Miss Heather's Comments

This is what Miss Heather (Chloe's teacher) had to say about her today. Remember, when Heather met her last August, Chloe had 38 words.

"I don't know where to begin! Thank you so much for your kind words. I really appreciate them. I love Chloe! She is such a great kid! Today she said Ms. Heather instead of just Heather for the first time. She did a great job working with the speech therapist today. They were looking at pictures and Chloe was making comments on all of the pictures. For example, she picked up a picture of the monkey and said, "Monkeys eat bananas" or with the picture of the cat she said, "I hold cats." I'll never forget the first time I met you guys. I was listening to Chloe talk and thinking, "How will I ever understand this girl?" Now she's talking in complete sentences, using verbs correctly, and forming and expressing thoughts and ideas. She has come a long way!"

Thanks Miss Heather and Miss Nancy!!! We love you guys.

Took a break from TLP

We decided to take a break from TLP for a couple weeks. What harm could it do? We were going skiing, to Vegas, we had company, etc. Just a little break!

Well, my potty-trained (an accident every week or so) little girl is now having accidents 3 - 5 times per day!

In a previous post, I shared that Chloe had graduated from her happy/sad bee behavioral program at school. She had been doing so well. Today, she kicked another child and pulled out a little girl's hearing aid. Thankfully she only got her hearing aid and not her cochlear implant!!!

Her teacher sent a note home and told us about the incident. I loved her positive spin. She said, "This goes to show just how far Chloe has come. This type of thing used to happen every day and now it is out of the ordinary for Chloe to behave this way."

Chloe listened to her music twice today!!!

On a serious note, her brain was formed for over 3.5 years when we started this program. We have been on it for about 6 months. New connections are being made every day because her little brain is so plastic (so is yours). That said, we should not have expected those changes to "stick" in such a short amount of time. First the new paths have to be created, then they have to be solidified. This takes time and persistence. We have learned our lesson!

What's Woo Name?

This whole Listening Program (www.thelisteningprogram.com) has thrown me for a real loop. It's a love/hate relationship. While I love that Chloe can talk now...I wish she would use a bit more discretion.

Chloe has figured out how to open the lock on the bathroom stall door (in public restrooms). This typically means I am going to bathroom with the door wide open. This is not a big problem, embarrassing but not horrifying.

When Chloe exits my stall, she begins peeking into the cracks of the other doors. It took me a minute to figure out what she was doing but when it dawned on me, it was horrifying. I could hear her shuffling from door to door until she came to an occupied stall at which point she peered into the crack and asked, "What's woo name?" Since the woman didn't answer and things didn't click for me she repeated herself (more than once and louder each time). "What's woo name?!?!?"

Oh my gosh!!! I pulled up my pants and raced out the door to see her peeking into a woman's stall asking, "What's your name?"

I wish I could say this only happened once!

Can't keep a good girl down...

Chloe doesn't let TLP slow her down a bit! We throw the iListen, bone conduction and the cords into a backpack and she's off! She wears this pink hat (smaller photo) from her teacher Nancy almost all of the time! Here she is...she is supposed to be getting her jammies on but she decided it was more important to put her hat on over her headphones and push her babies around.

Activities to use during TLP...looking at books with photos of babies, playing babies, pushing babies, eating yogurt, taking walks around the neighborhood, photo albums, play dough, putting money in her piggy bank, block towers, rocking on mommy or daddy's lap (our favorite).

Simple Pleasures

Five things this week reminded me that it is the little things in life that matter most.

1. Earlier this week, Chloe's friend Lily came over to play. Lily was teasing Chloe saying that Chloe's baby Joe Joe was Lily's. Lily: "That's my Joe Joe." Chloe: "No, that's my Joe, Joe." Lily, "No that's my Joe Joe." Chloe, "No, that's my Joe Joe!!!" Lily: "That's my Joe Joe." Chloe, "NO, THAT'S MY JOE JOE!!!!" This went on for a few minutes...long enough for me to email Lily's mom to tell her, "The girls are arguing and it is music to my ears."

2. This morning both kids were in bed with me. I got up for a minute. When I came back Chloe said, "Wook Mommy." I looked and what did I see? My two beautiful babies lying in bed together holding each other's hands. Music to my eyes :)

3. Quinn got himself a glass of water and Chloe wanted some too. After I gave her the water, she looked at her brother and said, 'I have water too Quinn." No big deal you say...perhaps you have never had a child that didn't speak until she was over 3.5 years old.

4. Quinn got hit in the head with a ladder today. After giving him an ice pack and making him comfy, I came back downstairs. His baby sister looked at me and said with all of the concern in the world, "Quinn okay Mommy?"

5. We had Chloe's parent teacher conference today. The teaching assistant in her room (Miss Nancy) said, "I feel like I have always had very high expectations of the kids with whom I work. I expect a lot of James (her son with special needs) too. I never, ever imagined when I met Chloe one year ago that she would be where she is today. Her progress has been unbelievable." Nancy and Heather (Chloe's teacher) said that a few months ago they would have thought Chloe would need SSN (lots of help, special classroom, etc.) in kindergarten. Now they are saying that they cannot predict because if she continues on the developmental path she has been on since starting TLP, she will end up being in a typical classroom with special need resources.

I believe that all of these things are an answer to prayer. God heard our cries and sent us to the right therapist at the right time and she (Heather, OT) recommended The Listening Program. Like the little plaque my grandma gave Quinn at his baptism says, "God answers knee mail!"

Ants

Chloe and I watched Brainy Baby ABCs while Quinn and Joe went to AWANA last night. As A for ants came on the screen and the narrator said, "a says a, a, a, ant", Chloe said, "I don't love those ants!"

Clear as day! She apparently doesn't like ants too much. She's always been fascinated by watching them. Who knew she felt such disdain.

I don't love those ants either!!! But...I sure do love that Chloe!

Quinn Counts Chloe's Words

A while ago (a few weeks after starting The Listening Program), Chloe finished the milk that was in her cup. She handed her cup up to the front seat and said, "I want milk in this cup mommy please." Okay, the grammar wasn't perfect but...

I looked into my review mirror and see Quinn counting on his fingers and quietly saying, "I want milk in this cup mommy please." Then he yells, "MOMMY, CHLOE SAID 8 WORDS IN A ROW!!! SHE SAID AN 8 WORD SENTENCE." We cheered & cheered & cheered as we drove down the highway.

I always wonder how having a sister with special needs will impact Quinn. I know one thing...not too many 5 year old brothers are that excited about their younger siblings successes. He's such a sweet boy.

I want that medicine dropper

Chloe was on antibiotics last week. She had some sinus stuff going on. On the way home from the pharmacy, the medicine dropper fell onto the floor of the van. She said, "I want that medicine dropper." I almost crashed the car :).

Hi Mommy

Last night we called the kids to say good night. A few short months ago, Chloe would have said, "Hi" and "Bye". Last night we had a really cute conversation.

After saying, "Hi Mommy" about 10 times, I asked if she was having fun. She said, "Yes, I play babies". I said, "Oh you have your babies?" "No, Peyton's baby, Peyton has baby." I said, "Oh, you are playing with Peyton's baby?" "Yeah!" I asked, "How are you doing?" "Gut (good)." Then it was Quinn's turn to talk and Chloe stayed on the other phone the whole time. She said, "Night Mommy, Bye Mommy".

It was a real conversation on the telephone with my little girl. WOW!!!!!

www.thelisteningprogram.com

How Can I Get Through to Other Parents?

We are attending a Parents Encouraging Parents meeting this weekend. I have met so many wonderful but extremely frustrated parents. They are so frustrated by speech and sensory issues which ultimately lead to behavioral problems. Tears are flowing everywhere!

How can I explain to them how much The Listening Program has changed our lives? I know I must sound like a sales person and they are hearing blah, blah, blah. People who knew Chloe before and after TLP are quick to use TLP for their children. When parents are only hearing Chloe's story, there is no way for them to comprehend the changes we have experienced.

I fear I sound like a multi-level marketer trying to sell the latest & greatest supplement that will fix everything in their lives forever. Oh how I wish I could better communicate the benefits of this program. $800 seemed like SO much money when we thought about doing the program. In retrospect, I wish I wouldn't have wasted the 3 months I wasted trying to decide whether or not to spend the money. It was the best money I ever spent.

The truth is...I just want kids with disabilities to get on TLP because it WILL change things for the better and it cannot hurt anyone.

Quinn Graduated from Speech Therapy

Quinn has graduated from private speech therapy! Hooray. When he started a few months ago (this was the first time he received ST outside of school), he was in the 7th percentile for his speech. Within a couple months (and weeks on TLP), he has moved up to the 38th percentile. His therapist felt like he was doing so great that he could "graduate" from private speech therapy. How about that for a rat a tat tat?!?

Dis is good news!

(Originally written January 7, 2009): Quinn has been in speech therapy for a couple years now. Anyway, he has made an enormous amount of progress. That said, he still used "d" for most of the beginning th sounds with an occasional "f" coming out too. So, this is dis, that is dat, three is free, birthday is birfday, etc.
Well...he is now saying this, that, there, three, thirteen. He got marked down in preschool because it sound like he was saying twelve, fourteen, fourteen, fifteen. He was saying "firteen" for thirteen. In the last 3 weeks or so, he has started trying very hard to say "th" and he has been successful. He started The Listening Program in November! I sure hope it helps with s, sh, j & ch. I can say this...it won't hurt!

Visit to Oklahoma

We took a 12 hour trip from Colorado Springs to Broken Arrow, Oklahoma on Saturday. We returned on Tuesday. It was a lot of fun for people to see the kids but it always interesting to see how they react to Chloe's progress. My aunt was shocked by her ability to communicate. When we were there last Christmas, Chloe had essentially no words. Now, she speaks in sentences!
My grandma (Chloe's great grandma) was also amazed as Chloe sang songs (Jesus Loves Me & You are My Sunshine) for her. Quinn started a little show on the deck (stage) and when he got down, Chloe climbed up and started singing. No one was more shocked than Joe and I. She often finishes the lines of songs we are singing but she hopped right up there on the stage and sang the songs almost in their entirety. What a proud moment.
My parents had just seen Chloe at Christmas (1.5 months ago) and they were surprised by her improvement in speech and communication. My mom couldn't believe Chloe can sing songs now!
Most shocking news of the trip...Chloe didn't have an pee pee accidents all the way to OK and back! We had to stop more than usual but she didn't wet her pants at all. We didn't ask her if she had to go potty...she told us she needed to go so we would stop. We are SO proud of her.

Success Stories!

I heard two stories about TLP that I wanted to share with you today.
Our friends have a son with Down Syndrome and they started the program about 3 or 4 weeks ago. Connor (age 5) used a three word sentence yesterday, he said, "Dani did it!" Okay so he was telling on his baby sister but it was a sentence!!! Patsy (his mom) also told me she said to him, "Didn't you watch that movie this morning?" Connor got angry and said, "Night!!!". As in, I want to watch it tonight too. They are ecstatic.
Chloe's PT just got here and she started telling me a story about one of her patients. She said he was a sensory mess. She said you couldn't move the child without him screaming & crying uncontrollably. He would only walk if someone held onto him, if you let go he panicked. He started the program and is a new person! He is walking all over the place and his sensory issues have improved dramatically.
I think my friend Patsy put it an interesting way this morning...she said, "I think TLP unscrambles his brain enough to make sense of the speech therapy and reading, etc. that they have been doing for years." I think she's right because we have worked so hard with Chloe for so many years and 3-5 weeks after starting she is using words, 6-8 weeks and she has sentences and her balance improves greatly, and now 12 weeks - potty trained :).
I am sure this has a lot of it has to do with all of the prayers that go out for our kids but I also think that when we prayed for Chloe's speech to improve, God sent us something that helped with that.
Check it out at www.thelisteningprogram.com. Joe & I are trained providers and we can ship anywhere you need us to!