Apraxia Awareness Day

According to the website apraxia-kids.org, today is the first Apraxia Awareness Day.

Although I tend to write more about prematurity than CAS, Childhood Apraxia of Speech affects every single aspect of our family. It's why George started preschool last year rather than this year. It's why we've welcomed speech therapists into our home at least once a week, every week, for three years. It's why he won't eat unfamiliar foods or at unfamiliar restaurants. It's why he screamed at me every morning for six months straight.

But . . .

He has apraxia. Apraxia does not have him.

George is happy. Yes, happy! He loves cows, Chik-Fil-A and trains. He loves his Grandpa and his Nono. He likes pancakes and pasta. He is strong willed, stubborn, and loving. He's a typical little brother and a great big brother! He's a NICU graduate who kicked prematurity and took names. He's the reason we host a NICU Thanksgiving every year. He's loving, caring, kind and compassionate. Now that he is finding his voice, he says the most hysterical things! Yes, yes, he has apraxia. It is a part of him but it doesn't define him.

He's the reason I will never take my voice for granted. He's the reason I was given the gift of speech and writing. He's thrust us into the world of special needs and made us all more comfortable around those with different abilities. He's the reason for many tears and so much more JOY. He's the reason the sentence "car get ow" is the best darn sentence I have ever heard.

Yes, Apraxia is his dragon and he must slay it. But amidst that spinney, scaly, snarling dragon is a precious flower, blooming against all odds.

Some of my favorite posts about Apaxia:
(Please note that these posts were written at various times in our journey. What they say may or may not reflect how we currently feel.)

A Voice for My Child: Orginally written for this blog, it was reposted on the Natural Parents Network last March. In it, I reflect on how my greatest strength is my son's greatest weakness.

She Kept Mocking the Way He was Speaking: My oldest son does not have Apraxia but that doesn't mean he is affected by it. At recess, one of his classmates was mocking George, something that upset my oldest.

Heal My Son: Sometimes I still get angry that my son, my baby, struggles so much with something that should come easily to him. I wish he was healed and perhaps healing is taking place through the hands of his therapists.

His Voice: The best first sentence in the world! Written for the Carnival of Natural Parenting.

I Knew it was Coming: The first time a child asked, "Why can't he talk?"

Apraxia Therapy: Different therapies we have used to help our son.

Fine: Related to prematurity but also about apraxia. How I feel when people say, "But he's fine, right?"

Review and Giveaway: "No-Cry" books (ARV: $12.00 US)

When Joseph was a baby, I was half convinced there was something wrong with him. Well past the newborn stage, he was waking frequently at night to nurse and preferred to sleep in bed with us. It seemed that every other baby or toddler his age was sleeping through the night; or, at least, sleeping  for more than 3 hours at a time.

Thanks to my friends at La Leche League and by reading a couple of books, I learned that my son's sleep patterns were very normal for a child of his age. Babies and young children are biologically wired to awake frequently, seek the comfort of their parents at night and they  need to nurse often. It wasn't until recent history that parents expected young children to sleep alone, in their own rooms, all night, without needing a parent for anything.

However, as he grew a bit older, I knew he was able to sleep longer periods. I did not want to let him cry it out but was unsure of how to help him sleep longer. Elizabeth Pantley's The No-Cry Sleep Solution still fairly new  when Joseph was a young toddler (it was published in 2002) but already my friends were raving about it. I checked it out from the LLL library, used her tips and tricks and soon had a younger toddler who was sleeping longer at night. It was a welcome change, as I was newly pregnant with his sister and exhausted!

The top book is a copy vought for me. The bottom two were
sent to me for the review.

When Elizabeth Pantley contacted me to do a review and giveaway of her books, I was excited. I had heard about The No-Cry Sleep Solution for Toddlers and Preschoolers and The No-Cry Potty Training Solution. I am the proud mother of a four year old who will not or cannot potty train and a two and four year old who have trouble going to sleep and staying asleep. Since I had had such success with her first book, I was eager to see what tricks she had up her sleeve for my night waking, non-potty-using kiddos.

The No-Cry Potty Training Solution

All George's therapists and teachers tell me that boys with Apraxia are notoriously late to use the potty. We know George can do it, as he has initiated using the potty several times. He is certainly at an age where he should be biologically ready to use the potty. After eight years of cloth diapering four children and over two years of two in cloth diapers, I am certainly ready for him to use the potty! However, no amount of talking, cajoling or bribing could get him anywhere near a toilet, big or little. Surely Pantley had to have some great ideas, right?

Well, yes and no. Her book is certainly chock-full of good advice, from quizzes on how to tell if your child is ready to use the potty to different tricks to encourage your (no longer!) little one to use the potty. Reading this book is like having a potty-training brain storming solution and pep-talk with your very best friends. It has wonderful ideas on how to help your child be successful at using the potty. I really liked that the book focused on the parents and how to be calm, patient, calm, calm and calmer when potty training a little one. So many books seem to focus on child, and not in positive way, that it was refreshing to read a book that focused on the parents helping a child be successful while maintaining a loving relationship.

Pantley's book does have a chapter on children with special needs. However, it mostly addresses children with mobility issues, not children with neurological problems. My son has anxiety issues surrounding merely sitting on the potty and I was hoping that something like this would be addressed. However, it served as a good reminder to me to take to his doctor about possible physical problems that might be going unnoticed.

The potty train chart, thanks to Cami!

That said, we did follow her advice to take it one small step at a time. I broke using the potty down into small pieces and we are focusing on one little piece at a time. First up is just sitting on the potty.

My daughter helped make a "train potty chart" for him. (If you have an artsy six year old at home, I HIGHLY recommend letting them help create the chart!) She filled it with rewards every few squares.We told him that when the chart is filled, he can go on a real train ride. We do ask him if he wants to use the potty (putting the ball in his court) and leave it at that. We have toyed with the idea of "potty training boot camp" (which is also outlined in Pantley's book, although not with that name) over Thanksgiving break. However, given his personality and issues, I am not sure this is a good idea.

In short, this book is an excellent one stop shop over all your gentle, potty training tips and tricks. This could easily be the only book you read to get ideas for potty training your children in a gentle manner. It's great book to reference with each child or to simply give you a pep talk as you go through potty training.

No Cry Sleep Solution for Toddlers and Preschoolers

George (top) and Cole in the master bed. Summer
2012.
 

By  modern standards, my children do not sleep. By biological standards, they are perfectly normal . . . but the youngest likes to wake up at night and snuggle (and he's a bed hog!) and George has trouble falling asleep and staying asleep. By "trouble falling asleep" I mean that he is clearly tired, clearly wants to sleep but cannot or will not fall asleep. Many nights Adam has to drive him around in the car to get him to sleep.

Although kids with CAS are notorious non-sleepers, George's problems are also out fault. Life was very hectic when he was born and we helped him learn to fall asleep on his own. (This can be done gently.) When we were finally settled in a new house, I became pregnant and "Please, please, please get the baby to sleep- I don't care HOW!" was my new mantra. Fast forward to age (nearly) four and we have a monster on our hands.

While some of Pantley's chapters did not pertain to us (Cole no longer nurses, for example, and we don't have problems with bed wetting since they are in diapers), the chapters that did gave us wonderful, clear instructions for starting the slow process of getting George to go to sleep with minimal help. We kept Cole's nighttime routine the same (teeth, prayers, snuggle with me in the recliner in his room until he goes to sleep), we tighted up the bed time routine on all three older children. We start winding down for the night around 7:30 by turning off the TV, finishing snacks and chores and reading. Cole goes to bed around this time. At around 8:15, the oldest children head upstairs to be tucked in a say prayers. My husband dims the lights in our room and lays down with George while they watch a TV show. Although TV viewing can pep some children up or make it harder for them to stay asleep, it seems to calm and relax him. Falling asleep in our bed is a big improvement over having to be driven to sleep! The next step is him falling asleep in his room, and then him falling asleep in his room, alone.

No-Cry Sleep Solution for Toddlers and Preschoolers also helped me realize that the little boys need a consistent bedtime even if they nap during the day. Both boys are in the process of giving up naps; sometimes they need a nap and sometimes they do not. On "nap" days I was putting them to bed an hour or two later than normal. Now we start the bedtime routine within 30 minutes of the "normal" time to keep it consistent. This has really helped them go to sleep easier and stay asleep longer.

Because we tightened up the bedtime routine and made it more consistent, the boys have been sleeping longer at night. Unless they are sick, they come into our room around 4 or 5 am to sleep a little more and cuddle. This is a huge improvement over waking at 11 pm and wanting to sleep with us all night long! Right now, we are happy with this arrangement but I have no doubt that if they go back to their old habit of coming in around midnight, or pull a new sleeping trick, Pantley's book will have the right suggestion for us.

Buy it!

Go to Amazon to purchase any of Elizabeth Pantley's "No-Cry" books, from the classic No Cry Sleep Solution to her newest No-Cry Picky Eater Solution. Many are available as Kindle books or in papaerback.

Win it!
This contest is open to people in the United States and Canada.

Two winners will be chosen to recieve one copy each of their choice of any of Pantley's books. The contest opens on November 1, 2012 and will close November 15, 2012. Winners will be announced on this blog and notified via e-mail. You will have 24 hours to respond with your name and address or another winner will be chosen. Winners will be chosen via Rafflecopter.

Disclaimer: I recieved complementary copies of the books to read and review. Opinions are my own.
(Photo credit: Laura)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Overheard: for the love of hair

Per my request, Adam took the boys to get haircuts this past weekend. We've finally reached the point where Joseph needs more of a "barber" than a "stylist" and I just send the little dudes with them. They sit so much better for Daddy anyway.

It's well known (or I THOUGH IT WAS!) that I have a mad love affair with Cole's hair. It's blond from the sun and water this summer, soft and curly. It's everything a little girl would love in hair, but on a boy. It doesn't hurt that it's exactly like Adam's. After two bald babies (Cami and George... especially Cami!) I have enjoyed his curls.

Besides, when he's being onery, I tell him, "Cole Robert, if it weren't for your big blue eyes and curly blond hair, I would sell you to the zoo!"

My Facebook Page Banner. Note the lovely curls on the right.

So, anyway, I told Adam to get the boys' hair cut. A few hours later, I call him and he says, "Cole's hair and super short now and he looks just like George!"

I think they heard me across Sam's, where Adam was finishing up the weekly shopping. "YOU CUT OFF MY BABY'S CURLS?!!!"

Adam had the gall to laugh at me. "Why, is it a problem? He looks like a big boy now!"

When they came home, I cuddled a sleeping Cole and cried. My older children, who are now longer the favorites and will probably be sold to the zoo, said UNhelpful things like, "He looks like a big boy!" and "You only loved him for his curls!"

Of course, I sobbed at them, "May you have children with beautiful hair and may you know the pain when your husband shaves it all off!"

Camille seemed really annoyed with me. She even said, "You love him the most because he had the most hair!"

"Honey, if the amount of love was based on the amount of hair you had, you would be the least loved child on the planet! You were bald until you were nearly three!" She actually stamped her foot at me and huffed because she's tired (she says) of hearing how bald she was.

Sorry, sweetie, you were an adorable baby but you were REALLY BALD.

Camille at one. Note the lack of hair. She had this much until
was 2.5 years old and grew a Florence Henderson mullet.



I have to say Cole's hair cut is neat and tidy and they did a great job. He really does look like George. I can tell that his hair still has natural curl to it and it looks, in style, color and texture, just like Adam's. But with no curls... well, nothing is saving you from being sold to the zoo now kiddo!

Quick Takes Friday: Review Love

1.

On Tuesday, my fundraiser for the March of Dimes opened! If you've always wanted to order from Thirty-One but never had an excuse, now you have one! Fifty per cent of my commission will go to the MOD!

2.

African Babies Don't Cry is currently hosting a world-wide giveaway for Coconut Oil for Your Skin, the new E-book written by Hybrid Rasta Mama. There's even a coupon code attached!

3.

Have you ever seen the cute MamAmor dolls? They are breastfeeding, baby wearing handmade dolls for kids and are super cute! I love the variety she has; each doll is so unique. She currently has a giveaway going on until Mother's Day and it is open worldwide.

4.

I am always on the lookout for fun, modern books that help teach my kids our faith. So many Catholic books for kids look like they were written in 1950, have very, um, traditional drawings and simply do NOT appeal to kids in the year 2012. When I found An Alphabet of Catholic Saints, I bought it right away. The illustrations are simple, clean and appealing. I love that they feature a variety of saints, from "oldie but goodies" like St. Joseph to "newer" ones like Blessed Kateri. The saints aren't the "typical" white bread saints either; care was taken to ensure that saints of a variety of ethnic backgrounds are represented. The text is charming, rhymes and has a simple, fun rhythm. It's not just for littles, though. There's more information about the saint at the bottom of each page. It's fun enough for an adult to read to a toddler but enjoyable for older children to read on their own.

5.

Have you got your bathing suit for this season? If not, RUN RUN to Swim Suits for All. They cater to women sizes 8 and up. Their selection is great and their sale prices are to DIE for. I had budgeted 50 dollars for one high quality swim suit. (I'm looking at YOU, Land's End.) Instead I got THREE tankinis for 50 dollars! Three! One was even eight dollars! And I didn't have to search for tops and matching bottoms either; the prices included both pieces. I was able to use the coupon code they automatically applied to my order plus the code "up5" to save even more money. They ship fast too; I ordered Tuesday and had my purchases by Saturday. Between the great prices, ability to stack coupon codes and the speedy shipping, I will be going back next year!

6.

Tales of a Kitchen Witch just finished a massive giveaway on her FB page! She is currently hosting a giveaway for a pair of baby leggings made by Anktangle. You need to check out Joni Rae's blog, if only for her lovely drawings! (She's a pretty bang-up writer too and an all around nice person.) You need to check out Anktangle too... I love hearing about her little guy!

7.

Why all the review love? Check back next week (well, check back before then too!) to see why! We are kicking things up in the Herd Household, on the blog and on my Facebook page, Slaying Dragons. There's lots of fun stuff in store.

Introducing...

Slaying Dragons: Life Behind the Red Front Door

Yes, this blog now has a Facebook page! Well, not really. It is not a direct off-shoot of my blog. It's a place to share information about natural and attachment parenting, the Catholic faith, special needs and everything else that I write about in the blog. (Although I probably won't link up to the blog much.) Pop on over, give us some love and please be patient as I get things started!