What would we have done without Signing Time?

My name is April. I am a mom of now 8 beautiful children. Grayson is now 23 mths, approaching the big TWO in less then a month. He is our April 1st baby. He has grown so much. I remember bringing him to his 12mth apt and telling the doctor he can't even say one word. Then at his 15 mth apt, he could say just a couple words. Even worse at his 18mth apt, he could only say 5 words but really didn't use them. My doctor told me to stop signing with him that it was hindering his want to speak. I love my doctor but this was one advice i could not follow. I spoke to other ST friends including Rachel. They encouraged me to keep going. I am so glad we did!

When Grayson was 6mths old, we introduced Signing Time to the family. Our hopes were that we would learn another language but teach Grayson to communicate with us. We experienced a lack of communication with Shaiman, our son, until he was nearly 4 yrs old. We watched him become discouraged quickly when he could not express to us what he wanted or needed. Grayson looks so much like Shaiman that I began to have flashbacks of what it was like for Shaiman. My heart sank deeper when Grayson was not picking up words. Grayson showed us his first signs at 13mths old. We were thrilled! It went quickly from there. His signing increased everyday.

Logan, our 4yr old son, also benefited from signing. The first thing he learned was the alphabet. We thought he was so cute at 3yrs old signing and saying what he wanted. Logan is a very smart young man. We were always so very proud of him as we are now. The rest of the children learned slower but thats because they didn't pay as close attention. Why would they want to watch a preschool aged program. Who am I kidding.. I was addicted to Signing Time! I was just as glued to the tube as Logan and Grayson. We watched them all as often as we could.

Grayson started showing a huge interest in the ABC's at 18mths. Yet he couldn't talk, he would point to my sweatshirt that says MASSACHUSETTS on it and name the letters. First it was the letter M, then he learned the C and A and so on. My jaw dropped, I got goose bumps, I was in shock! My baby knew his ABC's! Very quickly he learned EVERY letter by sight. I could write it on paper and he would tell me. He has magnetic letters that he would name for me. He can point out letters in his favorite books. Then I discovered he knows the letters in SIGN! Are you kidding me? Whats next? Then he was counting, telling me all the numbers to 10. But could not say the number 7. But if I asked him where 7 is, he can pick it out for me. But he is not done yet... he knows his colors by sight and sign. He loves to color! His pencil grip is way better then Logan's. .

Grayson turned 23mths on March 1st. That was the day we had our precious Sequoia. At the foot of my hospital bed there was a digital reading that read the word OFF. With my husband and I standing next to him, Grayson pointed to the word and said OFF. I thought I would fall over! OMG He is reading? I decided to write some words down that I know he has seen on Signing Time. I wrote out the word APPLE. Before I finished with the L he said APPLE. I did the same with TREE. His name, Grayson, he knew that! He calls himself Gray. LOL I never knew that! Today I wrote out WATER for Logan's teacher to "show off" Grayson skills. He knew that one too! He not only said it, he signed it! I have no idea how many words Grayson can read, but the few words he has learned is amazing! He loves to sit with me and read books. His favorite book is Froggy Gets Dressed. I tried reading other Froggy series books but he wants nothing to do with them. He has a book shelf of books that I read and re-read to him. He also plays Fisher Price preschool games on the computer that involve the alphabet. He does very well with finding the letters he wants on the keyboard. .

Who do I have to thank for this? How did this happen? How does a young toddler learn so much before learning how to talk? http://www.signingtime.com/ Rachel Coleman! Many nights Rachel put Grayson to bed with her videos. I tried singing to him. I tried rocking him. My husband and I tried everything at one point. Nothing worked but Signing Time. Rachel, Leah and Alex are Grayson's best friends. Where would we be without Signing Time? I am proud of Grayson for learning so much in such a short amount of time. But what I am most proud of is that he learned to communicate with us in a way we could all understand. We eliminated tantrums and frustration. We learned from Shaiman that he would talk when he was ready. But communication is not just about speaking. Its about expressing yourself and letting people know what you want. Signing is a language. We could have gone a few more years with Grayson not knowing as much as he knows. But for what? His vocabulary has exploded recently! He can sign very well, he understands so much more then what I could have taught him without the videos, he learned how to talk, his awareness level of things is much more advanced then any of my other kids at this age. I cant say enough about Signing Time and what Rachel has done for us.

Here is a video from 3mths ago. There were a few letters he didn't know then. He has come so far since then! I hope to make a new video soon. http://www.onetruemedia.com/shared?p=7bd0bbc8b19097dd5f86e9&skin_id=601&utm_source=otm&utm_medium=text_url

Thank you Rachel and the Signing Time gang! We love you!

Princess Sequoia's First FauxtoShoot

This is Sequoia of course being tortured by mommy. The first four pictures are of her today at 8 days old. The bottom 4 are her at 5 days old. Her features are changing so much already. Today she weighed 8 lbs. I am so proud of her.

Welcome Sequoia Autumn

My birth story.. Sequoia Autumn

We left for the hospital and arrived at 8:30am on March 1st. I was checked in hopes that they could break my water but her head was too "floaty" so we were not able to break it. So I got hooked up to pitocin at 9:30. I was 4cm. I walked around, sat on the ball and hung out with my husband and friend Mandy. I was checked again at noon. I was a bit bummed because i was a loose 4cm possibly a tight 5cm. So they increased the pit a bit more. Around 1pm I started feeling contractions. So I began to get in a pattern with them. I swayed side to side during them. I have never been out of bed during labor. So this was a first for me.

I continued to contract regularly. The m/w offered me to lean over the bed rather then the IV pole. It was a nice position. She raised the bed up real tall, put a couple pillows at the end, and had me lean over the bottom of the bed. Contractions got more intense by then. It was around 3pm at this point. My friend Lisa finally arrived. So now I had both my coaches with me and my dear husband. I leaned over the bed contracting and swaying my body side to side. My back was really sore by now. I guess thats what they would consider back labor. I began to bend my knees while leaning over the bed and swayed some more. It was nice to just role into the contractions rather then me fighting them.

Around 3:45 ish the m/w offered me to get in the shower. I was in pain and in a pattern and didnt really want to go but I told her she was in charge and knew what was best. Its so funny how I went in with one plan.. and went through the entire process within her hands. She knew exactly what I wanted. We talked about pain meds and a code word. I told her that as much as she can, talk me out of it. And boy did she! I got into the shower. We put the ball in there for me to lean and roll on. We just placed it on the little stool in the shower. I think I got out of the shower around 4:15.

After everyone dried me off, they got me into bed to check my cervix. I was a 7cm and 100% at 4:32. Because my contractions were so close and intense that wasnt the greatest news to me. But I accepted it. I imagined in my head that this would drag on for at least 1-2 more hrs. Could I really handle that without drugs. They put the head of the bed up on in incline as if I were going to sit up in bed. I went on my hands and knees with my arms drapped over the top of the bed facing the back of the wall. If that makes any sense. My contractions were on top of each other and intense. I noticed that I was crossing my legs, breathing very hard, squeezing my m/w's hand purple, and beginning to lose control. She talked me through it so well. I wanted to give up. I kept asking for a shot of demerol or nubain. But then a contraction came on and i couldnt talk so they just kept talking me through them. Hubby was really doing an awesome job rubbing my back. One time he stopped and I said.. Whoever is rubbing my back.. keep doing it! I had my 2 coaches on either side of me. I just had the best support team. They were awesome!

This was a first for me as well laboring on my hands and knees. But it felt very good rather then being on my back or side laboring. I would tuck my butt inwards during contractions. What a difference it made. Then it happened! I felt her come through my cervix. I told them she came down. That was the only warning i was giving them! I had a job to do and needed to concentrate. I reminded myself that my body will push her out. Let the contractions do their job. So I didnt push. My body did it. I let out a grunt when my body pushed. I felt her head come down more. The midwife was requesting gloves and the table. Well by then I felt the burning and her head crowned. I puffed quickly to allow me to stretch out. Even though it burned, I knew it was going to be over with quick and just let it burn. After 5-10 seconds of quick puffs, I let go and her head came out. The room got very busy at this point. No one was expecting this to happen. There was no practice pushing or warnings. I knew at that time I could give a gentle push and her body would come out. So I did with the contraction. But it was no more then a grunt and a push as if i had to take a bm and she was out! She arrived at 4:52pm. That was only 20 minutes after i was a 7cm and discouraged. Both my coaches didn't see her come out. Lisa was holding my hand and Mandy turned around to grab the camera. I felt so bad!

Instantly, the pain was gone! Poof! As the m/w suctioned her quickly, I took a deep breath and relaxed. The m/w handed the baby to me from under my legs. I was still on my hands and knees. She was still attached to her cord which i did cut myself. I took her in arms and cried. I was so overwhelmed. My first thought was is she really a girl. So i checked. And yup she is a girl! I just cried. She looks like Cheyenne, Shaiman and Grayson. She looks like a Sequoia! She weighs 7 lbs 7.8 oz 20" long, apgar 9 & 9 @ 4:52pm. She is perfect in every way.

Nine Months of Love!

How quickly has time flown. In a few short days we will be enjoying our newest little bundle of joy! Its been a great pregnancy. I am feeling great! But now I feel like time has stopped. I am so tired of the series of false alarms over the past week. I know its going to happen... Hanging in there...

The nursery is up!

Well today I got accomplished what I wanted. I finally finished the nursery! I have to get out a few more things but at least I got this part out of my system. I was so worried about not getting her nursery letters right. But I am happy how it turned out. For now, Grayson will continue to use the crib. So I have to put his bedding back on for now. When she is born we will have her in a bassinet style porta crib. Her name will stay on the wall. :) Waiting on 5 more weeks!

Nesting has begun

Well here I am just about 5 weeks from having our baby girl. Stretch marks and all. This was taken last night at 34 weeks 3 days. So many emotions have emerged from me lately. I am anxious for her arrival but nervous at the same time. I have dreams of her delivery. How strange it will be to have another little baby in the house again. Its been 12 yrs since we have had a little girl. In that sense I am so excited to see her little face and hold her tiny hand.

I have gone through the house with the intentions of getting the house in order. But I feel like I am at a stand still. Of course we can clean the house to prepare it for her arrival. But I want to do so much more. We are very limited by finances that it makes it nearly impossible to even think about modernizing the kitchen or bathroom. Forget about the livingroom or porch that needs remodeling. We struggle with keeping utilities up and running, forget about upgrading. What I really could use is some help and inspiration to get by. I am far from creative. Discouraged!

As far as preparing for the baby, we are 95% ready I guess. I mean, what else is needed besides a bed, diapers, car seat and love? As for food, I breastfeed until they won't anymore. Well we have the car seat, bedding, swing, high chair, stroller, clothes and a few other ods and ends of things. I do not have one diaper! What am I waiting for? Well I am kinda hoping thats what people bring when they visit. Or if they ask what we need I can say diapers and wipes. I enjoyed picking out all her little clothes myself. I love Carters and Children's Place clothes. Oh those little dresses are just so cute! She will be a princess for sure! I have a fetish for pink and brown anything. I am sure she will learn to hate it. But for now, I love it!

I have been obsessed with home birth/water births lately. I have done plenty of research, watched tons of YouTube videos, talked with people, been supported by my midwife and of course my husband. I have been talking very closely with a friend of mine who has been delivery babies for many years. She has agreed to deliver our baby at home. I am excited about the idea of having the delivery of my choice. The thought of being hooked up to machines and monitors and tubes and nurses hounding me every 15 min turns my stomach. With such a healthy pregnancy I dont see why a home birth wouldn't work out. Its still up in the air so more to come on that subject.

A little family background to start

Well here I am... being myself... I guess I have to start somewhere right?

From the beginning...

My name is April. I am 32 years old, a birthday in April, married to a wonderful man, Scott who is 36. We have 7 children, 5 boys and 2 girls. March 3rd our little girl is due to come into this crazy world. We live a simple life, go to a nice Baptist church, never really been adventurous so we look forward to the day we can go on a real vacation together, alone.

You might wonder how someone so young can have so many kids? Well if TLC got a hold of us they would put us on air... Scott and April plus 8! Our family is constructed of a his, mine and ours team. When Scott and I met back in '95 he had a 3yr old and I had a 15mth old. We were both single parents with nothing to do with the missing parent. In '96 we shared a daughter. It was beautiful. We were both very happy. About a year later Scott received a call that he might have a daughter in another state. Long story short she came to live with us a short while later. So we were up to 4 kids by then! I was like 21 yrs old with 4 kids!

It went on.. in '00 we had our first son together. Some time later in '04 we had another son trying for a girl. So we figured we would try again and in '07 we had another son. We were trilled and blessed. But we both longed for a girl again... so one more time and in March of '09 we will have our little girl at last! So here is our family in order Anthony 16 1/2, Samantha 15, Daniel 14, Cheyenne 12, Shaiman 8, Logan 4, and Grayson 21mths. Our little girl will be named Sequoia Autumn. Its been a long road the past 13 yrs but we have made it this far and plan on going on as God allows us.

Anthony is not in the picture because he wasnt available and i have yet to photoshop him in. :)