Talking TO Her IPad

Today's gift is talking to her iPad.

Yes, you read that correctly.  My daughter was talking TO her iPad today!

Probably one of my favorite features on any ACC (augmentative communication device) device is the voice output.  Whenever you hit a button, the button pressed is spoken back to you.  The button acts as your voice.

I honestly feel my daughter loves this part too!  It talks for her.

Along with the iPODD (which she is still learning) she also still loves her iPad.  She uses it more for watching movies, listening to music and playing games than speaking....but she does still visit her communication software on it to talk fairly often too.

Sometimes when you hit a button there is a little delay in the voice output.  Especially when you are trying to get the device to speak the word accurately for you....like when you have made changes or added a button.

This afternoon my daughter and I were sitting on the back porch.  It was GORGEOUS outside and we were taking in the incredible weather like it was candy!  She was listening to music on her iPad and then she was "talking" with her software.

She was on the page with all her school teachers and she was hitting their buttons.    These buttons are some of the buttons where the voice output is on a little delay.  As she was pushing the button, it would say "Mrs".....and then there would be a brief pause before it would say the last name of the teacher.  She kept hitting the same two teachers  over and over again....and they both happen to be her speech therapists at school.  One she calls by her last name "B" and the other one she calls by her first name "T".

So this is what happened....my daughter would hit one of their buttons....the voice output would say "Mrs" and in the delay portion she would say "B" or "T" for which ever one it was....and then you would hear the iPad say their last name!  She did this over and over again.  It was so cute!  There are not many times when I have seen her TALK TO her iPad like this before....if ever!

I think she misses seeing them and she was letting me know it.  We are very blessed to have B and T on her school team....they truly believe in my daughter....and she knows this!

Here is a quote for today....

You are never too old to set another goal or dream a new dream-  C.S. Lewis



© copyright 2012 – All rights reserved
365 Days Gift

A Full Sentence

Today's gift is a full sentence.

Well, it just seems like magic would happen today as it is my son's 6th birthday!  Though you would think he would get all the good vibes; however, I think some jumped off him and hit my daughter.

My daughter read an entire sentence OUT LOUD today!  She has been working on reading her sight words so hard.  Back on December 3rd, I posted that she was reading..and reading to herself too.   And trying to read the words out loud if she could.

Today, she did!  She read....

As soon as I came back from getting my middle daughter at camp,  I walked upstairs to see my daughter.  "Anne Sullivan" ran over with excitement and said she read an entire sentence today....on.her.own!  I immediately said, "let me hear it!".

So she read it for me, her sister and her brother!  We were all so proud of her!!!  I looked at her and said, "shut the front...." and before I could say "door", she did!   We all started laughing!  I love how she gets our sense of humor!!!

I then gave her a big hug and said "I love...." and she looked up at me with her big green eyes and said "me"!  Melt. My. Heart!

I do love her.  I love her so much sometimes it actually hurts.  Like this afternoon....as I am writing this, she is getting over a bad behavior.  She was tired from getting up early and was falling asleep outside on the porch.   I went to move her inside to take a nap as it is so humid and she didn't like that....at all.  

After such an wonderful morning and early afternoon, it was sad to have to have a doozie like this.   But do not think that this behavior is going to make me forget about the magical moment we had as soon as we got home....no way!  Nothing can take away those moments.  This is just an example of how a great day can take a wild turn and we just have to roll with the punches.

Behaviors come and go, but memories always remain in the heart.

Here is a quote for today....

Dreams fly on magical wings when you follow your heart- Author Unknown

© copyright 2012 – All rights reserved
365 Days Gift

Fun Snow Day

Today's gift is a fun snow day.

We didn't get the call until 6:30 (ish) this morning that school was closed.  My kids get up early...so they were already up for the day.  However, my daughter with special needs had fallen back to sleep (since she was up at 5:00) and I had just woken her up to give her her medicine she takes before breakfast.

I couldn't believe it...she could still be sleeping...

When I went in to get her up to bring her down for breakfast...at our normal time...she had fallen back to sleep.   I was so excited (and jealous) for her!  At least someone could take advantage of sleeping in.

The kids and I had a pajama day.  It was also a day where we would be helping each other out too and they knew this included helping me out with their sister.

I remembered around 10:00 that I had defrosted a pork loin and I wanted to try a new crock pot recipe. In order to get it in the crock pot, I was going to need the help of all three of my kids...the oldest one to listen and play with the younger two and the younger two to entertain their sister.

Not only did they play well with each other...they did so for an hour!!!  I love when they play with her...they will not do things she wants until she tells them verbally if they know she knows the word.  I think they are tougher with her sometimes than I am!

They were playing so nicely with one another I not only got dinner in the crock pot (it was delicious by the way!), I also made them apple cinnamon muffins for a morning snack!

Dinner!

Here are some pictures I took of them playing with her in the playroom.  She had to count to three and then say "go" and their name in order for the other one to push the chair off the sofa...which prompted a laugh out of my daughter!  Before this game, they were playing pass the ball...and saying a name and then bouncing it to that person.

Here is a video of the action too!!!

My oldest daughter is just like me...a sun bunny...so she and I stayed inside today, while my youngest two definitely earned play time in the snow.  While they were outside playing in the cold, we were cuddled up by the fire, watching Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (the original version), playing games and making hot chocolate for her siblings when they came in!

Snow days don't always have to be about the snow...especially in our house...but we enjoy them nonetheless!

Here is a quote for today...

Laughter is timeless, imagination has no age, and dreams are forever- Walt Disney

Cup...Me

Today's gift is cup...me.

I kept my daughter home one more day to rest as there are so many germs flying around I didn't want her to go to school not feeling at least 90% better. Tomorrow she will go for sure as she really misses her friends!

After I got her dressed this morning and did a dry run with my packing...(I really want to take my suitcase ON the plane with me...) she said "cup", as she wanted something to drink. I told her as soon as we get downstairs I will get her something to drink.

Yes, believe it or not, I did get everything to fit in!

I don't think we were in the family room two minutes when she sat down on the sofa and said, "cup me"!   I said, "I know you want something to drink, I'm getting it"...to which she replied, "yeah"!

We do not get many two word combinations, but when we do it is not only incredible, but 100% spoken with a purpose!

She is full of surprises and I will definitely be thinking about this gift when I am running 13.1 miles in her honor on Sunday.  Who knows, I may be at the point somewhere along the run where the only words that come out of my mouth will be "Cup...me"...as I will be one thirsty girl!


Here is a quote for today...

I love those random memories that make me smile no matter what is going on in my life right now- Author Unknown