I cannot believe it is already November! What the HECK! I feel like January was yesterday. This year was a more stable year than last year (too many bad things happened in 2015, it was like one bad thing after another, so I for one am thankful that's over!) 2016 was almost like a transition-year for Kevin and me. Kevin started grad school this year (woohoo! Go Talbot!) and plans to get his Master of Arts in Philosophy within the next two or three years, God willing. Also, it's a pretty big deal for me too, because we decided it would be in the best interest of the family if I also went back to school. As the primary caregiver of Evangeline, I obviously won't finish my grad school as quickly as Kevin. But I don't mind, since I want to stay home with each child for the first five formative years if possible!
After many months of going back and forth between occupational therapy (OT) and speech-language pathology (SLP) I made the decision that I would be better suited as a SLP. Evangeline has been struggling with feeding issues for a long time, and is now displaying expressive language disorder (since she is not yet 3 years-old, it is too early to tell if she is having articulation issues) It's difficult to discern if this is because of her premature birth or if it is genetic. Her dad and uncles needed speech therapy as well in their younger years; Evangeline's dad refused to speak until he was four, and had therapy sessions in kindergarten. If she was born full-term, it's totally possible she would still be going through these struggles. She's two years-old and barely speaks words. In public, I am always praised by strangers for having such a "well-behaved" child. I usually smile and say thank you, because how do I say "Well, she may not be throwing a tantrum like that screaming child over there, but she isn't able to speak yet." Quiet children are usually viewed in a positive light. And while I am also annoyed of bratty, tantrum-throwing children, I can't help but be amazed at the number of clearly-spoken words they are screaming, even if snot is coming out of their noses.
Also, tomorrow I'm taking my GRE. OMGGGGG. Kinda stressed. But I want to see how I'll do before I go back to school. Unfortunately, I am pretty discouraged with math...I was never good at it before and it is showing in my scores. UGH! But verbal and writing are super whatever. Not worried about that at all. A few days ago, I got my acceptance letter into a post-baccalaureate program in a nearby city! So I start that weekend program in January of 2017. SUPER STOKED. For ten months, I'll be studying a few prerequisite classes before I apply for graduate school in the Fall of 2018. And then if I get into a program right away (hopefully I dooooo), I'll be certified as a SLP by 2021...i did that math and realized by the time I'm done, Evangeline will be 7 years-old!!! I CAN'T EVEN IMAGINE. Hopefully all her speech delays will be fixed by then! At least I'll be able to apply what I learn in school to her specifically these next few years.
Also, Kevin and I were hoping to have gotten pregnant earlier this year but due to a couple of health issues we kept putting it off. But we are praying and hoping I get pregnant with baby #2 ASAP! We would be so happy if God answered our prayers before 2016 ends, but hey, whatever He wants! I mean, my body is already wack and I obviously can't time anything. Since I'm on Metformin, hopefully my insulin resistance and hormones can be balanced better so we can get baby #2 baking...I also did the timing for baby #2 (assuming we get pregnant within the next few months), and by the time I'll be done with grad school, he/she will be 5! AHHHH!!! Why do kids grow so fast?!
All my close family and friends know how much I want a big family, and how much we want to adopt children with special needs. My friends were over tonight and talking about the Gosselins, Jon and Kate plus 8! I was like, "Hey, another set of Gausselin's are takin' over...It's gonna be Leigh Ann and Kevin plus 7! Except special needs focused!" My friend Jainah was like, "Alright everybody, in the next season, you won't wanna miss this....Evangeline SPEAKS!" We all started busting out laughing, I mean it is SO hard to imagine Evangeline speaking a lot of words, and then we all started talking about how all of the kids in each episode do sign language. Thank GOD for sign language. Evangeline saying "bah!" has literally meant frog, cloud, dog, cat, and socks. The only reason I know that is because when I try to guess what she means, she shakes her head to correct me and signs to me exactly what she means.
I love my very quiet child. But I am looking forward to the day she speaks full words and sentences! I'm literally amazed each time I meet a talkative child who is Evangeline's age. I've met kids younger than her who say more than ten words! Every other parent I meet is like, "Enjoy it while it lasts, because eventually you''ll want them to be quiet!" and I'm like, "Uh-huh..." If only they knew!
2016 was a peaceful, happy expectant year! Super excited for 2017...Kevin is enjoying his first semester of grad school, I'm enjoying my last two months before I start my post-bac, and we are just waiting on God to answer our prayers for Evangeline's future sibling!
After many months of going back and forth between occupational therapy (OT) and speech-language pathology (SLP) I made the decision that I would be better suited as a SLP. Evangeline has been struggling with feeding issues for a long time, and is now displaying expressive language disorder (since she is not yet 3 years-old, it is too early to tell if she is having articulation issues) It's difficult to discern if this is because of her premature birth or if it is genetic. Her dad and uncles needed speech therapy as well in their younger years; Evangeline's dad refused to speak until he was four, and had therapy sessions in kindergarten. If she was born full-term, it's totally possible she would still be going through these struggles. She's two years-old and barely speaks words. In public, I am always praised by strangers for having such a "well-behaved" child. I usually smile and say thank you, because how do I say "Well, she may not be throwing a tantrum like that screaming child over there, but she isn't able to speak yet." Quiet children are usually viewed in a positive light. And while I am also annoyed of bratty, tantrum-throwing children, I can't help but be amazed at the number of clearly-spoken words they are screaming, even if snot is coming out of their noses.
Also, tomorrow I'm taking my GRE. OMGGGGG. Kinda stressed. But I want to see how I'll do before I go back to school. Unfortunately, I am pretty discouraged with math...I was never good at it before and it is showing in my scores. UGH! But verbal and writing are super whatever. Not worried about that at all. A few days ago, I got my acceptance letter into a post-baccalaureate program in a nearby city! So I start that weekend program in January of 2017. SUPER STOKED. For ten months, I'll be studying a few prerequisite classes before I apply for graduate school in the Fall of 2018. And then if I get into a program right away (hopefully I dooooo), I'll be certified as a SLP by 2021...i did that math and realized by the time I'm done, Evangeline will be 7 years-old!!! I CAN'T EVEN IMAGINE. Hopefully all her speech delays will be fixed by then! At least I'll be able to apply what I learn in school to her specifically these next few years.
Also, Kevin and I were hoping to have gotten pregnant earlier this year but due to a couple of health issues we kept putting it off. But we are praying and hoping I get pregnant with baby #2 ASAP! We would be so happy if God answered our prayers before 2016 ends, but hey, whatever He wants! I mean, my body is already wack and I obviously can't time anything. Since I'm on Metformin, hopefully my insulin resistance and hormones can be balanced better so we can get baby #2 baking...I also did the timing for baby #2 (assuming we get pregnant within the next few months), and by the time I'll be done with grad school, he/she will be 5! AHHHH!!! Why do kids grow so fast?!
All my close family and friends know how much I want a big family, and how much we want to adopt children with special needs. My friends were over tonight and talking about the Gosselins, Jon and Kate plus 8! I was like, "Hey, another set of Gausselin's are takin' over...It's gonna be Leigh Ann and Kevin plus 7! Except special needs focused!" My friend Jainah was like, "Alright everybody, in the next season, you won't wanna miss this....Evangeline SPEAKS!" We all started busting out laughing, I mean it is SO hard to imagine Evangeline speaking a lot of words, and then we all started talking about how all of the kids in each episode do sign language. Thank GOD for sign language. Evangeline saying "bah!" has literally meant frog, cloud, dog, cat, and socks. The only reason I know that is because when I try to guess what she means, she shakes her head to correct me and signs to me exactly what she means.
I love my very quiet child. But I am looking forward to the day she speaks full words and sentences! I'm literally amazed each time I meet a talkative child who is Evangeline's age. I've met kids younger than her who say more than ten words! Every other parent I meet is like, "Enjoy it while it lasts, because eventually you''ll want them to be quiet!" and I'm like, "Uh-huh..." If only they knew!
2016 was a peaceful, happy expectant year! Super excited for 2017...Kevin is enjoying his first semester of grad school, I'm enjoying my last two months before I start my post-bac, and we are just waiting on God to answer our prayers for Evangeline's future sibling!
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