CoffeeBean's Corner

Aug. 30, 2008

Allison

Lindsey loves to have the spotlight and I'll be sharing a lot about her and what we are learning this year, but we can't forget about little Allison! Just over 2 years ago we received a referral for a 10 month old little girl in Kunming, Yunnan, China who had a heart condition called atrial septal defect (ASD). We had just put our names on the "Interested Families List" for special needs and since Jay has a heart condition (aortic insufficiency) we indicated we would accept a child with a heart condition. Just about a month later we saw this face...

....and said yes we would accept her referral! We left for China on October 26 and Allison became our daughter on October 30, 2006. We brought her home and had her checked by a pediatric cardiologist and found out her heart was just fine! No defect, no need for further visits. She did have torticollis which has since resolved and she has been a very healthy little girl.

Allison has a fairly severe speech delay - she is about a year behind with speech and is somewhat immature/slightly delayed in her overall development. But she is making great progress! In January when she was 2 years, 3 months old, she only spoke one or two words. But now she is up to over 60 words and adding new ones all the time. She has been receiving speech and occupational therapy for the past year through the county's Birth to 3 program. On October 11 she will turn 3 and will then be helped by the public school system. Even though I am a die-hard homeschooler I am willing to do what I think is best for her and I think the speech class will be of benefit to her. Starting on October 13 she will go to speech class for a little over an hour on Monday and Wednesday mornings. A little school bus will be picking her up right in front of our house and dropping her off there too. I will be asking for prayer that it goes well when the time comes! I can't imagine sending my little "Pie Pie" off on a bus by herself but the other option is driving her myself and by the time I dropped her off and came home it would be about time to turn around and go pick her up. This way I will have some time one-on-one with Lindsey to do schoolwork together or do things that are just hard to do with Allison (the human tornado) around.

Allison loves to get into mischief, climb, push things around like a stroller (baby or her own), get into mischief, play outside, and get into mischief.

She is a sweetie pie though and we are blessed to call her our daughter.

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Comments

Aug. 30, 2008 - HI Eileen

Posted by Anonymous

Hi Eileen.

I love that you've started this new blog. Sounds like everyone is doing well. Bruce turns 3 in December and his speech and occupational therapists do not think he will need to go further. Not sure what we'll do then since he goes on Weds and Fri for 2.5 hours and loves playing with the other 9 boys in his class. In a way I hope he can continue. Everyday he asks "School?" and gets upset when we tell him "Not Today". Oh well.

Thank you for mentioning the curriculum you're using. I need to look into it. We are going to homeschool Bruce (and the son we are hoping to adopt from Taiwan in the next year or so).

Take care.

Linda
borntobeours@yahoo.com

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Sep. 1, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by Anonymous

Oh Eileen, that is the most precious picture of Allison yet! I hope you are planning to blow it up and frame it! LOVE IT!!
I'm glad to hear of all the progress she is making too, I know you must be thrilled.

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Sep. 2, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by Anonymous

Eileen,
Allison is so adorable. I can't believe it has been two yrs. since our referral day! It seems like yesterday.
Praying your little sweetie pie will enjoy riding on the bus as the wheels go round and round. Also for mommy. :)

Blessings,
Kathy

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Sep. 2, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by Cheri

Hi Eileen!

My Elijah (6 in Oct) also had a severe speech delay. He started private speech therapy when we were in TX @ 3. When we moved to Montana (can you say middle of no where, lol) our options were limited for private therapy without driving 2 hrs and that is how I learned about public access. While we lived in MT. Elijah went weekly to speech with the speech therapist/path at the local elementary school. It was a wonderful experience.

I am currently setting up his therapies for her in New Mexico.

I'll keep you and your little pie pie in my prayers for a successful year with a new experience!

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Sep. 4, 2008 - Allison

Posted by Amy

What a little cutie Allison is, we start speech next week for Lily, after evaluation she qualified through birth-3 program also, says 15 words maybe but not regularly unless you specifically ask her to say a word, she is 22 months.

http://themaninfiors.blogspot.com

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Sep. 6, 2008 - Speech

Posted by Stretch Mark Mama

We're right there with you with the speech delay - one year behind. Sloooowly catching up. E is in the county birth-3 program as well, and I am thankful for that. I've got a little while before she turns 3 and would have to "go" to school. Crazy thought!

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About Me

I'm a Christian, stay-at-home, homeschooling mom, married to Jay for 20 years. We have 3 beautiful children - Ben, 18, Lindsey, 5, and Allison 2, and a wonderful Westie, Chester. I love to read, watch football, knit and crochet, and listen to podcasts on my iPod.