and we'll be rooting for them to win gold!

Our men's favorite is John Orozco.  He's such a nice kid and has such great heart. We'll be cheering him on this evening.  Emily and I have decided that we're going to go watch the next summer Olympics in 2016.  Rio, here we come!

UPDATE ON EMILY'S STATUS
Emily's new skills are:
Kip, cast, handstand, three-in-a-row, on Uneven Bars
Front walkover, tik tok on the high beam, without a mat!
Emily's coach tells me that when she performs a twist, Emily knows exactly where her body is at all times while tumbling.  Emily's a pretty good tumbler I have to admit. The first time I saw her do a back layout, she took my breath away.  I was shocked at the air that she got. 

Saluting all Gym Moms...

Proctor and Gamble decided to make this series of videos, to acknowledge what we as moms go through daily to support our childrens' dreams and aspirations...

I just love this line from the below video "Olympians -  they weren't born that way, they're raised that way..."




For all of those naysayers that would like to believe that what we are doing, as the mother of a dedicated child in any disclipline is living vicariously through their child...

lets not forget ...the late night hand washing of the exhibition uniforms, the waking of the athlete, preparation of the morning meal, the early morning hair braiding, stocking the snack bag with healthy food to get her through another grueling practice... the checking of the school homework... the endless daily driving... to the gym, to the school, to the gym, back to home... and before transporting to each destination, making sure to prepare a healthy "in-transit" meal, carrying their exhausted body out of the car to bed at the end of a grueling day and asking your little champion after every practice "Did you have fun today?"




So to clarify - we as mothers dedicate ourselves to our children, fear for their safety, we are there to shore them up when they feel defeated, pray to God that we have the strength to continue in their quest whatever it may be, and cry with relief and pride that we are privileged to witness their shining moments ... no matter what path we end up being dragged down by our future medalist.  As mothers we will continue to do so as long as we live and breathe. We love them and are in awe of their accomplishments, drive and dedication.

Here's a great article  The Role of the Gymnastic Parent

Here's another great article http://voices.yahoo.com/what-takes-gymnastics-parent-537025.html

Gymnastika's Spring Fling

Yesterday Gymnastika put on their Spring Fling, which is a meet for the recreational kids to show off the skills that they've learned in this past session.  Emily and her team mates got the chance to show off their stuff performing an exhibition dance routine.





The optional girls really burned up the floor performing their dance routine to Bollywood Fusion.



While at this meet, a few of us started discussing organizing a new 501(c)3 to benefit local gymnasts. I love it when a plan comes together...

Happy Mother's Day to YOU, the Gym Rat's Mom

Happy Mother's Day to all of my friends that I've met over the years at different Gymnastics Clubs! Thank you USA Gymnastics and Proctor and Gamble for the following  video:

 

I also believe my daughter Emily will do great things after her days of competition are behind her. 

Right now Emily is training 26 hours a week at Gymnastika, in Arvada, CO, she loves every moment and is truly dedicated to her sport.  I ask her daily if she's still up for this schedule, and the answer is always the same "I love to compete, Mom!  I want to be Elite!"  So, as long as she makes the effort, I will be there to support her, but I often remind her there's a life outside the gym, that her schoolwork  and friendships outside of the gym are just as important.

Today I finally had a little time to watch my daughter's practice.  I had not watched a practice since January as my company's busy season kept me running ragged.  When I got there, a half an hour before practice was over, my daughter and her group (Level 6's and 7's) were on the floor practicing tumbling passes.  It was Emily's turn as I watched her complete her back handspring, back layout I was shocked at how much height she was able to get in her back layout on a spring floor, not on a trampoline.  She took my breath away.  It's moments like that one that keep us, the parents inspired to continue to support our children in this sport.  Emily, labeled a problem child with Asperger's Syndrome and ADHD, now channels her frustrations in tumbling passes, switch leaps and twists.  How she amazes and inspires me...

It takes an enormous amount of commitment - both time and resources - to support your gymnast in her goal of mastering this sport with no guarantee that she will make it to collegiate level, much less Elite status, but as parents we are there for our children because we love them and want the best for them.  We'll all be there to support our children no matter what in whatever they choose as their passion.

On a side note:
As we approach a new competition season, since I've been asked by several of my friends about Booster Club rules and regs, here is a great link to all things legal regarding Booster Clubs, what the Gym can, and can not force the parent to do. My best advice to you is to educate yourself and ask for documentation of proof that there is actually a legal organization that is bound by your State's Fundraising laws.  Any legal organization's documentation should be on file with your Secretary of State's office as well.

Word to the wise:  Booster Club Board of Directors are liable for any errors and omissions of legality and should be protected by Directors and Officers insurance policy to protect them against any "errors or omissions" in Booster Club acts and/or policies.  A Board Member can be sued personally for any mistakes made by the Club.

Please click here and educate yourself prior to committing your precious resources:

  Is this Booster Club Legal?

and  please check out The truth about Individual Fundraising Accounts

Saturday morning workouts and dance, is she up to it?

Last night was the Christmas dinner for the Gymnastika students.  It was so very nice, with great food, good company and great entertainment.  The Gymnastika girls performed Christmas dance routines and they all did such a wonderful job!  Emily seems to be fitting in rather well.  The atmosphere seems much more relaxed, something that I in particular needed. 

Our prayers go out to the DeYoung family.

When we were at a large gymnastics facility with more families/team members it seems that there's always someone talking smack about someone else and the rumor mill runs rampant.  There's always someone vying for top placement of their child. (The kid needs to do the work, girls. It ain't your ride.)   My kid wants to do this and it really helps keep her in check, that's the only reason why I pay for it, not to try to gain some upper-societal standing.  I could care less about things of that nature.  I can spot a manipulator at 25 paces, and those that wish to throw the fecal matter at the fan, soon realize that I possess a bigger fan and can cover a wider area with far less effort, so please don't ever threaten me, you'll just never know what side of the table I might be on when next we meet.   My most favorite movie quote of all time comes from the movie Fried Green Tomatoes http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0101921/quotes?qt=qt0443462  "Face it girls, I am older and have more insurance."


This morning, Emily balked at getting up and going. She wanted to stay home and sleep.  I think it's the transition to early morning practices.  So, I made her get up and go anyway.  In the car, on the way to the gym we stopped at McD's for breakfast.  As soon as she got a an Egg McMuffin into her, Emily started to look forward to getting in the gym.  By the time we got there she was jumping out of the car to run into class.  I sat there for a short while drinking my steaming hot McD coffee to watch  Emily's first dance class.  She's with the "big girls" now, and is picking up the choreography very quickly.  I sat back and watched for about 1/2 an hour,  now it's time for me to get crackin' on finishing up Christmas, so I'd better get a move on.

2:00 pm 
Well, must have been a good day.  By the time we got home, Emily was fast asleep in the back seat.  This just might work out rather well!  She's TIRED.  This kid's NEVER TIRED.   Maybe I can finally get her internal clock set to a more normalized time.

Today Emily was with the Level 7's and worked with both Alexei and Gay.  She worked on her front-hand-spring front-tuck, one handed back walkover, standing-front-handspring-stepout and her dance routine. So far it's been a good day...

15 Days Until State Championships

Well, Emily has another tough private today.  I know she's motivated, but she's really just frustrated.  I can't say as I blame her - I should have stepped in mid season and said something - but I really don't know that much about this sport. 

Emily is having trouble getting her kip back - and this is really not a good thing heading towards State.  The root cause?  My thought is she is not being properly conditioned to perform the bar and vault routines.  Svetlana and I realized yesterday that Emily can no longer perform one decent press handstand. Could it be that Emily grew and lost her center of gravity?  Sure, but had she been instructed to be more rigorous in her upper body strengthening, she would have easily overcome that growth spurt.  Emily has lost alot of her upper body strength.  Last night I put in a request to change her bar and vault coach for next season.  I am not sure it can be accomplished, but I'll give it my best shot.

I truly believe this is the best program in the Denver area for Emily.  I just hope my email of concerns to the gym owner last night is addressed.   It's not just my daughter that's having issues - it's pretty much the entire team.   This Level 5 team seems to be going backwards in their skill progression on Vault and Bars.  They're progressing on Beam and Floor, but losing points on bars and vault.  I reviewed last years' level 5 girls' State results and it's glaringly obvious at this point.  Two different coaches.  One for Beam and Floor, one for Bars and Vault. I trust that management will take a hard look at the issues I've mentioned in my last email and make changes.

Happy Thanksgiving Emmy Mae!

Thanksgiving 2011.  I give thanks for all of my blessings today.

Emily has been taking a few private lessons with her coach Svetlana Stabourova.  Emily would like to try to improve her Bars and Vault technique before the State Level 5 Championships in two weeks.

There was a coaching change at TIGAR mid-year.  Her old bar and vault coach Yevgen, left TIGAR due to issues unrelated to gymnastics. Losing Yevgen was a shock to Emily's mindset. She really misses him.   Mac Whitely started coaching the Level 5 girls in May and Emily has not been won over to Mac's coaching style and it shows in her vault and bar scores. 

I sit back and wonder if I am doing the right thing by Emily every day that I take her to the gym.  She loves gymnastics, she's got the perfectionist attitude.  She wants to win.  It's really all that's on her mind. I don't know much about this sport, but I do know what works for my child, and Svetlana knows how to get Emily past her difficulties where Mac doesn't seem to be having an impact.  One of the parents at the gym, who has a daughter that's not doing very well this season, stated to me that "not one child from this gym will ever make it to the Olympics or use these skills anywhere else".  I beg to differ.  I refuse to believe that statement.  I believe that there are at least 7 girls at this gym that have the drive and potential to get to the Elite level with the right coaching, as long as they don't mentally flame out or suffer a major injury.

I really feel that the discipline and drive to succeed instilled in this sport, can only benefit my child throughout her life.  When I was young I showed horses.  That was my passion as a kid.  It was alot of work and dedication.  It served me later in life and gave me the self-motivation and drive I needed to be able to survive this life on my own.  I don't want my girls to have the mindset that their husbands will take care of them financially - life doesn't always work out like that and you  have to survive somehow - will my girls have that ability?

I believe that all 7 of the girls mentioned before will be successful in their own right in whatever they choose to do because of the values of hard work instilled in them now, with gymnastics competition.  If Emily wasn't doing well and her school work was suffering, I don't know if I would continue to support her in this sport - but this kid's test scores are 1% of the nation academically. I am not bragging but stating a fact that this one's a freaking genius when it comes to school and it's very time consuming for the teachers to keep her challenged.  Gymnastics seems to only compliment Emily's day and make her much easier to deal with.  When there's a break in her routine, she becomes a little tyrant. I am still working on that one, not sure how to temper that without breaking the spirit in the process.

As a parent, this isn't my first rodeo - but... I still question every decision that I make with Emily. I questioned every move I made with Annie and every move I made with Kathleen.  Anne's 25 now, graduated from College and in a successful marketing career and engaged to be married next June.  I want to believe that I instilled self-confidence in my girls by supporting them in their efforts. 

With Annie's theatre and singing though, there was a point when I sat down and gave her a reality check. In our heart-to-heart I pointed out that less than 1 percent of the population would ever be famous for their acting or singing talent.  I told her she needed skills to survive this life and that she should pursue a passion that would allow her success in this life,  I was lucky.  Annie is a pretty smart cookie and understood clearly what I was saying.  She chose technical journalism.  Annie is a fabulous writer.  I am glad she chose that route. She also still pursues her passion, in community theatre, but it isn't a main source of income.

With Kathleen (19)  I tried to instill the importance of her pursuing her own passion and not allowing others push her into a direction of their choosing.  There's been alot of parental interference with Kathleen's dad.  If I say white, he'll accuse me of saying black.  It's been a difficult road with Kathleen due to parental polarization and alot of negative energy that I can finally put behind me since she's turned 19.  Kathleen seems to be doing just fine now that she's her own person and can make alot of her own choices. Her dad still tries to control her, but she's 50% me too, so I have faith my headstrong nature resides in her.  Kat's still a bit unsure of what she wants to pursue as a career.   I will continue to support her emotionally as much as she will allow.

With Emily... well this is a difficult one.  In my heart I want to believe that this child is the one in 1%.  She's as smart as a whip, and determined to win it all.  If anybody can do it, I truly believe that this one will never stop reaching for her goals.   Emily is much more work emotionally than either Annie or Kathleen.  She's a handful and a half.  I never know if I am actually getting through to her.  She's got both Kevin and my headstrongness.  She's got her dad's charm and she has his same ability to get under your skin as he did. You'll either love her or she'll drive you nuts. 

I just pray she stays healthy in mind and body and doesn't get beat down by what life can throw at you.  I pray I can financially figure out how to get this kid to her goal as long as she's willing to continue the dedication of working at it every day.  I pray that she performs well at the Level 5 Championships and I pray that I am making the right choices by this child. I pray that she goes into this State Meet with the confidence and ability to grab her brass ring.  I am not willing to have a pessimistic attitude when it comes to Emily's future.  I believe this child has what it takes in this sport.  I will continue on this track with Emily and pray for her continued successes.  Annie, Kathleen and Emily are my legacy upon this earth and they have always made me proud.  I love my girls and thank God every day that he allowed me to guide these three beautiful young ladies through the first part of their life journey.  I just hope they don't hold it against me when they pick my nursing home!

Harvest Time!

It's October in Colorado and we're still seeing 80 degree days.  Global warming at it's worst.  Yesterday Emily and I went to the pumpkin patch north of Broomfield, CO.  It was a fun time.

Emily picking pumpkins

When we were done with the pumpkin picking, just before you get ready to leave there, they have a petting zoo, face painting, and a hay bale maze.  So of course, Emily just had to go there...

practicing her scale....

 After being sick on Friday, she had too much time off from practice and just HAD to do a few gymnastics moves... I don't understand this need to perform but then again I just looked at Nastia Liukin's photos from England
http://www.visitbritain.com/en/US/Britain-Bound-Nastia-Liukin-Day-One.htm
and I got emotional which really surprised me... it was like watching Emily... they're all someone's little girl and the drive which all the really determined gymnasts seem to have is evident when they can't hold back and have to bust a move anywhere...!

...always a gymnast!

This Saturday is National Gymnastics Day!

TIGAR Gymnastics will be doing their part to help with the Guinness Book of World Records for most people doing a handstand at once!

This ought to be fun. I will be serving hot dogs. I can't do a handstand, I am far too old.

Hope to see many faces there this weekend. We're fundraising for Children's Hospital!

CGI Winterfest 2011

Looks like the TIGARS are a force to be reckoned with after all. Today the level 4, 5's and 6 girls went on to win the team award with a team total of over 111 points.

Emily turned to me on the way down to the meet and told me that she was going to break her old all around record and would earn over 37 points in all 4 events. So I thought and said to her "It's your last meet of the season, I'm proud of you no matter what you get today." I feared that she might be putting too much on her own plate, but...

Here's her scores:
Vault 9.1, Bars 9.1, Beam 9.625 and Floor 9.425 for a total all around score of 37.15! She did exactly as she set out to do.

Emily won the all around for Level 4. She placed 3rd on vault, 4th on bars, 1st on beam and 1st on floor.

Our little TIGARS battled it out for the podium. Hot on Emily's trail was Noelle Hart with an all around score of 37.1 followed by Kate Bain with an all around score of 37.05 and Joselyn Pulido in 5th place. Four out of five podium positions filled by TIGARS. Almost a sweep. Pretty good for a team that's only been together since June 2010! We can't wait until next year. This past season has been an adventure.

It's been a great season for Emily all in all.
This season's standings:

Premier Gymnastics 2010 Showdown Loveland, CO 9/26/2010 Level 4 Sr. Vault 9.300 Bars 8.750 Beam 9.000 Floor 9.300 All Around 36.350

Adrenalyn Gymnastics Rocktoberfest Centennial, CO 10/2/2010 Level 4 Sr. Vault 9.050 Bars 8.500 Beam 8.500 Floor 9.050 All Around 35.100

Encore Gymnastics Fall Fiesta Littleton, CO 10/9/2010 Level 4 Sr. Vault 9.100 Bars 9.100 Beam 7.800 Floor 9.450 All Around 35.450

CGI Autumn Classic Aurora, CO 10/24/2010 Level 4 Senior
Vault 9.200 Bars 8.250 Beam 8.600 Floor 8.500 All Around 34.550

Airborne Classic Longmont, CO 11/12/2010 Level 4 Senior
Vault 9.300 Bars 9.150 Beam 9.075 Floor 9.100 All Around 36.625

Colorado State Championships Denver, CO 12/12/2010 Level4 Junior 1 Vault 9.150 Bars 9.125 Beam 9.375 Floor 9.150 All Around 36.800

Vitaly Scherbo Invitational Las Vegas, NV 1/14/2011 Level4 Senior Vault 9.050 Bars 9.275 Beam 9.425 Floor 9.100 All Around 36.850

Pike's Peak Cup Colorado Springs, CO 2/4/2011 Level 4 Senior
Vault 9.200 Bars 9.200 Beam 9.000 Floor 9.000 All Around 36.400

CGI Winterfest Classic Denver, CO 2/18/2011 Level 4
Vault 9.050 Bars 9.050 Beam 9.625 Floor 9.425 All Around 37.150


Emily's worked hard and achieved all of the goals she's set before her. I am very proud of her and her team mates.

Emily's wins this season include 34 medals, 4th place at State on Beam and two all around titles. All of this from the girl that another gym said that she'd never be able to focus due to her Asperger's issues. Thank God Svetlana decided to leave that gym and move over to TIGAR so that Emily and her buddies could continue to benefit from her coaching skills.

On to Level 5. Emily has learned her kip and is more than happy to retire the "shoot through" a skill she will more than likely never need again in her gymnastics career. Time to break in the grips. Competition season is only 6 months away!

Vitaly Scherbo Invitational - worth the trip!

Well we're home, back in Denver.  The Vitaly Scherbo invitational was a grand success for the newly minted TIGAR girls team.  Level 4, Level 5 and Level 6 teams all placed 3rd.  We started our trip at DIA and met up with two other team members, Gigi and Tess who flew in on the same flight that we did.  It was a great start to a fun event. 

Kate Bain took home the All-Around in Level 4 Division B.  Kate's had a fabulous season. Emily took home the all-around in Level 4 Division D with an All Around score of 36.85 and the team trophy with the highest Level 4 scores. Noelle finished first on Floor.  Our Level 4 TIGARS have blasted onto the scene!

 Emily's individual scores for the Vitaly Scherbo Invitational:
Vault - 9.05 (3rd Place),   Floor - 9.1 (5th Place), Uneven  Bars - 9.275 (1st Place) , 
Balance Beam - 9.425 (1st Place).  All Around = 36.85 (1st Place)

This meet was held at the YMCA in North Las Vegas and was organized brilliantly.  Two gymnasiums were used.  One strictly for competition, and one strictly for the awards ceremony.   All of the events went off on time.  The competitors were not stressed in any way and from my viewpoint, all of the kids seemed to be relaxed and enjoyed themselves.

Grandpa was present, since he lives one exit down from the Y, and he thoroughly enjoyed watching the events. It was great to have him there!  Emily had to nap for two hours before she had to go out and perform.  She was not well, running a fever at noon, I gave her two Tylenol and she slept until it was competition time.   Megan Jackson was ill that evening after the meet and Kate succumbed to the crud the next day, so I wouldn't be surprised if this virus spreads through the entire team by week end.  Keep well little Tigars...

Merry Christmas! Another fee is due.

Medal display rack, courtesy my sister Jean.

Yes, sometimes you look at the situation and grit your teeth so as not get too frustrated.  Two days ago I went to the front desk of my daughter's gym and asked "Am I paid up for all of the upcoming meets, or should I anticipate any other fees?"  My answer was "No, you're good."  I took that as yes, I was finally on top of things...   NOT!!!!

No sooner did I rest, thinking I was able to go out and purchase Christmas gifts.... then last night I received an email.... "$115.00 in additional fees for the Coach's transportation to the (out of State meet)  are due before January 1st."

Well, ain't that just a wake up call!   This is a new gymnastics studio.  I understand that they are still in a learning curve, but...  I can't be the only parent in this situation - there is no way on earth that I'm going to be able to come up with that amount in such a short time without sacrificing either food or utilities...  so I wrote the gym back, begging for mercy, and a payment plan.

 So far this month I've forked out:

$190.00 for Level 4 training tuition    -  went to Gym
$110.00 for the State Meet this weekend for Coaches fees   - paid thru Gym
$125.00 for private lessons - paid directly to Coach
$ 30.00  for State Championship wearables - paid through Gym  (didn't HAVE to do this.. but then my daughter would feel left out...)
$   5.00 my fee to get into the State Championships to watch my daughter's performance.
(watching my daughter compete... absolutely priceless!)

and it's only the 9th of the month...

In all fairness, I doubt seriously that the Gym owner is making a huge profit, most of the money goes to paying the staff, facility costs and overhead expense.

It does appear that the Coaches live a lot better than we do - but then again these people live at the gym and rarely spend quality time with their own families and I know my daughter's coach has a child  a little younger than my daughter's age. Every weekend during the competition season (which is usually 9 months out of the year) the coaches give all of their time either in  private lessons, or teaching a class or attending a meet with their team.

What Svetlana's done for Emily is worth far more to me than the money I am spending... The ADHD/Asperger's meds ran over $200 a month and Emily was slowly becoming dependent on synthetic mood altering preparations.  It's an expensive sport, but... my daughter's behavioral issues are all but gone at this point and there's no need for medication.  We have three more exhibition meets after the State Championship! I just hope my pocketbook will hold out.

There seems to be no help for the weary.  Well, God willing,  I can continue to have her in this sport, as she has already proven that she's a contender, I know that sooner or later she'll get sponsorships and some of the financial weight will come off of me, but until then I keep my fingers crossed and pray for a way to keep this all together. Wish me luck!

One week before USAG Colorado Level 4 State Championships

I feel like I am starting this blog at the end, but really it's a beginning.  This was Emily's first year of competition in the world of Gymnastics and it proved to be pretty exciting so far. 

Emily has been diagnosed since birth with a myriad of disorders... sensory integration dysfunction, Asperger's Syndrome, ADHD.  I don't particularly believe that any of them fit her, I do believe that medical and school professionals like to place labels on kids that have no creative outlet for their energy. It seems to me that some kids just need more exercize than others.

Emily is extremely bright, but can frustrate easily and is a drama queen beyond compare. She needs a release for all of her pent up energy and gymnastics became the drug to control her ADHD without medication. She's no longer taking any medication for her 'disorder'. She takes gymnastics. It seems to be working better than any drug has so far.                      

Emily is currently 9 years old (almost 10) and a level 4 gymnast as of this posting.  She is attending TIGAR gymnastics in Wheat Ridge, Colorado.  Emily started in recreational gymnastics at the age of 3 at the urging of one of my friends who had kids already in the sport.  I took her out of it when she was 4 due to financial difficulties.  Being a single parent, competitive sports are financially draining. When things got better for me, I put her in Steven Oliver's Mile High Karate at the age of 5.  This proved to be a big mistake. 

Emily, a true competitor, was quite good at Karate - so much so that she got the taste for trophies and kicking butt... leading her to hold the title in my family as the only child (not just girl) to be placed in detention in FIRST GRADE.  I had to figure something out to do with this kid to get her under control.  Second grade bullies learned valuable life long lessons about picking on first graders that competed the Karate circuit.  I put Emily back in recreational gymnastics at the age of 7.

Emily's Level 4 season so far has been alot of fun to watch.  I know very little about this sport. I couldn't tell you at this point the names of the moves that she performs, but I can tell you that Noelle, her team mate who is younger, has many more girls competing against her in the junior group and is up against some pretty tough talent. Noelle is such a work horse.  She and Emily share private practices with their coach Svetlana. It just amazes me how all of these children can commit everything they have to reach their goals at such a young age.  The third of this little group is Megan.  She's struggling to keep up with Emily and Noelle, and she did qualify for the State Championships in the last meet.  Megan's the underdog and we're all rooting for her to do well at State. She's a fighter and the tiniest of the three.  I can't imagine this little group without her. 

It's been a long road from training to competition and these little ones have worked so very hard.  I wish them all the best of luck.

Here's a list of Emily's  individual results this year prior to the State Championships:

Premier Gymnastics  2010 Showdown Level 4 Senior results  9/25/10

Vault   9.300   (tied for 3rd)
Bars    8.750   (11th place)
Beam  9.000   (5th place)
Floor   9.300   (tied for 1st)
All Around 36.350  (3rd place overall)
Emily qualified for State at this first meet.  It was a great start for her.





Adrenaline Gymnastics - AGA 2010 Rocktoberfest Level 4 Senior Results 10/2/10 

Vault   9.050 (5th place)

Bars    8.500 (11th place)

Beam  8.500 (9th place)

Floor  9.050  (4th place)

All Around 35.100 (5th place overall)

Emily wasn't happy with 5th overall.  She learned that she was going to have to work harder to get where she wanted to be. She still qualified for State with the all around scores.

Encore Gymnastics - Encore Fall Feista Level 4 Senior 10/9/10

Vault   9.100

Bars    9.100

Beam  7.800

Floor   9.450

All Around  35.450 (boy I'm lax here, need the printout..)

Emily was first on Floor exercise, being at the top of the podium really made her day.

CGI Gymnastics - Autumn Classic - 11/13/10
Vault  9.200
Bars   8.250
Beam 8.600
Floor  8.500
All Around 34.55 (another one I need the printout for)
This was Emily's worst meet yet.  She was emotional and cried throughout every event. (I had her on her ADHD meds for this meet... I've since eliminated them completely)

Airborne Gymnastics - Airborne Classic - 11/12/10

Vault   9.300

Bars    9.150

Beam  9.075

Floor   9.100

All Around 36.625

This was Emily's best meet and the last one of the season prior to State Championships.

Good luck Emmy Mae! I am so proud of your commitment to this sport.  Love Mom