Snow!!

We finally have snow! I for one could do without it. It is bitterly cold here and there is no end in when the snow is suppose to stop. It is not coming down heavy but enough to make me crazy! LOL We are suppose to have some major wind chill here in the next few days so I'm sure there could be some school closings.

Twink went and saw her developmental doctor last week. We touched on quite a few topics. I'll probably break them down into a few posts. She is right on target for many four year old preschool activities. Twink can write the * and the * in her name as well as point to each letter when asked. Still working on writing the rest. Twink is now drawing triangles, circles, rectangles, and squares when asked to. She also knows hearts and stars. Did I ever tell you she is obsessed with stars? She can point one out that is a mile away or as tiny as a piece of rice! :) She can draw a stick person with eyes, nose, a mouth that smiles or frowns, hair, and legs with feet. Her person looks a lot like Spitfire's stick person. She draws a house that has a roof and a door with a knob. :) She used to only sing Twinkle Twinkle, we are now starting to hear ABC's!! You don't know how happy this makes us! LOL Twinkle Twinkle was getting really old!

We are really starting to hear more words! The only person she calls by name is my FIL and she calls him Papa. Well that ended this week as I was working with her and she started calling me Momma! :) It is sweet music to my ears. School states that she is really coming along in getting her point across in getting her needs met. She has become more verbal there as well. I think we understand her better at home but that should be the case.

School did state that she is having a hard time staying focused. That does not surprise us. Children with CP are at greater risk for ADD/ADHD. We all feel there is no need to medicate at this time but know that she will probably need it at some point. We need to find some therapy to help strengthen her core muscles. She gets tired easy from sitting up and tends to lean on people or lay down. We will look into therapeutic horse back riding this spring. We have also decided against cast her left arm (good arm). It frustrates her but does give her a boost in her speech. With Evan coming home and the sign language starting, we just didn't think it would be a good idea. We are however going to do another round of botox in her affected arm and in the thumb area. This helps relax her arm so much that she actually uses it more.

I'll catch you up on the rest of the appointment later. I know it may seem I'm bragging a bit but she has come a long way! She is doing great! :)

Tomorrow's The BIG Day

Please keep Twink in your prayers tomorrow as I will be bringing her in for the constraint (casting) therapy of her dominant left arm and hand. This will force her to use her non-dominant right arm and hand. We have tried a modified version at home and it did not go over well. Besides screaming, crying and full body thrashing I'm not sure how long I could have handled that if I could not have taken the "modified " version off after so long. I guess we will find out. Her appointment is at 1pm.

We are praising the Lord as we have seen great improvements in her right side where she had the botox injections. Twink was using BOTH arms to push around a doll stroller today and she actually opened her hand on the right arm to help push the stroller at one point! Let me just remind you, this is the hand that is usually in a fist. I know this therapy will be hard for all of us at first but it will benefit her SO much in the long run.

These are our pray requests

-That the casting goes without any problems
-Twink's frustration is short lived
-For The Count and I to have patients for a child who can tantrum like no other ;)
-That Twink gains some new skills of her arm and hand

I know it will take more than one casting but I know she will gain from this. Thank you all for your support. Do not be surprised if it is a day or two before you hear from us again.

Landslide In Chuxiong

Please pray for the people in the city of Chuxiong Yunnan Province and surrounding areas. It seems there has been some heavy rain which has caused some mudslides. This is where Twink spent the first two years of her life. Her first family is there, her foster family is there as well as the orphanage staff and children. I have no idea how the foster family is or the orphanage. Hopefully I will here some thing more.

P.S. Twink's botox injections went well today. I also exchanged phone numbers with a mom in the waiting room of a little boy adopted from Korea who has CP and will be 3 yr. old next month! :)

Fun Days Ahead! (NOT)

We finally have a date set for Twink's botox injections. This will help relax the muscles that are tight in her right arm and right thumb. It is set for November 3rd and then on the 14th we are going to cast her unaffected arm or lack of a better term "good" arm. (I really don't like using good arm bad arm) This is in hopes to have Twink start using her right arm and hand more. She has actually started to use the arm more but not the hand. She is going to be very frustrated and very angry. If you could all keep us in your thoughts and prayers that would be great.

I was also able to schedule an appointment with the new neurologist. That visit won't happen until the end of December. Man, that seems so far away. I'm praying that everything goes smooth until we see them. It sounds like a very busy practice that attracts three different states! (YIKES) I know our state is in desperate need of good neurologists right now.

Twink's evaluation for the next step of EI is coming up. She will actually move out of EI and into the school system. That eval is next week with a CP group. I am excited about that because I am in hopes that maybe they can answer a few questions that I have. If they have an opening in one of the preschools then she will be placed in one of the five schools they have. It will be five days a week and five hours a day. She will receive therapy EVERYDAY!! This is something Twink is in need of. Her speech right now for an almost three year old is at 9-12 months. She is making improvements, slowly. Sigh

My next area of concern is does she fit in? I know she is a bit more *special* than some but let me tell you, she knows what your talking about. There are times she could careless what is going on around her and other times she def. wants in on the actions. She is frustrated when she can not get her point across or tell you what is going on. I've noticed we are not asked out on play dates which saddens me. Is it me or is it her or both. I fear things will only get worse as she gets older. I pray that this is just me being silly but it is a concern. I have an opportunity to talk to her teacher on Friday and will see how things are going in the class room. I am starting to catch a glimpse of what our future looks like with people on the outside world.

I want a bubble!

No need to respond to the last paragraph, it's more for me to get out my thoughts. Just an FYI, I am thinking of going private on the blog. If you'd like to continue reading please send me an e-mail so I have it in case I do.