I’m a Bible-believing, husband-loving, Texas-living, home-schooling, bread-baking, picture-card-(PECs) making blessed stepmom to two grown beauties and mama to seven wacky wonders between the ages of 3 and 18 (3, 4, 6, 8, 9, 11 and 18). My 6-year-old, Noah Courage, has Down syndrome and we also suspect he has apraxia of speech. I’m currently investigating the different ways we can use picture cards (a.k.a. PECs) and sign language to teach, train, elicit speech and communicate with Noah.
Note: On January 31, 2012, my 8-year-old son, Andres, was diagnosed with a Chiari 1 malformation. This blog is evolving to encompass more than our journey with visual learning. Stay tuned . . .
September 25, 2012 – Wow. This blog has taken on a life of it’s own. It’s chronicled our journey with Down syndrome, speech therapy, Chiari malformation, Chiari decompression surgery, sensory processing deficits, Pinterest addiction, and who knows what we’ll morph into next. I’m realizing there is so much about our family’s journey through life that I want to remember and want to pass onto my children. I share it with the world in the hope that our discoveries, whether it be our family’s latest favorite recipe on Pinterest or the thing that’s helping Noah find his voice, might help someone else not have to reinvent the wheel. And I share it because it matters, it matters to me, and if you’re joining us on www.wordsofhisheart.wordpress.com, maybe it matters to you too.
March 20, 2014 And now we’re off into the world of a home-based business made up of three of my favorite things: Vintage-style crochet, machine embroidery, and machine embroidery digitizing. You’ll find lots of pictures, wonderful things to buy and regular freebies too. Join our journey here and visit our store at http://www.21reasons.etsy.com.
You put a smile on my face with your introduction. I love it!
Bible-believing – yeah! Texas-living? Well, I used to live in AR for nearly 3 years – loved it! Homeschooling? THE best education there is out there ;) Bread-baking? Just made one yesterday… It keeps the kitchen warm, smells awesome throughout the house, and it taste wonderful! Nothing like home-made-bread ;)
Well I’m pretty new in blogging and do not know that many people out there yet. So I had to go blogger-hunting while looking for nominees of an award. Great thing… I found your lovely blog! (Usually I’m not into these kinds…)
So, I would like to nominate you for the “Sunshine Award”. If you want to accept, just follow these simple steps:
– include the image on your blog
– answer some questions about yourself (see my blog post at: http://mirjamfels.com/2012/02/28/sunshine-award/)
– nominate another 10-12 bloggers
– link to the one who nominated you
Greetings and thank you for reading my message,
Mirjam
PS: Keep up the good work! Keep them postings rolling… ;) Looking forward to reading more of your writings.
Wow!! God bless you!! You have such a positive outlook! I need to take pointers from you :)
Well, we won’t talk about my outlook on the harder days. :)
Thanks for tuning in!
Blessings,
Alyson
Hi! I just wanted to let you know that Frank Buckley replied to your post on my blog saying Sue Buckley is coming to Texas in February :)
Kathy
Thanks, Kathy – I’m close to Austin so it should be a breeze to get in to see her.
Blessings,
Alyson
I’m sure you’ve read just about everything available concerning Chiari Malformation. I came across this post, on one of the blogs I read. http://ardentpt.com/2012/12/19/arnold-chiari-malformation-a-systemic-review-of-research-in-acm-type-1/ It may or may not contain new information. But, it made me think of you. Hope you had a wonderful New Years Day!
Too funny. The post you are referring to actually was written for me, so I’ve seen it. How kind you are, though, to think of me. The first line says something about it being dedicated to Alyson at http://www.wordsofhisheart.com. It’s a small world in blogsville, isn’t it? Out of the millions of blogs . . .
Blessings to you in the new year!!!! Keep writing, keep searching, keep sharing.
Blessings,
Alyson
Hi, I just replied to your comment on my blog post !!! :-) My Nato has severe articulation disorder in addition to his Downs, and it means some of us understand his speech some of the time, but then there’s some who understand very, very little. Luckily he doesn’t get frustrated, because I believe he thinks it’s our problem!!! I made picture cards for his language acquisition when little, backs of cereal box cardboard with magazine photos glued on. Crude, effective. I have a lot of experience with homemade materials linked to language and reading. Feel free to contact me. Best to you, Laur
Noah is also very speech delayed – motor speech disorder NOS. Personally, I think it’s apraxia, but since it’s not pure apraxia due to the DS they have to call it NOS. We do lots of sign language and use picture cards as well. I’m looking forward to spending more time on your site. Thanks for stopping by.
Blessings,
Alyson
Have you done any research on apraxia?
I love your strength! And your hope! Keep blogging all about your beautiful kids. I love!
Thanks for the encouragement! I can use all the helpI can get! :)