Blah, blah, blah?

Clifton had an assessment done and will be starting speech therapy next week. He talks and sings constantly so this will just add more words to his vocabulary that seems to be solely associated with food and his sister (the two things he loves most). I think he'll love the attention and progress quickly. He has already started reading his name and helping Sable learn her letters.

Perfect kids.

Read it. Loved it. Please consider this a recommendation.

I can lend it out.

A silent Alphabet

Sable just showed us that she knows the whole alphabet in sign language. We are in awe.

I've missed a few things...

A few months ago, Papa John was staying at our house and spending time with the kids. He walked Sable to school one day and holding hands they approached one of the teachers. Sable pointed to her Grandpa and said to her teacher "Papa." It was the first time she has ever introduced any one. It was very sweet and well mannered of her.

Sometimes people walk up to me and ask questions about Sable. It mostly happens with older people because they smile and stare at her the most. One elderly lady approached me and asked if she was deaf. I smiled, answered with a polite "nope" and continued with my day. It was the first time that I could let go of a random comment about her situation so easily and I didn't feel the need to explain her to any one.

After Grandma Dawns Christmas party, we told the kids to say their goodbyes. Clifton waved, said, "Bye-bye gramma," then humming, pursed his lips and went in for a kiss. Gramma was very pleased.

First day of Summer School

Sable started Summer School (ESY) today. I was nervous sending her to school without meeting the teacher or knowing the other kids in the class. Sable still can't identify herself and that makes me worry. Plus letting her ride the bus home. Panic! I was instantly cheered up when we entered the classroom and saw two sets of parents that we knew, four kids from her old class and the program director! Six people shouted "Sable!" I love those people! When the bus driver dropped her off, he looked like a happy young-grandpa and said Sable told him stories all the way home. That sounds like our girl! She's now home, hungry and, as you can see in the photo, sleepy.

John Christopher McGinley

I have seriously developed a "parent" crush on this actor. He said recently that having a kid with special needs gives you an opportunity to be a great parent. Beautiful and true.

Click link to read more Our Special Kids

Epilepsy and Delays

How did I get Epilepsy?
Why did I have so many misscarriages?
Why did Sable become delayed?

My Nurologist may have one answer for all three of these frusturating questions.

Science is amazing. None of the answers for these questions existed in 2009. It's still a little experimental but today I gave blood samples for genetic testing. If I test positive, Sable and I could be "cured."

I started crying in the Doctors office, hard.

Links below are the gene's I'm having tested. Mom, Dad, Stacy and Cliff: If I have it, you have a 50% chance of having it too. Sable, if I have it, you have it.

"MTHFR" the Mofo Gene
Homocystinuria

Hope of an answer has been closed off from these questions for a long time. It's amazing to feel that there could be answers.

Think Positive!

Special Needs Family blog

Click HERE to read a great article

different...

It's so strange noticing how different the kids are from each other. Sable hit most of her milestones until she was 4 months old but Clifton is hitting all of them in normal range and he's ready for more. We didn't realize how far behind Sable was; I didn't want to be one of those "milestone obsessed moms", it seems ridiculous to me to brag about typical behaviors, so I never paid attention to those details. Cliff seems so strangely advanced to me but he's just typical, it's strange. Sable was and will always be my little snuggle-girl though.

Sable's Boyer Birthday!

Sable loved being at Boyer Children's Clinic, almost as much as Joel and I loved the support from all the staff, parents and people associated with the school. Watching Sable learn and make progress was very calming and inspiring to us. Her teachers and therapists really cared about our whole little family, we know they're proud of Sable too.

Not pictured: Coordinator Jenny, Teacher Kimberly and OT Caroline. Sable would giggle every time she saw Caroline, who taught Sable how to use an iPad.


Sable with her friends coloring the Happy Birthday poster. It had butterflies on it! Thank you Teacher Amy & Laura!


Play-doh Time.


Sable with her Physical Therapist Amy. They've been friends for over 1-1/2 years.


Sable (not sure she liked seeing the camera while eating her snack) with her Speech Therapist Becca. Sable often referred to Becca as "Butterfly" because she had Butterfly pictures for Sable to hold during sessions.


Joel made 2 layer Jello fruit cups with whip cream on top as a treat for Sables class. It was a big hit! We wanted to make something creative, kid friendly and easy. They were yummy too!

Parenting Children with Special Needs

Please click HERE to read an article that Joel and I connect with. It would mean a lot to us.

Quote

"Courage does not always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying 'I will try again tomorrow'." -- Mary Anne Radmacher

Developmentally Delayed

Sable has been diagnosed as Developmentally Delayed. This is not the same as Developmentally Disabled. Developmentally Delayed means she is late on some of her milestones (physical). All babies develop at different rates and Sable for whatever reason is behind. Things that can make a child develop slower are: parents going through Postpartum, Child being held to much, left handedness, future learning disabilities, early onset of seizure disorder, or just because... there's a long list.
*** Being Developmentally Delayed is fixable. It is not a long term issue.*** We are doing physical therapy to catch up. As soon as she is caught up, she will no longer be Developmentally Delayed. We noticed the issue early and in Sables case, she will be fine. She is an enthusiastic learner and with each physical therapy session she improves greatly.
I decided to post this because I had a friend mention their grandchild was missing milestones and starting physical therapy, they were so worried. I told her how common and temporary the issue was. I'm very proud of my beautiful little girl. This is her first hurdle in life and Joel and I are helping her to fly over it.