Sunday Snapshot {Sha Sha}

Did not have a specific event to post about today so I thought I would take the opportunity to share some unposted pics and info about our sweet Sha Sha!  She is full of spunk I tell you, the most strong willed little thing I have ever met.  She gives us a run for our money everyday!  I know she is that way for oh so many reasons....she had to overcome so many obstacles for 16 months on her own, one of which was eating.  And she needs that strong will to keep pressing on in her biggest obstacle-SPEECH. 

It is hard for CL/CP kids to make all the ordinary sounds.  I never analyzed our language and how we speak before Charlotte came home, but I do now.  Some sounds are almost impossible for our girl, but she tries over and over.  She does not get frustrated very often, she will just try again, or give you something else to help with the context of what she is saying.  Occasionally she goes back to a trusty hand sign if Mommy is just not getting it. 

We met to evaluate her IEP (individualized education plan) this week and she has come so far.  She is about to complete her second year in developmental Preschool and she has graduated from Occupational Therapy.  That is so huge...her motor skills have now exceeded her age, and she has met all of her eating goals and mobility goals for her lip.  She is also almost caught up in her language skills, only 2 months behind peers now.  So now her hard work will be concentrated on academics and articulation.  She will have speech 3 times a week, once one on one. 

It really is incredible when you think about the fact that when she came home, she was not walking, only drank from a bottle, had no sounds at all, and was very behind in most sensory areas.  In just 2 1/2 short years she has almost completely caught up.  And really her speech delay now is due to her cleft palate.  I am so proud of her hard work and perseverance.  See, God knew this little girl had to be strong willed to overcome so much.  Now if we can just convince her that she still has to do what Mommy and Daddy say the first time :)  It will come, or she will just be spending most of her summer in TIME OUT!!!  Just kidding, we are about to implement some new positive reinforcement techniques.  I will let you know what we do and how they work out.