Special Needs kids deserve love and respect too.

I know I have not posted lately, but raising a family doesn't leave a lot of time for blogging.
AnnaKae being special needs doesn't allow for extra time either.
We went to a home school meeting at the Library last week.  I left AK with some of my older children looking at books in the library. Well as many know kids with special needs make noises.  AK loves to hum and hums a lot.  Can you believe that a library lady asked my child to move back to the kids section because she was being annoying.  My older daughter told the librarian that AnnaKae was special needs and the lady is like " I know."
I came out of the meeting to see my daughter sitting outside with AnnaKae all because her noises were annoying.
I was so mad that I left and I don't know that we will ever go back to that library.  I still think I need to go talk to them, but am afraid of causing problems.
Special needs children and adults deserve respect too.  Another home school family was in the library and she is 17 years old.  She started to slap AnnaKae's hand all because she was touching her.  Why can't parents teach their kids to love the ones that no one cares about?
I struggle with letting AnnaKae go do things, because of how adults and children will treat her.  How do I protect her from a cruel world?  I want her to explore and meet other kids.  But I don't want anyone to make her feel unworthy or treat her like she has a disease.
I pray for God's protection over her and around her.  I pray for God to show the people she comes in contact with that she is love able.  I pray their eyes are open to the special needs and love as Christ has loved.

AnnaKae is a gift no matter how different she may be.

Enjoyment of being a Mom

We went to Silver Dollar City yesterday and had a great family day.  I love seeing AnnaKae experience things for the first time.  That has got to be the one of the best things about being a mother.
AnnaKae loves to swing.  She would swing all the time if we let her.  At Silver Dollar City they have a swing that she can ride with an adult beside her.  She got to ride it twice.  The smile on her face was priceless.  To see her get to do these new things, I can't help but think of those children waiting for a parent.  AnnaKae would have been transferred to the mental institution had we not adopted her.  These two and half years would have been less exciting had we not adopted her.  I can't imagine what it would have been.  I just thank God everyday for bringing her into our lives.  Even if she isn't normal, everyday God shows us His love through her.  We see God's world different through her eyes.  The little things we take for granted, like swinging, tasting something sweet, and having a family.  She brings so much laughter and joy to our family.



AnnaKae getting to swing with Daddy.

You can see AnnaKae with her Daddy in the bottom corner.

I think this was the highlight of her day.  She wanted to ride the train so bad and by the time we got to the train she was sick.  AK started running a temperature and was feeling good.  So we left right after the train ride.  She cried off and on through the whole ride.  My poor snuggle bug isn't feeling good.  Hoping this goes away soon.  She was happy for most of the day.





 

Homeschool Co-Op

We had our 3rd class of homeschool co-op today.  I had hoped that reading the story about AK and showing some of the kids signs would make it easier for them to play with her.  Well it wasn't.  She just doesn't understand why or how to play with them.  She goes up to someone, then touches their hair and they get upset.  I so wish it would be easier for her.
I want to find a special needs support group with other kids, but I haven't had much luck.  Even if I could find one family with a child with special needs to play with her would be great.  I worry about her being able to socialize with other kids.  She gets a lot of socializing here at home with all her other siblings.  I want her to learn to play and act the right way with kids of her age.  It's hard seeing her want to play and have friends and them staring at her like she is a freak.  There are a few in class that give her mean looks and jump away from her.  AnnaKae has the sweetest heart and is a social butterfly.  But it's just not the right way to socialize.
We gave her balls in her pool this morning and she loved them too.  I do think I need to get her more balls.  Believe it there is a 100 balls in the pool.  It doesn't look like that many.

 

I am hoping that all of these things we are doing will help with her sensory issues.  She does seem to be a little calmer while playing in there.  It does keep her attention too.

Today at Co-Op her class was learning about the 5 senses.  So they had things dealing with the senses.  AnnaKae got to play in shaving cream.  She doesn't really like things on her fingers.  She did play with it, smelled it, and even tasted it.  I love her smile in the picture.

 

I have a thought to maybe put her in the small pool and put shaving cream in there too.  I wonder if she would like it.  I plan on making playdoh tomorrow for her.  She likes to taste the store bought playdoh and I worry about her eating it.  If I make the homemade playdoh it will have a salty taste to it.  I hope she will get out of wanting to eat it, and actually play with it.  I will post how she does.

I may even put her in the bathtub with finger paint.  Last time we tried that, she didn't like it.

We starting doing brushing with her tonight, and when I was done, she was ready for bed.  AK was falling asleep while we were praying with her.  Check back tomorrow for more on our little jewel.

 

 

Doctors, doctors, doctors.

Well, we went and saw a few more doctors in St. Louis last week.  It wasn't good either.  They were trying to find all kinds of reasons why AK is so small and her behavior with stimming, instead of the fact she was in an orphanage for almost 5 years.
I understand what they are trying to figure out.  But I don't like the box they want to put her into.  One said she thinks AK may have FAS, or Tuner syndrome.  But I disagree with them.  As her mother I can disagree and believe in a higher power.  I am not saying I believe they are totally wrong.  But this one doctor looked at me and said AK will never speak.  She said that with as many kids as we have that AnnaKae should have been speaking a long time ago.  Now on the other hand, I see it as AnnaKae doesn't have to talk, because she has all these siblings to do it for her.
We have decided not to have AK take ADHD medicines.  When she is on them, she doesn't try to talk or even engage in activities.  She stands back and just stims.  After a week of being off of them, she is trying to talk more.  Not that we can understand a lot of it, but she is trying.  AK also has been doing better with matching her colors.
Her speech therapist was telling me today that she is smart and picks up fast.  The therapist is starting the picture exchange program with her and she is doing great with it.  Then the OT therapist told me again she is smart.  I have never doubted this child is smart.  I keep saying that, and telling everyone that I think AK can do more than what she lets everyone know. 
I asked today about her sensory seeking and how we could give her more of that.  The OT therapist, gave me some ideals today.  We are hoping that giving her all these sensory things will help her focus in the long run.
So today I went and got a cheap swimming pool and got about 8 bags of beans.  She laid and played in those beans for a long time today.  She loved it.  The therapist also said if we kinda squeeze her arms up and down like giving compressors.  It will help.  We did that today and oh my goodness, she kept asking for it. 
AnnaKae would actually calm down some with it. 
I know God gave us this little girl for a reason and there are good days and bad days. Today was a good day.
I am praying that this blog will help me as well as others.  I need to keep a record of her school and I thought a blog might help me record her progress.

 AK playing in beans.

AK laying in the beans.

AnnaKae showing me she loves them.

AnnaKae

AnnaKae, is our precious jewel from God.  We adopted her two years ago from Ukraine.  When we brought her home she weighed 20 lbs and was wearing 18-24 month clothes.  She was 3 weeks from being 5 years old.
AnnaKae is now wearing 3T-4T clothes and weighs about 30lbs.  She is still tiny.  She is about 3 feet 5 inches tall.  AK has grown a lot, but is still considered small for a 7.5 year old.
AK sees a lot of doctors ranging from developmental,and GI.  She has speech and OT twice a week.
I decided after a visit to the developmental doctor today to start this blog.  AnnaKae is non-verbal and today they told me she will never speak.  I chose not to believe them.  As I sat in my car and cried, I know in my heart I will never give up on her.  She has never had anyone cheer for her until this past 2 years.  I will take what the doctors say with a grain of salt.  I will have faith and believe in a higher power for her.
We homeschool, and the laws of MO, say I have to keep up with sample work and show progress.  So this is another use of the blog.
I want to post AnnaKae's goals and progress to show that these kids in orphanages are not misfits.  These kids can become something special and somebody. They can make a difference.  I know that not all kids are as bad as AnnaKae and there are worse kids than her too. But these kids are children of God and we are to love, teach, nurture, and comfort them.  We can not let these kids be forgotten.
I have 8 kids that we are homeschooling, so I will try to post everyday.  If by some chance I don't post a day or two, please check back.  I will share about our jewel.