May 17, 2006...Well it has been so long since I have updated. Sierra is learning new words daily. Her ability to communicate with us has increased so much. We have learned that Sierra's favorite food is ramen noodles and pizza!! She could eat either one all day. Doesn't matter where the pizza is from or who made it she will eat until it is all gone....or hidden. Went to Dr. Gootie today....her ENT specialist and he says her tubes look great. He also made a positive remark about her lip. We are also very pleased............especially Sierra. This weekend is a big weekend for our family. Our middle son, Corey, is graduating from high school. He is so excited about going to college. He wants to (at this time) major in computer science. He is Sierra's favorite brother. She gets so excited when he comes home from school, work, or play. She calls him Cor, Cor. He plans on attending the community college in this area and then transfer over to Bradley University which is only 15 minutes from home. So Sierra will hopefully get her Cor Cor time in during his college years!!! I know it would be hard for her if he does decide to go away for college but I think it will be hard for her when any of her brothers go away for college. Our oldest son Brandon is majoring in philosophy and minoring in Theology and then when he goes to a four year college is going to major in Theology. He wants to either be a teacher or a professor someday!! Being in the school environment runs in our family. My dad was a primary and junior high school principal, my sister taught at the community college, my other sister is a special education assistant teacher and I work in the schools as an occupational therapy assistant. I don't ever want to leave at this point. I love working with the children with special needs especially the children diagnosis with Autism/Sensory disorders. I am just concerned about how Sierra will react to being left when I have to go back to work. This Friday we are attending a meeting to get her evaluation process started in the local public school. She went to the school screening last week and she does qualify for ECE...which is the Early Child Education classroom specialized in the children with special needs. Sierra is a very smart girl but her communication skills are still lower than her peers which affect the score on the school testing. Nothing that shocked me when I took her. I knew that the scores would be very low but by this time next year.........watch out!!