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Showing posts with label Sign Language. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sign Language. Show all posts
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Who's The Boss?
Twink signing to Spitfire "Stop"!
If you answered either Spitfire or Twink than you must know that these two little girls are making us crazy lately! They both think they are the boss of the house. Between the tattling, yelling and face making we need to keep them separated. Only problem with that is they look forward to playing with each other when they get home from school. Spitfire is the culprit for most of the problems, as she like to be the instigator. Boy does she know how to get under Bebos skin!
Apparently Miss Twink thinks she is the boss at school as well! I received a note home stating that her speech is exploding. Not only that she is bossing her teacher around and tattling on the other children. I'm sure they think it's cute but we don't. I'm going to have to make sure they do not continue to allow either behavior.
We really can't put our finger on when Twinks language took off but she is really talking up a storm. She is talking in sentences and we can usually understand what she is saying. We saw three different older children that we had not seen since last fall and when they heard her talk they were shocked. The first thing they said is, "She can talk now?" Can you imagine how proud I was to say yes! :) We're loving it but holy smokes this child can yell momma for a long while!
Friday, May 21, 2010
Deaf NOT Dumb
Pictures are from last week when Bebo received his new Phonak hearing aids. Pictures pretty much speak for themselves.
This is how China labels some of their deaf children in the waiting children program. It is not acceptable as these children are not dumb!
When people find out that Bebo is deaf I get that "Oh" and a long pause. Up until recently you would not have known he had any hearing issues. Now with his hearing aides, it is a little bit more obvious. I've had a wild array of comments from the moment he arrived. Anywhere from does he read your lips (this just coming home from China) to questions of his intelligence. Why do people automatically think he has intellectual impairment?
What I'm also find is that people like to go to the extremes! They approach him and then talk really slowly to him stretching their mouth out making it difficult to lip read. He tries his hardest to repeat the word back. It is not going to sound anything like what the person is trying to get him to say. The sounds that he makes is Ba, occasionally Ma and some sounds that come from his throat. You know, like humming. He is not a mute. People are surprised that he makes noise. I think this is one of the most common misinformed pieces of information of deaf people. If they are not doing that they will shout - distorting their lip patterns, again this makes it difficult to lip read. He is deaf you know, not stupid so just talk normally or just a little bit slower. Not too slow as this makes YOU look really silly. Don't be afraid to tap him on the shoulder to get his attention, it’s OK and helps. Waving is mighty handy as well. Yelling at him from behind does not work even with his new hearing aids in. Just because he has those in does not mean he knows what he hears. Every sounds he hears is brand new and he can not distinguish what is what.
Bebo has done well with simple gestures. That is all China taught him the whole 7 yrs he was there. OK, they found out we were coming so they scrambled and taught him a few "signs". He is signing more and more thanks to his amazing school and the signs that we've taught him at home.
Think about the last time you used the word "dumb". you used it to describe something stupid, clumsy, or foolish, right? A century ago, this term was in common use. Nobody thought twice about its propriety. It's outmoded now, and insultingly inaccurate. We're aware that this term is still used in England to describe someone who is deaf, but that doesn't say much for the discernment of those who persist in using it. As for the correct term, why not simply say "deaf"?
"Mute" prefers to someone who cannot talk, that is, produce intelli-gible speech, or someone who has malfunctioning or missing vocal cords. "Mutism" is a medical or psychological condition_the inability or refusal to produce sounds. Virtually all deaf person are physically and psychologically normal in this area. They have vocal cords and voices, just as the vast majority of hearing people do. This also applies to deaf people who prefer to communicate exclusively in sign language. Their vocal apparatus is perfectly normal. But, being deaf, they cannot hear themselves talk, and thus, cannot easily modulate their voices. Consider: If you were born deaf or became deaf as an infant and have never heard yourself talk, it's extremely difficult to talk clearly, with normal intonation. So signing is the natural mode of communication for many deaf people; speaking can never be. A few deaf people have good clear articulation better than some hearing people but most don't. It's a matter of personal preference, deciding what we feel most comfortable with.
We dislike these terms because they now convey a negative attitude. "Deaf and dumb" does not connote pride or wholeness. It conjures a pitiful, pathetic, dull-witted image, with a hint of subnormal intelligence. "Deaf-Mute" suggests that a deaf person is doomed to a life of silence, without speech, without hope. We've run into these terms repeatedly, and we find them annoying, inaccurate, and insulting.
Hope this information helps. :)
So Excited!
Surprised by sound
Pleased!
This is how China labels some of their deaf children in the waiting children program. It is not acceptable as these children are not dumb!
When people find out that Bebo is deaf I get that "Oh" and a long pause. Up until recently you would not have known he had any hearing issues. Now with his hearing aides, it is a little bit more obvious. I've had a wild array of comments from the moment he arrived. Anywhere from does he read your lips (this just coming home from China) to questions of his intelligence. Why do people automatically think he has intellectual impairment?
What I'm also find is that people like to go to the extremes! They approach him and then talk really slowly to him stretching their mouth out making it difficult to lip read. He tries his hardest to repeat the word back. It is not going to sound anything like what the person is trying to get him to say. The sounds that he makes is Ba, occasionally Ma and some sounds that come from his throat. You know, like humming. He is not a mute. People are surprised that he makes noise. I think this is one of the most common misinformed pieces of information of deaf people. If they are not doing that they will shout - distorting their lip patterns, again this makes it difficult to lip read. He is deaf you know, not stupid so just talk normally or just a little bit slower. Not too slow as this makes YOU look really silly. Don't be afraid to tap him on the shoulder to get his attention, it’s OK and helps. Waving is mighty handy as well. Yelling at him from behind does not work even with his new hearing aids in. Just because he has those in does not mean he knows what he hears. Every sounds he hears is brand new and he can not distinguish what is what.
Bebo has done well with simple gestures. That is all China taught him the whole 7 yrs he was there. OK, they found out we were coming so they scrambled and taught him a few "signs". He is signing more and more thanks to his amazing school and the signs that we've taught him at home.
Quote:
"For Hearing People Only" (Third Edition) by Matthew S Moore and Linda Levitan. With a foreward by Harlan Lane. Both are Deaf so forth, Linda is Latened Deaf. Think about the last time you used the word "dumb". you used it to describe something stupid, clumsy, or foolish, right? A century ago, this term was in common use. Nobody thought twice about its propriety. It's outmoded now, and insultingly inaccurate. We're aware that this term is still used in England to describe someone who is deaf, but that doesn't say much for the discernment of those who persist in using it. As for the correct term, why not simply say "deaf"?
"Mute" prefers to someone who cannot talk, that is, produce intelli-gible speech, or someone who has malfunctioning or missing vocal cords. "Mutism" is a medical or psychological condition_the inability or refusal to produce sounds. Virtually all deaf person are physically and psychologically normal in this area. They have vocal cords and voices, just as the vast majority of hearing people do. This also applies to deaf people who prefer to communicate exclusively in sign language. Their vocal apparatus is perfectly normal. But, being deaf, they cannot hear themselves talk, and thus, cannot easily modulate their voices. Consider: If you were born deaf or became deaf as an infant and have never heard yourself talk, it's extremely difficult to talk clearly, with normal intonation. So signing is the natural mode of communication for many deaf people; speaking can never be. A few deaf people have good clear articulation better than some hearing people but most don't. It's a matter of personal preference, deciding what we feel most comfortable with.
We dislike these terms because they now convey a negative attitude. "Deaf and dumb" does not connote pride or wholeness. It conjures a pitiful, pathetic, dull-witted image, with a hint of subnormal intelligence. "Deaf-Mute" suggests that a deaf person is doomed to a life of silence, without speech, without hope. We've run into these terms repeatedly, and we find them annoying, inaccurate, and insulting.
Hope this information helps. :)
Friday, April 30, 2010
My Heart Broke Yesterday!
Yesterday I went to pick up Bebo from school. I am always early so that he does not have to wait and wonder where I am. I was early and waiting in my van when I noticed some of the little children had come out. I decided I would get out of the van and go in and wait.
That's when it happened. I saw the two boys from his class exiting the building and coming down the stairs. "Mr. Excited" came up to me and started signing as fast as he could. He was pointing to the building, lookedmad concerned and then the only sign I could understand was the very last one, "good". I know he was talking about Bebo but I have no idea what he signed. :( All I could do was nod. :( My heart shattered into a million pieces. I want so bad to communicate with the children and the adults but my sign level and confident level is no where near what I'd like. If only the college didn't double the price of their ASL classes because we were are out of that county.
Bebo was waiting for me inside and was very excited to see me. I think it was good for him to have to wait for me so that he understood that I would come for him. Last night we were looking over his photo book and when he reached our old family picture he points to himself like he always does and questions where he is. We are slackers and have not had a new one that includes him done yet. Soon though I promise! It is evident it is important to him. Then he see the picture of our house and and a smile starts on his face. It becomes SO big that he opens his mouth and a little squeal is released. He threw his arms around me and was just so excited! I'm not sure where this all came from because we've looked at this book a number of times but he saw it in a whole new light.
We finished his bedtime routine. The Count and I tuck him in at separate times for a little one on one. I covered him up signed good night, see you later, and I love you. Fixed his blankets and that's when he usually pulls the blankets up so we don't kiss him. It's kind of a game we play. Last night he puckered up and wanted a kiss from me!!! It was so sweet.
I think Bebo was beginning to think he'd never go to school. I mean he watched as the other children left everyday and he stayed behind. He really has changed quit a bit since he has gone to school. Maybe it is just me. LOL I really needed him to go to school. He is doing great and picking up some new signs. His friends have really embraced him and are really a great bunch of children. I could not have ask for him to be in a better class!
That's when it happened. I saw the two boys from his class exiting the building and coming down the stairs. "Mr. Excited" came up to me and started signing as fast as he could. He was pointing to the building, looked
Bebo was waiting for me inside and was very excited to see me. I think it was good for him to have to wait for me so that he understood that I would come for him. Last night we were looking over his photo book and when he reached our old family picture he points to himself like he always does and questions where he is. We are slackers and have not had a new one that includes him done yet. Soon though I promise! It is evident it is important to him. Then he see the picture of our house and and a smile starts on his face. It becomes SO big that he opens his mouth and a little squeal is released. He threw his arms around me and was just so excited! I'm not sure where this all came from because we've looked at this book a number of times but he saw it in a whole new light.
We finished his bedtime routine. The Count and I tuck him in at separate times for a little one on one. I covered him up signed good night, see you later, and I love you. Fixed his blankets and that's when he usually pulls the blankets up so we don't kiss him. It's kind of a game we play. Last night he puckered up and wanted a kiss from me!!! It was so sweet.
I think Bebo was beginning to think he'd never go to school. I mean he watched as the other children left everyday and he stayed behind. He really has changed quit a bit since he has gone to school. Maybe it is just me. LOL I really needed him to go to school. He is doing great and picking up some new signs. His friends have really embraced him and are really a great bunch of children. I could not have ask for him to be in a better class!
Thursday, April 29, 2010
1st Day of School!
Sunday night we explained the best we could to Bebo that he would be going to school when he woke up. I showed him his orange backpack and his Cars lunch bag that he picked out. He knew what those were for as he's seen me for the last two months pack lunches and put backpacks on the girls as they go out the door for school. When he went up to bed and I told him that when he woke up we would drive to school with his backpack his eyes became real big, he clapped his hands and squealed! He signed he was going to sleep right then. :)
There are five children in his class, four boys and one girl. The little girl is from Burma. All the children have some sorta of hearing aid or cochlear except one little boy. Bebo receives his hearing aids next week. He seems excited but I'm not really sure he knows what is coming. The woman in the brown shirt above is his main teacher and the other woman is the audiologist. She visits the room every morning to make sure all the children's hearing devices are working correctly.
The school developed another program as they were seeing a large population of children coming over from other countries with no previous language like Bebo. He spends a good chunk of his day with his teacher Kara. Kara is trying to catch Bebo up with the rest of his peers. She is teaching him the pre-writing, pre-read/vocabulary and pre-math skills. He is learning very fast. Ummm, did I tell you that they put him in 2nd grade? That means in a couple months he will be in 3rd grade! Hmm, I'm not so sure about that one. The good thing is they combine 3&4 grade. He will attend summer school to help him catch up.
If you've made it this far, thanks for reading! We've been crazy busy around here. I've had to drive Bebo to and from school everyday this week. Praying that the busing situation is figured out soon. Hopefully we'll have some soccer pictures for you soon! :)
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Confirmed
For seven year he has had NO language other than gestures. He will finally have a language to learn and will understand! He is ready and willing to learn. We will learn right along side him but something tells me he is going to fly past us in no time.
Thank you Lord for our sweet, sweet son!
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Life is BUSY!
Wow, are we busy people! LOL First of all our children have been sick off and on for the last week. Twink of course the worst. She has had a fever now since Friday. Thank the good Lord that her medication to prevent seizures actually works. She has been as high as 102.5 and that would usually send her into a seizure. That tells us her medication is working. Doctor said her ear is red but she has been on her medication now for 24 hrs. and it does not seem to be helping the fever.
An update with our adoption. We have now been waiting 30+ days for our LOA. It honestly does not feel like that long. I'm sure as the time goes on it will start to feel longer. We are busy with our sign language class. It is very intense but we are learning many signs. For those of you who would like to build your vocabulary we have found a great DVD called Sign Language for Everyone by Dr. Cathy Rice. Now I must tell you that it is an older DVD but it is a great way to learn quite a bit of sign language. We are also adding another sign language class to our schedules LOL! This one will be less intense but will be at the new church we go to. Not only a great way to get involved but also to meet some new people.
Jewel is finishing up field hockey for the year. Next week is her last game. I must brag and say she has turned into one fine field hockey player! :) Her team has a new coach this year and the girls have yet to win a game. Jewel in fact is the only one to have made a goal all season so far.
Spitfire will finish up soccer later this month. Her attention span has really increased since the summer. She really loves to play. She will play again in the spring. Dash may be playing basketball this winter but he is still up in the air about it.
As for Twink, what can I say? She is going to school and loving it. They work her hard and she comes home very tired. She has gained a lot in the two months that she attended her new school.
I am looking forward to November when we are only running two nights a week instead of three to four. I'm not sure how other families do it. I'm just glad we don't have to! LOL
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Monday, May 18, 2009
Adoption Update
We had our final home study visit this past weekend. All went well and we even thought we had all of our clearances for a brief moment. We only have ONE states. For some reason we are missing two and when I asked fellow adoptive families they all received them from those states in two to three weeks. We are now on six plus weeks! :( Our social worker is going to look into it for us today. The first clearance reports were sent to the wrong place and the gentleman took three weeks to send them to our SW. I pray that is what happened with the other two state clearance reports.
Tomorrow we go to the School of Deaf to meet with school officials and tour the school Bebo will attend. We will actually get to sit in on a class of children his age. :) We are looking forward to that. We are still not having any luck finding a sign language class so we are just learning via DVD.
Could you all pray that we get these clearances figured out and we can wrap up this home study. Hopefully we'll have some good news soon.
Tomorrow we go to the School of Deaf to meet with school officials and tour the school Bebo will attend. We will actually get to sit in on a class of children his age. :) We are looking forward to that. We are still not having any luck finding a sign language class so we are just learning via DVD.
Could you all pray that we get these clearances figured out and we can wrap up this home study. Hopefully we'll have some good news soon.
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Speech Frustrations
There are days when the sadness take hold of me and it seems for a few reasons that it has a firm grip on me lately.
This is our daughter Twink. She is signing daddy or father in sign language. Twink had a stroke in her first moms uterus or soon after birth. The stroke spliced her speech center and Twink can not talk like a "normal" 3.3 year old.
Although she is making HUGE steps in her speech they would seem like baby steps to you. I will admit, some days they seem like baby steps to me.
It is hard when we are out and about and people assume that she doesn't speak English because she hasn't been in the US for very long. Sorry to say but she has been here for 16 months now. Or they look at her and because she is almost as big as my 4 1/2 yr old think she can carry on a conversation. I feel like I have to go into her life history everywhere! It is frustrating. How about when someone speaks up and tells your daughters story in front of both of you. Twink is very smart and understands everything. She might not be able to talk but she is taking in everything your saying.
As of right now our speech therapist and our pediatric developmental doctor have thrown out two speech disorders.
Apraxia of Speech is a speech disorder characterized by inability to speak, or a severe struggle to speak clearly. Apraxia of speech occurs when the oral-motor muscles do not or cannot obey commands from the brain, or when the brain cannot reliably send these commands. Apraxia of speech is characterized by highly inconsistent speech errors. Children with apraxia can be helped with intensive speech therapy.
Dysarthria is a neurologic speech disorder caused by paralysis, weakness, improper muscle tone or incoordination of the muscles of the mouth. Dysarthria is not a disorder of language.
Symptoms of dysarthria may include speech that is slurred, slow, and difficult to produce and/or understand. The person with dysarthria may also have problems controlling the pitch, loudness, rhythm and voice qualities of their speech. Associated problems may include drooling and difficulty chewing and swallowing. Unlike apraxia of speech, the speech errors that occur with dysarthria are highly consistent from one occasion to the next.
For the most part Twink does well getting her point across. Whether it be with what sign language she has or through pointing. It's amazing when you know your child so well that you can read their expressions or body language and know how or what they are thinking. I think the poem that I put up on Monday did an amazing job describing the feelings of both parent and child who suffer from speech problems.
Right now Twink receives speech three times a week. In June, she will receive speech therapy four times a week. When we first met Twink in China they only thing she said was GaGa. Now she tries to sing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. She tries to repeat words and some times if you listen carefully she will bust out with a sentence. It's all sporadic but we will take it. When Twink signs or speaks some thing new we cheer like crazy! You should see how excited she gets when we do this.
Our daughter amazes us. For a little girl who's entire left side of her brain has been damaged by a stroke she does things that should not be possible. She is perfect in every way. I may get frustrated at times as does she but I wouldn't change her for the world. She has taught us many things. If it were not for Twink we may not have pursued adopting Beams.
Did I tell you that our beautiful daughter Jewel, is doing her health project on Cerebral Palsy? :D Now that makes this moms heart melt.
This is our daughter Twink. She is signing daddy or father in sign language. Twink had a stroke in her first moms uterus or soon after birth. The stroke spliced her speech center and Twink can not talk like a "normal" 3.3 year old.
Although she is making HUGE steps in her speech they would seem like baby steps to you. I will admit, some days they seem like baby steps to me.
It is hard when we are out and about and people assume that she doesn't speak English because she hasn't been in the US for very long. Sorry to say but she has been here for 16 months now. Or they look at her and because she is almost as big as my 4 1/2 yr old think she can carry on a conversation. I feel like I have to go into her life history everywhere! It is frustrating. How about when someone speaks up and tells your daughters story in front of both of you. Twink is very smart and understands everything. She might not be able to talk but she is taking in everything your saying.
As of right now our speech therapist and our pediatric developmental doctor have thrown out two speech disorders.
Apraxia of Speech is a speech disorder characterized by inability to speak, or a severe struggle to speak clearly. Apraxia of speech occurs when the oral-motor muscles do not or cannot obey commands from the brain, or when the brain cannot reliably send these commands. Apraxia of speech is characterized by highly inconsistent speech errors. Children with apraxia can be helped with intensive speech therapy.
Dysarthria is a neurologic speech disorder caused by paralysis, weakness, improper muscle tone or incoordination of the muscles of the mouth. Dysarthria is not a disorder of language.
Symptoms of dysarthria may include speech that is slurred, slow, and difficult to produce and/or understand. The person with dysarthria may also have problems controlling the pitch, loudness, rhythm and voice qualities of their speech. Associated problems may include drooling and difficulty chewing and swallowing. Unlike apraxia of speech, the speech errors that occur with dysarthria are highly consistent from one occasion to the next.
For the most part Twink does well getting her point across. Whether it be with what sign language she has or through pointing. It's amazing when you know your child so well that you can read their expressions or body language and know how or what they are thinking. I think the poem that I put up on Monday did an amazing job describing the feelings of both parent and child who suffer from speech problems.
Right now Twink receives speech three times a week. In June, she will receive speech therapy four times a week. When we first met Twink in China they only thing she said was GaGa. Now she tries to sing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. She tries to repeat words and some times if you listen carefully she will bust out with a sentence. It's all sporadic but we will take it. When Twink signs or speaks some thing new we cheer like crazy! You should see how excited she gets when we do this.
Our daughter amazes us. For a little girl who's entire left side of her brain has been damaged by a stroke she does things that should not be possible. She is perfect in every way. I may get frustrated at times as does she but I wouldn't change her for the world. She has taught us many things. If it were not for Twink we may not have pursued adopting Beams.
Did I tell you that our beautiful daughter Jewel, is doing her health project on Cerebral Palsy? :D Now that makes this moms heart melt.
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Signing
Yes, I'm still here but I really don't have much to blog about these days. The weather is cold but there is no snow! :) I have to love that. We are looking at a warm up for the weekend so maybe I'll send the kids out for a "treasure hunt". Oh what is my treasure hunt you ask? Oh that is when my kids and the neighbor kids race around my 2 acre yard looking for as much treasure, ok garbage as they can find! Then they hit the neighbors yard! LOL I don't think this will happen for too much longer. Usually an ice cream is their reward and our yards look great!
Ok back to signing! Twink is doing great with some of her signing. I taught her the most beautiful sign last week. She points to her eye and says I then crosses her arms and rocks back and forth a bit and then points to you! Soooo, I LOVE YOU! It is very sweet to actually see. If I can find the right camera I'll video it and show you her sweetness.
Twink's speech is really coming along. Maybe I should say her speech sounds and her babble. I'll be on the phone some times and she gets going and it totally distracts me from my phone conversation. She is trying so hard to produce more words. She tries to sing twinkle twinkle. She can say some of the words clear and some of them come out kind of crazy BUT you know what they are suppose to be. We are seeing improvements! :)
We are finally going to get a sensory evaluation! PTL!!!!! She is still having problems in that department. I've been told that she will be able to do therapeutic horse back lessons otherwise known as hippo-therapy. I am looking forward to that, sorta. LOL I feel we are finally make progress in areas that needed it.
I'm off to find the camera and get of video! :)
Ok back to signing! Twink is doing great with some of her signing. I taught her the most beautiful sign last week. She points to her eye and says I then crosses her arms and rocks back and forth a bit and then points to you! Soooo, I LOVE YOU! It is very sweet to actually see. If I can find the right camera I'll video it and show you her sweetness.
Twink's speech is really coming along. Maybe I should say her speech sounds and her babble. I'll be on the phone some times and she gets going and it totally distracts me from my phone conversation. She is trying so hard to produce more words. She tries to sing twinkle twinkle. She can say some of the words clear and some of them come out kind of crazy BUT you know what they are suppose to be. We are seeing improvements! :)
We are finally going to get a sensory evaluation! PTL!!!!! She is still having problems in that department. I've been told that she will be able to do therapeutic horse back lessons otherwise known as hippo-therapy. I am looking forward to that, sorta. LOL I feel we are finally make progress in areas that needed it.
I'm off to find the camera and get of video! :)
Friday, July 25, 2008
Check It Out!
Thanks to Carla I have a wonderful new look for my dress site! What do you think? If you need a blog design she does an amazing job! I have to add a few things but I will have it up and running in no time!
Twink is doing some exciting things. We have been doing some sign language with her for some time now. Well she is actually starting to use it!!! Last night she signed play after I signed it. She can't actually make the Y formation but she shook her little fist in the right direction and I KNEW what she was doing. Right after that she signed EAT! First time she has done that by herself. I could hardly contain my excitement. I was jumping up and down and "Yeah Twink" when I realized what she was doing. Can you imagine me running around my kitchen trying to find her some thing to eat? LOL Last week she signed please on command. She only does these signs when SHE is in the mood. So it really varies. Everything she signs is one handed but that is OK right now, I'm excited to know what she is thinking. She is starting to really try and repeat words. Many times she does so with out opening her mouth but today she floored the ST and I and repeat GOAT! We couldn't believe our ears! It was clear as day. WoooHooo Twink!
Since the seizure Twink has started to cry when we go to put her down for a nap or at bedtime. I'm not really sure of the reason and it does not last long but she really tries to cling to my neck. I've tried to rock with her but eventually I have to put her to bed and it starts all over. It makes me sad that she is that upset about something.
I've also decided to start a binder to keep track of all of her medical records. I've received her MRI, MRA, EKG, Echo, Dr reports, IE and plan on keeping them to reference to if needed. Hopefully I'll have a report of her hearing tests sometime next month. Still trying to reschedule the surgery. I figure with all that is going on with her it would be best to keep everything in one place and I can take it from doctor to doctor.
Looking forward to a relaxing weekend! Hope you all have a great one. We have planned a weekend getaway with our kids next month and we are looking forward to it very much! Oh I can't wait to relax!
Twink is doing some exciting things. We have been doing some sign language with her for some time now. Well she is actually starting to use it!!! Last night she signed play after I signed it. She can't actually make the Y formation but she shook her little fist in the right direction and I KNEW what she was doing. Right after that she signed EAT! First time she has done that by herself. I could hardly contain my excitement. I was jumping up and down and "Yeah Twink" when I realized what she was doing. Can you imagine me running around my kitchen trying to find her some thing to eat? LOL Last week she signed please on command. She only does these signs when SHE is in the mood. So it really varies. Everything she signs is one handed but that is OK right now, I'm excited to know what she is thinking. She is starting to really try and repeat words. Many times she does so with out opening her mouth but today she floored the ST and I and repeat GOAT! We couldn't believe our ears! It was clear as day. WoooHooo Twink!
Since the seizure Twink has started to cry when we go to put her down for a nap or at bedtime. I'm not really sure of the reason and it does not last long but she really tries to cling to my neck. I've tried to rock with her but eventually I have to put her to bed and it starts all over. It makes me sad that she is that upset about something.
I've also decided to start a binder to keep track of all of her medical records. I've received her MRI, MRA, EKG, Echo, Dr reports, IE and plan on keeping them to reference to if needed. Hopefully I'll have a report of her hearing tests sometime next month. Still trying to reschedule the surgery. I figure with all that is going on with her it would be best to keep everything in one place and I can take it from doctor to doctor.
Looking forward to a relaxing weekend! Hope you all have a great one. We have planned a weekend getaway with our kids next month and we are looking forward to it very much! Oh I can't wait to relax!
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Great Sites
OK so Sunday I digitally recorded a show for Twink that I have been hearing tons about. It's called Signing Time and the show is great! I watched it with Twink last night and she actually watched it. I swear that she actually attempted to do a few signs too. No small undertaking for this child! I've been signing eat and more with her since we've been home and she will only do eat *IF* I prompt her arm! Well I decided I would buy a couple of DVDs and try them out. So that's what I did last night. I ordered two and if she likes them we'll order more. I couldn't believe how quickly I picked up the signs!
Another site I'd like to point out is actually a blog! If Only I Had Super Powers CC is a speech pathologist and always has some amazing tips! I have been learning tons from her. Not just for Twink but for Spitfire also! So hop over to her site if you have any questions on your child's speech and language skills. She also has some pretty yummy recipes and great tips on saving money!
Another site I'd like to point out is actually a blog! If Only I Had Super Powers CC is a speech pathologist and always has some amazing tips! I have been learning tons from her. Not just for Twink but for Spitfire also! So hop over to her site if you have any questions on your child's speech and language skills. She also has some pretty yummy recipes and great tips on saving money!
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