Thanks

Thanks to everyone who checks up on us. Nora is doing great. She is happy and healthy and making progress everyday. It is sometimes hard for us to see but every now and then she wows us with something. Lately she gets so excited to see me and exclaims "Ma Ma" real slow like. It has been almost 3 years and she is finally, FINALLY saying a word for me and only me. You may think it is the same meh-meh for car, or muh-muh for more or gimme that there thing that I want and can't get. But no, really it means me, mommy, mama, the one who gets up at 4 am to change pjs and sheets b/c she pees through her diaper or the one who shleps her to every corner of Seattle for every therapy known to man. ME I tell ya. Very nice I tell ya.

But many others who see Nora every now and then cannot get over the changes they see. Even over the weekend, her teachers see big changes in how she picks up new word, or sounds or signs. She flies through her work in class with her 1:1 teacher. She has started singing some words to songs instead of just humming or putting the same word for the whole song (eg: Emma, emma, emma, emma to Twinkle Twinkle or ba ba ba ba ba-BA BA ba ba to Blue Danube Waltz.) I think we are going to check into doing some music therapy along with sensory integration therapy. And maybe even hippotherapy (horse back riding). I think now is the time for her brain to explode with new pathways for learning. And exposing her to more things and more experiences can only help. I hope.

Everyone else is good. Alex and Emma have a stomach bug that will hopefully be gone by the time the turkey is done.

I am thankful that we can look forward with hope and optimism and not sadness. We'll all be stronger and more thankful for what Nora has gone through.

Happy Thanksgiving

Lori

Sickies

We all are pretty sick around here. It started last week with Nora having a marathon puke-a-thon Tues. night. I was up every hour changing her crib. Emma stayed home Thurs. and I have laryngitis since then. Of course we had 2 events this weekend- Emma's school's auction Friday and Karaoke last night. Needless to say I was NOT singing. (Our friend Kevin rocked the Barry Mantilo though) I am sure if I had not been talking non stop my voice might have returned.

Nora is feeling fine now. She has started to get really frustrated because she can't communicate with us. If she wants something or is upset, she moans, cries, whines and throws a fit until she gets it. We have to figure out some way for her to tell us what she wants. She doesn't use PECS or use that many signs so it makes it hard for us to understand her.

Emma's parent/teacher conference is tomorrow so we'll see how Kindergarten is going for Emma.

Thanks for checking in!! Off to make pancakes.

Lori

Sensory disorder?

Yesterday Nora's OT/PT at school asked me to fill out a sensory disorder questionnaire on Nora. When we first realized something was wrong with Nora, one of the issues was sensory problems. She still has some major issues- like not liking her hair or teeth brushed, she puts lots of stuff in her mouth, hates having her nose wiped, touches textures a lot, rubs skin (mine or her own) , she doesn't enjoy cuddling or being held against her will, and she won't use a cup-only sippy cups. Sounds pretty typical of a two year old I think. But I think she is more hyper sensitive to these things than other kids her age. I am not sure what this will do for her therapies. Maybe more OT and focus on sensory. I am not sure.

My cousin Kelly, her husband Dan and kids Zoe and Mason stopped by for dinner last night. It was so nice to see them. Emma and Zoe played so nicely and Mason and Nora were funny together. They were so happy and impressed on Nora's progress.

Thanks for checking in
Lori

Halloween and such

Nora and Emma had a fun Halloween. Mim and Grandfather were here for a week visiting so it was extra fun. Nora was a ballerina (we tried a fireman and princess but she wouldn't stand the costumes) and Emma was Princess Leia. Our friend Dylan was Spidy. Nora got the hang of going up the steps to get a treat. Once she figured out that candy was involved, she was all in. But she did want to run into every house we came to. And the rain stayed away. Phew.

It was a very busy week. A trip to the pumpkin farm and corn maze (which took forever to find our way out), haircuts for all, basement projects, visits to the girls' schools, and lots of love from Mim and G-father.

School is going well. Nora is learning new things everyday. She now has about 10 words (some are just approximations-mo for more and la for light). But she is trying to communicate her wants and needs. Big progress. Still doesn't call me Mama, although she CAN say mama, just not to me. Grr.. Gaga is Dada and Emma is clear as day. Someday soon I hope.

She is starting to give up naps somewhat. If she sleeps too long during a nap, she gets up at the crack of dawn so I am trying to figure the whole sleep thing out.

Other than that, we are pretty much doing the daily grind. School, speech, play, sleep and eat. She is a happy happy girl.

Thanks for checking in

Lori