Brea Scott

Daughter #2

Brea Scott

Age: 4

DOB: 9/4/07

Favorite Color: blue

Favorite Food:  goldfish crackers

Favorite Activity:  coloring, cutting, and puzzles

Favorite sport:  swimming (she's a fish!)

Interests:  her Grandpa, Dora the Explorer, solitary play, preschool

How she chose her new name:  When Brea decided she wanted to choose a new name (again, her choice, not ours) she wanted to be called "Grandpa."  She loves her Grandpa Snyder more than most anything in the world.  It took a looooong time to make her realize that someone's name simply cannot be Grandpa.  We had to explain that Grandpa's name wasn't even Grandpa but that his real name is Scott.  Well, then she wanted to be called "Scott."  Great, now we were stuck.  After another round of explaining she settled on her middle name being Scott.  Jordan and I chose her first name for her which she happily agreed upon because she was already excited about "Scott."  It's short, easy to spell, and somewhat like her original name.  The only catch is she prefers to be called "Brea Scott" and not just "Brea."  Around the house her nicknames are Scott, Scotty, and Little Scott.  She's pleased, we're pleased, and my dad is thrilled.  That's how we got our Brea Scott. 



Grandpa and Brea Scott





Brea is a child that makes my instinctive protectiveness flare.  Brea has a host of special needs that include:  dietary restrictions, behavioral issues, mild MR (mental retardation), ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder), LLD (Language-Learning Delays), and Developmental Delays (in fine motor, gross motor, and speech).  She sees a specialist for most every part of her body except for her teeth!  We're currently in the process of sorting through what all of this means and the severity of each with her neurologist and therapists.  She attends a specialized preschool where all her needs are met and she receives daily therapy in each domain.  She's a very high-level child in regards to functioning but she clearly has needs that require extra attention.  However, just by meeting her a few times or by watching from afar one may not know she has special needs.  This is where my "Momma Bear" attitude is exposed.  I cannot and will not tolerate anyone commenting on the functioning, behavior, or my parenting of Brea.  She and I have come a long, long way and have a mutual understanding of how her life must go.  Over the past few months (with tremendous amounts of help and support from the neurologist and professionals at her school) we have really nailed down a healthy lifestyle and schedule for Brea where she can thrive and become all that she is able.

Because of her sensory and stimulation issues she easily becomes overwhelmed and overstimulated.  What I am most proud of is Brea's new found ability to self-monitor and self-regulate.  She can now (85% of the time) stifle one of her fits until she's walked herself into her bedroom and closed the door.  She'll then lay on her bed and scream and kick until she is done.  When she's done she comes back out happy.  What we're even more proud of is that she's learning her own breaking point.  Within the last month she will now take herself to her room before she starts having a fit, will close the door, and will read books or do puzzles until she's regulated her body again.  Sometimes she'll stay in her room for 20 minutes, sometimes she'll stay in her room for three hours.  She really has come so far.  I couldn't be prouder of my little nugget.

Brea is an equal opportunity player.  She enjoys girl toys such as barbies and babies but she also loves boy toys such as cars and blocks.  She does not like Disney Princesses but will tolerate Jasmine because she wears blue.  All of her baby dolls and stuffed animals are boys and have boy names...except for Dora.  However, Brea loves to wear hair bows and dresses...as long as they are not pink.

Brea is very sensitive.  Her feelings are so easily hurt but she also is very sensitive of other people's feelings as well.  She always tries to comfort a sad person and she always laughs with a happy person.  She is incredibly intune to my demeanor.  She can read me like a book and her attitude will most always reflect mine.  Brea loves to sit on laps but does not like to be held.  She loves to give kisses and hugs and always tell me she loves me.  At school her teachers tell us that all the other kids always want to be near with Brea because she so nice and caring.  Brea always shares her toys.  She usually will not play with you (as she prefers to play alone) but she will always give what she has.  Caveat:  You must first ask.  If you take her toy without asking she'll likely have a fit.  However, she'll never tell you no if you ask.  She's thoughtful and considerate.  She's just a love.

Brea is a strong-willed child.  When she has an idea in her head she will not rest until she sees it to fruition.  Many times strong-willedness comes across as stubborness...and many times it is.  She LOVES to test me.  Out of all the other children Brea is the child where consistency is the key.  If ANY rule or expectation is changed she will undoubtedly have a fit.  This is more a result of her special needs than of the trauma of her past but nonetheless is a combination of them both.  We cannot waiver even the slightest way in our routine and expectations.  If plans are going to change, Brea must be briefed and prepared well in advance.

Brea loves her Grandpa.  I'm glad I don't live next door to my parents for I fear I would never see my child.  When we visit my parents she will sit on my dad's lap for hours at a time looking at books.  She doesn't even care if he's watching television, she just wants to be near her Grandpa.  I'm not sure what the connection is nor do I really care.  I'm thankful she's finally attaching to family and friends.

Brea continues to amaze us day by day. Our God, in his infinite wisdom, gave our special child so many gifts.  Where she struggles just to dress herself, she can put together a 24 piece puzzle without looking at the picture.  Where she cannot recogize all of her letters, she can recognize all the roads between Pennsylvania and Virginia and will tell me which landmark is on each road.  Where she can't walk ten feet on a wide balance beem without falling, she can jump off the low dive and swim to the ladder.  She truly is a gift with so many gifts.  We are uncertain how Brea's life will develop and unfold but we are certain of this:  She is here for a reason, a special reason.  She will undoubtedly knock the bloody socks off of everyone she meets with her determination and her love.