Hats off to the Intel Team!

You know, not everyone can pull off the 'hat look'. But with the right sized hat, Zoe displays the many shades of her personality. So I thought I'd include some of my hat fav's with her and say "Hats off!" (or maybe I should say "Hats on!") to Zoe's Intelligence Team. (And hats off to cousin Carol who picked yet another winning fashion accessory for Zoe below!)

Every time an Intel package arrives - and they're easy to spot - I jump for joy. These cards are not only creative and build Zoe's intelligence, when I see them, I see a big clock on every envelope - because each pack of pictures gives me several hours back of my life, which I can redirect to the million other things I need to do or just enjoy a little time with Jeff and Zoe. Zoe sees fun pictures - I see a slice of my life I just got handed back to me. I'm not kidding you when I say it brings tears to my eyes. Time is our most precious commodity around here.

I've also decided after we've received 10 sets of cards from an Intel Agent (or Intel Team), we'd like to recognize your contribution in a special way. I'm not sure how yet, but it's in my mind... and I'm keeping score.

Special thanks to our current top Intel producers:

Nancy and Brigit - 2 sets in one delivery! Rock stars!

Dan and Steph - Steph, Olympic Gold, you always set the bar - Dan we know you're riding Steph's coattails

Andrea and Chuck - Bravo! Chuck - we know Andrea does all the work but we really appreciate you for marrying such an amazing woman.... for us.

More thanks to our other card producers; Patti, Juji, Kelly, cousin Dale (your secret is safe with us) and "Team Joanne" - keep up the good work!

A note about Team Joanne - Jeff's Mom has assembled her own team of people who have committed to making these cards. Wow! I field many questions from this team of Intelligence Agents but their verve is impressive and unquestionable.

So far, Zoe has already seen about 300 cards - and she grades them all on her own sliding scale of interest and attention.

I was so proud of myself when I completed a set of cards "Ball Games" and it had pictures that represented different sports; bocce, football, tennis, soccer, bowling, etc. Even with enthusiastic presentation they received mild yawns which later turned to expressions of annoyance and finally a complete refusal to look at the cards. I asked her, didn't she think "ball games" was interesting? And I held up 2 cards for her to point to her answer (Yes or No). The answer was brutally emphatic, "No! No! No!" Ouch.

Anyway, Team Joanne's first set of cards arrived the other day, "Famous Hispanic People" and I thought to myself, who the heck came up with that idea? The next day, Jeff informs me Zoe LOVES the set. Every time he whips them out she smiles and laughs. Gold star awarded by Judge Z. Keep 'em coming - I guess you know more than I of her preferences!

This week's winning card set:

Zoe's mad skills

There are lots of people who are on Zoelia's team of champions, cheerleaders and supporters who have never met her in person. This includes people in our family and friends who live far away (and even some who live nearby). So many people have reached out to us to be a part of 'Z experience' and we've been very blessed.

These people are the reason I created this blog. So those who wish, can stay more in touch with what goes on in her life and with all three of us. It allows you to find out what's new and it allows us to give updates without worrying about time differences or intruding on each other's busy lives.

Truthfully, it's another demand on my time in an already filled to the brim week. But I find the time and I find a way because of all of you. Because Zoe has drawn you into her life and you have chosen to be a part. And she deserves a rich life filled with people who know her and love her - don't we all?

Of the people who have met Zoe in person - most have still not heard Zoe speak. When Zoe is around other people she focuses more on paying attention to what's going on around her. She becomes the careful observer. I think this is true of a lot of kids her age.

But when she's at home or in the car and she has the opportunity, she babbles to us, herself and her toys. And her daily chitchat is peppered with words and phrases. And this is great cause for celebration!

Half the kids with Cri du Chat don't have any verbal language. Half of them don't speak a word. No one knows exactly why - verbal language development is a complicated affair. It could be the problem in the larynx that causes the high pitched cry. It could be a disconnect when language gets processed in the brain. It could be because these kids usually have low muscle tone (everywhere really, but specifically) in their jaws, lips and mouth that make it too difficult to form words. Or it could be because they have little tiny chests and poor respiration so they just can't get enough air to pass over the vocal chords. Thirty to forty years ago it was believed these kids were entirely unable to communicate at all, but things have changed.

But that's still a terrible fate... because these kids understand every word. Their skills of comprehension are VERY sharp and their memory is sharp too. Could you imagine how difficult that must be? To understand everything that's said around you, to remember it all too, to know what you want to communicate and not be able to say it? And worse... to have people treat you like you're irretrievably stupid because you can't use words with them? Every time I think about it, I'm overcome with grief - it must be so frustrating and disheartening.

Sidebar story - I remember years ago I was traveling in Italy. I was traveling on the train south to Venice and I didn't speak Italian (still don't). What I remember about Italians is that far fewer locals spoke English than in most of the other countries I traveled. It's amazing how far you can get in almost any country with just knowing "hi", "excuse me," "please", "thank you", "how much is?" (then pointing), and "where is the bathroom?" Well into my car on the train entered an older gentleman and then perhaps one of the most gorgeous men I've ever seen (Luigi) and they smiled at me, and I smiled at them. After my run at "hi, excuse me, please (with a point offering them a seat) and thank you" (when the older man offered me a soda) - we were done. I didn't need to buy anything so "how much is?" was out the window and I knew where the bathroom was so that was it. The three of us actually tried desperately to carry on a conversation - they knew NO English and I had used up my Italian within 15 seconds. We were on the train for hours amiably trying to communicate, drawing sketchy maps to indicate where we came from. But it was really eye opening - when you can't share words, there is virtually nothing you can exchange with each other that has meaning. I had to struggle with 2 hours of trying to communicate and not being able. No harm done and it was pleasant enough. But what if I had NEEDED to communicate something..... What if you had to go through life like that?

So when Zoe speaks, even though she does it everyday, it's a BIG deal to us. And we've learned to trim back our excitement and sometimes stay quiet so she'll continue chatting some more.

And sometimes she even shocks us and makes us laugh (all kids are great at this). Yesterday, Jeff was holding and playing with Zoe when he turned to me and said, "You know, she's making a lot of funny new sounds today." And she smiled at him and said, "I am!" and cracked up. Today Jeff took her out for a walk and after awhile he asked her, "Do you want to head back now and see Mommy?" and she was quiet for a few moments and then belted out, "Yeah! Momma!"

It's a big deal. When you start from where she started, it's a very big deal.

And we'd like to share how special that is with you. So enjoy the video clip in which Zoe says a word (and exhibits some other fine skills). And thanks for all your love and support. ~ Z Parents.

Overhead Laddering and Intel Update

Zoe seems to be getting into the "swing" of things with the Overhead Ladder. At first, she just needed to practice standing and holding on to the rungs. Now she's beginning to use her hands to hold on and her feet to walk forward. It's a bit tricky because Dad needs to be near enough to catch her if she falls but scoot out of the way when she walks. And the ladder which is adjusted for her height is too short for us to sit up straight underneath. Here are some pics of her on the ladder and some afterpics that shows how she feels about her performance.

It's a bit of a mad hair day but that's what happens when you're working up a sweat! I've made about 10 sets of Intel cards myself and it's gotten a lot easier to crank them out. To everyone who has sent us cards, "Bravo!" they're fantastic. To everyone who's still working on them, take heart - that first set's a grind but look at that face - totally worth it. Let me know if you've hit a roadblock or need some help. Over and out!