Speech Evaluation

Erin took Shannon to her Speech Evaluation on Wednesday. Here is how she summarized the session:

It went surprisingly well, in that Shannon participated more than I thought she would. The speech therapist ran a few tests and Shannon is showing some articulation (pronunciation) problems which makes it hard to understand what she's saying. She also has a weak tongue, so we have some exercises we have to do with her. She will need some speech therapy, but her delays are mild and should improve fairly quickly. We won't get the final report with scores and everything for about 2-3 weeks.

Now the problem is finding a speech therapy slot for her. We need to have an after school spot since Mike and I are both working. Every place around here has at least a 2-3 month waiting list. So, I'm trying to see if Shannon will qualify for services through the school system. The school will provide transportation to and from daycare (I'm still checking on that), and, best of all, it's FREE. Oh, did I mention that our insurance doesn't cover speech therapy for articulation disorder? Just another obstacle. So, I'm really hoping she'll qualify for school-based.

Speech Therapy

It looks like Shannon is gonna need to have some speech therapy in the near future. Erin had her friend over to give Shannon an "unofficial" speech evaluation and she scored below average.

This Friday we go to the pediatrician for Shannon's yearly check up and a hearing test. Once she passes the hearing test (while we think so will) then she is going to Children's Health care of Atlanta for her official evaluation.

Basically Shannon should be talking better than she does now. Using 3 word statements and verbs. Right now she is a mix of one word statements and baby talk. She does talk well at times, but overall she should be doing much better.

She was technically born a month early so that might have something to do with her development. We shall find out next week.

-------

On a brighter note, Shannon went to her orthopedic doctor for a yearly check up on her feet and everything looks great. We don't have to come back for another check up for 2 years.

Happy Birthday Erin

Happy 32nd birthday to the mother of my child!!!

To celebrate Erin decided to go to the dentist and have a cavity filled. Now that is a birthday present.

Guitar Hero III

After much back and forth I finally decided to buy Guitar Hero III last week. I wasn't really interested in spending 90 bucks on the game, but when I discovered that Best Buy was selling it for 60 bucks I was all over it.

I can't believe I waited this long to get it. After the first day I was hooked. I've played it before and had a good time, but wasn't sure I could maintain enough interest to own it. I'm playing about 2 hours a night now. Erin has to yell at me put the guitar down.

I'm working my way through the Easy level right now and have started to hit songs with multiple chord progressions.

Shannon loves watching it. After each song she either says "more" or "again" to get me to play on. I'm more than happy to satisfy her request.

What an additive game and a fun way to connect with music.

Hospital Visit

I spent most of my Tuesday morning in the Emergency Room.

At about 5:30am my left arm went numb. I thought maybe it had fallen asleep and that it would just go away. I started doing shows and at 7am the numb feeling didn't go away. So I decided to leave and go to the ER.

I was put on a heart monitor, had X Rays taken of my chest, and I was given a CT scan. Everything came back normal. The doctor believes that the numbness in my arm is from a pinched nerve in my neck.

I have also been having pain around the incision from my hernia surgery. When I would bend over and straighten back up I felt stretching or tearing going on. I went back to the doctor who did the hernia surgery. She said that everything was normal and that it could be a nerve inflammation or groin pull. She gave me a steroid shot for the pain.

The CT at the ER confirmed that everything is fine.

Today my arm isn't as numb, but my fingers are still numb. I was given a muscle relaxer to help with that.

Back Home

We made it back home on Friday morning. We left on Thursday afternoon and did the 15 hour drive back. After much debate we decided that after 3 weeks away we just wanted to get home and passed on staying at a hotel. So Erin and I split up the driving and we made it home at 1:30am.

Shannon was great in the car. Her only complaints were when she had to go to the bathroom. Once again she stayed glued to the portable DVD player. Her favorite selections were Maisy and a DVD that has episodes of Barney, Thomas, and other Hit Entertainment shows.

It was a fun filled 3 week and we got a lot done.

We did:

~Duquesne Incline
~Pittsburgh Children's Museum
~Primanti Brothers
~Pirates/Yankees Game in Pittsburgh
~Blue Jays/Yankees Game in Toronto
~Saw my brother graduate high school
~Saw a college friend I hadn't seen in 10 years
~Had a big birthday party for Shannon
~Spent a day on the North Fork Wine Trail with friends and family
~Saw a friend of mine that I haven't seen in 15 years
~Yankees/Rays game in New York

Shannon's birthday went off without a hitch. Only two no shows and everyone seemed to have a good time. It was hard to talk to everyone that I wanted to cause I was running after Shannon with a video camera.

Got to go to the old Yankee Stadium one more time before they move next door. we went to Monument Park which I have never been to before. The wait really sucked. We got there just as the stadium opened and we still waited a long time to get in. We were all lined up on the ramps to the upper sections which were extremely hot.

We had a great time but it was great to sleep in my own bed again.

Happy Birthday Shannon

Today is Shannon's 3rd birthday.

We are on Long Island to celebrate. A family BBQ today and then the big kids party on Saturday at Wood Kingdom. Both should be a good time.

Erin just gave her a Dora birthday mylar balloon and her face lit up. She hasn't let go of it yet. Ina few hours I have to pick up the Disney Princess birthday cake from Walbaums.