We met our support worker, Erika from Family Support For Children with Disabilities. What a wonderful addition she is going to be to Lexi's team of support & learning members. She had some great information about the process that we are about to undertake. Our next step is visiting some schools and deciding which program to enroll Lexi in. Because Lexi has communication delays & safety concerns...for example: she will teeter on the top of a set of stairs and not understand the danger if she were to take that one step. She has no concept that it is harmful. Also, if we are walking to the park and she runs ahead, she will often not stop when her name is called. Another big concern of mine is Lexi is such a happy child, she does not shy away from strangers and will often let newcomers into her life pick her up and is not the least bit upset if she has never met them. (this is a huge concern of mine for Obvious reasons.)
Because of safety concerns and the language delay, Lexi qualifies for Specialized Services. What this means is in September she will be enrolled in a morning Preschool class 5 days a week. She then will either come home or stay at school for a total of 97 hours of multidisciplinary child support services per month. The breakdown that they have proposed for Lexi is 3 hours per month Psychology, 5 hours per month Speech Language Pathology, 4 hours per month of Occupational Therapy and over 20 hours per week with a Therapy Assistant....that is a lot for a little girl that has yet to become 3.
Erika was both surprised and extremely impressed about our commitment and knowledge about the path that our family was about to take, Lexi was asleep for most of the meeting but woke up for about the last 15 minutes. I am fairly confident that Erika fell in love with Lexi the minute she met her, she was bright eyed, smiling, and engaging. Erika commented numerous times about Lexi's eye contact and how she was laughing and smiling a playing a game with Adam. On the way out she mentioned how she thought Alexis would flourish and do so well with this program. (we have known this all along) but it did feel great hearing it from a professional that takes care of over 100 other families.
I have spent the last 7 weeks in Lethbridge from Monday night to Thursday at around dinner time, so really 3 .5 days per week away...but I notice every single time I come home to her that she has learned something new...this week away she has mastered ma or rather mamamama...(thx to Chantelle & Matt) I have waited along time to hear my Alexis utter the sound mamamamama so I couldn't be more pleased...
Keep up the good work Lexi!!! Mommy is very proud of you and I know you work very hard for everything you learn!! xoxo
