Lions and Tigers and Bears... Oh and don't forget the flying Monkeys.

So it has been quite a while since I have posted but much has happened in the last few months. In February we learned that the Child Development Center I manage would be closing at the end of April. This has effected AJ quite a bit but not too much until recently. I am out of a job as of this Friday. Yikes! (Lions AND Tigers)

EMU has released AJ from the Speech and Hearing Clinic's program. He has made so much progress that he is 95% intelligible and they feel he does not need services anymore. I understand that there are many children who are in situations like AJ was just a year and a half ago who need their expertise more than he does but it is a bit un-nerving to lose that safety net. I know that we can always go back if there is a resurgance of issues, and I am of course thrilled that he is doing so very well but it just seems too good to be true after all I've learned about apraxia. (Bears)

Of course just this week, as my center is closing, AJ is struggling with some serious disfluency. He is stammering and struggling to get his thoughts out more and more. He has also has had a few nightmares lately. The only one he could articulate was about a monkey with "four legs" looking at him. (Flying Monkeys?)

I am hoping that things calm down soon and we can get back into a routine before kindergarten begins this fall and things get crazy again.

On a hopeful note, AJ is starting T-ball. His first game is Saturday. I am a bit nervous about him experiencing team sports as it will be his first test with communicating with other children who are not familiar with him. We think he is easy to understand now but others may have more difficulty. It's hard to have an objective opinion when I've been one of the few who could understand what he trying to get across even before he coud speak. I have been speaking "AJ-ease" for a long time. I worry about teasing from peers but I think that every mom worries about this to some extent.

I am drained from the closing of the center and am stressed about finding work in this economy. I am trying to stay positive but it is a difficult thing to do. I'm 41 years old and have always managed to survive somehow so I know I will be okay. I just have to keep reminding myself of that.