Speech Therapy --- tomorrow

After months of phone calls and waiting, we finally have insurance coverage for speech therapy.  We've been watching her speech for almost 2 years now and it's time. Her last two speech evals have shown no improvement at all.  Her articulation is a good year behind and I'm really hoping this helps.

I am so excited on one hand. I can't wait to see the changes and have everyone understand her.  On the other hand, it's just another reminder that nothing comes easily.  Everything seems to be a struggle for her and that just makes me sad.  Every area (aside from cognitive development) is delayed.  Fine motor, gross motor and speech are all behind at various levels.

This girl is amazing.  Despite all of her delays and medical issues, she always smiles.  She truly is a joy to be around. So sweet. This path for the past 3 years is not what I thought it would be. I never imagined a life of OT, PT and speech therapy; doctors appointments, specialists, tests.  Tomorrow we add one more therapy to the list of "needs".  This is one I am hoping she is able to outgrow. I hope this part of her life gets better; something has to some day.  I know I'm struggling more than she is; she knows no differently that life the way it is.  I just wish one thing wold be easy for her.  I know we are never guaranteed an easy life, it's just hard when it's your own child that is struggling.

Oh sweet, sweet Beatrice, how I love you.  I pray that tomorrow is the start of clear speech.

Jumping back in

It seems with the dawning of Facebook and the constant posting of pictures and status updates my blog went to the wayside for awhile.  I've started a "coming back" post a few times, but I never know where to start.  It's been a long 2.5 years since my last post and I often think how nice it would be to blog again, but get bogged down in all the details of 2.5 years of life.  The ups and down, the tears and smiles.  Then I decided today was the day.  I have felt the need to just write things down lately; if someone reads it that is great, but if it's just a place to put my thoughts down in a more in-depth format than Facebook, then that is great too (and much needed).

Today is one of those winter days that looks like it could be spring if you look out the window and can't see the snow on the ground.  The sun is getting warmer, you can feel spring coming.  Beatrice has been sick with another round of strep and now a random fever, so we had a forced day home.  Something we don't get often these days, so I am enjoying it.  School in the morning and now just relaxing this afternoon.

Taken last week, so very recent. I still love looking at pictures of the kids and seeing how much they are growing and changing.


Matthias -- 11.5yrs old.  Not quite as tall as me but getting closer

Augustin --- about a month away from turning 10!!  Wow, I'm not sure how that happened.

Samuel -- 8yrs old and full of personality and style

Veronica --- 6yrs old -- the oldest of the girls and so grown up.  She really is like Samuel's twin 

Rosalia --- almost 4.5yrs old and as firey as any kid I've met

Beatrice --- 3yrs old and maybe the sweetest baby (not really, but as the youngest she's the baby) ever. Her life isn't easy, but she is so sweet

Augustin and Beatrice watching a movie together. He's a great big brother.