Preschool

 

September was back to school for the Potters, like so many other families.   Maddy will do another year of Preschool and start Kindergarten next year.  For Makena, it was her first day of preschool!   Both were excited and anxious to go, and I was more excited than both of them put together. 

 

Maddy first day back to Preschool. 

Relief for mom, and new activites for Maddy

Makena's First Day of Preschool

Listening carefully to Ms. Louise

Big Girl with her much loved Dora Backpack. 

Splash

In the hot days of August, we pulled out the pool for some summer fun.  I can tell you this is the best $20 or $30 I ever spent.  This day was worth it and much more.  The girls had the best time playing.   Just take a look.




Lining up to run and jump in the pool.

Makena was in attack mode with water guns.

Goggles on, nose plugged....DIVE!

Giggles, Giggles, and More Giggles.

The Lifeguards, otherwise known as Dads.  Aren't they the picture of fun?

And then Dad got in the mix.....Dad knows how to keep the giggles going.

Which quickly turned into a rousing game of Splash Maddy's Dad.

And more laughs and silliness

With an occasional swimsuit malfunction.

Tate broke out a few smiles....when he wasn't
overwhelmed by the splashing girls.

Best Friends.  Summer Fun. 
See you again next year!

Yah Mon

Makena recently started saying "Yes, Mom".   Only it really sounds like she just got off a long vacation from Jamaica and is practicing her Rastafarian Slang.    It sounds exactly like 'Yah mon'.  For Makena, this is all a really big deal.  Putting two words together and using them consistently is a big step.

Makena has Speech Apraxia.  She has a speech delay but its a bit more complicated.  We have been this journey with her speech for over a year.   Its heart-breaking, difficult, exhausting.   And now I am happy to say its also exciting, heart-warming, and bringing big smiles for our family as she is starting to make some huge progress.    Its a long journey with a lot of teeny tiny steps.

Childhood Apraxia of Speech is the formal term.   In simple terms it really means the connections in the brain to formulate words are not there.   She understands everything we are telling her, follows directions and listens appropriately.  She knows what she wants to say, but she cannot make the words come out.   For Makena, we noticed she wasn't on track with her milestones for speech.  We had her evaluated at 21 months and they said, wait till she is two.  I heard many stories of 'late talkers' and at a certain age, the kid would just started talking in full sentences.  I had hopes this would happen, yet gut feeling said this was not to be.

Makena has to learn each individual sound.   Some compare it to a person who has had a stroke has to learn to talk all over again.  Makena cannot just mimic sounds, as most infants and toddlers do.  She will try but it comes out mostly as "du du" and not anything close to the word.    I'm learning more about Speech Therapy than I ever wanted to know.   

Sept 3rd, 2012 - I started this post a couple months ago and never finished it.  I just took a look at our blog and decided it was time for some updates.  In the few months since I've written this, Makena has exploded in language.  She is now putting three words together at times.   This is huge in our world.

From January of this year, its been quite a ride with Apraxia. You wonder if they'll ever talk. You lose track of milestones as she is so far behind kids her age, it doesn't matter anymore. Your normal status quo is a jigsaw puzzle each day of what Makena is trying to say.  Hearing new phrases like "Waaaiitt Mommy" is music to our ears.   Having simple conversations and hearing her respond back with words is pure bliss.

She is still very speech delayed, and will be in therapy for at least another year, possibly more.  However, we are on our way.  She is making enormous progress.   Go Makena!

We still have many sounds and words from her, which we cannot understand.  Lots of patience and reasoning on what she is trying to say.  With the age of 3 some huge tantrums, more than likely caused by communication frustrations.   Rightly so, I'd be mad and frustrated too.

The latest words

Dura (Dora)
Train Ride
Red Light
Green Light
Wait Mommy
Wait Daddy
Me too!
Sissy, Wait
Me Me (Mickey Mouse)

Baseball Interrupted

Pepe and Uncle Andy game over a couple weeks ago a Sunday night dinner.  The baseball game was on and this was the scene.    Mariners Game on the TV, mundane night, not much going on....

But before long, my little gremlins got something going. They discovered pillows of all shapes and sizes were alot of fun.  And before I knew it we had this...

Followed by more of it.   Because you know how kids work.  If you get a good laugh, well than you MUST keep going.  More pillow, more laughing, more giggling. 

Uncle Andy was not left out.  He might have got the worst of the new found pillow game.   And oh, it was a very fun game!

Pretty soon, there was no Uncle Andy left. Just legs.  He was officially lost to the pillows.

And Dad, sitting there so quietly at the other end of the couch.  Don't worry, the girls realized he was ready for his share as well.

And then they were done.  Baseball Interrupted.   Girls giggling,  Family laughing,  pillow chaos to be had.  Mission Complete.

Meme

I write this post with great sadness in my heart.   My daughter's beloved Meme passed away on May 2nd.  She fought a brave and courageous battle with cancer for an amazing 28 years.    Her Memorial was this last weekend, which touched all our hearts, brought many tears and also some smiles with what a wonderful life she had.  

Meme and the girls,  Summer 2009

My girls lost an amazing Grandmother and I lost the joy of watching this relationship develop. Maddy's eyes would get big and filled with joy when she knew she would get to spend the afternoon with Meme. She treasured her Tea Parties with Meme.

Baby Makena, June 2009

And little Makena knew who Meme was from an early age.   I remember one holiday when Makena was just learning to walk, and made her way to Meme hoping to sit on her lap.   Meme brightened up and smiled big realizing Makena wanted only to be with her.



Our Wedding Day, Hanalei Bay, Kauai in 2003

How much we miss Meme, but how lucky we are to have such wonderful memories of our time with her.

Do not stand at my grave and weep
I am not there. I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow.
I am the diamond glints on snow.
I am the sunlight on ripened grain.
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you awaken in the morning's hush
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the soft stars that shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry;
I am not there. I did not die.

Mary Elizabeth Frye

 

Meme with Baby Madelyn on St. Patricks Day 2008

Expletives by a Four Year Old

Lately Ms. Maddy has had quite the little temper on her.   I know where she gets this fierce little temper from.   I had dreams of raising calm, quiet, well-minded little girls it was only really a dream.   Like the saying goes, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree.   

Madelyn has come up with some pretty interesting "expletives" lately for various reasons angry at her loving Mom and Dad.  I've started keeping track, as most times I'm trying to stifle my laughter.  Being told off by your 4 Year Old, with her angriest words is just funny.    It also usually involves growling, sticking out her tongue, and the best one - crossing her arms and giving me the 'Hmmmpphh' face with big pouty lips. 

Madelyn's repertoire of expletives:
Owie-Head
Ouchie Butt
Poop in your Belly 
PoopyHead
TrickyMomma  - Yes, that is right girl..and don't you forget it!

While I don't condone this behavior, at times I feel I just need to let it go.   Choose your battles, they say.  And honestly if the girl wants to be angry and call me a Owie-Head, so be it.    We are trying to eradicate the phrase 'poopyhead' out of our house.   I swear this is a 4/5 year old thing.   Everything is "poopy".   Maybe I should stick a bar of soap in her mouth, like my mom would threaten. 

Makena is still struggling with words, so for now she screams at ear crushing volumes which definitely gets your attention.    Makena is more of everything Madelyn is.   I like to say that Madelyn is training for Makena.    I have no doubt that Makena's future "expletives" will out do her Big Sister.

Other little gems from Ms. Maddy -
Upon noticing her underwear were a bit wet and asking her about that she said "I think I need a wiping lesson"
Overheard riding in the car, while she is looking at her Bible.  "Makena, be quiet.  I'm reading."   Hmm..really?  I didn't know she could read. 
At quiet time - "Mom, can I have three hours of quiet time?"   Yes, and a lesson on time after you get up.  :)
And most recently overheard  - "What kid? What is it? Need help? I'll help you. I'm a good helper. Mom doesn't know how. "

Three

Makena turned the big Three at the end of May.   It was a bit of a rough month, but we managed to pull off a fabulous Mickey Mouse themed party at the YMCA Adventure Zone.  1 hour of running around madness, followed by pizza and cupcakes.   She loved it.   

 Group pictures with the 2-5 year old set is not an easy task

Cupcakes were part of a friend's fundraiser, which worked out perfectly for this over-scheduled mom.
'Girl with the Cute Cakes' dropped these right off at the door of the Y, saving me even more hassle. Fantastic.

 
Peering over the table with Mickey Mouse Gift Bags and Cupcakes.  Hard to resist not digging right in. 

Watching Makena's cute face light up as the birthday candles were lit and we all started singing.  She loved it.  She got a shy smile and looked all around, as if to say "For ME??"   It made my momma heart burst.   The best part of being a parent is the unexpected moments of pure joy on your child's face.   To put it in perspective, Maddy still does not enjoy having being the center of attention for Birthdays.   So fantastically different to watch Makena bask in the spotlight.

Presents, the best part right? She wasted no time in ripping into these when we got home.  Happy Birthday, Makena.   I have no doubt the year will be filled with much adventure from you.

The Chihuahuas go for a Walk

Mom has taken to calling the kids Chihuahuas, always yipping at her and constantly underfoot.  We went for a walk in a park nearby this morning to give Mom some quiet time.

Makena fell asleep in the car after an afternoon birthday party, clutching her post party happy meal and goodie bag.

Easter

I found a thing on Pinterest recently about dyeing eggs with Kool-Aid.   Seemed easy and fun, so I gave it a try with Maddy.   This is the first time we tried dyeing eggs.   Unfortunately I didn't let my eggs boil for quite long enough, so they didn't really turn out. 


Egg Dyeing

 The Kool-Aid thing worked okay, not great.  The colors were a bit odd.   Maddy loved it and was pleased.  Next year, we'll buy the Paas kit and let the girls go at it.

Kool-Aid Eggs

 
And the Easter Bunny found his way to our house once again.   The baskets were so cute, but Mom forgot to take before pics.  

Easter Baskets

The best Egg Hunt of all was at Meme and Pepe's House.   No crowds, no craziness, just the girls enjoying the day.   

Egg Hunt at Meme and Pepe's

Michael and I brought Easter Brunch up to Meme and Pepe's.   And the best part was the donuts, of course.   Easter Donuts.  I think it should be an annual tradition.

Easter Donuts

Food Therapy

Many of you know, some of you may not. Makena has a pretty significant speech delay. She is almost three years old and has about 30-40 words.  Most of those came only recently after many sessions of speech therapy.   We started speech therapy back in June of 2011 and did not make much progress until recently.  We still have a long way to go for her to catch up to her age level.

Cognitively, she understands everything.  She is smart very stubborn girl, who definitely gets it.   But talking for her is tough.   I'll talk more about her speech delay in the next post.  This post is about food.    One of the things we started a few months back was Food Therapy sessions.  

Makena is what I call an excessively picky kid.  This is not your normal kid pickiness.    When we started she had about 10 foods she would eat.   No meat, no rice, no beans, no cheese, no mixed foods, and on and on and on.  Wouldn't she just outgrow this? Can't we just make her eat? If a kid gets hungry enough, they'll eat.   I've heard all of these statements before and the answer is I cannot force her to eat. Makena will just not eat not matter how long the food is there, or how hungry she is.

There is more at play here than just being picky. And Food therapy is helping us to overcome that.

Dara, our occupational therapist has helped to to open doors for exploring new foods, making food fun, taking away the fear around it, and helping her speech.   Most of all, Makena loves it. She is excited to go each week and has a special connection with her therapist, Dara.   



When we started Makena wouldn't touch a many foods, and most definitely wouldn't have it on her plate.  The changes don't come overnight.  Its hard, slow work with basically playing with your food.  Taking away negative around it and showing her food is fun.  It goes against all basic table manners and is all about getting messy, playing, and having fun.    And after four months of sessions, its working.   We still have a long way to go, but its working.   I can see the change in her that she is now curious and interested about food.  It doesn't mean she'll reach over and just try something new.  But...she is curious, which is the first step. 

 

Bunny Bounce

We went to the Woodland Park Zoo for the annual Bunny Bounce a few weeks ago.  It seemed like it would be fun.  I heard good reports from friends who went in past years.    We got there and I completely under-estimated crowds and chaos.   I really don't know what we were thinking.  

Waiting for the Egg Hunt.  Check out the mass of people in the background,
 just waiting in line for the next Egg Hunt.  Crazy!

I will be honest in that the egg hunt was just lame.    You search for eggs, with nothing in them and then recycle them into boxes as you leave the hunt.   That is it.  That is all.   The girls seemed to like it.  I think we could have had more fun staying home.  

We cut our zoo trip short and headed over to the Locks.  It was a gorgeous day, perfect for checking out the boats and running around the gorgeous gardens at the Locks.    Stopped by Red Mill Burgers across the street for a yummy lunch.

 Lesson Learned.  Skip crazy holiday events at the Zoo.   So not worth it.  What is worth it is a trip to Red Mill Burgers.  I recommend the Verde Chicken Burger.   And if its sunny, a walk through the Locks.