Speech/Vision Therapy Update

A few things have happened in the therapy realm lately, so I thought an update was due.

**Per a suggestion from Cara's physical therapist at her IFSP review, contact has been made with the Anchor Center for Blind Children. They offer vision therapy, free of charge (usually), for qualifying children. I have asked for Cara's ophthalamology records to be sent to the intake coordinator for Anchor. If Cara meets their qualifications, a home visit will be scheduled to discuss Cara's needs. We are concerned with Cara's lack of visual perception and body awareness (where she is in relation to other things). These are both areas that the Anchor Center's therapies would address, should she qualify. I am waiting to hear back from the intake coordinator that she has received the records, so that we can schedule the home visit and go from there. I really believe that Cara could benefit greatly from this type of therapy, so am keeping my fingers crossed and saying extra prayers that she will be excepted.
**Today, during Cara's routine speech therapy session, her therapist brought to my attention that she believes that Cara has a muscle weakness in her jaw, which is making it difficult for her to move her jaw in accordance with performing various mouth movements needed to form words. She also believes that Cara may not understand the need to breath for speech versus breathing for living. This may explain why Cara's "noises" come out abbreviated. For her jaw weakness (called jaw rehabilitation) and mouth movements, we are going to try some oral/motor exercises and also use some tools such as a Nuk brush and tubes. For her breathing, her therapist is going to try some abdominal grading or practiced breathing for speech exercises with Cara. Hopefully, these new techniques and exercises will help Cara move forward in her progress with speech. We will know in a few months' time.

One thing that I really appreciate about her therapists is how they are on the ball, always looking for ways to help Cara succeed, seeing problems and figuring old how to deal with them. We have been very blessed to have such attentive therapists for Cara.

Luxurious Weekend

Ben, the girls & I were very lucky to be able to escape to my parents' house on Colorado's Western Slope for the 4 day weekend (Ben & Caitlin both had Monday off). With the weather man predicting snow after midnight on Friday, we decided to leave after Ben got home from work on Friday night, hoping to beat the storm. I ran around like a madwoman packing up 4 people in a record (for me, anyway) 20 minutes. Ben got home at 6pm and we were out the door at 6:15! We started up and were faced with almost gridlock traffic and snow. At one point, we were going a whole 30-35MPH. Mind you, the snow wasn't even really sticking to the ground at this point. I looked at Ben and said, "If it's going to be like this all the way, I don't think I want to do it". With all of the traffic combined with snow, a pile-up accident was waiting to happen. Thankfully, we decided to stop in a town about 45 minutes away from Denver to pick up some dinner (and a mint tea latte for me). By the time we got back on the road, the traffic had mostly cleared. The rest of the drive was very uneventful, minus a couple of bathroom breaks and a family sing-along. At one point, I was the only one awake in the car and got away with playing some Kenny G! We arrived at my parents' house just after midnight. I'm proud to say that this trip cured my fear of driving through the mountains in the dark.

We had a wonderful visit, as always. It's hard to leave. We were able to visit with my aunt & uncle who live in Colorado part of the year and in Michigan the other half. We realized it had been quite some time since we'd seen them.
The girls woke up on Valentine's Day to see bags of candy, cards and cute Valentine's Day outfits from Grandma & Grandpa. They are two very spoiled little girls!
My parents also treated us to a soak in the Ouray Hot Springs. Nothing like a good soak to melt away the stress and worries as well as cure a sinus cold!

We headed home, regretfully, on Monday afternoon. I'm sure we could've stayed another few days, but I was glad to be home, even if it did mean that I had to do laundry and go grocery shopping. Ahh, the return to the daily grind.

I cannnot wait until this spring/summer. I have a lot of little weekend getaways planned for our family. Just to places within a day's drive of our house that we have yet to visit. My goal is to "explore our backyard" this year.

**By the way, just had to add that we didn't get any snow at my parents' or here in Denver out of this predicted storm. Oh well, I know the girls enjoyed the extra time of being spoiled by the grandparents.**

You have good taste!

Who doesn't like free food? You don't have to tell me twice, that's for sure. So, when I came across this BOGO coupon, I had to spread the word. If you've got a TGI Friday's around, click here for a coupon good for BOGO entrees. It won't work on Valentine's Day and expires on March 1st, so scramble on it and enjoy!

Been there, want to do that but never in a million years!

Things you’ve already done: bold

Things you want to do: italicize

Things you haven’t done and don’t want to - leave in plain font


1. started your own blog
2. slept under the stars
3. played in a band (if junior high counts)
4. visited Hawaii
5. watched a meteor shower
6. given more than you can afford to charity
7. been to Disneyworld
8. climbed a mountain
9. held a praying mantis
10. sang a solo
11. bungee jumped
12. visited Paris
13. watched a lightning storm at sea
14. taught yourself an art from scratch
15. adopted a child
16. had food poisoning
17. walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. grown your own vegetables
19. seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. slept on an overnight train
21. had a pillow fight
22. hitch hiked
23. taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. built a snow fort
25. held a lamb
26. gone skinny dipping
27. run a marathon
28. ridden a gondola in Venice
29. seen a total eclipse
30. watched a sunrise or sunset
31. hit a home run
32. been on a cruise
33. seen Niagara Falls in person
34. visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. seen an Amish community
36. taught yourself a language
37. had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. seen the leaning tower of Pisa in person
39. gone rock climbing
40. seen Michelangelo’s David in person
41. sung karaoke
42. seen Old Faithful (geyser) erupt
43. bought a stranger a meal in a restaurant
44. visited Africa
45. walked on a beach by moonlight
46. been transported in an ambulance
47. had your portrait painted
48. gone deep sea fishing
49. seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. been to the top of the Eiffel tower in Paris
51. gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. kissed in the rain
53. played in the mud
54. gone to a drive-in theater
55. been in a movie (public access count?)
56. visited the Great Wall of China
57. started a business
58. taken a martial arts class
59. visited Russia
60. served at a soup kitchen
61. sold Girl Scout cookies
62. gone whale watching
63. gotten flowers for no reason
64. donated blood
65. gone sky diving
66. visited a Nazi concentration camp
67. bounced a check
68. flown in a helicopter
69. saved a favorite childhood toy
70. visited the Lincoln memorial
71. eaten caviar
72. pieced a quilt
73. stood in Times Square
74. toured the Everglades
75. been fired from a job
76. seen the changing of the guard in London
77. broken a bone
78. been on a speeding motorcycle
79. seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. published a book
81. visited the Vatican
82. bought a brand new car
83. walked in Jerusalem
84. had your picture in the newspaper
85. read the entire Bible
86. visited the White House
87. killed and prepared an animal for eating (summer camp, it was a frog)
88. had chickenpox
89. saved someone’s life
90. sat on a jury
91. met someone famous
92. joined a book club
93. lost a loved one
94. had a baby
95. seen the Alamo in person
96. taken a road trip
97. been involved in a law suit
98. owned a cell phone
99. been stung by a bee
100. met the love of your life