Almost There

I haven't updated in so long, I don't even know where to start. I have a nice chance right now because the kids are in bed and Brian is wrapped up in the Wisconsin vs. Marquette b-ball game.

We are doing well over here. Emerson is continuing in her progress so we are just happy and content.

Those months where we have waited for something to happen seem so long that we are thrilled with her current progress. She is walking about half the time now, though I wouldn't consider her a "walker" yet because it is still so hard for her. She is sticking with it more which is helping. Her PT made her a weighted vest and put the weight around her core which I think is helping. She only wears it 30 minutes per day, but I see her gaining confidence. She is also communicating so much more. She is using lots of signs and is just taking so much in. She is just really impressing me lately. One example is I was telling her OT the other day about her favorite book called "Hug". While I'm describing it Emerson crawls across the room, finds the book under the coffee table, picks it up, schleps it back, hands it to me, like, "Here you go, mom". We were both so excited.

Not so exciting news is that the Education Specialist from Birth to Three came out to evaluate Emerson and based mostly on interview with me (since Emerson was sick) told me that Emerson's cognitive level was around 10 months. Nope, I don't think so, wrong, not right, not accepting that information... I totally know that it is just a number and that it gets us services, but I wasn't ready to hear such a low number. Nor was I ready to feel like I am in total denial. Of course I know that Emerson is not at her 22 month age level, but there is also no way she is at a 10 month old level. Whatever, I didn't even get upset or cry about it because it just seemed so wrong to me. Thankfully, the evaluator was as sweet as pie, but I think she could see in my face that I also thought she was nuts. Funny, as I'm typing this I can feel my blood pressure rising and our 90lb Golden Retriever, Newman, tried to crawl up on my lap and licked my face. Thank you, Newman!

Ella is so excited for Christmas. Brian or I say a prayer every night before dinner and lately Ella has been chiming in, "I pray that Santa brings me lots of presents, AMEN!" What a character. She is so full of love and energy. As you can see she loves to make faces and constantly cracks us up. She really couldn't be a better big sister. She is so patient with Emerson and it's hysterical because sometimes I think she really is turning into a mini-Speech Pathologist. She reads her books and signs to her. The other day I overheard her say, "Watch my mouth, Emmie, Mmmmmonkeeeeey, Wow, good girl!"

Well, that's the news on us. We are just content and looking forward to Christmas. I think that I do need to start shopping this week. I like to procrastinate, but it will get done. Hopefully, I will get some good deals. No sale yet on our current house, but we do have a showing tomorrow. Our new home should be complete in a few weeks so we will have to figure out when we are moving. Yikes, I don't even want to think about that.