Waiting for Words

We were on the road a lot this week. Even more than usual. For the most part, both boys do really well in the car, but there are times that Emmett does not do so well. One of the most difficult things for us right now is the fact that Emmett is nonverbal. I realize that there are many typical 3-year-olds who say very little, but most of those children can communicate there basic needs or at least show others what they need.

We are working on using pictures or sign language, but this is still difficult because Emmett has limited fine motor skills and cognitive delays. I can normally tell what Emmett wants by asking basic questions and waiting for a clap or giggle. However, when he gets really frustrated, he just fusses or lets out a very loud, throaty cry. Whether he is hungry, thirsty, tired, or mad... we hear the same cry and it is worse when he is confined and can't crawl to who or what he wants. As you can imagine, this is great fun when we are driving down the highway with almost 2 hours ahead of us! It is a guessing game and is especially fun if I'm the only parent in the car.

It is hard not to get frustrated and believe me I DO get frustrated, but then I have to remind myself how much more frustrated Emmett must be not being able to express his needs. I'm not completely sure how much Emmett understands, but I do know that he understands quite a bit, which is why I try to be very careful about what I say to him and about him. He may not be able to talk, but that doesn't make his opinion or his needs any less important.

As we prepare for Emmett to start preschool, I pray that his teachers and caregivers are understanding and take time to figure out what he needs. Many people think that once Emmett starts walking, talking won't be too far behind. I am hopeful that this is the case and look forward to hearing his first words. In the meantime, I will enjoy his babbles and giggles and will do my best to understand what he's trying to tell me, even if he's screaming as we drive down the highway!

I can't take credit for the quote,

but I can at least take partial credit for this handsome boy!

Mommy's New Adventure

A few weeks ago, I shared with you how Emmett aging out of the Early Intervention program will start a new adventure for us. This has proven to be true with at least 6 appointments a week, but this is only the beginning of our new adventures.

Many of you know that over the past 14 months, we have been taking Emmett to see an Anat Baniel Method (ABM) practitioner to receive "movement lessons." The closest ABM practitioners are at least two hours away and we can only afford to take him every 8 weeks or so, but we have seen incredible improvement in his movement, as well as his overall awareness and involvement with the world around him. These lessons are normally done in blocks of 2 lessons a day, for 3 days.

The results we are seeing are so profound that I have decided to take the training myself, not only to benefit Emmett, but also other children with special needs and adults with chronic pain.

This was not an easy decision to make! When I first saw the cost and the logistics of traveling for the training, I honestly thought it was unattainable. However, the more I watched these lessons and how Emmett responded to them, the more I felt like this is what I am supposed to do. Leaving my family for several days at a time will not be easy, but we are going to make this happen.

Please remember our family in your prayers, as we prepare for another big change. My training will start next March. I am both excited and terrified to start a whole new career at nearly 40 years of age, but I know that it will be awesome for our family and I hope to help many other families along the way. I will keep you posted as we get closer to start time and look forward to sharing our ABM journey with you.

Our little water bug... The reason I decided to "take the plunge!"