The Best Day Ever

Speech has been a tremendous challenge for Elle. We've had professional testing and countless hours with speech therapists and the results have been far from encouraging. But our dear, sweet Elle perseveres and tries and tries and tries, and is tremendously patient as she takes in instruction, coaching, and correction every day. We try to keep it positive and fun, but it's tough. We celebrate over every victory, no matter how small, but there have been really low points in this journey. She has also come to the realization that others don't always understand her tremendous efforts to communicate and sometimes their dismissal or lack of patience pierces her heart. It breaks ours.

It is an uphill climb for Elle, but we are so proud of her and humbled by how God has used this challenge to shape her heart in a way that might have been more difficult any other way. Her desire to be right with God, us and others is an example to us every day. Her innocence, sensitivity and kindness is dear.

One significant challenge for her has been guttural sounds. Whew.... One speech therapist (not to mention all our therapy at home) tried to get the 'k/c' sound out of her for an entire year, but to no avail. So we had been working and working on this. For example, 'key' is 'tea' and 'go' is 'do'. Substituting every 'k/c' sound for a 't' and every 'g' sound for a 'd' can really hinder successful communication.

Well, Elle had the best day ever on Saturday, December 18, 2010. It was a stellar day for us too! We were in Branson for pre-Christmas celebration at S D C. Elle was super excited as S D C is currently her most favorite place on earth. We had just spent the night at a hotel, woke that morning to a huge breakfast with waffles, played at the pool and soaked in a hot tub. After drying up, we were just minutes from heading out when Elle's elastic lace broke on her tennis shoe. Those things are hard to jerry-rig. Eric tried, but it was hurting her. The shoes were getting worn anyway and she certainly couldn't walk in them all day, so we headed to the outlet mall to buy a new pair of tennis shoes before heading to The City. Shopping with Mama and new shoes; things were getting very exciting for her...hotel, waffles, pool, S D C - WOW!

Elle had recently been noticing the different types of vehicles on the road. She had been pointing out SVU's and asking "Is that a fat tar?" So she started asking this as we crept down The Strip on our way to the mall. We answered as we had been for the past several weeks...

Us: "Cars aren't fat, they're big. Remember to use the 'c' sound for 'car'. Try car."

Elle: "Tar"

Us: No, that was a 't' sound, but good try. We'll keep practicing.

We were nearing the mall and she had been silent for a few minutes and then she said...

Elle: "Is that a faaaaat Caaaaaaar?"

Me: ELLE! (Turning around and SCREAMING) YOU SAID IT! YOU SAID CAR! YOU SAID THE 'C' SOUND! ELLE - GREAT JOB - YOU DID IT! (Still SCREAMING) WOOHOOOOOOO!

And she knew she did it! The smile on her face was priceless - we will never forget it. I don't know how Eric stayed on the road, he was 'screaming' too!

Elle: Car, car, car!

Us: Yes, yes - you got it! You can say the 'c' sound, Elle!

Eric: We have to celebrate!!!

And right then, we came to the intersection of a Krispy Kreme donut shop! So we pulled in, Elle smiling ear to ear, saying 'car, car, car' and Zane just thrilled that he was going to eat again. We have never taken the kids to Krispy Kreme and they've probably had one other donut in their lives - LOL! So this was BIG!!!!!! We had the place to ourselves and three glass cases of donuts to choose from.

Eric: Donuts for everyone! Elle, choose whatever donut you want!


So that was Elle's best day ever...hotel, waffles, pool, hot tub, the 'k/c' sound, new tennis shoes (and they were hot!) and S D C with unlimited rides on F*re In The Hole! Does it get better than that?! :)


About a week passed and then the 'g' sound came. We were just heading out the door when she ‘nailed’ it. A few minutes later we were filling up at a gas station and I pulled some change together to get her a yummy drink in celebration. The machine ate my money. I told the elderly attendant that my coins were gobbled up and why we were celebrating – LOL! He got them back for me and discovered the drink was out, so he gave Elle a bag of M&M's that he wouldn’t let me pay for. He was proud of her too!

Every day since she has been retraining her mind to produce the 'k/c' and 'g' sound for all the words she has been saying incorrectly. She's still in process, but never gives up and her victory is SWEEEEEEET!

We love you Elle and are so very proud of you - you are perfect in every way!


Never take your eyes off the boy...always keeping us on our toes...