Today was the first of all the ear, nose, throat appointments. I loved her. She, E, was very informative and kind and, above all else, impressed! She really was impressed with Dania's stages of speech development considering she had only known Russian up until 3 months ago! She went over how cleft pallet kids are delayed in sounds or make other sounds for compensation but had expected Dania to be further behind because of the second language. She said for a child who stared English 3 months ago Dania was pretty much at par with most stages of typical speech development.
She did tests to see if she recognized her name, ie would stop her present activity and acknowledge the name prompt. She gave simple commands, put in box, give to Mama. Tested how much she could do without a physical gesture to prompt her, ie. saying hug without opening your arms. She gave her objects to see how she would interact with them and wanting her to use them in conjunction with each other even though they might not be a set of toys normally used together, ie. clapping them together, putting one inside the other. She then progressed farther to commands like 'throw the ball to mama,' which we haven't done with her. She also would show her two objects, or pictures of objects, and ask her to point to a specific one, which we have just started with animal pictures. I told E that Dania loves books and loves animals so E got a book and a bag of toy animals that correspond with the pictures. Well, Dania was RIGHT into that game! She asked about what sounds Dania makes and we explained all front of the mouth or back of the throat, with the exception of 'la la la,' and she was happy that she was bringing her tongue forward to make a sound. We then showed E how Dania recognized the parts of the body without us gesturing and she was impressed with that!
She gave us some suggestions for work at home, more work in front of a mirror to get her to use her lips more, we need to stop saying "can you" when we ask her to do something and make it more simple and direct, start giving her two objects and getting her to identify a particular one to hand to us, place objects out of reach for her to gesture to them and then we can say the object and try and get her to say it too - even if it is just a vowel sound, and always reinforce what we are doing with simple dialogue. She said she loves what we have been doing because clearly we are doing stuff right for her! That felt great! We just need to simplify and work on the front of the mouth more. She said that even once she has the pallet repaired, if she is using compensation sounds now she will most likely continue to use them. Basically, a cleft kid doesn't have the glottis at the back of the throat that cuts off the airway to make a difference between nasal sounds and non-nasal sounds. If she is using the back of her throat to simulate a sound she will continue to so we will need to follow with E even after the surgery.
She wants to see us again in about a month to see development, go over in more detail things we can do, and set us up in a cleft pallet workshop as well as an early language development workshop. She had gone over with us the physicality of her throat and nose and even said that cleft kids are often prone to ear infections because of fluid drainage issues so it is great we are going to get her ears and hearing looked at in detail next week. Also, if there is an issue with the inner ears, the cleft kid may not be hearing the sounds properly to mimic them!
We spent almost two hours going over different tests and strategies. It was awesome. She was laughing that I was all over the difference between speech and language and developmental stages and then I told her I learned a lot of that in teacher's college.
It was just such a good visit and I look forward to the next and the workshops!
Wednesday, November 20, 2013
Saturday, November 16, 2013
She's Got...Personality!
She started the week with a kerfuffle with Leia. Mike saw Dania fall on the dog and the dog reacted like a dog and snipped at her 'attacker.' By the time I made it into the room, because I could tell the cries were not the usual, the dog was cowering and looking ashamed and Dania was having tissues blotting the small nick between her eyes. By the time she had calmed down and been put down for a nap, a nice cheek bruise had started to crop up. She woke from the nap, still not fully clotted between the eyes because of how much she rubs her nose, and therefore the bridge between her eyes, and continued to play with the dog like normal. Leia was a little quieter than usual but she continued to give kisses to Dania and Dania continued to giggle at receiving them.
We went back to our family doctor this week for flu and meningitis vaccinations and he, and his office assistant, both commented that she was much more interactive now. Then he pulled out the needles... as soon as she saw them she started crying. Poor baby! She recovered a lot quicker this time though - a bit more meat on her bones makes a difference.
She has also been showing a love for electronic games. Sigh. HAHAHAHA. She has these FisherPrice apps on Mike's phone and on the tablet and she wants those as much as possible. She even drools when she "plays" these. By play, I mean she taps the screen until it changes while making a noise from the back of her throat...
She is also starting to 'watch' programs other than The Muppet Show. She has shown a preference for Baby Einstein programs. She has started trying to make many different animal noises... elephant being the best because she just yells. She loves the episodes that just play music too.
She even pointed at my iPod the other day and indicated she wanted music playing. She loves music.
This week, I also had an interview with a parenting magazine that is distributed to all public schools in the HRM. I was referred by a friend who told her how she was impressed by our journey and the fact that we are younger than most couples going through adoption. It was a flattering reference and I enjoyed the experience. I had nerves going into it because I write much more smoother than I talk and I was afraid that I would babble. Actually, I am certain I DID babble! Thankfully, I get to read over her article for clarification before she submits it (hopefully for January's issue).
She has been showing frustration when we tell her 'no' (usually when it involves the FisherPrice apps) and it is hard not to laugh. It is also hard to understand why she keeps hitting the home key on they tablet and then screaming when the game disappeared... She is a smart kid! She HAS to know it is the result of her hitting the key. Hell, she understands body parts after 1 introduction and she understands about putting books back on the shelf before taking off new ones - most of the time. She is too funny. She also gets out the Mother Goose book more than the rest and will back up until she is able to sit in one of our laps. She then flips directly to the Pat-a-Cake page and insists I sing it and make her arms do the 'roll it' action.
She is laughing and talking to herself all the time. She clearly works with a purpose in her mind. She is trying to mimic our words. She shows preference for certain books. She hates being told to wait. She wants her chin and neck tickled. She wants her forehead banged with - anything! She has shown a complete preference for my Rainbow Brite Christmas Ornament. She looks reverently at the Christmas tree and listens when we say gentle. She still LOVES the cat and dog and any cat and dog pictures or videos. She tries to plant a smacking kiss on many, many different things hahaha.
I love her.
We went back to our family doctor this week for flu and meningitis vaccinations and he, and his office assistant, both commented that she was much more interactive now. Then he pulled out the needles... as soon as she saw them she started crying. Poor baby! She recovered a lot quicker this time though - a bit more meat on her bones makes a difference.
She has also been showing a love for electronic games. Sigh. HAHAHAHA. She has these FisherPrice apps on Mike's phone and on the tablet and she wants those as much as possible. She even drools when she "plays" these. By play, I mean she taps the screen until it changes while making a noise from the back of her throat...
She is also starting to 'watch' programs other than The Muppet Show. She has shown a preference for Baby Einstein programs. She has started trying to make many different animal noises... elephant being the best because she just yells. She loves the episodes that just play music too.
She even pointed at my iPod the other day and indicated she wanted music playing. She loves music.
This week, I also had an interview with a parenting magazine that is distributed to all public schools in the HRM. I was referred by a friend who told her how she was impressed by our journey and the fact that we are younger than most couples going through adoption. It was a flattering reference and I enjoyed the experience. I had nerves going into it because I write much more smoother than I talk and I was afraid that I would babble. Actually, I am certain I DID babble! Thankfully, I get to read over her article for clarification before she submits it (hopefully for January's issue).
She has been showing frustration when we tell her 'no' (usually when it involves the FisherPrice apps) and it is hard not to laugh. It is also hard to understand why she keeps hitting the home key on they tablet and then screaming when the game disappeared... She is a smart kid! She HAS to know it is the result of her hitting the key. Hell, she understands body parts after 1 introduction and she understands about putting books back on the shelf before taking off new ones - most of the time. She is too funny. She also gets out the Mother Goose book more than the rest and will back up until she is able to sit in one of our laps. She then flips directly to the Pat-a-Cake page and insists I sing it and make her arms do the 'roll it' action.
She is laughing and talking to herself all the time. She clearly works with a purpose in her mind. She is trying to mimic our words. She shows preference for certain books. She hates being told to wait. She wants her chin and neck tickled. She wants her forehead banged with - anything! She has shown a complete preference for my Rainbow Brite Christmas Ornament. She looks reverently at the Christmas tree and listens when we say gentle. She still LOVES the cat and dog and any cat and dog pictures or videos. She tries to plant a smacking kiss on many, many different things hahaha.
I love her.
Here she is looking a little sad and bruised after a few days of healing. Those eyes and cheeks! Guh!
Thursday, November 7, 2013
Have To Say It
My kid is SO freaking cute!
Got home from play rehearsal and went into her room before going to bed, as I always do to ensure she hasn't pooped, and she was sleeping, as she often does, with her bum pointed up in the air. I wanted to squeal and pinch her but she was asleep so I had to refrain myself. Have to saying though... she is just SO freaking cute!!!
Got home from play rehearsal and went into her room before going to bed, as I always do to ensure she hasn't pooped, and she was sleeping, as she often does, with her bum pointed up in the air. I wanted to squeal and pinch her but she was asleep so I had to refrain myself. Have to saying though... she is just SO freaking cute!!!
Wednesday, November 6, 2013
Eyes and Hair
This week started with the visit to the eye doctor again. We had to use the dilating drops and I had put one in my eye the night before to see how much they 'sting,' (as the pharmacist informed me they would). They sting a bit but they didn't seem to bother her. As I have previously stated, she likes water being pored on her face. The first round of drops went in with ease. We held her down and held open each eye and dropped in one drop. The second round, five minutes later, had her crying and I think it was because of us forcing her eyes open. Once the drops were in, she was fine. Even when I knew the drops must have made her vision blurry, she was playing happily with her train. She wore her sunglasses in the car the whole time and was a star at the clinic. The doctor said Dania's eyes are much better than he had thought! No glasses needed... I admit, I am a little sad about that. She would have been so cute with glasses. We have to go back in six months just to ensure her muscles continue to develop appropriately.
I also had my hairdresser take a look at her hair. It is growing in top-heavy and I wanted to know if it was worth it to shape it and if that would bring out the curls more. After she was cooed over by a lot of the ladies at the salon, my hairdresser said she would definitely bring her in to shape it in a few more weeks. She was taken by how long and thick the hair from the top of her head is compared to the rest.
We also had her permanent resident card photograph rejected so we had to take that again. I did it at the shoppers myself so I know it is the correct size. The one we sent before was the one from Russia and her face was a centimeter too big. We will mail this back tomorrow and THEN we should get her card! Finally!
I also have to relate the tale from Sunday night prebedtime... We were at our friends' place for boardgames and I had been saying she is a different kid now since Ontario. Much more playful. As soon as the bath was done and they two little ones were in their jammies, Dania began spinning and acting silly. Well, this was new for E and he seemed to like it. He climbed up onto the couch and I had to help Dani up and then E started mimicking her! Well, this was the most hilarious thing ever to her! She was squealing and giggling and doing different things for him to copy. Erik seemed to like all of this too and even laughed himself right off the couch! I cannot explain how much it warms my heart to see Dania play this way. She was always so quiet and self-sustaining in her actions, as we noted at the orphanage, but now she enjoys interacting with other kids with imagination and delight! I LOVE it!
I also had my hairdresser take a look at her hair. It is growing in top-heavy and I wanted to know if it was worth it to shape it and if that would bring out the curls more. After she was cooed over by a lot of the ladies at the salon, my hairdresser said she would definitely bring her in to shape it in a few more weeks. She was taken by how long and thick the hair from the top of her head is compared to the rest.
We also had her permanent resident card photograph rejected so we had to take that again. I did it at the shoppers myself so I know it is the correct size. The one we sent before was the one from Russia and her face was a centimeter too big. We will mail this back tomorrow and THEN we should get her card! Finally!
I also have to relate the tale from Sunday night prebedtime... We were at our friends' place for boardgames and I had been saying she is a different kid now since Ontario. Much more playful. As soon as the bath was done and they two little ones were in their jammies, Dania began spinning and acting silly. Well, this was new for E and he seemed to like it. He climbed up onto the couch and I had to help Dani up and then E started mimicking her! Well, this was the most hilarious thing ever to her! She was squealing and giggling and doing different things for him to copy. Erik seemed to like all of this too and even laughed himself right off the couch! I cannot explain how much it warms my heart to see Dania play this way. She was always so quiet and self-sustaining in her actions, as we noted at the orphanage, but now she enjoys interacting with other kids with imagination and delight! I LOVE it!
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