The Story of My April Butterfly: January 2008

Friday, January 11, 2008

So much progress!

It is absolutely amazing for us
to watch Maggie begin the process of speaking!

She is gaining so much confidence lately
and is willing to try talking more.

Here's her latest video of some words...
enjoy our little tender heart!

Maggie spent the first three weeks of her life in the NICU... first to investigate an irregular heartbeat- cleared with a diagnosis of a wandering pace-maker and sent home at 5 days old. She stopped breathing 2 hours after we had been home... we gave her rescue breaths, called 9-1-1 and Maggie was transfered by ambulance to the NICU, again. At 20 days old Maggie was sent home with a diagnosis of mild Laryngomalasia (floppy windpipe) and an apnea monitor to wear for 6 months. At one year of age Maggie was diagnosed as Hypotonic and spent the next 6 months of her life being seen by a Neurologist, a Genetic Counselor and Occupational Therapists. She began early intervention for her developmental delays. At age 3 she began attending a Special Education Preschool. She attended a typical Kindergarten class with RSP help for fine motor delays. Beginning in 1st grade she began her journey through Special Education for intensive help with many developmental and cognitive delays. Beginning in 3rd Grade I decided to Homeschool Maggie through a local charter school. She still received Special Ed. services, but I was in charge of her daily curriculum. We began her 5th grade year by enrolling her back in public school. This year will either prove to be a great stepping stone to the rest of her education, or it will be a year to revisit other options. This is our journey living with a child who is Hypotonic.