I'm not lost.

I'm just wandering...

Or working...

Or something...

Anyway, I've been busy... so busy that I can scarcely keep up with what day it is! Between workshops, trainings, meetings, planning, FRG support, preparing for 4 birthdays in one week for people who are all VERY close to me, a photo shoot, parenting, home life, and breathing, i'm whipped! These are ALL things that I LOVE and am more than happy to do, but as usual I haven't been paying attention to how much I've committed to, and I'm feeling like "too little butter scraped across too much bread."

Probably the biggest thing in all of this is Abbi's communication device. It was designed by a company called PRC (Prentke Romich Company), and is taught with a program called LAMP (Lanugage Acquisition through Motor Planning). The device she is using is a Vantage Light, and was designed specifically for non-verbal children who have Autism.



Today was her first day using the device (video and pics of her using it to come soon, promise)! She did GREAT!! She learned 5 new words in the course of a day! She is 8 years old and only has a 30 word verbal vocabulary! Learning 5 words in one day is HUGE. :) I can't wait to see what happens over the course of the month we get to try it out.

Monday I am going to spend the day at Abbi’s school showing them how to run the communication device she is trying out since no one in her classroom was able to go to the training we had yesterday. I am hoping to be there the whole day since it is something that is a process of learning, and I'd like to sortof keep our heads together on it.

The rest of the week looks crazy again...

Tuesday through Thursday I am going to be at Treehouse, a school for children with autism doing portraits for Project Dignity. Friday I have a lunch and thrifting date with a friend that I’ve been meaning to get together with for a month. Then I have all the editing I’ve got to do from those photo shoots! Wednesday is my friend’s birthday, Thursday is my mom’s birthday, and Saturday is Kevin’s and my other friend’s birthday. I am close to all of them of course, so its like giant birthday explosion (at least there will be cake to reduce my stress level. Someone find me the elastic waist pants! LOL). I also have to finish up plans and organization for the FRG Halloween party.

On top of all that I will be working with Abbi on her device every chance I have while she is awake, and then I need to write down all the details of working with her on it so that we can convince the insurance companies and the school that she deserves to get it. NO PRESSURE OR ANYTHING. (Yeah... just a bit stressful. I hand-wrote 5 pages of notes today!!)

PARDON ME WHILE I FREAK OUT JUST A BIT.

There. Much better. :)

Anywho - I'll be around as much as I can be, but if you don't hear from me for a few days... now you know why. ;)

~ Kristin