Autisim Test Results

We had an appointment for Twink today that I thought going in was a joke but was doing it anyway. When we first brought Twink home her developmental doctor was concerned she might be autistic. For awhile she did look autistic but I knew that very well could have been from China. Well ever month Twink would improve and the doctor asked if I would do the test. At four months home we were NOT willing to do the test. The Count and I felt Twink had not been home long enough for her to adjust. We did have the test schedule when she was home for about 9 months. Well as the Lord would have it we had to cancel due to lack of insurance coverage for the doctor who performed the test. I originally wanted to wait one full year for Twink to be tested. As it turned out when we reschedule it was schedule for January of 09! Just a little over a year of Twink enter into our family.

Twink's test today determined she is NOT autistic! She does not even fall on the spectrum. :) I do believe she has some sensory issues but we can handle whatever those obstacles are.

My advise to all of you adopting children from other countries and your put in a similar situation would be to wait! Why test the in the first few months of being home? Stand firm! Give the child a chance to adjust to a totally different life. Let the child blossom in your care and you'll be amazed at the difference. Now I'm not saying that ALL children will be as lucky as Twink was but I do believe MOST will be. So we are so extremely happy to have finally gone to this doctor and to have left with some good news and not another referral! :)

School Days

Last week I decided to go to Twink's school and hang out for the day. We brought in mini-cupcakes for Twink's birthday. I must say it was great watching her with her teachers, therapist and friends. I've worked with most of her teachers and therapists at our house but there were a few that I have not.

You can see the young lady in the picture below is playing with Twink in the sensory table. That table is full of bird seeds. I can tell you most of the kids LOVE this table. Twink really seems to like this young lady.
In the picture below the young lady is scooting her hidden hand towards Twink and she lets out a squeal when her hand pops up and out. They must have done this for 15 minutes.

This is Twink's main teacher. She is great and has been doing this for 30+ years. We've only had her since September but she is really sweet with all the kids.

Here you can see Twink is in motion and another teacher's aide behind her. Well you see my daughter has claimed a rocking chair in her class room. None of the other children are allowed to sit in it during circle time unless Twink gets up to sit in another chair. The reason she is allowed "the chair" is it helps keep her focused. She will sit and rock the whole story and listen. She used to get up and move about the room. When it is time to stand up for song she does it with no problems but also knows when it's done to turn and sit in her chair. She was rocking so hard I thought she was going to go over backwards. I believe that is why the aide is behind her.

Twink is enjoying her 2nd mini cupcake that we sent in. She really liked those. I had a picture of her drinking for an open cup but it must not have down loaded! She is doing pretty good with that as long as they don't fill it too full.

Here is her PT! :) We have been working with her since Feb 08 and I love her! She is probably the only Asian person Twink sees on a regular basis. I believe she came from the Philippines. She works Twink quite a bit but it's been great to see her progress.

I love the last two pictures, it just shows how much she loves Terry! Only once did I see her get frustrated during the day and that was because I was not doing some thing she wanted me to do. I'm so glad that she received a spot in this class. She moves on come June.

So there you have it, this is what Twink's day is like when she goes to school. Hope you enjoyed the pictures! :)

Another Meme!

Here's the rules as my dear friend Carla laid out...if you read this, considered yourself TAGGED!

Five Names You Go By:
1. Cheri
2. Mom
3. Mommy
4. Mrs. H
5. Mrs. Bossy Pants (per my lovely four year old) LOL

Three Things You’re Wearing Right Now:
1. Fleece Sweatshirt
2. Jeans
3. Stinky slipper

Two Things You Want Very Badly At The Moment:
1. To crawl in my bed for the next couple of months!
2. To move far far away!

Three People Who Will Probably Fill This Out:
I have no idea but had to regain BF status, so I filled this out! ;)

Two Things You Ate Today:
1. General Tso's
2. Crackers

Two People You Last Talked To On The Phone:
1. Kim
2. Cassy
(Had it been during the day it would have been Carla and Toni)

Two Things You Are Going To Do Tomorrow:
1. Bring Twink to a doctor's appointment
2. Taxi my oldest daughter around town

Two Longest Car Rides:
1. AZ to NY (when I was five or six)
2. Riding (in an ambulance) to the hospital while Lia was having a seizure.

Two of Your Favourite Beverages:
1. Pepsi
2. Hot Tea

Two Phrases You Said Today To Your Kid That You Wish You Could Take Back:
1. " As long as it's quite I don't care what you do"
2. " You can't sleep with ALL of your babies, bears, bunnies, etc"

So if you have not already done this Meme than consider yourself tagged!

Happy Birthday Twink!

Today is Twink's 3rd birthday! :) I can hardly believe that this is her 2nd birthday with us. I am thankful today for her first parents. They gave Twink so much in the time she spent with them. Most of all they gave her a chance at life. That life is with us! :)

Last year we were home less than a month when we celebrate Twink's 2nd birthday. Boy, can you see how much she has grown and changed in one year? So happy birthday baby girl! We love you.

Practice Pictures

The weather here has not been the greatest to say the least. We are in single digits this week and will be getting some more major snow. Remember how the kids had a day off last week due to ice? Well this is what it looked like the day after and they had school. Let's see if they have a full week of school this week. My bet would be no.

OK here are some of my pictures that I took using my camera in the manual mode that Carla talked about in her first session post. I was practicing using a Pepsi bottle at first. When I finish my round I turned and shot Spitfire doing this nasty! LOL

Jewel wrote a message on Twink's cast and then Twink decided she wanted to try and write on it.

On-line Beginners Photography

( This is Katie, my friend Carla's beautiful little girl.)

How many of you received a camera for Christmas or have a great camera? Do you use it in the manual mode or the automatic mode? My very dear friend Carla is doing a series of post on her blog on how to use your camera in the manual mode. I for one am very excited! :) After one lesson I have already taken some great pictures that I will share with you tomorrow. :)

No School Again!

Ok so after the 2 weeks off for Christmas break and the snow day the day before recess starts, we have yet ANOTHER day off today! You see we have freezing rain. The Count was unable to park his truck in the garage last night and had a coating of 1/4in of ice all over it. I thought I was helping and went out turned his car on so it would warm up and this ice would melt but you'd have to turn on the defrost for that to happen. Yep, I forgot to turn the front defrost on. I did turn the back on though! Oops. Leave it to me to forget. Never fails.

I've had appointments all week and I was looking forward to get some things caught up. Maybe when Twink goes down for a nap I'll have the older ones help me! LOL You know it's going to be a fun day when you hear them bickering first thing in the morning! ;)

Hey CC, I used your link for Signing Times and bought some videos! Ok, a lot of videos! :)

OK someone is crying so I'll update more later.