Last year we took a little bit of the Christmas money the kids received and bought the My Baby Can Read set. Well when I say last year it was 2011 and it has sat unused. Pathetic I know. To my defense, the kids are so busy with therapies and we are usually just so exhausted. That being said, the kids speech has really taken off so I decided we should really start the program. I am so happy we did! It's amazing! The kids aren't reading yet of course but they are putting the words together with the picture. It even goes over colors! The program is really organized, they watch the fun DVD first which goes over about 25 words. Next we go through flashcards with them saying each word two times and then I show the picture that goes with the word. The last step is reading a book that does the same thing. They loved it and actually asked to watch the DVD again. Gracie named each color and said every word. This is huge because her speech evaluations put her at a vocabulary of about 25 words so for her to be able to accurately say 25 new words and be able to understand her with the loudness of her voice is huge! I am once again so proud of these little people!
Tomorrow is their first day back to school and I am so sick about it. I'm so worried about the Flu that is going around and it's so bad. Of course they've had their Flu shots (those are still a requirement due to them being preemie, etc.) but what I worry about is the other kids. So many of the parents send their kids to school sick. You wouldn't think that would be the case because it's only a two day a week program but they do. I can only imagine what the Flu would do to them. Please, please, please keep them in your prayers. I just pray that God will put a little bubble around them.
Potty training isn't going at all. Like not even trying. I really just don't know how to do it. I've read so many things and have tried so many different ways and they still pee the floor.
Monday Ricky and I will meet with the school district to get information about the PPCD program. We initially said no way but Brody's vision teacher said we should really consider it. I don't know what we'll end up doing. We've kept them in the ECI program specifically for the easier PPCD enrollment since ECI has been of no value to us from the beginning other than this but it's really hard to know what choice to make. I can't picture sending my little 3 year olds to a big elementary school. I just can't. Plus, Brody will probably qualify and maybe Gracie but we are pretty sure Madi won't. We'll then be left with what to do with Madi. We could keep her in the school they are in now but that is only two days a week and PPCD is 5 days a week. We could put her in a 5 day a week program but then I'd feel like she'd be getting a better education than Brody and Gracie. Plus, I'm a stay at home mom, this is why we decided for me not to work so I could take care of them. If they are out of the house 5 days a week (half days) I wouldn't feel right not contributing to our family. See so many difficult decisions. Plus, I've heard you are unable to view the PPCD classroom until your kids are actually in the class and I have a real big problem with that. It took me 5 visits before I finally knew where they are now was a good place to send them. Call me overprotective but these are my kids and we've fought so hard to be where we are today and I'm not jeopardizing that. Anyway, we do the first meeting Monday and they will be tested sometime closer to the end of this school year.
The decisions I/we make for our children weigh so heavy on me. It honestly feels like the weight of the world. This time is so important for their development and I don't want to make any wrong choices and at the same time I want them to learn everything they possibly can to their capabilities.
Our new Physical Therapist is amazing. Hands down amazing! She is one smart cookie when it comes to all things PT related and has quickly pointed out a couple things to me that the kids are weaker in and how she is going to strengthen those areas. The kids LOVE her and she works them so hard but you'd never know it because she makes everything a fun game for them. They are so exhausted by the time therapy is over that they eat lunch and pass out. It's wonderful to see the changes and I'm so excited to have her on our team.
It's been nice to get back into our hectic schedule. It was nice to have a break but this is our life and I missed the crazy :)
I think I'll end this book now. I'll update again soon.
KP
