Halloween!

It has been a fun week leading up to Halloween!!

Why, you ask?

Well... because I've been able to hear Karen using words I didn't know she had.

Camp Candoo Graduation {Thankful Thursday}

After two long weeks, Karen "graduated" from Camp Candoo Speech camp today.  It was an intense, hard, long, but fun two weeks for her.  They pushed her harder than I thought they would be able to and the progress is amazing!! 

Karen and Hoang - the graduate student therapist Karen worked with for the last two weeks

First Ever National Apraxia Awareness Day!!

On May 14, 2013, the Childhood Apraxia of Speech Association of North America (CASANA) invites communities worldwide to learn about the needs, challenges, and abilities of children affected by apraxia. Apraxia is among the most severe speech and communication problems in children.

So in honor of this day, I thought I would share some information about Apraxia. 

Planning a charity walk {Tackle it Tuesday}

Planning a charity walk is not something I've done before. In fact, I didn't want to do it!!  I kept checking to see if CASANA (Childhood Apraxia of Speech Association of North America) had a walk scheduled for my area this summer, and alas no... I kept talking with Karen's SLP in Spokane hoping that maybe she would find someone (besides me) to organize one since we both thought it was a great idea (and since she isn't already busy enough), and again no...

As summer kept getting closer and the details were finalized for the intensive apraxia speech camp that will be in Spokane this summer, I decided that I'd better get it done if I wanted one to happen.  So, here I sit, finding myself trying to figure out what all needs to be done to plan the "Inland Northwest Washington Walk for Apraxia"!!

All I can say is "ACK!!" 

Parent-Teacher Conferences

A couple of weeks ago we had our spring parent-teacher conference for Karen.  We met with her preschool teacher, the kindergarten teacher, and her school SLP.  It was one of those proud Mama moments for me.  Carl & I got to sit there for an hour while all three talked about how sweet, hard-working, persistent, and amazing our daughter was. 

http://imgc.allpostersimages.com/images/P-473-488-90/7/714/1CWA000Z/posters/lila-rose-kennedy-dear-teacher.jpg

They all shared in the joy of the progress she's been making (especially evident in the last couple of months) with as much enthusiasm as Carl & I!!  I feel so very thankful for the area we live, the small school that allows such one-on-one interaction between Karen and her teachers and between me and her teachers.

Back to school

Tuesday was the first day of preschool for Karen.  It is her third year (sort of) in preschool.  She started in January of 2010 when she was three years old.  Her teacher told me that it was obvious that Karen knew the ropes - in her own way she was "telling" and showing the other kids the "how-to's" and "what-for" of class!!  So cute - I wish I could have been a fly on the wall for that.

Karen is wanting to walk into the classroom (she almost always had me carry her from the car to the classroom in the past) and she is riding the bus home after lunch... ack!!!!  I'm still a little in disbelief that I'm willing to let her be on the bus.  The only thing that really convinced me is that it is a kindergarten/preschool bus, so unless it is an early release day there aren't any big kids. Plus, her cousin Lucy rides until right before our stop.

I can see improvements in other ways too.  I have always asked her how her day was when I pick her up.  Usually the response to that question is dead air or her simply telling me "no"... which is her way of saying that she doesn't want try to talk.  The last three days I've gotten a response from her when I asked her.  Honestly, I don't have any idea what she tried to tell me - but the fact that she even attempted to share something is HUGE!!

Here's looking forward to another school year and the things you'll learn little nut!