Work, work, work...

Just checking in...we haven't fallen off the face of the earth, but rather, I have been inundated with work trying to finish up graduate school! Between working 4 days in clinic, completing all of the licensing paperwork, writing reports, and completing tests, I am exhausted right now! I've been going to bed around 9 every night which is unusual for me, but I've been so tired that I just want to sleep. I'm enjoying the weekends doing fun things with the family, and playing catch-up.
I started a second internship this semester working with at-risk preschoolers who need services in their home largely due to transportation issues, or simply the convenience of in-home services. All I can say is that this week I have felt an overwhelming sense of how truly blessed I am! I feel incredibly blessed, as it breaks my heart to see some of the situations these children are faced with as a preschooler. What a humbling experience this is going be.
Well, off to enjoy my Saturday with my sweethearts. Only 2 more months of work! I should finish most graduate school requirementsby April 27, so everything will be in place for graduation.

Buried Treasure

Being a mom and being a Speech Pathologist, I'm always on the look out for great games that I can use in therapy, will encourage language development, or provide entertainment for younger children. I was tickled when a fellow therapist introduced me to the Cranium Cariboo game this semester. It's a cute game where you use a special key to pop open the doors on the game board, and you are in search of colorful balls. Once, you find all 6 balls and place them in the special tunnel, your buried treasure open. It's a simple concept that you can make more difficult with the included game cards, or you can play without the cards, and simply enjoy depending on the age group.

This game has proved very effective in therapy with small children as it keeps their attention for longer, and allows the 45 minute sessions with a 3 year old to pass much more quickly. I often use this game and adapt it by cutting out pictures with my target sounds on them, and placing them in the top of the doors you open. I love how the kids know the treasure is always going to be a purple gem with gold sparkly glitter, but each time they open the treasure chest, we still have to ahhhh over how neat the treasure is. This is how it's perfect in therapy...now let me tell you how it's perfect for my 3 year old.

Today, I came across this game, and bought it for our house. Jackson has spent much of his afternoon playing and replaying this game. When Donald came home from work, he was tickled to teach daddy how to play his game, and drug Donald into the living room to sit on the floor with him while he explained the game, the key, the pictures on top of the doors, the tunnel you place the balls in, and of course the ever-so-popular buried treasure! Jackson adores this game, and has enjoyed playing the game so much. He told the waitress at TGI Fridays tonight that he got a buried treasure game. (That was right after he winked at her while she stood by our table.) HA HA HA! Before bed tonight, Jackson kissed the game, and found a special spot to place his game until he can play it again tomorrow. Guess you know what we'll be doing tomorrow...searching for buried treasure, and I wouldn't have it any other way!

Oh Happy Day! I Passed the PRAXIS!

Well, I haven't wrote much about the PRAXIS (the licensing exam for our profession) since I took it on Jan. 10. It was a difficult exam which was challenging because the information presented spans over the course of the past 9 years. I have been nervous about my scores, as I know how much weighs on this exam...graduation, job offers, and state licensing. I'm happy to report that I received my results today and I PASSED! Thank you Jesus! I'm so thankful to have passed on the first try, and not to worry about taking this test ever again!
Now it's on to May 9, when I graduate! I'm crossing things off my to-do list for graduation, and will begin applying for jobs now that I know I passed. Keep us in your prayers as I begin the job search. I am in prayer that God will open the door for the perfect job for me. I love this profession, and all that I'm able to give by working with others. I've found that as I work to help others, I find that I'm getting so much more than I'm giving. I'm laughing with them, crying with them at times, and celebrating their victories as they regain independence, the ability to communicate, and the ability to eat as they please. What a rewarding career choice!

Circus

This past Friday we took Jackson to the circus with some friends. Jackson has looked forward to going to the circus for weeks. He remembers bits of going to the circus last year, which surprised me! I always like to ask Jackson what he knows about something before I tell him about it. I always love to hear what he thinks of certain things before I impart my image in his head of what the event is going to look like. I didn't take many pictures this year, as I was busy enjoying the circus as well, but managed to snap a few pictures which didn't turn out to be the best quality, but here's a cute one of Donald Jackson enjoying the circus. I had hoped to take pics of Jackson with the performers in the pre-show, but found out we weren't supposed to have our camera in the circus because it's considered "professional" quality because the detachable lens, but the guy at the door didn't search my camera bag, so I kept walking. I was a little scared to take it out on the floor because of all the security down there so I just kept it in my bag until we found out seats.

Sparkles

Tonight while at the dinner table, Jackson started pointing to my freckles on my arms. Here's how our conversation went:
Jackson: Mommy, what's this? (pointing at freckles on my arm)
Me: Those are freckles.
Jackson: Sparkles?
Me: No, they're called freckles
Jackson: Sparkles?

Now he calls them sparkles....how cute! This was followed by a brief speech therapy session to try to elicit a /f/ sound, which was successful; however, the /fr/ sound is a bit too advanced for a 2 1/2 year old. =) The poor child being the son of a speech therapist.

A Song in His Heart

It's no secret we spend a lot of time on the road. I always hate that we spend so much time on the road, and look for ways to engage Jackson while driving. We often work on counting, the ABCs, or singing and dancing. Lately Jackson has really enjoyed singing much more and I love hearing the little songs that he sings while playing.

Today, I heard him in the living room singing "Help me, help me, never let me go..." to the tune of "Hold me, hold me, never let me go until you've told me." He was in the middle of flipping off of the couch, and was stuck and needed my help. I busted out laughing because rewriting a song is very characteristic of Donald. Ever since we began dating many years ago, Donald often rewrites the words of songs to fit them with the moment. It looks like Jackson is becoming more like his daddy everyday.

Whew!

Wow! It's been a while...the semester is in full force, and I'm feeling the effects. The past 3 weeks have been a blur, and I'm wondering where all my time is slipping away to. The answer: SCHOOL! This semester I am working 4 days a week, and also taking classes, so I'm swamped with no end in sight (well, except the fact that I graduate in 3 short months!) This is the only semester I've had to work 4 days a week, and for that I'm thankful! I had to work 4 days a week in order to graduate with an advanced master's degree as opposed to a Master's degree. I figured the trade-off for 3 1/2 months was worth it. There's no way I could do this were it not for the help of my wonderful husband, who so graciously cooks dinner, helps with dishes, cleans the house, or does whatever is necessary. I feel so blessed to have such a wonderful husband, who helps ease the load so that I can pursue something that I am passionate about!