Quinn has been receiving extra "help" for about 6 months now.
It started with a developmental interventionist. She started working with Quinn because of her lack of "self-help" skills (she wasn't wanting to feed herself) and because she wasn't walking yet (she was 15 months at this time). She made great progress pretty quickly on this.
Then in December, there was concern about her lack of language and thus, her hearing. I had her hearing tested, which was "normal" but found middle-ear fluid. Needed to have her ears looked at again in 2 months, but she got an ear infection so we have to wait another 2 months (so hopefully can get that done here soon). So, we started working with a speech therapist as well.
The speech therapist started working with Quinn in February. The first few sessions was more about getting to know Quinn (and letting Quinn get familar with her). We have switched Quinn to a hard-spout and/or straw cup as suggested and we're incorporating more signs to help Quinn communicate (for anyone who needs suggestions for signing, the app "sign4me" is really good and shows you many angles). The signs are just supposed to help keep her from getting overly frustrated while learning to verbally communicate. The therapist also said that she would begin to "drop" the signs after she learns the words better.
Every day she is getting better in my mind. She may not be on the "normal" schedule, but in reality what is that? So some people may read this blog and believe that it is my fault as to why Quinn is behind ("She shouldn't be working" or "She obviously isn't spending enough time with her"). However, I know that I have been a great mom to Quinn and will continue to do so. Thanks to everyone who is willing to support us through all of this. We couldn't do it without you!
Quinnie's Birthday Countdown!
March 27, 2012
March 19, 2012
Outfit of the Week
March 12, 2012
Outfit of the Week
Spring is coming...
Dress: Old Navy Women's Tiered - Gauze Print Sundress - current price: $29.94.
Shoes: Old Navy Women's Mixed Pleated Wedge - current price: $29.94
Dress: Old Navy Women's Tiered - Gauze Print Sundress - current price: $29.94.
Jacket: Sonoma life + style Crop Denim Jacket - current price at Kohls: $29.99. (Would look cute in blue denim too!)
Shoes: Old Navy Women's Mixed Pleated Wedge - current price: $29.94
March 9, 2012
Tacorito
Unfortunately, I don't have pics of this meal, but it is so good and easy it got ate up before I could take a picture :)
Tacorito
Sauce:
2 cans cream of chicken soup
1 can full of water
1/2 can of milk
1 teaspoon cumin
salt and pepper to taste
Mix all ingredients above in medium sauce pan over medium-low heat. Stir with a wire whisk. Simmer for about 25-30 minutes
Assembly time:
1 pound ground hamburger or diced chicken breast, cooked and drained
8 burrito size tortillas
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese for filling
0.5 cup shredded cheddar cheese for topping
For each tortilla, put a little cheddar cheese, some of the meat and about 2 tablespoons of the sauce. Roll up like a burrito (ends in) and place in lightly greased 9x13 pan. Do all 8 tortillas.
Pour the rest of the sauce on top of the rolled tortillas and top with the remaining cheddar cheese. Bake covered at 325 for 20-30 minutes
Tacorito
Sauce:
2 cans cream of chicken soup
1 can full of water
1/2 can of milk
1 teaspoon cumin
salt and pepper to taste
Mix all ingredients above in medium sauce pan over medium-low heat. Stir with a wire whisk. Simmer for about 25-30 minutes
Assembly time:
1 pound ground hamburger or diced chicken breast, cooked and drained
8 burrito size tortillas
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese for filling
0.5 cup shredded cheddar cheese for topping
For each tortilla, put a little cheddar cheese, some of the meat and about 2 tablespoons of the sauce. Roll up like a burrito (ends in) and place in lightly greased 9x13 pan. Do all 8 tortillas.
Pour the rest of the sauce on top of the rolled tortillas and top with the remaining cheddar cheese. Bake covered at 325 for 20-30 minutes
March 8, 2012
What is normal?
I remember not so long ago when I had my son, Owen, how much I looked forward to every doctor's visit to be able to tell them all the cool things that he had been doing. How great of an eater he was, how he had surpassed any milestone they believed he should have reached.
Owen was a relatively easy baby when it came to many things. He was a great sleeper, ate almost everything you gave him, transititioned off of the bottle without even blinking an eye. He even just "lost" his pacifier one day at daycare and never looked back.
Now with my Quinnie, I actually don't want to go to the doctor to find out what she is "behind" on this time. Everyday, we make progress with her. Yet everytime that I have gone in, it never fails, that all of the hope I had that we were finally get her back to "normal" I would find out that we're "behind" on something else.
I don't feel like I did things much differently with Quinn than I did with Owen. The main difference was needing to make sure that she gained weight (where Owen had no concern with this!).
I still believe that I'm a good Mom and that I'm doing what I can for my little girl. We're playing even more with her now, working on signs to help with communication as she tries to pick up more on speech, taking more control with eating, but it is so hard with her not talking.
Each child can be so different and deserves to be treated as an individual. I am confident that things will get better and better with time. Yet as we get closer and closer to Quinn's next check-up (at 2 years in June), keep me in your thoughts please as I'm now the parent who no longer looks forward to "bragging", but I'm the parent who is constantly made to feel like a failure.
Owen was a relatively easy baby when it came to many things. He was a great sleeper, ate almost everything you gave him, transititioned off of the bottle without even blinking an eye. He even just "lost" his pacifier one day at daycare and never looked back.
Now with my Quinnie, I actually don't want to go to the doctor to find out what she is "behind" on this time. Everyday, we make progress with her. Yet everytime that I have gone in, it never fails, that all of the hope I had that we were finally get her back to "normal" I would find out that we're "behind" on something else.
I don't feel like I did things much differently with Quinn than I did with Owen. The main difference was needing to make sure that she gained weight (where Owen had no concern with this!).
I still believe that I'm a good Mom and that I'm doing what I can for my little girl. We're playing even more with her now, working on signs to help with communication as she tries to pick up more on speech, taking more control with eating, but it is so hard with her not talking.
Each child can be so different and deserves to be treated as an individual. I am confident that things will get better and better with time. Yet as we get closer and closer to Quinn's next check-up (at 2 years in June), keep me in your thoughts please as I'm now the parent who no longer looks forward to "bragging", but I'm the parent who is constantly made to feel like a failure.
March 6, 2012
Date Night!
My husband and I finally got to go out on a date last Friday night. And when I say "finally" I mean FINALLY!! The last date that we went on (i.e. we left the house without kiddos and weren't home until they were asleep) was April 2010. That's right, that was not a typo - April 2010.
When we moved away, I never dreamed how hard it would be to find someone to watch your kids that you trust with them and that wants to be with them. I had a student last semester who told me that she wanted to meet my kids so that she could watch them so hubby and I could go out. Well - we finally did it! Now, it was still tough leaving them and wondering how things were going (Quinn has been quite the handful and Owen had that boo-boo on this chin).
We didn't do anything "spectacularly" fun. It didn't help that we had storms in the area reported before we went out so I didn't want to go too far away. We ended up going to eat at Outback Steakhouse. This in itself was amazing! I got to order what I wanted (not worrying about what Quinn or Owen would eat off of me) and they even had their Baked Potato Soup back! We got to talk to each other without being drowned out by (or constantly concerned with) the children.
We were then going to go bowling, but hubby has a sore knee so we went to a movie. Not a good movie by any means, but a time where we got to watch something without being interupted or so late that we would fall asleep! Then we went and got a drink and came home around 10:30. Not a late night, but a date night...finally! Hopefully we get to do it again sometime before another 2 years goes by :)
When we moved away, I never dreamed how hard it would be to find someone to watch your kids that you trust with them and that wants to be with them. I had a student last semester who told me that she wanted to meet my kids so that she could watch them so hubby and I could go out. Well - we finally did it! Now, it was still tough leaving them and wondering how things were going (Quinn has been quite the handful and Owen had that boo-boo on this chin).
We didn't do anything "spectacularly" fun. It didn't help that we had storms in the area reported before we went out so I didn't want to go too far away. We ended up going to eat at Outback Steakhouse. This in itself was amazing! I got to order what I wanted (not worrying about what Quinn or Owen would eat off of me) and they even had their Baked Potato Soup back! We got to talk to each other without being drowned out by (or constantly concerned with) the children.
We were then going to go bowling, but hubby has a sore knee so we went to a movie. Not a good movie by any means, but a time where we got to watch something without being interupted or so late that we would fall asleep! Then we went and got a drink and came home around 10:30. Not a late night, but a date night...finally! Hopefully we get to do it again sometime before another 2 years goes by :)
March 5, 2012
Outfit of the Week
I saw this dress and knew I just had to share!
Dress: Old Navy's Women's Pleated Chiffon Tie-Belt Dress - current price: $34.94.
Dress: Old Navy's Women's Pleated Chiffon Tie-Belt Dress - current price: $34.94.
Shoes: Bandolino Pritchett Sandals - current price at DSW: $49.95
March 1, 2012
Owen update
Owen is doing awesome in kindergarten! I have got good "report cards" for him from both his teachers (including the daycare kindergarten). In addition, I have asked (just to make sure) if his teachers recommend that he go on to 1st grade or stay back in kindergarten and they have both almost been surprised that I even asked and enthusiastically tell me yes he should go on to 1st grade.
We've signed Owen up for t-ball this year and the practices are supposed to start in April. Looking forward to that - especially getting him outside to do something fun!
Yesterday, my Owen got hurt at his daycare while playing outside (tripped and hit his mouth on a plastic stair). I got the call while I was teaching so I didn't even notice until I was done teaching. They said his mouth was bleeding and he was crying pretty bad. They had put ice on it. When I got there, he was acting like his normal self and didn't even seem to be phased. I do wish I had seen it happen so I knew exactly what had happen. Luckily, it appears he hit between his lips and chin.
Today, he was supposed to dress up like his favorite character in his favorite book - he wanted to be Woody. I had nothing cowboy lying around and we were told that we shouldn't have to go out and buy things for this. Luckily, a friend let us borrow some cowboy stuff. I think he looks pretty cute!
Owen is generally a pretty good boy; sometimes I am amazed at what a sweet boy I have. Then, of course, I sometimes wonder where the little hellion (never had to spell that before!) comes from. Yet no matter what "I love him around the whole wide world!"
We've signed Owen up for t-ball this year and the practices are supposed to start in April. Looking forward to that - especially getting him outside to do something fun!
Yesterday, my Owen got hurt at his daycare while playing outside (tripped and hit his mouth on a plastic stair). I got the call while I was teaching so I didn't even notice until I was done teaching. They said his mouth was bleeding and he was crying pretty bad. They had put ice on it. When I got there, he was acting like his normal self and didn't even seem to be phased. I do wish I had seen it happen so I knew exactly what had happen. Luckily, it appears he hit between his lips and chin.
Today, he was supposed to dress up like his favorite character in his favorite book - he wanted to be Woody. I had nothing cowboy lying around and we were told that we shouldn't have to go out and buy things for this. Luckily, a friend let us borrow some cowboy stuff. I think he looks pretty cute!
Owen is generally a pretty good boy; sometimes I am amazed at what a sweet boy I have. Then, of course, I sometimes wonder where the little hellion (never had to spell that before!) comes from. Yet no matter what "I love him around the whole wide world!"
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