Miss Mimi

For the past few days Miss Mimi has had a slight fever and hasn't been eating.  Since yesterday, she's had nasty diarrhea.  Ewwww...  But, it happens.  So this morning, I took her to the Children's Clinic to be seen.  They ran a strep test and a CBC, everything came back normal.  Most likely, as the doctor says, it's just a viral infection.  She's drinking liquids when she wants to, but isn't eating like her greedy self usually does.  Prior to the doctor coming in, the nurse does Mimi's vitals.  I politely ask her to measure Mimi's head circumference and she gladly does.  It measures at 37.5 cm, which equals to approximately 14.8 inches.  At the time, I didn't realize this.  I did the conversion when I got to school because I was trying to figure out what size crochet had to "attempt" to make Mimi.  Well, her measurements are for a newborn size crochet hat, while earlier I was looking at a much bigger size.  Good thing I didn't start yet!  But just the thought that Mimi's head circumference is the size of a newborn, is quite depressing.  I guess I don't really think about it, until I ask questions like the above, and it sinks in.  But, the size doesn't matter, right?!!!  

Last year I started learning how to crochet.  I got frustrated and gave up after I couldn't successfully make a circle.  I was teaching myself from information online and the lovely YouTube.  This time around, I'm NOT giving up.  I have bought a patter from Etsy, and purchased the yarn, and will be crocheting my heart out this evening.  Hopefully, I can get some of it done.  Once it's completed, whenever that is, I will be sure to prop it on Miss Mimi's head and show you the final work.

I most likely won't be posting on the Blog that much about signs in the next few weeks, only because I'm busy working on my comprehensive exam for my MS, which is dues August 15, 2011.  I get super nervous when I am in front of people, so I know I will be working on this day in and day out, especially when it gets closer.  Tonight I will be sitting in front of the TV, watching Signing Time (well listening), as I "attempt" to work on this new pattern.  I want to write down all the signs they go over in each DVD we have, so I can have a list of what Mimi is being shown.  :)

If you guys didn't already know.  Mimi signed Eat on her own the other day.  I was so PROUD of her.  She kept crying and I didn't know why, so I asked her, what's wrong?  And she tapped at her mouth several times, which is the sign for Eat.  If you know signs, you know that when you sign Eat, you close your fingers on top of your thumb and tap at your lips several times.  However, Miss Mimi taps at her mouth with her whole hand.  I'm not sure if she's just not getting the concept, or if she's just rushing.  She does the same thing when signing More.  Instead of using the hands closed on top of each other, she claps for More.  It's a working process, but it's going pretty well if you ask me.

Because..........the other day I was just playing around with Mimi and asked her to sign Outside, and she did.  A sign that she just recently learned the other day.  Then I asked her to do it again, and she spoke it.  I am so Proud of her.  She is really learning and that's all that matters.

A new sign I will be working on for myself and Miss Mimi is: Picture (photo).  The lady who does Mimi's and Kai's pictures every once in a while suggested I work with Mimi by using signs, to see how she does come August when it's Picture time.  It's worth a shot!  So, we shall see how it goes.  Yay!

Thanks for reading.........

Kai and Mimi enjoying playing Michael Jackson: The Experience on the Wii.

Signing BABY

Baby

Here is Mimi signing Baby.  I honestly think this is one of her favorite signs because any time I ask her to do it, she has this HUGE smile on her face.  

For the past few weeks, it's just been me and Mimi.  Kai has been visiting Grammie back in Hope Mills, while Mimi has been here in Wilmington with me.  Of course I've been in school during the day, but afterwards, it's just been the two of us.  Today, we "attempted" to have a girls afternoon out.  It really didn't go all that great. Well, nothing went wrong.  We just didn't accomplish much.  But we did spend time together and that was more than enough.  Mimi's first set of DVDs came in the mail today.  She was super excited when we opened the box.  The set came with a CD of some of the Signing Time CDs.  So my iTouch connection in the car has been replaced with the Signing Time CD.  At least I have something to learn on the way to school.  Mimi carried the CD case around during our entire "date".  She refused to put it down.  At least I can tell she's happy about the new movies.  The DVD set came with 4 DVDs, but right now we are just going to focus on two.  The first one we watched was "Going Outside".  Some of the signs we are learning include:  outside, flowers (which we already knew), grass, sun, and many more.  The second one we started on consisted of the different seasons.  We aren't really paying attention to it at the moment, just listening to it.  Mimi is too young to understand the different seasons, so it's not a must at the moment.  So, I'm sure in a few minutes, I will be putting the "Going Outside" DVD back in.  Well, that's about it for today.  Thank you all for taking the time to read up on little Miss Mimi.

Bath Time

Loving up on Louis from The Princess and the Frog!! saa

Starting Baby Sign Language with Mimi

For the past year, maybe longer (not sure), Mimi has been learning baby sign language with her therapists.  During Mimi's sessions, they use signs to communicate with her.  Of course she doesn't know many and can't recite them back to you, but she does "understand" a lot and is making progress in using them.  I will admit, it's still hard for me to use them when I'm talking with her (the ones I know), but it's a learning process, that I'm going to attempt to stay on track with.  The  basic signs she learned in the beginning were:  more, NO, eat, and sit.  She understands all four of the basic words she started off with, but can't actually recite it back.  One therapist gave up on using the word more, and started using please.  She recognizes both, or it seems she does, but would rather show please, than more.  Which is fine.  Please is better than nothing.

This past week, we (Mimi, Kai, and myself) started watching "Signing Time:  Playtime Signs" Volume 2.  The DVD goes over "playtime" words to communicate with your child.  Even though Mimi isn't an infant (9 months or so), I still feel using sign language with her will possibly make both of our lives a bit easier, especially when it comes to communication.  So with this DVD, we learned the following terms:  play, friends, share, please, thank you, your turn, my turn, no, yes, stop, go, hurt, wait, sorry, potty, thirsty, drink, book, read, bath, grandpa, grandma, bike, train, bear, etc.  Some of these words she has heard before in therapy, but it was quite a learning lesson for myself.  Out of the above words, Mimi can do drink, please, thank you, and drink.  She doesn't do it exactly the way it's shown, but I know what she's trying to do, and that's what matters the most.  

Mimi recognizes the word bath, but not the sign.  When I say, "are you ready to go take a bath Mimi?"  She darts to the bathroom.  If you ask her to sit, most of the time she will listen, unless she's been stubborn.  She recognizes please and thank you, which she is signing.  Yeah!!  She definitely understands NO!  But that doesn't mean she always listens.  But like I've mentioned before, this is a learning experience for me and her.  

These DVDs are great!  Unfortunately I can't afford them, but who knows, I may decide to get some in the future, depending on the progress, since Kai enjoys them too.  This week, we will continue to go over the "playtime" words and a few extras I'm learning from a book.  :)

Mimi signing book and thank you!  1-30-2011

Kai showing Mimi bear.  1-30-2011

Temperance Maleia

As most of you know, or may not, my daughter Temperance Maleia "Mimi" is special needs.  She was born with Microcephaly, a neurodevelopment disorder in which the circumference of the head is more than two standard deviations smaller than the average for the person's age and sex.  Basically, the size of her brain (and head), was about 1/4 the size it should be at birth.  She was born on May 18, 2008 at 37 weeks, but measuring between 29-31 weeks, approximately.  I noticed about 3 weeks before I was induced, that I didn't seem like I was getting much bigger, since when I had my son, I was huge.  Not so much with her.  They measured me and noticed she was not the size she should be.  Within a few days, I saw a Perinatologist, and the decision was made to go ahead and induce me at 37 weeks.  When she was born, she weighed in at 5 lbs and 3oz.  She was 17 3/4 inches in lengths, with a head circumference of 10 1/2 in.  As expected, her head size was smaller than normal and they wanted to do a MRI to see what was going on inside her brain.  We were scheduled for an MRI within a few weeks, but when we got there after waiting for several hours, the doctor declined the testing, because technically since she was so delayed in growth, she still wasn't "fit" to undergo an MRI, since she would have to be sedated.  Something which should of been known, before the MRI was scheduled, but oh well!!  Finally, February 2009, she got in for the MRI and it was confirmed Mimi was Microcephalic.  Next thing I knew, we were up in Chapel Hill visiting the Neurologist and Geneticist, which in my opinion really didn't get me too far.  We still don't know how she developed Microcephaly, but I have my own opinions on that.  Spring of 2009 (before Mimi's 1st birthday), I believe, Mimi started Physical Therapy, once a week.  Followed by Occupational Therapy, once a week.  Mimi didn't start to crawl until she was around 16-18 months, didn't walk until after 2, and even though she's walking now, she doesn't have the best stability when it comes to walking.  She walks/runs together.

Mimi will be 3 in less than 4 months.  She does not talk, even though she does babble and YELL at times.  She can say "mama" and "dada", but as far as if she knows what she's actually saying, it's still unclear.  Currently she has PT every other week for a day, OT once a week, Speech Therapy once a week, and Play Therapy once a week.  All the ladies who work with her are GREAT and I love them for all they have done for Mimi over the years.  You can still progress, which is good!!  Since Mimi is not talking, even though she does find ways to communicate, I've decided, I'm going to dedicate my time to working on sign language with her.  Her therapists work with her during the week and from the little bit I know so far, I think it will help her so much, when it comes to communication, since no ones knows when and if she will be able to talk normally.  My goal is to become Certified in Sign Language, in the future.  Not sure when and how, since I am a full-time student, raising two kids on my own, with the help of my dad.  But this is something I want to do and will find the resources to make it happen.  Plus, if it helps me communicate with my daughter, I'm all for it.

Mimi has a 4 year old brother Kai, who she absolutely loves and he will be learning signs too, since he talks with her all day, every day, of course.  This blog is basically to help me keep track of signing with Mimi and to share our experiences.  I hope to post at least twice a week about progress, with pictures and/or video.  This is something that will be a learning experience for both myself and Mimi, including her brother and whoever else.

This is the life of Mimi growing up as a special needs child, with love and support from her family.  Regardless, she has us, always and forever.  Let's go!!!!

5/19/2008 (day after Mimi was born.  Kai finally meets her) 

5/21/2008 (Mimi finally comes home, after having to stay at the hospital an extra night)

12/2010 (Kai and Mimi, getting ready to go to Magic Kingdom)