Evie's Pronunciations

Evie has some funny pronunciations of words.  On the surface they are cute, and some errors are normal for her age (the "r"'s and "v"'s).  However, being in the field I am in, I worry that some of the errors may be indicative of either some auditory processing problems, or some issues with motor planning of her speech.  The reason being that with some of the words that do not contain any specific sounds she can't make, she still has a very very hard time saying the words correctly even when I correct her. 

- O-du day-u (over there)
- Can we play with our chother?  (each other)
- Pon-kin (Pumpkin)
- Be-surt (dessert)
- Bether (better)
- Ko-mato (tomato)
- Lath (laugh)
- Cwallow (swallow)
- Nilla (Noah)
- Wes-ta-ant (restaurant)
- Yourselth (yourself)

We'll see how things progress once she starts school, and I may have our speech therapist talk to her. 

Music Monday: Let It Go

Evie has finally caught the Frozen fever.  Shortly after she arrived, I put in the movie and she was not interested.  But I think they have been watching it at day care, and she walked around all weekend singing, "let it go, let it go!" and requesting to hear it. 

Am I Crazy?

Several weeks ago, the licensing/placement workers called and asked if I was ready to take a second child.  (I am licensed for two, but told them I definitely only wanted one, at least at first while I was still getting my feet wet.)  I asked for what age.  It was for a three year old, so that wasn't even an option since I am only equipped for one child sleeping in a bed and one in a crib.

But since then, I have been thinking that the addition of a second child may actually HELP my sanity.  That maybe then Evie would have another being in the house to occupy her (I really think she thinks my only job is to be her playmate, since it is just me and her here); and she would also see that I have to pay attention to another little one and maybe she would learn to occupy herself more. 

Then the other day, I saw a friend's post on Facebook: "I'm on day #2 with my boys gone to spend the summer with my ex-husband..my daughter is here with me however, I FORGOT how much attention children require when they're the only ONE!"  Exactly.

As it is, I am planning to switch Evie to a different daycare when school starts next month (one reason is because of some of the things I don't like at her current daycare, especially the amount of TV-watching that goes on there; but also because I found a place that will not charge me the difference between the ABC voucher and their actual cost - I am still paying $55 a week for daycare because the voucher only covers $90 a week).  So I would not take another child until that switch has been made since I wouldn't want to either have to move the other child after a month, or have kids in two different daycares for a month.  Plus, Evie's mom told her on the phone last night that she thinks she will be able to find a new place to live in the month of July, so it's always a possibility she won't still be with me by that point. 

But, once she's in her new daycare, it's quite possible that I might take a second child.  Am I crazy?

Denied

I found out today that the aunt and uncle who were going through the process to get Evie and J had their home study denied, so it looks like she will be with me until Mom gets everything together, whenever that may be.  

Also, the court that was supposed to be today (that was actually from a court date in June that was continued because Bio Dad hadn't had 30 days notice of the date), was again continued because Bio Mom's lawyer wasn't there.  Is it too much to ask that critical players show up to court??

Dental Surgery

Evie is scheduled for dental surgery under general anesthesia in less than two weeks. 

She has tremendous anxiety about getting shots.  We have been to four doctor's appointments since she has been with me.  On the way to the first three appointments (she always asks where we are going because she knows we are not going the right way to go to daycare or home... and I don't lie), she has asked if she is going to get a shot.  Then she has suddenly and fiercely burst into tears when I answer, "I don't know" or "I really don't think so" (again, I'm not going to lie to her) and has fixated on the anxiety of the potential for a shot, continuing to cry sometimes the whole way there.  On the way to the appointment today, she at least did not cry when I said I didn't think she would be getting a shot. 

I also used the opportunity on the way to the doctor today to vaguely prep her for the upcoming procedure.  She said the doctor (I think she was talking about one in the hospital) said no more shots.  I said, "Well, you will have to get shots again sometime in your life.  And if you have to get a shot when you're with me, I will take you to get a treat for being brave after you're done."

I'm struggling with when to tell her what is going on.  I'm almost positive I won't address anything until at least the morning of.  Because she has so much anxiety, a part of me thinks it will be best to wait until right about the moment that she is going to get any shots to tell her.  But one problem with that is that I'm sure she will ask in the car on the way to the procedure if she will be getting a shot; and I will be honest with her (I can't say, "I don't know" on this one) but don't want to have that honest conversation in the car when I can't sit with her and comfort her.  Another problem is that if I wait until she asks, I'm pretty sure she will immediately burst into tears when I say yes, before I have a chance to explain to her that there will be a big treat at the end of the whole thing.  Which makes me lean a little toward telling her about some things at least before we leave the house.  Maybe just a general, "We are going to get your teeth fixed and you will get a treat when it's over." 

I have a post on FB right now (comments popping up as I'm writing this) about this.  Many have said that they may give gas before doing any IV.  My plan (which I hadn't thought of before posting the question) is to call the dentist's office and/or stop by the surgery center (it's in the same building that I work in) and try to find out what the procedure will be.  If she never will know that there's an IV, then there may not be a need to worry her about it. 

If anyone has any words of wisdom, I'd be happy to listen!  I'll update with how everything goes once it's over.

A Four-Year-Old's Prayer

I love everybody with my whole heart. 

I love Mama and Daddy and [insert all family members' names here].

I really love 'em.

I love everybody and stuff.

I really miss 'em.

 

[Then put this on a loop for about three or four minutes.]

 

Amen.

Enrolled

Evie is successfully enrolled in the 4k program at the local elementary school.  I went by to take the application this morning, and they said because she was a foster child and had Medicaid, she definitely qualified.  The secretary said they were not full yet (they only have 100 slots for qualified students) so they went ahead and assigned her a teacher and gave her an orientation day of August 12.  I don't know that she will still be with me then, but it really is only about six weeks away!  School starts August 19.