Adibaby Videos... Almost 3 Years Old

This might be the cutest Adi video I captured yet (although low quality from cell phone).
She starts out playing Ring Around the Rosie with her bear, then notices her pockets. She picks up the bear again by the hand and says, "Han." She then gives the bear kisses and starts nodding his head "yes" while saying "mm-hm" for him. She ends with more kisses and hugs, and then spaces out. All the therapists have commented on the sudden blanking out, and some have brought up absence seizures. I'm not sure if that's what it is, but it may be worth testing for it. This sudden spaciness is visible in several of her videos.

Adi enjoying a swing! Her favorite activity in the world.

Just playing in the park...

Happy Everything!

A good Yom Tov, a good moed... a good yohr!
Happy new beginnings, happy sukkos celebrations, and a happy upcoming birthday to our almost three year old girl!

It's been one year since Adi took her first step. Two years since we started therapy. And three years since I got the most wonderful Simchas Torah present... my wonderful Adibaby!

I am surprised it took my boys this long to figure out something is different about their sister. But really, they never realized! They once asked me if they also had teachers come to teach them to walk and talk when they were babies. I told them that no; some kids learn it by themselves, and others need help. They asked me why Adi needs orthotics. I explained that they help her feet stand straight on the ground.

But still they never realized Adi was different.

Today we were preparing for Adi's birthday that's coming up on Friday. Gedalya, who was 3 not that long ago himself, said, "But she will be three, and she still won't know so many words!" Says the kid who started reading when he was half a year older than Adi is now.

Yesterday we went to a Chol Hamoed event by A Parent Speaks. It's an organization that is involved in the special needs community. It was just awesome. All my kids enjoyed. Adi got very into the craft, and danced to the live music. She wanted to get a fishie painted on her face, but backed out as soon as I sat her on the chair, after a 15 minute wait on line. Gah!

But the BEST part was... at the end they gave snack bags with a squeezy artificially colored drink, sour sticks, colored marshmallows and flavored chips. None of the things my kids are able to have! I brought them back, and instead of snickering, or rolling her eyes, or saying something like "come on, let them enjoy," she apologized to me! Apologized! In an environment like this, people know some kids can't have some things, even if they seem benign. 

Oh, and another best part: There were kids that actually shrieked louder than Adi! No one stared when Adi shrieked. Or when she threw herself on the floor and refused to let me pick her up. Everyone was able to be themselves. It was so beautiful and natural. My boys didn't even seem to notice that some of the kids had differences.

Events like these give me hope for the world. Everyone felt at ease. Happy. Gedalya stood on his head for a good percentage of the time. :) And you know what? He wouldn't do it at any other party. But this was a non-judgmental place. 

So talking about Adi's not-so-many words...

...here's just a sampling of her recent words and phrases:

hohie = horsie

toe-lue = turtle

goggie = doggie

guckie = duckie

bowie = birdie

han = hands

(Adi said, "doin han" when we were all making funny shapes with our fingers.)

hoon = phone

nowani = don't want it

awani = I want it

teen = train

weeng = swing

on/off

button

pan = pants

tawid = carriage

wolue = water

backpack

bock = book

cookie

ainga = traingle

(She finds them everywhere, like sails on boats...)

go-lee = girlie

pa-ee = potty

(The girl knows what to do and when, but has no patience to sit on the potty long enough!)

ponny = pony

(as in pony tail for the hair)

ca-yoo = color/draw

And what might be the best quip EVER:

"Oh, no! Aaah-di! Nah-nye!" (Oh, no! Adi! Not nice!) Sad that the most words she ever strung together are scolding words for her trouble-making!

But as long as she continues to make trouble, I'm happy! :D

How's Therapy Going?

It's been a while since I've updated on Adi's therapy. Her sessions are 30 minutes each... here's a little about each one!

Speech - 3 times a week

Here Adi is playing a game with Lois. Lois hides a little ball in one of these hollow balls and Adi has to use her skills of deduction to figure out where the ball is.

Covering her eyes...

Shaking the balls to figure out where the little ball is.

When she's made her decision, Lois opens it up! Yay! Adi got it!

Adi's speech therapy is very similar to special ed. She just learns to integrate words (saying, understanding) into everyday matters. She says so many more words for her speech therapist than she does for us! Should I be miffed that she never said "car" to me? In speech Adi is estimated to be 18-24 months level.
And I just had to add this photo from back in October...

Special Ed (Aviva) - 2 times a week

Adi has two special ed teachers. They both have different approaches, and I think Adi gains so much from each style.
Aviva teaches Adi about everyday things. Body parts, animals, flowers, feelings, routine... She does it by pairing up a little song, action or chant to an object or concept.
Adi picked up SO many things through this method. She can't say "nose," but she can press it and say, "Beep beep." She can now say "dog," but before she was able to, she'd say "Woof-woof." She can't say "stomach," but she can drum on it while singing the tune of "Yummy in my tummy."

Adi's doing puzzles with Aviva- trying to fit wooden shapes where they belong on the board. They are fitting pegs into pegboards and doing some pretend play. Adi's really doing well with the set routine in Aviva's class.

Special Ed (Mary) - 2 times a week

Adi has another special ed teacher, bringing her weekly total to four sessions. What I love about having two teachers is their different approaches. Mary is more "go with the flow" than "routine." Like this day, when she took Adi out to a toy store. Fun!

They also have conventional sessions ;) (This ones from December).

They match pictures of everyday items... sometimes they match a little toy to a picture of the same toy. Adi has to pick out an object from a lineup... like an apple, a chair, and a hat. She should give the picture that Mary asks her to give. They dress up dolls and and do role playing. Sometime Adi has some free play so Mary can see how she interacts with certain toys and games.

 

Physical Therapy - 2 times a week

In PT, Randi is working with Adi on stepping up and down curbs and ledges... stepping over thresholds and obstacles. Without holding on, even! Adi's not there yet, but practice makes perfect. I just know that I wouldn't want to be the one to have to force Adi to step on and over things for half an hour straight. Adi's getting stronger each day, even though she still falls over her own feet a lot. But I guess everything comes with practice and time. The stairs in our house have really ratty carpeting. We are planning to replace it soon, and then I guess Adi and Randi can practice going down the stairs.

Adi just came up behind me. She saw this photo on the computer and said, "Wadi. Wadi."
"You're right, Adi, that is Randi."
"Uh-huh!"

Occupational Therapy - Once a week

Jill is Adi's OT. She is the one that lent us the amazing, wonderful, awesome weighted vest. She plays a lot of sensory games with Adi. Digging in a box full of beans, playing with clay, climbing through tunnels. They do fine motor things like drawing, pegs, puzzles... We also tried out brushing therapy, but never got into a real regimen with it.
Jill comes only once a week, and she's been working with Adi less than a year.  And try as I may, I was never able to get pictures of them working together. Adi would freak when she saw me, so I had to be hidden. The only good place to take photos unseen is from the window when Adi's working at the table. Usually Jill took Adi all over the yard, they worked inside the house. It was so frustrating! But finally I did.

So that's a week in Adi's life.
One session on Sunday, three on Monday, three on Tuesday, one on Wednesday and two on Thursday. Whew! Little Miss Popular.

Videos for Genetics

April 2011. Adi showing her words at 2 1/2 years old!

August 2011: More park. Look how well Adi does steps already. :)  (2 years 10 months)

 Adi has a deep and profound obsession with trains. Here we are on the Williamsburg bridge, watching the trains pass really close to us behind the fence.

For Dr. Pappas 12-13 months

12 months: babbling for the first time




12 months- scooting on her bottom, then hand flapping.


13 months- the jerky movements that we got an EEG for. The EEG didn't indicate any siezures.

13 months- funny face that Adel sometimes makes.

For Dr. Pappas 14-16 months

14 months- Laughing during occupational therapy

14 months- attempting to repeat the word "up" while making the sign, as taught in speech therapy

15 months- crawling for the first time

16 months- singing along to an activity at the library


16 months- singing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star while making the hand motions.