Tuesdays are the busiest day of our week now that Isabelle is in school*. And when I say busy, I mean BUSY. She has three therapy sessions from 9:00 a.m. – noon. Seriously! I’m just doing the driving (48 miles’ worth) — she’s doing the work!
Her music therapist is available on first-thing on Tuesday mornings so we are in her office by 9 a.m. Isabelle sings, dances, follows directions, works on turn-taking, and more. Then we head to occupational therapy, where she has a 30 minute session (as opposed to the 45-60 minute session she has on Thursdays) since we don’t want to burn her out before speech therapy, which is the final session on Tuesdays. Her occupational therapist works with her on a variety of things that require motor planning, which she struggles with. She’s making great progress, but she’s only started to make progress with this second private session each week. Therefore, I couldn’t cut it either.
I didn’t love the idea of packing three therapies into one day, but it had to be done. Childhood Apraxia of Speech requires repeated practice with speech during the week. While I do lots of home practice, there’s no substitute for her working with her a trained speech-language pathologist. Therefore, she sees her on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
As long as Isabelle works hard in her sessions (THANKFULLY, she almost always works hard! The kid is a trooper with a growth mindset, which is why she’s my hero!), we do something special afterwards. However, by the time she’s finished on Tuesdays, it’s lunchtime. She wanted to go for pizza today. I had pizza at the Apraxia Support Group meeting last night and last Thursday after her OT/speech sessions were over. My waistline couldn’t take anymore pizza. So, I mad three other suggestions.
“Mommy just ate pizza last night. Let’s go somewhere else. Do you want to go to Chocolate World?”
“No,” she replied.
Who is this little person?!?!?
“Uh, okay. Well, do you want to go out to lunch?”
“Yes. Pizza.”
“Not pizza. How about Panera, Chocolate Avenue Grill, or Devon?” I asked.
She considered her choices.
“Seh-dehn,” she replied. (I knew that meant Devon. Her verbal errors in that word are so off, but once I figured out what she meant by Seh-dehn a few weeks ago, she smiled.)
“Really?” I asked.
“Yes! I wan chih-kihn, fiez, and apo jus,” she replied matter-of-factly.
“Well, let’s get in the car and go out for a special lunch,” I said.
She repeated her order again after I buckled her up in the car. Grilled chicken, fries, and apple juice. I smiled. At least she knows what she wants!
Devon is not the kind of place I normally take a three year-old for lunch. It’s more of a Saturday night type of restaurant. But after she worked SO hard and willingly sacrificed her pizza lunch so I could eat a salad, how could I say no?
So we went.
*=On Mondays and Fridays she receives services at school. Wednesdays are her “free” day so-to-speak. No therapy services at school. Must feel like a weekend to her. I’m not sure. I try not to bring it up. Therapy is a way life when you have Childhood Apraxia of Speech. Going to therapy appointments is our “normal.”
Raising Literate Humans 
Stacey, I love following your stories of Isabelle.She is quite the know what she wants child which is good. You must be filled with the “patience of a saint” to be such a nurturing mom. If you want to take a short break I would love for you to peruse my new offering: The Summer Serenity Gallery at http://beyondliteracylink.blogspot.com/2014/09/unveiling-of-summer-serenity-galley.html and provide feedback. Thanks.
Good for Isabelle – she worked hard and she deserves a Saturday dinner night type of place. Sounds yummy!
It’s great to hear she knows what she wants, Stacey, & after that hard work, I’d do it too. Funny how kids are. They know so much more than we often think they do. Good for you for getting this in early, a huge boost for anyone who needs the therapy.
What a hard worker Isabelle is! Having three choices was a great option to pizza. She’s also a smart eater, must be watching mom’s choices.
I loved hearing her words and your encouragement. Speech and language pathologists do amazing work and you do too! Isabelle is lucky to be working at it now.
You are able to do all this and write each day! I love reading your Isabelle stories and cheer you both from afar.
I would love to go to dinner with you two! Sounds like so much fun. And by the way, what IS a normal day?
She really is a hard worker. I applaud her for her work and you for being right there with her. A special lunch was definitely called for.
I love the way you capture her talking in your writing. Being a hard worker will get her far! So will knowing her mind!!!