GWU....We <3 You!

Luke was accepted to GWU CHAMP Camp and we couldn't be more excited.

 

 

 Last year, he was able to attend the first CHildhood Apraxia and Motor Planning Camp at GWU's Speech and Hearing Clinic in Washington, DC.

 

 

 

 

It was a great experience for Luke and for our family.

We met some friends, made some memories, and learned more about apraxia and motor planning issues in the parent education classes that were offered. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Can't wait to get back to DC and

"show off" all that Luke has accomplished this year

and hopefully see some of our friends from last year.

 

For more information about the GWU camp, please visit

http://departments.columbian.gwu.edu/speechhearing/sites/default/files/apraxia_summer_camp_2013_revised_2.pdf

 

 

 

He Hears Our Prayers....and Answers LOUD and Clear.

God definitely hears our prayers. 

Throughout this journey I have claimed that none of Luke's progress has to do with us and everything to do with God. 

This is an email that I received today from our private speech therapist at More Than Words Pediatric Rite Care Clinic.  We speak briefly before and after sessions, along with scheduled conferences....but she wrote today to specifically tell me how AMAZING he was in speech therapy today.

Wow, what a great session!! He was in great spirits and very focused. I started
by tracking his production of /l/ both in CV (consonant-vowel) and VC syllables using the Speech EZ forms.

He did a terrific job with the CV with just a little vowel distortion. As you might have guessed,
the VC was much more difficult.

It's difficult for him to coordinate the tongue movement from a vowel position back to the /l/ placement, which requires his tongue to touch behind his front teeth.

B/c he was so cooperative today, we were able to do some intensive oral motor awareness work with the mirror and with me modeling the tongue position. He did very well when I cued him to "touch
behind your teeth with your thumb." (This was easier for him to do than touch
with his index finger). I cued him to "press up hard!" so that he could really feel where his tongue was supposed to go. Then, after this, I cued him for tongue placement there. This is coming and I'm going to make a point of starting the session (or trying to) with this exercise until it's easier for him.

He LOVED using the dollhouse. I've found a variety of furniture and little dolls to use
with so he didn't know what to expect. This is very important to engaging him: the element
of the "unknown."

Using the hand cue for /h/, I prompted him to imitate a variety of sentences
including "He goes here." "He has mail." We did a little with the "sh" in "she," too e.g. "She goes here."

Also, continued work on the voiced "th" in the carrier phrase "I see the _______" re: different
toys in the dollhouse.

Overall, a marvelous session.

I was pleased that he tolerated the slimy creatures in the bucket, too. It didn't seem to bother him too much!

Have a great day!

Giving GOD the GLORY and praising JESUS for His healing powers!  Keep those prayers coming.  We feel completely covered in prayer!!!

Obey~Faith~Rejoice

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

He Can Heal....

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Making Plans...

One of the most important choices that I think we ever made was getting Luke to the best apraxia and sensory processing experts known to man.  This not only gave us insight as to what the best practices and protocols, but it also gave us the ablilty to share what we learned with therapists in our area. 

Until Luke, Childhood Apraxia of Speech was something that therapists here had heard about, but not really diagnosed.  Many are still afraid of diagnosing children with Childhood Apraxia of Speech too soon.  I still can't understand what they are afraid of and what harm it could do. I guess they just really don't have the experience with CAS. 

My background is in Early Childhood Education, with a Masters in Reading and an Educational Specialist in Elementary and I am of the belief that early intervention is key.  Specifically in apraxia, it takes the right kind of treatment and therapy.  It has to be intense and frequent.

Going to Michigan, to Colorado, to Arizona and to DC was not something we planned for.  Kind of like apraxia, dyspraxia and sensory processing disorder.  Not something we planned for at all.

It wasn't easy to make those much needed trips.  It took us opening up and asking for help, as well as accepting the help offered.  Our church and community has been amazing. 

The sacrifices made by so many will never be forgotten.

And while Luke has come so far, our journey isn't done. 

I can see the light.  I can see the progress.  He just needs more.  More intensive help from the experts in far away places. 

And so......this mama is on a mission again!  Operation Fundraising for Far Away Places ;)

Sometimes It Seems Like an Uphill Battle...

Sometimes it does seem like an uphill battle.

But if you look for good things and are thankful for them....

I promise it gets easier with each step forward.

 

 

 

 

Check out the motor planning going on. 

Many people take for granted the little things...

not us.

 

 

High Five from Daddy!

 

 

 

I seriously want a pause button.

This school year has flown by and before I blink again, it will probably be summer.

 

 

 

My boys

 

 

Silly swinging

 

 

And even I joined in ;) 

Like I said....it's the little things.

 

CHAMP Camp at George Washington University

And one of those many moments happened this summer...

CHAMP (ChildHood Apraxia and Motor Planning) Camp

at George Washington University.

I am always trying to find the next 'move' or 'turn' on this road called Apraxia.

So when I heard about the opportunity for children of various ages and stages of apraxia to participate in a week of intensive therapy with Speech and Language clinicians at GWU,

I immediately inquired and submitted Luke's application, along with video that was required. 

I hoped that he would be chosen because it would be the best of both worlds...

Luke would be able to receive the intensive therapy he needs to speak,

while we could make a fun family vacation out of the trip.

Washington was the perfect spot. 

The George Washington Speech and Hearing Center was within walking distance of all the sights and family timeshare points could be used to secure a condo on the Potomic River for the week long stay. 

And as fate would have it....Luke was accepted into CHAMP camp.

We practiced riding the Metro to Foggy Bottom to estimate how long our commute
would take the Sunday before camp started ;)

And we made it on time the first day and every single day after that....wonders never cease!

The fire station we got to see every morning on our way to camp.

Going over the visual schedule and talking about what was to come in his morning at camp

Individual therapy with Luke's personal GWU clinician

Small group therapy with their clinician right by their side

Whole group time with movement, song and dance

Supportive family watching and cheering from behind the glass ;)

Learning valuable information from the many parent educational courses
that were taught daily during camp
*wish I had taken pics of the presenters, but this is the only one I had to use from one of the slideshows :)

Checking out the White House and other sights after the mornings at camp

Having lunch in the city was pretty memorable, too.

Making friends that will last for a lifetime

Graduation from CHAMP camp

Finally....getting the medal on our Champion

Giving Josa flowers at the end of a successful time at CHAMP camp

Heading back on that long car trip and dreaming of next year's camp 

 We were highly impressed with the CHAMP camp program that Jodi Kumar (Clinical Supervisor at GWU) established in this first year.  The organization, planning, scheduling, and coordinating that went into this week of intensive therapy was first rate.  The parent education presentations and parent interactions were nothing short of stellar.  We learned so much from the other parents who shared their stories of struggles and successes....all while Luke was able to practice his speech in a structured and supportive environment.

We are still praying for continued miracles and that we won't even need to attend camp next year, but even so... we sleep well knowing that we are doing everything within our power to give Luke and our family these phenomenal experiences.

Thank you Jodi Kumar, Lisa Clayton, and Josafina Fernandez for everything that you did to ensure that CHAMP camp was a success for us and for the many other families we now call friends.  XOXO 

If you have any questions about CHAMP camp,

you may contact Jodi Kumar, MS, CCC-SLP

at GWU Speech and Hearing Center.

I am...

I am a parent.

I never knew that I could be capable of so many things.

From work, to research, to multi-tasking, to advocating and then jumping hurdles in single bounds... 

God has seen me through all kinds of ups and downs.

I will never stop trying, hoping or believing in my children~because they need me, and it is the very least that I can do for them, my loves.