Check out Claudia's newly learned moves!
Tuesday, November 19, 2013
It's a busy life
I always feel like I should be apologizing for not blogging more. Sometimes life is just busy and I get caught up in the day to day things. There has been a lot going on in the last couple of months.
As you probably know, Claudia started school back up in September. Since then there have been 2 IEP meetings, one to get her a 1:1 and a second to discuss the approval of Assistive Technology. The 1:1 is great and helps to keep Claudia more focused at school. She has been using a Dynavox for communication at school, we should be getting trained on how to use it soon and then it will come home with her. I hope that this will help to make her communication more effective.
In October we moved, only across town but it was a busy and stressful time for all of us. (the move is a big part of why I have not blogged, I did not have my desktop computer for some time) It was hard on Claudia as well, she did have some regression and behavioral difficulties for a couple of weeks which I think were related to the move.
I have been working nights at my new job which has been great as far as child care goes. Jason is able to get her on the bus each morning, I sleep while she is in school and then I wake up to get her off of the bus. It works out pretty well except I am often very tired still when I get her off of the bus and she just wants to play! I love playing with her and working with her on new skills but sometimes it is just hard. Sometimes I want to relax, my body and my mind need it.
Parenting is hard work, there is no pause button to catch your breath, no rewind to get a do-over. There are days that I feel like I have failed my daughter, not played with her enough, or when she has gotten upset and I can't figure out what she needs. Claudia is a strong willed child and tries to be independent and do things on her own. She wants to do what she wants and does not like it when you try to stop or redirect her (let's face it, no one likes to be told what to do). She has melt downs, gets angry and takes it out on me. Yes, it is hard to see her do these things, it is hard on me when she hits, kicks and bites me. Sometimes I feel overwhelmed, but then I reflect back on everything that has happened, how she has progressed since I first met her. Claudia has come so far both physically and emotionally. I am glad she is expressing her emotions, it shows developmental progression. In many ways she is just a typical child, and that makes me excited for her future.
Claudia has been laughing and giggling a lot more, and I LOVE her laugh. She comprehends and can respond appropriately to commands. Her understanding of English amazes me. She is using more words (signs) in the proper context consistently. We have seen so much growth! Her walking has become much more upright, she looks taller! I know she has gained weight, Jason and I have both felt it. She fits into 24month clothes now. Her bonding and comfort level with us is apparent, she has been super cuddly with us lately, giving Jason and I lots of hugs and kisses! She wants to be held by us very often now (in fact, I rocked her to sleep tonight). Lately she has wanted to be carried around a lot more instead of walking, I am OK with that as I know it won't last forever. When we pick her up from places and she sees us, the first thing she does is go get her shoes on because she knows it is time to go home! She knows we are her parents and she comes to us for comfort. She is doing so well overall.
It is hard to believe that Claudia has already been home for 9 months, but at the same time, I can't believe that she has not been here all along. I can't believe that we are about to celebrate our first Thanksgiving and Christmas with her. I am excited to see how she reacts to Christmas and wish that I could do more with her, right now we have o keep it low key still as she does not do well in large crowds. Community activities that she is ready to attend are limited. That just means that she will get new experiences every year!
Here are a few pictures and video of her recently:
As you probably know, Claudia started school back up in September. Since then there have been 2 IEP meetings, one to get her a 1:1 and a second to discuss the approval of Assistive Technology. The 1:1 is great and helps to keep Claudia more focused at school. She has been using a Dynavox for communication at school, we should be getting trained on how to use it soon and then it will come home with her. I hope that this will help to make her communication more effective.
In October we moved, only across town but it was a busy and stressful time for all of us. (the move is a big part of why I have not blogged, I did not have my desktop computer for some time) It was hard on Claudia as well, she did have some regression and behavioral difficulties for a couple of weeks which I think were related to the move.
I have been working nights at my new job which has been great as far as child care goes. Jason is able to get her on the bus each morning, I sleep while she is in school and then I wake up to get her off of the bus. It works out pretty well except I am often very tired still when I get her off of the bus and she just wants to play! I love playing with her and working with her on new skills but sometimes it is just hard. Sometimes I want to relax, my body and my mind need it.
Parenting is hard work, there is no pause button to catch your breath, no rewind to get a do-over. There are days that I feel like I have failed my daughter, not played with her enough, or when she has gotten upset and I can't figure out what she needs. Claudia is a strong willed child and tries to be independent and do things on her own. She wants to do what she wants and does not like it when you try to stop or redirect her (let's face it, no one likes to be told what to do). She has melt downs, gets angry and takes it out on me. Yes, it is hard to see her do these things, it is hard on me when she hits, kicks and bites me. Sometimes I feel overwhelmed, but then I reflect back on everything that has happened, how she has progressed since I first met her. Claudia has come so far both physically and emotionally. I am glad she is expressing her emotions, it shows developmental progression. In many ways she is just a typical child, and that makes me excited for her future.
Claudia has been laughing and giggling a lot more, and I LOVE her laugh. She comprehends and can respond appropriately to commands. Her understanding of English amazes me. She is using more words (signs) in the proper context consistently. We have seen so much growth! Her walking has become much more upright, she looks taller! I know she has gained weight, Jason and I have both felt it. She fits into 24month clothes now. Her bonding and comfort level with us is apparent, she has been super cuddly with us lately, giving Jason and I lots of hugs and kisses! She wants to be held by us very often now (in fact, I rocked her to sleep tonight). Lately she has wanted to be carried around a lot more instead of walking, I am OK with that as I know it won't last forever. When we pick her up from places and she sees us, the first thing she does is go get her shoes on because she knows it is time to go home! She knows we are her parents and she comes to us for comfort. She is doing so well overall.
It is hard to believe that Claudia has already been home for 9 months, but at the same time, I can't believe that she has not been here all along. I can't believe that we are about to celebrate our first Thanksgiving and Christmas with her. I am excited to see how she reacts to Christmas and wish that I could do more with her, right now we have o keep it low key still as she does not do well in large crowds. Community activities that she is ready to attend are limited. That just means that she will get new experiences every year!
Here are a few pictures and video of her recently:
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