Our Sunday School class came over for the 4th of July...fun was had by all.
It's my favorite holiday...because my birthday comes next.
Friday, July 17, 2009
Blistering Hot Day at the Lake
Chasing ducks and sweating...that's what we did at White Rock...it was so stinking hot. Will found some exercise equipment and thought it was a cool new playground. Notice the last picture where he's carrying a large walking stick...he's falling in love with them like his father has.
Day at Heights Park
Heights Park in Richardson holds a special place in my heart. It's 2 blocks from our second house and down the street from my childhood church. It's where we would climb up the rocket ship...till I was older and got scared, to disgusting trips through a creek (who thought that was a good idea), to a pool where I would go as a little girl and find my daily crush (whomever it was), and I would be so jealous of the girls taking gymnastics...because I wasn't good enough to do them there. So, a few weeks ago we took my kids. It has changed SO much. The rocket ship is gone, and a brand new play area (that's awesome) stands in it's place, I'd NEVER let my son in the creek, and the pool has even upgraded. The Rec Center however...is exactly the same...and I'd still love to do gymnastics if I could.
Thursday, July 02, 2009
Roger That.
Communication is a big deal to me. Is that news to anyone who reads this or knows me? Ella's 3 years of little communication have been really hard on me. She is such a delight. On our two recent trips I've realized that she's actually easier than William. However, I breaks my heart to not be able to hear her speak. To not know what your child wants, or needs, or what hurts, or what makes her laugh...that frustrates me.
Today I took Ella to an evaluation at the Callier Center at UT Dallas. We wanted her to be looked at for communication devices. A communication device doesn't mean that we don't expect her to speak, but until she makes a huge amount of improvement verbally, we need to be able to teach her HOW to communicate with us. She did REALLY well. I was actually encouraged and surprised by what the doctor had to say. Ella did wonderful! She understood cause and effect and how the tools and toys worked. It's too much to explain here, but I'll attach some pictures and see if it makes more sense.
In the first picture I'm pointing at a foam tab that the doctor put in the corner of each page of a board book...it creates space between the pages so that Ella can help turn the pages easier.
Ella had to push the purple button to make the duck quack and waddle...she even did it with her foot when the doctor moved it out of her reach. When she unplugged the duck Ella looked back and forth wondering why it wasn't working anymore.
This blue box would light up one box at a time. Ella would follow the lights and when they would get to the end it would jump down a level...she had about a 3-5 second delay, but she would follow them...I was impressed, and so was the doctor.
She picked the bubbles twice...so the doctor blew them for her...it was fun to watch her try and track them as they flew by and popped.
Today I took Ella to an evaluation at the Callier Center at UT Dallas. We wanted her to be looked at for communication devices. A communication device doesn't mean that we don't expect her to speak, but until she makes a huge amount of improvement verbally, we need to be able to teach her HOW to communicate with us. She did REALLY well. I was actually encouraged and surprised by what the doctor had to say. Ella did wonderful! She understood cause and effect and how the tools and toys worked. It's too much to explain here, but I'll attach some pictures and see if it makes more sense.
In the first picture I'm pointing at a foam tab that the doctor put in the corner of each page of a board book...it creates space between the pages so that Ella can help turn the pages easier.
Ella had to push the purple button to make the duck quack and waddle...she even did it with her foot when the doctor moved it out of her reach. When she unplugged the duck Ella looked back and forth wondering why it wasn't working anymore.
This blue box would light up one box at a time. Ella would follow the lights and when they would get to the end it would jump down a level...she had about a 3-5 second delay, but she would follow them...I was impressed, and so was the doctor.
She picked the bubbles twice...so the doctor blew them for her...it was fun to watch her try and track them as they flew by and popped.
So, I'll update you when we get the actual report. For now we are going to try and duplicate some of the things that the doctor did today.
I will pray for the day that I can sit and have a conversation with my daughter. To hear her heart in her words, what a beautiful day.
"Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing." James 1:2-4
Girl's Night for July
Made it out for our Monthly Girl's Dinner this month. Had a great dinner at Blue Plate and then went out to Victor Tango's for more girl talk. I had a great time. I love these girls. Some of them I've lived with years ago, and at least a few I've known for almost 9 years...good friends and great women.
Aubrey Christine Farell
Stephanie and I got to go up and see baby Aubrey about 24 hours after she was born. You may remember that she was still "cooking" when we all went to New Mexico about a month ago...and we are glad she waited till this week to arrive!!
Here are some pics of Steph and Aubs (as I like to call her).
Here are some pics of Steph and Aubs (as I like to call her).
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