How'd You Like Me Now?

Okay, so I've been a bit MIA here on the Land of Noa - I've been taking video, just not getting around to posting them so this is the first in a series of posts (4 in all I think) - and this, I think is the most amazing one.

We've tried to get back into the CVI therapy at home, but Noa really had lost interest in the blocks (she just likes to throw them) - and she really wasn't interested in trying to match things of the same color (which was the next task that had been laid out before us). The concept of color just wasn't working for her. She actually knows the signs for red and blue... but they're just signs so far. So we'd kind of reached an impasse in terms of her willingness to play along. THEN I had an idea...


Noa loves shapes. What if - instead of asking her to find blocks, we were asking her to find shapes? We had some shapes from a puzzle (that she never really liked) so I put them on the table and asked her to find the shapes and.... well, check it out!

There are some times where maybe she felt the blocks, but there are also clearly times where she puts her hand right on them when I ask her to. I have some other videos of this - but this was the best video even though there are some times where maybe she was feeling them. And that's kind of how CVI therapy is anyway. It's not all perfect all the time.

We did this for a while and I try to use the color words for the blocks sometimes, so that we're can start working on that concept - but sometimes it only confuses her. (I know what a square is, but I don't know what a blue-square is.)

The cool thing is that I was able to follow this with working with the blocks for a bit. We worked on putting blue blocks in a blue bin and red blocks in a red bin - focusing on the idea that the colors were the same. She had some success with this and practiced holding the blocks up to her face so "see" them. I think that kind of worked. I got some video of that which will probably be my next post.

F-E-R-D-I-N-A-N-D

Those of you who have been following this blog know that Noa loves The Story of Ferdinand. We read it twice before bed every night! There are some words that she'll do the signs for (happy, big, home) and she also signs the phrase "I like it better here where I can sit" (I'll have to get that on tape). BUT the fun thing here is that she can fingerspell Ferdinand all by herself - and hey, how many kids learn to spell Ferdinand before they learn to spell cat or hat?

This video is taken just before our 2nd read of the night so we also caught her signing for me to "read book again" - the signing is a bit compromised by the stuff monkey in her hands, but I think you get the idea....

and we're walking, we're walking, we're walking...

This is actually from earlier today - we took Noa on a walk around the neighborhood (with her actually walking the whole way). The goal was actually a spring fair that was happening at the public school near us - on 32nd between 2nd and 3rd Aves). When we got there we discovered it was sponsored by a group that was raising money for kids with Cancer and Special Needs. Now I'll say up front we didn't expect to find anything at the this fair of interest to Noa - we very rarely do - but walking around in the midst of people in a happy spirit is nice and makes her feel a part of something. But I have to say that considering the purpose of this particular fair, it was disappointing that they had NOTHING for kids with disabilities, and they were charging $5 a pop just to go in and walk around. Honestly, how hard is it to include kids who can't run and jump? Is there something for a kid for whom face painting has no meaning? It's not that hard. A box of sand would work! Okay - anyway -
We decided instead to just keep walking. Noa was really digging the walking, so we continued to 3rd Ave and just decided to walk around the block and back to the swings at our own building. At some point (because Noa really pulls on Mommy's shoulders when we walk this way) we tried having her put one hand in each of our pockets - and she did it. She walked like this for a block and did great!

The video above is actually from after we went on the swing and we tried it again walking back to the building. I did the best I could filming it while walking with her - but if you look closely you can see her hand is in Ben's pocket.

Hello Baby!

 

We were so happy to get a visit last week from Noa's BFF Melissa and her cutie-pie new baby Lilia! Since Melissa was around throughout her preganacy, Noa and Lilia actually really already knew each other. Before she was born, Lilia was responding to the songs that Noa would play for her on the piano. So really it's like meeting someone you've been emailing with for a long time. Jess (Noa's other great BFF was also on hand - and she helped Noa show off for Melissa and Lila as you can see in the photo above.

Noa hadn't had a visit from Melissa... well... since February when Lilia was born, so she was thrilled and she really seemed to be interested in Lilia. I don't think she's ever met a person that small before...

And it seemed like she also understood that there was now someone smaller than her, and that Melissa was going to have to pay attention to the small person. Toward the end of Melissa's visit she really did get sort of sad and clingy with Jess - I think she really got it. Here Melissa is signing "I Love You" and Noa signed it back. It's tough not being the smallest any more!



cleaning girl

Wow – what a weekend it’s been! Check out this video, but also the following two videos from Easter Day (and there are more, I just have to find time to get them up). Noa’s been a busy, busy girl as you can see from this video.


I had this swiffer thing in the living room and moved it down the hall when I went to do some stuff in the backof the apartment so she wouldn’t find it, because she never ventures all the way down the hall on her own… until now! What I love about this is that Noa seems to have figured out how you push it on the floor – if only it had one of those swiffer pads on it!

Easter Parade!

Check out Noa Easter Parading up Fifth Avenue with Ben! Believe it or not, Noa walked 10 City Blocks with us on Easter Day. You can see from this video how great she is doing, but you can also see what an effort it is for her… it’s a slow go! But she was pretty determined.

Easter Fun!!!

Finding the right Easter present for a kid who doesn't eat candy and can't really hunt for eggs is quite a challenge. SO imagine how thrilled I was to find this handy little gifty at our local drug store!