Yes, it really was this beautiful

Lots, lots, lots more pictures to come (these are all from the photographer's website).

Preschool!

Here is the promised preschool report: John had his preschool eligibility evaluation last Monday morning. An elementary school psychologist, Dan, and the same speech language pathologist we saw in May at the school, Mary Ellen, both thoroughly evaluated John.

Dan asked him to play with different kinds of toys: stringing beads, "sewing" with a thick string and fat needle, stacking blocks, jumping off a chair, etc. He also showed John objects and pictures, and then asked concept questions such as "Which one is heavier?" "Which man is taller?" "Which one is used for eating?" "Which cup is empty?"

Mary Ellen also asked questions, but she was looking for any kind of verbal response. John was true to form. He ran to play with these strangers, eagerly did everything they asked of him, answered most of the questions correctly, and was nearly silent as he did it.

His scores indicate that John is average or above-average in every area except for two. In receptive language (or "the vocabulary in his head" as I call it) he is way above average. In expressive language (or "the words he uses") he is way below average. So John qualifies for state-funded developmental preschool!

He will see a speech therapist at least once a week in the classroom. Mary Ellen also encouraged us to have John receive more speech therapy outside of the class setting, which I am pursuing. She gave John an unofficial diagnosis of Apraxia. We are going to eventually get a formal diagnosis, but are going with Apraxia for right now because it really seems to fit John.

Here's a definition:

"Developmental apraxia of speech (DAS) occurs in children and is present from birth. It appears to affect more boys than girls. This speech disorder goes by several other names, including developmental verbal apraxia, developmental verbal dyspraxia, articulatory apraxia, and childhood apraxia of speech. DAS is different from what is known as a developmental delay of speech, in which a child follows the 'typical' path of speech development but does so more slowly than normal.

"The cause or causes of DAS are not yet known. Some scientists believe that DAS is a disorder related to a child's overall language development. Others believe it is a neurological disorder that affects the brain's ability to send the proper signals to move the muscles involved in speech. However, brain imaging and other studies have not found evidence of specific brain lesions or differences in brain structure in children with DAS. Children with DAS often have family members who have a history of communication disorders or learning disabilities. This observation and recent research findings suggest that genetic factors may play a role in the disorder" (http://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/voice/apraxia.htm).

Another website says: "The child knows what he or she wants to say, but his/her brain has difficulty coordinating the muscle movements necessary to say those words" (http://www.asha.org/public/speech/disorders/ChildhoodApraxia.htm), which certainly matches John's high receptive and low expressive language scores.

Treatment involves LOTS of speech therapy, LOTS of home speech games, coaching, encouragement, etc. and a few other more controversial or unproven methods like face massaging (and even if it didn't work, what would be lost?--but I'd have to learn how) and Omega-3 supplements which we have just started John on. Again, it's a part of a healthy diet and John doesn't eat much fish, so it's a good idea for him to have this brain food anyway. (See http://www.drsearsfamilyapproved.com/shopdisplayproducts.asp?id=1&cat=Children%27s+Omega%2D3). Most importantly, we need to make sure John is happy while we're "treating" him, or he won't be motivated to keep working. Mary Ellen stressed that we need to carefully guard his self-esteem. He presently has a great self-esteem and a perfect personality for therapy in that he loves to be praised for his hard work.

Today I was working with John on saying "meow." We were reading Green as a Bean (excellent book!) and there was a picture of a cat.

Me: John, what does a cat say?

John: [tongue goes lick, lick, lick, his universal "I can't say what this animal says" response]

Me: No! (playfully, with a small tickle) Kitties say "Meow."

John: [seems to accept my statement]

Me: Me - Ow. John say Me - Ow.

John: [random sound]

Me: Say "Me"

John: Mimi

Me: Yes, you love your grandma [she's Mimi]. John, say "Me."

John: [after a bit of trying] Me.

Me: Good! Now say "Ow" like "owie" on your finger

John: Ow

Me: Yes! [I have him say these two words maybe 15 or 20 times] Now say "Me - Ow"

John: ow

Me: Me

John: Me

Me: Ow

John: Ow

Me: Me - Ow

John: [after many more attempts] Me - Ow

Me: YEAH!! You did it John!!! [I tickle him and kiss him and holler enough to wake up Havilah]

Me: John, Me - Ow

John: Ow


Ok, you get it. Meow was based off two words he already uses, I practiced the separate words approximately 40 times each, said the combined word at least 20 times, and he said it once. Maybe twice, if I'm generous in what sounds like "Meow."

It's a long road, people...a long road ahead of us.

BUT, John actually has taken a bit leap forward in the last few weeks so I'm at least somewhat encouraged. He communicates, he's as smart as can be, and someday, someday if we work hard enough and if God answers my prayers as I would choose, he'll talk and no one he meets will guess we were here.

If you pray, pray that John's tongue is loosed. That his brain and mouth learn to work together. That Billy and I will have infinite patience and creativity as we teach our son to use those words he knows.

a pillow, a party, a plane, and a new brother

Ok, Adrienne, this is for you.

Two weeks from today my little sister, my fireball sister (that's a compliment) will be married.



I love Jordan. I have no reservations about him marrying my sister. And I know without a doubt that Shawna will be an awesome wife. But last night I had a dream about them getting married and I was so sad in the dream. I was crying and crying. I woke up feeling sad...and then had to remind myself that this is a wedding I feel 100 percent happy about...except that my little sis will live in Canada and I live, oh yeah, all the way down here in AZ. Anyway, peeps around this house are super excited to see Shawna and Jordan get married! Havilah has bought her wedding attire; Billy is packing his suit so he can be an usher; I have been breaking in my matron of honor shoes; and John has been fitted for his tux.

Oh yeah.

You should have seen the boy strut and pose in the Men's Wearhouse mirror with the little sample white dress shirt, sample black jacket, and one sample toddler 9 shoe. One shoe. But he looked good, and he knew it. I made the ring bearer pillow for him to use in the wedding. I also made him a little practice pillow that he can take to bed, throw around, and generally misuse. He is pumped. Anytime we say anything that sounds like "walk down the aisle," John points to himself and yells "ME!" Yes, you, John; hopefully you can keep that enthusiasm when there are 300 people surrounding the aisle.

Alas, I don't have any one shoe pictures but I promise to deliver lots of two shoe pictures after the Big Day.

Six mornings from now we're taking a first of the day flight out of Phoenix...and heading straight for Portland where we'll enjoy eleven and a half days of wedding festivities, cooler weather, time with friends, Portland sights and eats, and major doses of family time.

I love you sister and can't wait to see you. We're ready to party!

100th post

Last July I contemplated--for nearly the whole month--the idea of starting a blog. Blame it on pregnancy brain, but I honestly couldn't imagine what I would write about (the weather? potty training? pre-natal doctor's appointments?). Even though my imagination was rusty and dull, I decided to try. Almost one year later, I am on my 100th post. Thanks to you, my friends and family, I have enjoyed documenting the more or less interesting bits of our lives: the growth and changes in my children, the thoughts and happenings of one mama in Peoria, Arizona, and the hundreds of photos that tell our story so much better than my ramblings and nonsense.

Thanks for reading...and to all of you with a blog, thanks for sharing your lives with me!

~Elizabeth

P.S. Up next: John's preschool evaluation and "diagnosis" (on Monday morning). Short story: John definitely qualifies for preschool, which starts in just four weeks!

I am all alone (lovely!)

I am all alone at Paradise Bakery...just me and the laptop...getting things done for work...no kids...no interruptions...just me and the laptop and a cup of mint tea. Ahhh. Every once in a while, it's nice to be by myself. (p.s. thanks Billy for sending me out of the house for some productive time!)

5 years with SCI

The five-year mark of working for Sanford Communications, Inc. (SCI) passed a couple of weeks ago. Before Billy and I got married, I was looking for a job and wasn't sure what I wanted to do. My dad had just started the business six months before and didn't have any employees yet (unless you count the vice president, my mom). He said, "well, you could always work for me." I didn't know what I would be doing and I only had the training he had given me over the past few years as we worked at Luis Palau Evangelistic Association together and as we talked and worked through other projects.

Well, I couldn't resist the offer so I became an SCI employee as soon as I came home from my honeymoon. Five years later, I am so incredibly thankful for my job. I have an amazing boss who has graciously allowed me to have lots of flexibility, to be trained by trial and error, and who believes in me. I haven't had to leave my children in daycare or miss out on any of the mom moments that make these long days worth all the effort. I have a natural venue for stretching my mind, my heart, and my work skills, all while making a few extra dollars.

Five years into my job, I'm enjoying it more than ever. Here's to many more years to come!

Havilah is not alone

This week I succumbed to the great temptation that is Facebook (I can already see how people get addicted, not good). For fun, I just searched for "Havilah" and came up with over 250 results.

Ha! Take that, all you who politely, quizzically, or disgustingly ask me "How did you make up that name?!?" There are more than 250 Havilahs in this world.

Ok, a few were poorly named adult men. And a handful have Havilah as a last name. But there are hundreds of beautiful women out there named Havilah. I personally love my daughter's name so it's nice to see I didn't give her a death sentence with her birth certificate. And here's the part I liked the most: lots and lots of the Havilahs had H last names.

I'm not a wicked mother, after all.