Kai Signing 1-10

My son is AMAZING.  He surprises me almost every day.  Yes, we butt heads "often", but I feel in my heart he is going to be a smart KID once he gets older.  Learning a few signs here and there is a lot for a child to do, especially when he or she is trying to learn basic stuff to start school.  For the past few days, I've been working with Kai on learning 1-10 in ASL.  Mimi sees me do it almost everyday, but it's something I do NOT expect her to learn any time soon and I am not working on it with her.  If we listen to one of the Signing Time songs that goes over 1-10, yes I show her the signs, but I am not sitting there adjusting her fingers to the numbers.  However, Kai on the other hand, wants to learn.  I was signing the numbers to Mimi the other day and I saw out the corner of my eye him moving his fingers around trying to learn.  So, I moved towards him and talked him through it.  It really means a lot to me to know that he wants to learn and he remembers a lot of signs I would think he would forget, since he doesn't do them as often as I do.  So, I just wanted to share with you guys Kai signing 1-10.  Yes, there are some errors, but hey, he's 4 and it's not the same as how he will be learning it in school. 

ENJOY!!

 If you notice, when doing numbers, 1-5 palm is facing you, but 6-9, the palm of your hand is facing out.

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

Everyday Signs with Mimi

This week I have started a new set of words with Mimi.  She of course does NOT completely know the words mentioned previously  all the way, but I will continue to work with her on those as well.  So, now we are going to focus on "everyday" signs, which include foods, things you do, see, and experience each day.  We most likely will be working on this for a few weeks, since I personally have a lot going on at school and won't be able to dedicate as much time with her on these words as I would like.  Also, I'm in the process of learning the complete alphabet in American Sign Language, etc.

To start off, here are a few words in which we have started on recently:  apple, cookie, cracker, want, cheese, and many more.............................

Since I have been so busy studying for an exam and have been on campus most of the week, it was interesting to come home and Kai goes, "Look mommy, this is cookie?"  Of course I had NO clue what it was, since I haven't been watching the show, but he was so RIGHT.  I am so proud of him, wanting to learn also.  It seems to into it, it's just AMAZING how much Kai picks up and actually remembers.

"Signing Time" has a small version of what they offer on the DVDs as an APP on the iTouch, so wouldn't you know, I downloaded it.  :)  Mimi happened to be there when I downloaded the mini-version, that was free, and well, didn't offer much, but about a 10 second clip.  She heard the music and went crazy!!  Then got mad when I took it back, so I can download the actually APP.  Now, I have "Signing Time" on my iTouch, which I believe has 6 full-length songs.  She's going to ENJOY it.  I'm sure Kai will too.

This week, we will continue to work with Mimi on the NEWest words, and hopefully, she will be still long enough to record her doing some of the signs.  Until next time, thanks for taking the time to read "Signing with Mimi."

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)