Tuesday, October 13, 2015
Amazing Average
At the beginning of the school year, Ella participated in required MAP testing in math and reading. Today we received the results and are completely blown away by them. After less than one year of speaking English and of receiving targeted academic input, Ella scored only seven points below the Norm Grade Level Mean RIT for math and one point above the Norm Grade Level Mean RIT for reading. Most surprisingly, her vocabulary use and functions were scored as high average. In my totally biased opinion this is an incredible accomplishment by our determined little girl. Average is beautiful! Go, Ella!
Monday, October 12, 2015
A Precious Gift From Gyumri
Friends of ours recently traveled to Ella's former orphanage to meet their daughter-to-be. They returned with a most precious gift for us: 75 digital photos of Ella's first six years. We are so thankful to our friends, the new orphanage director, and the orphanage staff for this invaluable treasure.
Friday, October 9, 2015
Emilia Is Six
We recently celebrated Emilia's sixth birthday. My baby is growing up.
Emilia's actual birthday happened to be a day off school for the girls, so Craig and I arranged for a visit at a firehouse where our friend Bryan is a full-time firefighter. Given Emilia's current interest in firetrucks, we knew she would love this surprise. After some initial hesitation, she had so much fun. And she told us many parts of the firetruck: wheel, hose, ladder, ax, crowbar...
After lunch and a nap pit stop at home, we headed to a local pumpkin patch. We weren't actually all that interested in the pumpkins, but came mostly to ride the wagons which were pulled by tractors, another one of Emilia's favorite things at the moment. We had such a good time on a gorgeous fall day riding around a big farm. They also had several tractors parked and Emilia climbed onto all of them and pretended to drive. She kept singing her little tractor song, too. I think the tractors were the biggest hit of the day for her.
We decided to keep Emilia's party with family and friends small and low key at a local park in early afternoon. Our theme was "You Color Our World." I made a garland and party favors from paint cards I picked up for free at Lowes. Our supplies were crazy colorful and the DF chocolate cupcakes had rainbow sprinkles. We also served banitsa, a traditional Bulgarian dish, and fresh fruit. We had some paint on hand for anyone interested, but mostly the kids played away on the playground. We asked our guests to wear their most colorful outfits which everyone did.
 |
| Commenting on her tea set gift, "I have tiny cup present." |
Emilia's actual birthday happened to be a day off school for the girls, so Craig and I arranged for a visit at a firehouse where our friend Bryan is a full-time firefighter. Given Emilia's current interest in firetrucks, we knew she would love this surprise. After some initial hesitation, she had so much fun. And she told us many parts of the firetruck: wheel, hose, ladder, ax, crowbar...
 |
| A ride around the block in a real firetruck |
 |
| Trying on Bryan's equipment |
After lunch and a nap pit stop at home, we headed to a local pumpkin patch. We weren't actually all that interested in the pumpkins, but came mostly to ride the wagons which were pulled by tractors, another one of Emilia's favorite things at the moment. We had such a good time on a gorgeous fall day riding around a big farm. They also had several tractors parked and Emilia climbed onto all of them and pretended to drive. She kept singing her little tractor song, too. I think the tractors were the biggest hit of the day for her.
 |
| On the hayride |
We decided to keep Emilia's party with family and friends small and low key at a local park in early afternoon. Our theme was "You Color Our World." I made a garland and party favors from paint cards I picked up for free at Lowes. Our supplies were crazy colorful and the DF chocolate cupcakes had rainbow sprinkles. We also served banitsa, a traditional Bulgarian dish, and fresh fruit. We had some paint on hand for anyone interested, but mostly the kids played away on the playground. We asked our guests to wear their most colorful outfits which everyone did.
Happy birthday, sweetest girl.
We treasure your hugs and kisses, your giggles
and your unstoppable big belly laughs at life's slapstick moments.
We see your beauty, inside and out,
your compassion for others,
your talent for bringing happiness and smiles to those around you.
We know when you scream in frustration or disagreement
it's because you have more to share than you're able to verbalize.
We're always listening to your words and your heart.
We love you just the way you are.
Thursday, October 8, 2015
Tuesday, October 6, 2015
Picture Of The Day
Note from Rex's therapist: "Today after cot time, Rex took the blanket over to 'H' to put over top of him. The two of them always swap blankets, funny boys. Rex was putting the blanket as gently as he could over top of 'H' and even tried to get on the same cot as him. That didn't really work, the cot is a bit small. Rex got off and readjusted the blanket for it to cover 'H.' Super cute that Rex realized 'H' was still sleeping and gave up the blanket he was using to cover 'H' up."
Monday, October 5, 2015
Double Digits
I realized recently that the number of words that Rex can say now is in the double digits. These are not words that he can verbally imitate only, but words that he uses purposefully, spontaneously and in correct context. The biggest feats so far in my opinion are hi and bye as well as approximations for yes and no.
I understand that this may not mean anything to parents whose children's language development occurred naturally and effortlessly, but when, like us, you have been told that your child would never speak, every single word uttered is a miracle.
We also found out rather by accident that Rex knows quite a few shapes. When his teachers started to test him in this area after our unexpected discovery, he could identify either receptively or by tacting a star ("gar"), heart ("har"), circle, diamond and oval ("ovah"). They then decided to probe if he knows any colors and Rex showed that he recognizes at least four different colors (but he may be red green blind based on some observations during sorting). In March of this year during Rex's IEP meetings I suggested that we should write shape and color identification into his academic goals and was practically sneered at for thinking that Rex would be capable of acquiring such knowledge. In your face, people, my kid may rock to the beat of his own drummer, but he still rocks!
I understand that this may not mean anything to parents whose children's language development occurred naturally and effortlessly, but when, like us, you have been told that your child would never speak, every single word uttered is a miracle.
We also found out rather by accident that Rex knows quite a few shapes. When his teachers started to test him in this area after our unexpected discovery, he could identify either receptively or by tacting a star ("gar"), heart ("har"), circle, diamond and oval ("ovah"). They then decided to probe if he knows any colors and Rex showed that he recognizes at least four different colors (but he may be red green blind based on some observations during sorting). In March of this year during Rex's IEP meetings I suggested that we should write shape and color identification into his academic goals and was practically sneered at for thinking that Rex would be capable of acquiring such knowledge. In your face, people, my kid may rock to the beat of his own drummer, but he still rocks!
Thursday, October 1, 2015
September Randomness
Here are some random snippets from life at our house.
Chicken salad: there are very few things that I make that all three of my kids like to eat or are able to eat. I recently resurrected the chicken salad and it's currently a rare favorite with all the small Martinis. The recipe is simple: white chicken, fresh basil leaves, garlic, a pinch of salt, and mayo mixed together in a food processor. Ella likes it in a wrap for her school lunch, Rex enjoys it on a chip and Emilia eats it straight up from a spoon. Win-win-win.
Allowance: Ella has started to receive a weekly allowance of $1.00. In addition to her regular unpaid chores, she can earn an extra 50 cents for folding a basket of laundry without being asked at any time and another dollar for cleaning her room (put everything into its place and sweep) once a week. She's already done both chores multiple times. She has three little jars for keeping her money: Save, Spend, and Give. Ella's saving for either a new bike helmet or a pair of rain boots, so I was especially touched when she put 50 cents into the Give jar with the words, "Everyone needs a little help." She made her first purchase of a mood necklace and four pieces of candy as well, two pieces for herself and two for Emilia as she informed me while choosing. Rex doesn't like any candy, otherwise I am sure she would have thought of him, too.
Birthday greetings:
Therapies: We're going through a lot of changes in the kids' therapies. We're staying with the same practice, but the therapists are now new hires under the experienced lead therapist/owner. Even at Rex's school, Rex is working with a new OT and new ABA person and a new Kindergarten teacher. Fortunately, he's not picky in this regard and completes his tasks for just about anyone.
Acquired torticollis: That was Emilia's official diagnosis after a play-related injury. She's fine now, but she was in quite a bit of pain for about 48 hours, "Head hurts. I sad."
Hearts: Ella worked very hard on a secret craft project one afternoon. Before bed, she had all of us sit on the couch, so she could share the surprise with us. She had cut out hearts for each of us and written our names on them. Granted, the hearts look more like Rorschach inkblots, but you gotta love what she was conveying to us.
Chicken salad: there are very few things that I make that all three of my kids like to eat or are able to eat. I recently resurrected the chicken salad and it's currently a rare favorite with all the small Martinis. The recipe is simple: white chicken, fresh basil leaves, garlic, a pinch of salt, and mayo mixed together in a food processor. Ella likes it in a wrap for her school lunch, Rex enjoys it on a chip and Emilia eats it straight up from a spoon. Win-win-win.
Allowance: Ella has started to receive a weekly allowance of $1.00. In addition to her regular unpaid chores, she can earn an extra 50 cents for folding a basket of laundry without being asked at any time and another dollar for cleaning her room (put everything into its place and sweep) once a week. She's already done both chores multiple times. She has three little jars for keeping her money: Save, Spend, and Give. Ella's saving for either a new bike helmet or a pair of rain boots, so I was especially touched when she put 50 cents into the Give jar with the words, "Everyone needs a little help." She made her first purchase of a mood necklace and four pieces of candy as well, two pieces for herself and two for Emilia as she informed me while choosing. Rex doesn't like any candy, otherwise I am sure she would have thought of him, too.
Birthday greetings:
Therapies: We're going through a lot of changes in the kids' therapies. We're staying with the same practice, but the therapists are now new hires under the experienced lead therapist/owner. Even at Rex's school, Rex is working with a new OT and new ABA person and a new Kindergarten teacher. Fortunately, he's not picky in this regard and completes his tasks for just about anyone.
Acquired torticollis: That was Emilia's official diagnosis after a play-related injury. She's fine now, but she was in quite a bit of pain for about 48 hours, "Head hurts. I sad."
Hearts: Ella worked very hard on a secret craft project one afternoon. Before bed, she had all of us sit on the couch, so she could share the surprise with us. She had cut out hearts for each of us and written our names on them. Granted, the hearts look more like Rorschach inkblots, but you gotta love what she was conveying to us.
Weather: We had the best weather this month. I guess I can now let go of our botched June.
Sprained ankle: It happened to Craig. He's wearing a boot.
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