Morgan Kate

We got some pretty terrific news yesterday. And I would have already posted about it, but we were so excited that we didn't know what to do. And then we decided to celebrate by eating out, but MK was tired and needing to go to bed, so we ordered Chinese take-out instead. And then my belly was full and I was exhausted from my first full day back at work in like eleven days so I went to bed too. And now it's today. Or tonight. Either way it's still terrific news and it still gives me goosebumps and tears and all of that good and emotional stuff.


I'll just get right to it.


Yesterday Morgan Kate was discharged from speech. Oh. My. Goodness. And not only was she discharged from speech, but discharged from early intervention as well because she no longer receives ANY special services. None. Zilch. Nada. I don't even know what to do or think or say. Oh my goodness. 


Long story, short. Or at least I'll try to make it that way. MK was last evaluated in speech back in September. At the time she had made tremendous gains, but still had some mild to moderate delays. Mild in the receptive area, moderate in the expressive area. Since that time she has been surrounded by other children, has been involved in programs at the library and the zoo (thanks to our amazing Roddey), has gotten tubes, has had numerous play dates and just naturally grown and matured. In the midst of all of this our speech sessions have been quite sporadic because our regular SLP was out on maternity leave and our "fill-in" SLP couldn't ever get her license switched from one state to another. All of that to say, that just in the last month we decided that it would be better for us and for MK and for our schedules to see an SLP in-home, rather than travel as we were doing before. Our EI set up a re-evaluation with an in-home SLP and we all met yesterday. 


Before the new SLP, whom we really liked, even finished the evaluation she said that she would be shocked if MK qualified. I wasn't sure what to think at first. Once she finished she talked us through it and the results and she was right. MK didn't qualify and based on her performance for the evaluation she was on target in receptive and total language overall for her actual age. She gave us the actual scores and gave us the age equivalencies. She's not big on the age equivalencies, nor am I, but it was interesting to see the growth MK has made since September and to see that her age equivalencies were almost exactly her actual age. Her expressive language was like one or two months behind, but considering where we started and what we have been through, that is so not a big deal to me. The SLP we met with was super and gave me her personal number to call if I had any questions or if future problems arose, although she didn't think we would ever need her again. I so wish we would have met her earlier.


Now, anyone who knows me well or has read this blog long enough, knows that I experienced a mixture of emotions yesterday afternoon. First, just extreme pride. Pride in my baby girl who amazes me every single day. I also experienced pure happiness and excitement that she is doing so well. I mean I see it and I know it in my heart, but it does feel so good to hear other people say it. I experienced relief. The kind of relief that makes you get all teary-eyed in front of your EI and this poor SLP that you just met for the very first time. When you have a twenty-five weeker you're not sure what life is going to hold for you or your child. And when you begin special services, while so grateful and appreciative, you do wonder if this is going to permanent or temporary. I felt like I could breathe again yesterday. The kind of breathing I haven't done in quite some time. I felt giddy just thinking about all the extra time we were going to have together because we wouldn't have meetings or therapy and we wouldn't have to drive anywhere. And I also felt scared and sad. Sad because ending services feels like we are ending relationships with people we've gotten to know and love. And as crazy as it sounds I feel like a time period is ending and that makes me sad. I know that sounds bizarre. Scared because the future and the unknown sometimes scares me. Since February of 2009 or when MK was only six months old we have had these services in place and they have been somewhat of a security blanket for me, a support. And it scares me a little to think of life without that. 


But, I'm not going to focus on or think too much about the sad and the scary. Instead I am going to focus and think about the pride, the happiness, the excitement and the relief I feel when I look at my precious baby girl.