Showing posts with label Sierra. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sierra. Show all posts
6.18.2012
Father Daughter Dance March 2012
4.28.2012
Scholorship Essay
The national Apraxia conference is coming up in July. I have decided to go. There is an opportunity for a scholorship if I win an essay contest. It requires a 1000+ word essay about how apraxia effects our family. Here is my rough draft.
Apraxia, once a scary diagnosis, is now just a part of our family. Our bubbly, social, and happy five year old, Sierra, is our face of apraxia. This face full of smiles and giggles but beneath that a fierce determination to communicate and be understood.
Sierra is an energetic and brave child; unafraid to talk to strangers, teachers and peers even though she knows she’s not understood. She begins the conversation and people look at me as if they want me to translate. I just shrug and smile. She tells them everything that is in her heart and mind and then says clearly, “Bye,” and she walks away. The people she leaves behind smile to themselves; not because they understood her, but because she is a conqueror that is filled with contagious joy.
Her chats with others are filled with laughter, hand motions, and sass. After two years of therapy, about 10-15% of her words are understood. Those words give me a hint of what she’s speaking about. I help guide her conversations by asking her questions. She elaborates and sometimes on a lucky day, we understand one another fully. When this happens, her eyes light up and she throws her arms around me as a reward for the hard work of communication. Sometimes our talks don’t end this way and I have to tell her I can’t understand. She is disappointed sometimes she even yells, but in the end handles it with grace.
This is her story and my experience through the stages of grief that accompanied it:
When she was a year old, I wondered why she was so quiet. There was a lot of screeching, but no phonic sounds. Our family lived and worked overseas, so I reasoned since she was hearing two languages that she would be a late talker. But I didn’t worry. This was the beginning of my grieving process, denial. When she was 20 month old the doctor said not to worry. I worried anyway. We worked daily on speech. She always wanted to be held and we worked for months teaching her the word “up.” We modeled, bent down to her height and slowed our speech, and still her chubby hands reached up; her eyes pled, but she was quiet. The difficulty learning this word made us understand the depth of her speech delay.
It was time to act, something had to be done. I knew there was something wrong. We returned to America and had her assessed and began speech therapy right away. However, I was still denying there was a real problem. I thought, “Surely, therapy would cause a quick change. These are the best therapists and certainly within the year, she’ll be age appropriate.” Since we were relocating back to America, we were willing to move anywhere for the best treatment. Thankfully we found a clinic that specialized in CAS near our family. Our lives changed. Our lives were spent in the car driving back and forth to therapy. During the long rides Sierra demanded to talk to me. However, when I can’t see her expressions, I cannot understand Sierra at all. I couldn’t look at her in the backseat because I was on a fast moving freeway. She would scream at me when I didn’t understand and cry for most of the commute. Once we arrived she would refuse to get out of the car. Speech was hard work and she had no desire to go inside! Denial had passed and pain and guilt filled its place.
My mind was filled with thoughts, “What if I caused this? Maybe I hadn’t eaten the right food during my pregnancy. When she had pneumonia as a baby, could I have taken her to the doctor more quickly? Maybe she hadn’t moved enough in infancy to form motor pathways. Maybe if I practiced and read with her more, she would be better.” Every study I read caused me to doubt and torture myself and be filled with pain, pain for her. I shed tears for her childhood friendships that would be missed or minimized because of her communication skill. I grieved for the conversations she would never be able to have. The precious chatter of my three and then four year old was lost forever. Only spoken to herself, isolated. This is when I began the next stage of grief, anger.
My husband is a saint because he took the full brunt of my anger, screaming, and pain. There was no one else to direct it towards. At therapy, I was the concerned and involved parent. I would hold it together while I watched graduate students puzzle over her speech at the college clinic. I would watch through the window as they reduced my precious baby to a flat unfeeling notebook page. All the while, they commented to each other that they didn’t know how to write down her answers because her speech was so strange. I cried silently on the other side of the glass then stuffed it all down and thanked them for their time at the end of the session. With others, I was quietly grieving, unable to vocalize my emotions. I was open about her diagnosis and therapy, but was incapable to voice my feeling about it. I just kept it inside and put a smile on my face. My husband was not lucky enough for that fate. My anger was so fierce because there was nothing to direct it towards: no one to blame and nothing to do. There was no way to make apraxia disappear, no guaranteed cure or magic therapy. Finally, the anger worked its way through me. My husband and I came through the fire as advocates. A role I never considered or would have chosen. I accepted it, the final phase of grief.
We would be her voice. We are responsible for her like no one else. I needed to be willing to read discouraging studies and apply the helpful parts to Sierra’s care. We changed her diet, tried everything that may help: multiple speech therapy sessions, chiropractors, gluten free diets, probiotics, fish oil, and allergy treatments to help her digestion and hopefully help her brain receive the nutrients it needed. I try to understand each process as it comes, prepping for IEP meetings and considering her class placement with counsel and care. Researching assistive technology to understand what devices can help her be more successful as she enters elementary school. Searching for the best care for her has been tiring, but I always just think of her grown and talking and then it’s easier to continue battling.
While her future is still unclear, each small growth encourages us to keep moving forward in hope. Our little warrior will keep fighting. Her newest accomplishment is the “k” sound. She likes to walk around the house saying, “cu, coo, cu, coo!” She smiles and wants praise and I shower her with compliments and kisses for her hard work. Then she walks down the hall making songs with her own lyrics and melodies. She always sings about her favorite people, “Nana, Abby, Naaaanaaa, Abbyyy, Naaannnaaa,” while she holds a microphone and throws up her hands with dramatic flair. We smile at our tenacious ray of sunshine.
Sierra Joy. Our Precious Face of Apraxia
Sierra is an energetic and brave child; unafraid to talk to strangers, teachers and peers even though she knows she’s not understood. She begins the conversation and people look at me as if they want me to translate. I just shrug and smile. She tells them everything that is in her heart and mind and then says clearly, “Bye,” and she walks away. The people she leaves behind smile to themselves; not because they understood her, but because she is a conqueror that is filled with contagious joy.
Her chats with others are filled with laughter, hand motions, and sass. After two years of therapy, about 10-15% of her words are understood. Those words give me a hint of what she’s speaking about. I help guide her conversations by asking her questions. She elaborates and sometimes on a lucky day, we understand one another fully. When this happens, her eyes light up and she throws her arms around me as a reward for the hard work of communication. Sometimes our talks don’t end this way and I have to tell her I can’t understand. She is disappointed sometimes she even yells, but in the end handles it with grace.
This is her story and my experience through the stages of grief that accompanied it:
When she was a year old, I wondered why she was so quiet. There was a lot of screeching, but no phonic sounds. Our family lived and worked overseas, so I reasoned since she was hearing two languages that she would be a late talker. But I didn’t worry. This was the beginning of my grieving process, denial. When she was 20 month old the doctor said not to worry. I worried anyway. We worked daily on speech. She always wanted to be held and we worked for months teaching her the word “up.” We modeled, bent down to her height and slowed our speech, and still her chubby hands reached up; her eyes pled, but she was quiet. The difficulty learning this word made us understand the depth of her speech delay.
It was time to act, something had to be done. I knew there was something wrong. We returned to America and had her assessed and began speech therapy right away. However, I was still denying there was a real problem. I thought, “Surely, therapy would cause a quick change. These are the best therapists and certainly within the year, she’ll be age appropriate.” Since we were relocating back to America, we were willing to move anywhere for the best treatment. Thankfully we found a clinic that specialized in CAS near our family. Our lives changed. Our lives were spent in the car driving back and forth to therapy. During the long rides Sierra demanded to talk to me. However, when I can’t see her expressions, I cannot understand Sierra at all. I couldn’t look at her in the backseat because I was on a fast moving freeway. She would scream at me when I didn’t understand and cry for most of the commute. Once we arrived she would refuse to get out of the car. Speech was hard work and she had no desire to go inside! Denial had passed and pain and guilt filled its place.
My mind was filled with thoughts, “What if I caused this? Maybe I hadn’t eaten the right food during my pregnancy. When she had pneumonia as a baby, could I have taken her to the doctor more quickly? Maybe she hadn’t moved enough in infancy to form motor pathways. Maybe if I practiced and read with her more, she would be better.” Every study I read caused me to doubt and torture myself and be filled with pain, pain for her. I shed tears for her childhood friendships that would be missed or minimized because of her communication skill. I grieved for the conversations she would never be able to have. The precious chatter of my three and then four year old was lost forever. Only spoken to herself, isolated. This is when I began the next stage of grief, anger.
My husband is a saint because he took the full brunt of my anger, screaming, and pain. There was no one else to direct it towards. At therapy, I was the concerned and involved parent. I would hold it together while I watched graduate students puzzle over her speech at the college clinic. I would watch through the window as they reduced my precious baby to a flat unfeeling notebook page. All the while, they commented to each other that they didn’t know how to write down her answers because her speech was so strange. I cried silently on the other side of the glass then stuffed it all down and thanked them for their time at the end of the session. With others, I was quietly grieving, unable to vocalize my emotions. I was open about her diagnosis and therapy, but was incapable to voice my feeling about it. I just kept it inside and put a smile on my face. My husband was not lucky enough for that fate. My anger was so fierce because there was nothing to direct it towards: no one to blame and nothing to do. There was no way to make apraxia disappear, no guaranteed cure or magic therapy. Finally, the anger worked its way through me. My husband and I came through the fire as advocates. A role I never considered or would have chosen. I accepted it, the final phase of grief.
We would be her voice. We are responsible for her like no one else. I needed to be willing to read discouraging studies and apply the helpful parts to Sierra’s care. We changed her diet, tried everything that may help: multiple speech therapy sessions, chiropractors, gluten free diets, probiotics, fish oil, and allergy treatments to help her digestion and hopefully help her brain receive the nutrients it needed. I try to understand each process as it comes, prepping for IEP meetings and considering her class placement with counsel and care. Researching assistive technology to understand what devices can help her be more successful as she enters elementary school. Searching for the best care for her has been tiring, but I always just think of her grown and talking and then it’s easier to continue battling.
While her future is still unclear, each small growth encourages us to keep moving forward in hope. Our little warrior will keep fighting. Her newest accomplishment is the “k” sound. She likes to walk around the house saying, “cu, coo, cu, coo!” She smiles and wants praise and I shower her with compliments and kisses for her hard work. Then she walks down the hall making songs with her own lyrics and melodies. She always sings about her favorite people, “Nana, Abby, Naaaanaaa, Abbyyy, Naaannnaaa,” while she holds a microphone and throws up her hands with dramatic flair. We smile at our tenacious ray of sunshine.
3.20.2012
Sierra and her speech therapist
This is the short clip I got back.
This is the email from the speech therapist Rachel.
"Here is a video of Sierra doing a speech drill. We were working on "CV" words (consonant + vowel) using "bilabial" consonants. These consonants are /p, b, m/ which require lip closure and are some of the earlier developing consonants. You will see that once I know she can do them separately, I start mixing up the three consonants (going across the chart rather than down). As you know for a diagnosis of childhood apraxia of speech, it is essential to continue practicing previously mastered skills. You will see me have Sierra repeat the word if it is wrong or if I didn't think it was her best try. I think it is important to use pictures to retain her interest, but also to demonstrate that changing a single sound changes the meaning of a word. This approach is called "minimal pairs." I think her intonation is great - she is copying my tone/rhythm quite well. You will also hear that I use the phrase "good language" as praise. It is important to give specific feedback for each trial whenever possible."
It is good to hear what she sees, since sometimess it seems so basic and plain; but when you think about it, it really is a huge amount of coordination with the mouth to make those sounds. :)
Pray for her everytime you think of it. Our girl needs a miracle and healing. Thank you!
3.02.2012
hanging out with three year olds
I'm babysitting this week. A three year and a five year old set of siblings. They are cute.
Sierra is home from school today. The teachers have a planning day at the preschool. When the three year old comes up to me and says, "I need something that I can roll up into a telescope because we are going to play pirates and follow this map." I smile make him a paper roll telescope and tell him, "that's a great idea have a good time."
Inside I shrivel up and cry. How is it that I've never heard my daughter share her thoughts, ideas, dreams, silly three year old wanderings? Those precious moments, that only existed in those uninhibited years, are lost.
She follows along and says, "Mar, mar mar." the other children march beside her. She is very happy. I smile at how brave she is joining in and always jabbering even when she is only understood 10% of the time. She never gives up, she usually has a huge smile for her friends (or a very loud scream, "MEAN!")
I hear the 3 year old say "our telescopes can turn into swords to kill bad pirates that kill babies, I can handle those guys!" (I'm typing what he's is saying now) Sierra runs off with them to save her precious babies. She is a good sport.
Last night at a sleepless moment, I felt as though I would cry and cry.
I know another child and mommy. That child has a much worse disability and speech delay than Sierra. The child recently got a speech device computer and she can communicate. Her mother keeps posting on facebook her daughters thoughts they have never known before. I am very happy for this family. I also envy them.
I feel like crying, but don't. I feel like maybe I should fast for a long time and beg the Lord to heal her. I feel like that would be a good idea. Then I fall asleep again...
I'm not as sad as this sounds, but its been one of those days I put on a happy face and keep going, but inside I just can't believe this is still happening.
On a happier note, Sierra did get enrolled in Jr. K and speech services in the summer! Thank you Lord!
Sierra is home from school today. The teachers have a planning day at the preschool. When the three year old comes up to me and says, "I need something that I can roll up into a telescope because we are going to play pirates and follow this map." I smile make him a paper roll telescope and tell him, "that's a great idea have a good time."
Inside I shrivel up and cry. How is it that I've never heard my daughter share her thoughts, ideas, dreams, silly three year old wanderings? Those precious moments, that only existed in those uninhibited years, are lost.
She follows along and says, "Mar, mar mar." the other children march beside her. She is very happy. I smile at how brave she is joining in and always jabbering even when she is only understood 10% of the time. She never gives up, she usually has a huge smile for her friends (or a very loud scream, "MEAN!")
I hear the 3 year old say "our telescopes can turn into swords to kill bad pirates that kill babies, I can handle those guys!" (I'm typing what he's is saying now) Sierra runs off with them to save her precious babies. She is a good sport.
Last night at a sleepless moment, I felt as though I would cry and cry.
I know another child and mommy. That child has a much worse disability and speech delay than Sierra. The child recently got a speech device computer and she can communicate. Her mother keeps posting on facebook her daughters thoughts they have never known before. I am very happy for this family. I also envy them.
I feel like crying, but don't. I feel like maybe I should fast for a long time and beg the Lord to heal her. I feel like that would be a good idea. Then I fall asleep again...
I'm not as sad as this sounds, but its been one of those days I put on a happy face and keep going, but inside I just can't believe this is still happening.
On a happier note, Sierra did get enrolled in Jr. K and speech services in the summer! Thank you Lord!
11.09.2011
11.08.2011
Sierra- Our Cherub
Today we had a girls day. I took Sierra and bought her five new outfits and a haircut.
So while she was at school I assessed her winter clothes, sad to say the least. I then brainstormed ways to clothe her. I searched online for appropriate sized pants. No dice (unless I wanted to pay for custom!)
Then I considered making her pants and did some searching about that. I was tired out just reading about it, especially since she needed about five pairs.
So I decided to buy them large and alter them.
But I didn't want to buy new pants and risk messing them up by chopping them up, (since I've never done this before!) (I guess today is the day of parenthesis!!!) So anyhow, I went to the catholic thrift store that is right next to the local private catholic school. Most of the people who donate there have kids in the school and it helps to keep the school afloat. It also means there are a lot of children's clothes there, and they are nice because the school is expensive and so the families buy nicer clothes. :) WIN- WIN- WIN.
Long story short, we found 5 pants and five cute shirts. They range from 7-10 in size. The brands include Gap, Old Navy, Jordache, Buster Brown, IZOD, Children's Place and Levi.
I came home got out my sewing machine and rotary cutter and shortened all the legs and arms- and presto a new school week of clothes for Sierra for $10!
I promise you, I matched all the thread colors and was able to make alterations very discretely and she doesn't look hokey/poorly homemade at all! :)
I am proud of my work and feel MUCH better about the way her school clothes look and how I'll be able to keep her warm.
I also learned a few things. Children's Place is the best place to buy Sierra pants. They have a real tailored pant look, with a thick comfy waistband. Like these Buster Brown fit her well too. Think elastic with a tailored thicker pant at the bottom!! Also if I see the word "lo rise" or "skinny" I won't even bother. Come to think of it, those are rules I follow myself when selecting jeans- like mother like daughter, I guess! I hope she'll forgive me someday for passing down my well rounded fanny!
She must have a size 7/8 shirt with a long torso- same trait as me! No short shirts for this girl.
Pictures of my adorable cherub girl to follow.
In California, I was able to get away with letting her wear stretchy pants. But no more. Because of the weather here and the need to start layering soon (stretchy pants under!) I had to find real pants to fit our girl. This is quite a challenge. Sierra is adorable, cute and cherub like, however, she is rather thick in the middle. This is why cherub perfer to remain naked.
:)
Trying to find jeans, slacks, or anything else to fit her well is a bit of a puzzle.
Then I considered making her pants and did some searching about that. I was tired out just reading about it, especially since she needed about five pairs.
So I decided to buy them large and alter them.
But I didn't want to buy new pants and risk messing them up by chopping them up, (since I've never done this before!) (I guess today is the day of parenthesis!!!) So anyhow, I went to the catholic thrift store that is right next to the local private catholic school. Most of the people who donate there have kids in the school and it helps to keep the school afloat. It also means there are a lot of children's clothes there, and they are nice because the school is expensive and so the families buy nicer clothes. :) WIN- WIN- WIN.
Long story short, we found 5 pants and five cute shirts. They range from 7-10 in size. The brands include Gap, Old Navy, Jordache, Buster Brown, IZOD, Children's Place and Levi.
I came home got out my sewing machine and rotary cutter and shortened all the legs and arms- and presto a new school week of clothes for Sierra for $10!
I promise you, I matched all the thread colors and was able to make alterations very discretely and she doesn't look hokey/poorly homemade at all! :)
I am proud of my work and feel MUCH better about the way her school clothes look and how I'll be able to keep her warm.
I also learned a few things. Children's Place is the best place to buy Sierra pants. They have a real tailored pant look, with a thick comfy waistband. Like these Buster Brown fit her well too. Think elastic with a tailored thicker pant at the bottom!! Also if I see the word "lo rise" or "skinny" I won't even bother. Come to think of it, those are rules I follow myself when selecting jeans- like mother like daughter, I guess! I hope she'll forgive me someday for passing down my well rounded fanny!
She must have a size 7/8 shirt with a long torso- same trait as me! No short shirts for this girl.
Pictures of my adorable cherub girl to follow.
10.14.2011
Alta through the eyes of our budding photographer, Sierra
She catches every detail. Her photo composistion is quite good.
I think she enjoys using the camera as her voice. :)
2.25.2011
2.24.2011
I CANNOT BELIEVE THIS
Today on Facebook a friend commented that she had a friend whose child had a speech delay. They put her on a gluten free diet and she is doing much better.
I thought, "Hmmm that is interesting." and did what any mom does these days- I googled it. THERE IS A CONNECTION!!! PARENTS SAY THAT THEY TALK MORE, SLEEP BETTER AND HAVE LESS ROUND TUMMIES WHEN ON A GLUTEN FREE DIET.
I'm researching like a fiend- but here is the article that caused this outrage in me (and a glimmer of hope) and I have read many a forum comment from parents who have seen a total change in their kids when they change their diets.
This is the crux of the issue,
"the new study, led by Children's Hospital & Research Center Oakland scientist and pediatric emergency medicine physician, Claudia Morris, MD, and Marilyn C. Agin, MD, a neurodevelopmental pediatrician at Saint Vincent Medical Center in New York, however, suggests that the symptoms of verbal apraxia are, at least for a sub-group of children, part of a larger, multifactorial, neurologic syndrome involving food allergies/gluten-sensitivity and nutritional malabsorption.
You know what I'll be doing next- cooking with no gluten! It is interesting I've been reading here at Comfy Belly and planning a gluten free/sugar free diet for myself. I spent last week bookmarking meals. Now I'll be using them.
I thought, "Hmmm that is interesting." and did what any mom does these days- I googled it. THERE IS A CONNECTION!!! PARENTS SAY THAT THEY TALK MORE, SLEEP BETTER AND HAVE LESS ROUND TUMMIES WHEN ON A GLUTEN FREE DIET.
I AM ACTUALLY ANGRY RIGHT NOW! WHY HAVEN'T I HEARD THIS?!!!???
I'm researching like a fiend- but here is the article that caused this outrage in me (and a glimmer of hope) and I have read many a forum comment from parents who have seen a total change in their kids when they change their diets.
This is the crux of the issue,
"the new study, led by Children's Hospital & Research Center Oakland scientist and pediatric emergency medicine physician, Claudia Morris, MD, and Marilyn C. Agin, MD, a neurodevelopmental pediatrician at Saint Vincent Medical Center in New York, however, suggests that the symptoms of verbal apraxia are, at least for a sub-group of children, part of a larger, multifactorial, neurologic syndrome involving food allergies/gluten-sensitivity and nutritional malabsorption.
"While it is critical to treat verbal apraxia symptoms that often include severe delays in expressive speech production with speech therapy, we need to start asking why these kids are having these problems in the first place so that we can identify mechanisms we can actually target to treat the cause of the symptoms," says Dr. Morris."
You know what I'll be doing next- cooking with no gluten! It is interesting I've been reading here at Comfy Belly and planning a gluten free/sugar free diet for myself. I spent last week bookmarking meals. Now I'll be using them.
1.15.2011
Hard week
It is hard to write when I feel down. This women did it so beautifully today. I am amazed by her writing so often.
I love that verse
You have recorded my troubles.
You have kept a list of my tears.
Aren’t they in your records?
Ps 56:8
Last year was a bit of a struggle. Sierra is slowly getting better. Yet, the cloud of denial and hope of a quick recovery is slipping away, she is most likely on a very long road. I want to cry for her, I want to cry for me. I want to cry for Peter. I want to cry for her education. I want to cry for her friendships that can't be. I want to cry for her teacher. I want to cry for a life that is far away. I want to cry for all the unknown of our future.
Sometimes I do, but all too often I don't cry. I keep it locked deep in my soul and heart and "handle it." I'm thankful for that sometimes. Things need to be handled, life taken care of laundry folded and tucked away, toilets scrubbed and children fed.
But if God cares enough for my tears, so much that He keeps them written in his book, I should let them fall and let Him love me. He knows my frame. He knows I am but dust. He is not a God that is not acquainted with my weaknesses. He lived a life so fully man that he knows the crap of this earth and the pain it doles out.
So cry I will.
I love that verse
You have recorded my troubles.
You have kept a list of my tears.
Aren’t they in your records?
Ps 56:8
Last year was a bit of a struggle. Sierra is slowly getting better. Yet, the cloud of denial and hope of a quick recovery is slipping away, she is most likely on a very long road. I want to cry for her, I want to cry for me. I want to cry for Peter. I want to cry for her education. I want to cry for her friendships that can't be. I want to cry for her teacher. I want to cry for a life that is far away. I want to cry for all the unknown of our future.
Sometimes I do, but all too often I don't cry. I keep it locked deep in my soul and heart and "handle it." I'm thankful for that sometimes. Things need to be handled, life taken care of laundry folded and tucked away, toilets scrubbed and children fed.
But if God cares enough for my tears, so much that He keeps them written in his book, I should let them fall and let Him love me. He knows my frame. He knows I am but dust. He is not a God that is not acquainted with my weaknesses. He lived a life so fully man that he knows the crap of this earth and the pain it doles out.
So cry I will.
12.19.2010
Our four year old.
Here she is in her new birthday dress. Weston gave her that gold purse full of gifts.
There are all the treats on the morning of her birthday...
Hot chocolate tea party and our traditional homemade donuts.
Four candles for the birthday girl on her breakfast bday party!
Two of the cutest kids ever!
12.07.2010
Sierra's starting to talk...
I had a chat with Sierra the other day. I told her she needed to slow down and say less words so that I can understand her.
Then today she said several individual words to me today. Variations of, "book, out..." and others I can't remember because my mind is mush.
My mind is mush because I spent 7 hours high pressure washing, scraping and sanding our house. i can't wait to see the finished product- our house NOT pink! ;)
Then today she said several individual words to me today. Variations of, "book, out..." and others I can't remember because my mind is mush.
My mind is mush because I spent 7 hours high pressure washing, scraping and sanding our house. i can't wait to see the finished product- our house NOT pink! ;)
12.06.2010
Advice
We are seeking advice from the speech therapists that Sierra's been seeing. The University of Redlands has been so helpful. I have really enjoyed branching out and finding out more about speech.
I had a nice conversation with the professor that works with Sierra today. She is going to do a full assessment on Sierra not only in speech, but in language, and phonological awareness. She said that if Sierra is at a normal spot in all the other areas, she could be a candidate for "out of the box" type of therapies.
One of the "out of the box" methods is this: Click here: TinyEye. It is an online speech therapy option for children that live far from therapy options. We're not sure if it is an option for Sierra, or our family but I am excited that this professor want to make time to both assess Sierra, counsel with us and look into "out of the box" options for us if she thinks that Sierra is a good match for that.
I really appreciate this woman, Diane's, perspective. She has been in the speech field longer than all the other therapists we've seen. She has been observing Sierra's sessions for this whole semester, she's worked in public and private practices and now she is a professor at U of R.
So far we have received some counsel from Lucid, our private speech therapist, but I think that Diane has a broader perspective of the field in general. We are interested in getting councel from this woman.
Will you continue praying with us for God's leading in this situation?
Thanks
I had a nice conversation with the professor that works with Sierra today. She is going to do a full assessment on Sierra not only in speech, but in language, and phonological awareness. She said that if Sierra is at a normal spot in all the other areas, she could be a candidate for "out of the box" type of therapies.
One of the "out of the box" methods is this: Click here: TinyEye. It is an online speech therapy option for children that live far from therapy options. We're not sure if it is an option for Sierra, or our family but I am excited that this professor want to make time to both assess Sierra, counsel with us and look into "out of the box" options for us if she thinks that Sierra is a good match for that.
I really appreciate this woman, Diane's, perspective. She has been in the speech field longer than all the other therapists we've seen. She has been observing Sierra's sessions for this whole semester, she's worked in public and private practices and now she is a professor at U of R.
So far we have received some counsel from Lucid, our private speech therapist, but I think that Diane has a broader perspective of the field in general. We are interested in getting councel from this woman.
Will you continue praying with us for God's leading in this situation?
Thanks
12.05.2010
Sierra's Christmas Show and Snow at school
This is a bit blurry, but you get the idea!
They had snow delivered on Friday night and the kids got to go sledding.
Merry Christmas!
10.12.2010
Sierra Update
Sierra is doing well. She has come a long way in the last six months. She can mimic sounds with more precision and she can put more syllables together. Today she was on a roll, so I grabbed the camera and plopped it on the table.
Watch this to see what I mean:
You can see she is coming along, but still has a way to go. I have been a little weepy lately. I am coming to grips with the fact that Sierra is most likely on a long road.
I think I have been in the denial phase. Not that I didn't understand that she had a problem, but that I was thinking it was going to "go away" faster. The truth is I'm sad. I want to talk to my girl, I want her to be able to talk to me. I think that her birthday is really starting to bring our reality into focus. Almost all four year olds talk. When she was three it was more normal to not talk. She'll be four soon, I sure hope and pray four is a year of healing. That she'd be able to spontanously speak and communicate. Lord, make that true for her. I know You can you are the great Healer you made her and you have a plan for her, a plan for a hope and a future.
She handles not talking fairly well. Sierra is a conquer and the sweetest little girl I could wish for. She gets frustrated sometimes and has a few fits. I understand that. I'd be so mad if I couldn't say exactly what I wanted to.
It is hard to know how much wining to allow since she can't talk and how to "wrap up" a conversation with someone that I can't understand. Lord, guide me to know how to be a good mommy.
Now I'm crying. :) But with a hope for her future.
The End
Watch this to see what I mean:
You can see she is coming along, but still has a way to go. I have been a little weepy lately. I am coming to grips with the fact that Sierra is most likely on a long road.
I think I have been in the denial phase. Not that I didn't understand that she had a problem, but that I was thinking it was going to "go away" faster. The truth is I'm sad. I want to talk to my girl, I want her to be able to talk to me. I think that her birthday is really starting to bring our reality into focus. Almost all four year olds talk. When she was three it was more normal to not talk. She'll be four soon, I sure hope and pray four is a year of healing. That she'd be able to spontanously speak and communicate. Lord, make that true for her. I know You can you are the great Healer you made her and you have a plan for her, a plan for a hope and a future.
She handles not talking fairly well. Sierra is a conquer and the sweetest little girl I could wish for. She gets frustrated sometimes and has a few fits. I understand that. I'd be so mad if I couldn't say exactly what I wanted to.
It is hard to know how much wining to allow since she can't talk and how to "wrap up" a conversation with someone that I can't understand. Lord, guide me to know how to be a good mommy.
Now I'm crying. :) But with a hope for her future.
The End
9.22.2010
8.11.2010
princess cousins...
Crazy shots...
Don't you love the heels?
This one's my fave!
These are the first shots before they got silly and crazy!
Aren't they dolls, and hilarious?? They would have posed all day!- My camera ran out of batteries!
5.04.2010
Running around
Gutman boys and Wes build a fort at the park.
Micah taking care of the girls. He was so sweet to them.
There's never a better shot than a self photo. It is my favorite way to take a picture.
USA is a busy place. I have gone from rarely leaving the house to days where I am generally out. The proverbial pendulum swing. I must say I am enjoying the ability to be ABLE to go out and have
1. Warm weather
2. Somewhere to go
3. Everything in English!
Sierra is doing better at speech therapy. She understands what's expected now when we go to see Miss Kristen- work. She cries when we arrive and shakes her head and shakes her arm violently at us, clearly unhappy to be there. After we pry her out of the car and bring her into the door, she brightens a bit and really looks a lot happier.
I guess she's just like the rest of us, doesn't like the thought of starting something difficult. Then once we get started, we like it.
I wish there was some one to pry me out of my bed and make me put on my running shoes and push me out the door. Because once I get out there I really like running. The thought of it doesn't make me happy though! I LOVE my warm (king sized-memory foam topped) bed.
Really should two adults really have to share a queen? I think not!!! I LOVE LOVE my space. We traded in our king for a queen 5 years ago when we moved to Mongolia, obviously I'm thankful to have another king. Because you know, I'm royalty! :)
Thank you God and Mom and Dad Bunnell. Every morning I wake up and find I slept through the whole night without bumping into Peter and that puts a smile on my face....
Off to make chicken with a creamy artichoke heart sauce and baked potatoes and chives. The simple things that I missed in Mongolia.
3.30.2010
symptoms of apraxia
This article is really interesting and really does fit Sierra's speech issues.
click here.
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