Sierra and her speech therapist

I asked to observe speech therapy with her school therapist Rachel.  We decided a video would be best since Sierra won't work when I'm there! :)

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!

Gift of motherhood

It's spring break (only 3 days here.)  The kids are home all day and the house is a pit.  There are blankets everywhere from a failed attempt at making a fort, a rock collection is strewn over the table, shoes, dirt and popcorn dot the floor. 

It doesn't really matter though.  What use is a clean house without the people that fill it?

They are gettting so big . They play nicely together and have their own ideas and goals. They are smart, each in their own way.

I'm so blessed.  Weston and his countless ideas and plans.  Sierra with her countless hugs and her caring personality that wants everyone to be happy and included. 

Weston's on a two wheeler!

Just in time for summer.  He decided in true Weston fashion, that he wanted to ride a bike.  Then he learned in 10 minutes! :)

It's 70 degrees!

I've lived through enough winters to know that this is fake spring and that tomorrow may bring snow.  But for now, the children are outside in their sandals, stomping through puddles and soaking wet with the thawing snow.

And I know I am a summer girl. I CAN'T wait to have the kids out of school.  To be outside and see them out digging in the yard. To see them laughing with friends.  To wear flip flops, drive with the window down and turn the radio on loud.  Truly the best times of life! :)  To sit in the sun like a cat in a chair with my favorite magazine.  This is how life is supposed to be, you know? (You know the fake Becca world in my mind?!)

We walked for an hour today.  I took the kids to the only cafe in town, it was nice.  They ate Doritos. ( I was pleased they didn't even know the name of them!) Weston called them spicy chips! :)  They drank Sprite and I watched their faces turn that yucky, but addicting, color of orange and I even smiled when they wiped it on their shirts.

Now I'm going to get some meat to grill before supper! 

(Not meat to barbeque before dinner, we're Iowaians now, you know!)

One of my faves...

Have you ever seen "Overboard?" 

It is one of my favorite movies.  I suppose it's not that great.  I'm sure it didn't win any awards, but he lines are so comic.

It's about a rich snobby lady that doesn't like a carpenter's work and she refuses to pay him for the closet he built for her.  Later in the movie, she has amnesia and is tricked to work for the carpenter.  He is a single father and leads her to believe that she is his wife and that they have four boys.

She cleans up and tries to learn to cook and in the end turns their yucky house into a home.

One day when the man gets home, he finds her incoherent.  He dumps her in the water barrel and she when she comes up for air she says,

"I don't belong here, I feel it.  Don't you think I feel it? I can't do any of these vial things and wouldn't want to!  My children are the spon of hell and you're the devil."

There is something about it that makes me howl with laugher.  Peter thinks I'm crazy.  But watching her try to do housework and having no idea how to do it makes me crack up. 

It shows the difficulty (and benefit) of keeping house.  Housekeeping makes me feel the way she looks and her classic line, "I can't do any of these vial things and I wouldn't want to."   Just makes me crack up.

Secondarily, the line, "I don't belong here, I feel it, don't you think that I feel it?"   Let's just say, I really started liking this movie after living in Mongolia.  Watching this poor lady suffer in the movie, is a mini-picutre of culture shock and something about this scene really connects with me and because Goldie Hawn is a master, it can make me laugh at myself.  :)

We may be buying a bigger car

As many of you know, we've been thinking of buying another car.  We've shared a car for seven of the eleven years we've been married.  It's fine, but annoying so we think it's time to be Americans again and get a second car! Yay! Cue the Hallelujah Chorus!

After reading lots of reviews and things I decided on a Dodge Durango 2001.  It is the best car in our price range and has everything we want. 

• It's taller and better for snow driving
• has 4 wheel drive
• has seven seats
• can tow something
• is nice for Peter to drive around
• generally reliable

We decided we would just wait until a good one came along and not search around for it.  The day after we decided that, a man from church came up and asked Peter if he wanted to buy a 2001 Durango!  We were kind of shocked. 

Mel is a hobby mechanic, a welder by trade. He buys nice cars that people are going to scrap because of an engine problem and rebuilds them.  He  buys them cheap and sells them cheap.  He has a great reputation around town and so we went to take a look at the truck today.

It is really nice.  Older, with some minor dings and scratches, but in good shape.  Not much rust (a new thing to look for since moving to the land of salted roads and mud,)  Really clean interior, all the bells and whistles (i love you cruise control!)   And it is a low price which matches our impossible, unrealistically low amount we want to spend on another car now. 

back seats!  It will be good on long drives they can each have their own.
or they can bring a friend.
or we can all pick you up at the airport
or we could fit a infant car seat

glad it's an automatic and has CD

note the cruis control!  :)  I like the darker interior.
It might live through the destruction of our children!

From the back.  The back seat folds completely down.
Each row has its own climate control.

This is their super mellow great dog.  It sat and shaked hands.  If I had more land,
I would wait for this dogs pups and get one.

Nice color.  BIG!

Nice tires too!

So we'll probably buy it, we'll let Mel know tomorrow. 

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!