Verbal Apraxia

PARKER SIGNING THAT HE IS THIRSTY

"I Do Talk To You"
I know you can’t hear me....but I do talk to you.
And I hear everything you say to me too.
I hear when you laugh, when I do something funny.
I hear you yell "Hooray" when I try so hard.
I hear you tell others how you’d never trade me for the world even with all the trials I came with.
I hear you thank God for what a blessing you have been given.
I hear you encourage me when I can almost do it.
I hear you cry, too, when it gets a little harder
And when you ask God "Why?!" your baby.
And I know you know I understand somehow.
And you know I listen when you talk to me too.
But, I want you to know, mom...........
I do talk to you

BEFORE:



AFTER:

We finally cut Parker's hair. He still didn't have a TON of hair, but the hair that he did have was long and out of control!! So, we took him in to get his first hair cut. He sat on my lap and cried pathetically. IT broke my heart, and I sat and sang the Veggietales theme song over and over again. He finally smiled for daddy and the camera at the end, but if you look closely, he still has tears on his face. He looks a lot older with his new 'do!

It's been a long road...

I am so sorry that I have not been dedicated to this blog. I know it is how some of you stay current on our family, and I have felt terribly guilty for not keeping you up to date. I have been in somewhat of an emotional rut with Parker, and so I have not had much to say.

The boys have been having a great summer. The swim lessons have been paying off and I have found myself with three little fishes instead of boys!;)

Parker's therapy has continued and we are adding some OT (occupational therapy) to the mix in the fall for some increasing sensory issues. The EI (early intervention) office is closed until the end of August, and we will be applying for an increase in all aspects of his therapy (PT, ST, and OT). We just got results back from his testing done by a new SLP. She was fantastic. Parker scored in his age bracket for his receptive language (what he understands), but is in the 4th percentile for his expressive language. On another test, he scored in the 9-12 month age bracket for his expressive language. Although all of this was expected, it is always hard to see written down on paper. This is all confirming their diagnosis of verbal apraxia. They gave us some tools to help him at this point, but I am very anxious to begin more therapy with him in the fall.

On the gluten front, Parker and I are doing well. I got glutened BADLY from a local restaurant here in Medford, and was REALLY sick for 2 days (no Mucho Gusto for me again!). On the positive front, I found a new restaurant in Klamath Falls called Wingers with an extensive GF menu!! We went there last night while in K-Falls for a visit, and it was YUMMY!!

Parker and I have an new BFF at the Farmers Market here in Medford. She makes GF breads, cookies, cinnamon rolls, and brownies. Her Buckwheat Bread is to die for!!!

I am going to make much more of an effort to blog from here on out. I am off to make some GF chocolate chip cookies. I found the recipe on the Food Network website, and Alton Brown has never steered me wrong in the past. I will let you know how they turn out!