Remember when I wrote earlier this month about my family trip and how God has thrown in some detours along the way of my great adventure. Well as I wrote before Katelyn is one of these amazing detours I never pictured I would be apart of but so very thankful I am! She is a wonderful little girl who has completely stolen my heart along with her daddy's and brother's, not to mention most people she comes in contact with!
At 6 months old baby Kate can do most things other babies her age are able to do, somethings she actually has done before the normal milestones are typically reached. Like rolling over at only 6 1/2 weeks old. What a huge surprise that was to us! Since the moment Katelyn was born she has been putting us and everyone else in awe of the things she can do, I know we like most parents with a child with special needs thought the worst. Granted that's all the doctors and other professionals tell you, which is sad since these children really are able to do pretty much anything any other child can do some a little slower but sometimes even faster than others. One of our friends, Lynette said something to me while I was pregnant with Kate that has really stuck with me and was a great encouragement to me... she said "all children do things and learn things at different ages and stages no matter if they have special needs or not." WOW how true is that just looking at my boys I can see a difference in each of them! And if I haven't told you Lynette thank you for those words of wisdom God used you to comfort a mother's heart! =0)
Knowing we had a chance of having a baby girl with Down Syndrome I did alot of research before she was born. Found out about different therapies she would and could have to help her. Plus anything that would be helpful to communicate with us. I want to be able to offer her every chance possible to reach whatever level of development God has given her actually not just her but each of my children.
That's were the learning a new language comes in. For about 8 years now I have been blessed to know an amazing woman by the name of Sue Stephenson, whom I can say is one of my dearest friends. Sue is also a stay at home mother who homeschools her children, PLUS she has her own small business teaching Sign Language to children and adults. Before having Katelyn I always thought it would be nice even neat to learn the language and teach it to my boys but never committed myself to take one of the classes.
Finally after years of thinking about taking a class I actually decided it would be best for our family if I took the time and effort to learn this language that most say helps not only children with Down Syndrome but young children in general communicate even before they talk. All I can say is WOW.... I have learned so much through this class! Plus my children have picked up on the signs so quickly too, they hunger for more each week! Now at lunch time Logan will sign I want more food please mom! Or more juice please! It's amazing! Even Wylie at 2 years old can sign please, thank you, mom, milk, more, all done, bath, help and a few other ones that it seems he is trying to make up himself! haha Some people think that by doing sign language it will hold off a child from talking or using words, this completely isn't the case. Wylie has gone from using only a few words a few months ago to using many more.
I am so thankful to Sue for offering this class, and to God for placing her in my life. She is such a blessing and I find it amazing how God knew how much I would need her even before we met each other!
Sue has a website as well were she lists her upcoming classes and some AWESOME resources if you would like to check it out here is the link:
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