Speech apraxia

Lets just be blunt.
Speech Apraxia S***S!!!

There are times when Aine can tell you what she wants, there are other times she can only cry.  At those times, the only thing I can do is try not to cry myself.

We have and are working with specialists to help Aine be able to communicate to the best of her abilities as well as being given the gift of including it with her hippo therapy.  All these combined has given Aine the strength and confidence to work through us not understanding her.  School is getting used to her dynovox, we continue to work on updating it, and making it better for her when she just can't get her speech or lips to work.

However! While resting today the most wonderful sounds came out of her mouth!
Mickey Mouse clubhouse, come inside its fun inside.

And....  It was clear as day!

Can we say tears of joy from this momma!  Oh yes we can!!!!
She may not be able to say it in an hour, but her tiny voice will repeat in my head while she is trying :)

In the beginning of the school year everyone asked me what I was going to do with all my free time.

I just laughed, free time?.?  What's that?

Now, as the weeks go by and Aine's para gets more comfortable with all the signs she needs to watch for I find myself at Caribou anxiously waiting for the time to tick by, reconfiguring a long overdue messy phone and Ipad.  Downloading things I think will come in handy as well as think about what my kids are doing in their own little worlds.  Because I will never truely know what they are doing, it's their time not mine, and they are growing up.

As Shawn has told me before, I should be happy that they will wave to me and say goodbye without a tear, it's good that they cried in the beginning when it was time to leave the fun and friends for the day.  I agree, but it doesn't always help when that pit starts to hold the tears while thinking about how lucky I am to have my little family.  Growing strong and dependent on themselves while still needing me when they get a bump or bruise.

While all this is happening, I am seeing that a little free time is something that could happen, even if it is at caribou or mocha monkey  twice a week because I can't be that far away from the kids :).   So when I was given a gift to help myself (maybe just to support my up and coming fancy coffee kicks twice a week :) ), I accepted.  I was gifted a site where I will be selling candles with jewelry inside.  I've always loved looking at them and have wanted to see what they were all about.  I'm hoping that this will fill some of the "free time" that is giving me that pit in my stomach.

Feel free to check it out and ask any questions :)

Http://www.jewelryincandles.com/store/nicolecasey

Tons to post!

Tons to post, forget to post, time goes by :(

We have been super busy lately.
Liam is in swimming, horse back riding, and kindergarten!
Which is crazy to think about.
Wasn't he just 3?

Aine is in swimming, horseback therapy, and preschool!
Wait!  Wasn't she just born?...

There have been some weddings in our families, some coming up, some babies in the family, and some more coming up.  Birthdays, anniversaries, and family events have come and gone.

Right now though?
Well, we are all working on getting over something, and it is affecting all of us differently.  Liam seems the least affected and is having a grand time playing trains.
Shawn is tired and stuffy. I have headaches, body aches, stuffy nose, and more.
Aine - I wish I knew what she felt.  She doesn't know how to express herself  to I don't know except that she feels yucky :(

But to not dwell on the negative :)
Liam had conferences and he is doing Wonderful in school.  The teacher loves having him in class, he is compassionate to others, and have a love of learning :).

Swimming is going awesome also!  He is learning how to side breath and is doing a really good job at it,  swimming half the pool!

Horseback riding is amazing also!  He went from two side walkers to one, to just a lead person who will soon be removed and he will be leading the horse by himself.

Aine has gone to school 3 days!  We've had to pull her because of live vaccines and illness, but she has loved the times she has been there!

Horse therapy is also going great!  She is steering the horse (with some assistance), stopping, starting, and mounting (all with assistance) as well as working on her speech!  She is in a saddle and using the reins!

There is more to update on, but this is a beginning!

Have a great weekend!!!