2 haircuts

update on my lil e

It's crazy to think Everett is almost 20 months. He is doing so many new things. I'm sad to say I don't even remember the last update and what I said he was doing, so things may repeat, I'm good at that!

Physically
He is cruising all over when he wants to get after something. He is getting stronger in his legs and bearing more weight but still locks his knees and that's where he feels safe. That is clearly really bad for his knees and tendons, and his new braces were supposed to prevent him from doing that but they were made too low. So, we're waiting on new braces and trying get him to not lean on surfaces and lock his knees. When the braces do work, when he is standing upright and not leaning he turns those little feet in for stability. So, he has a lot to work through. He is starting to hold my hands and stand up for short periods which is what we want as long as he's not arching. He pulls up on everything and is getting more adventurous climbing under, in and around things. He loves to climb the stairs, he prefers up, we're working on down. He is crawling all over, thankfully crawls "in quad" which means up off his belly, in a normal crawl. He still likes to army crawl. He is very strong, just needs to get all of his body parts working together at the same time.

Speech -
He is definitely making more noises. He is repeating a lot. He can say "dada" but doesn't call for dada, he signs in. He has many signs: more, all done, please, bath, elephant, dada, mama, eat, milk, book, shoes, open (there are more, many of these look a lot alike, but I can tell them apart.)
He understands a TON more than he can show. He knows what I'm saying at all times, he follows all of my directions or whines when I ask him to do something he doesn't want to do, but he's a good boy and does, eventually. I can't wait to hear him really start talking. I'm told once he's walking his speech will really explode. He cannot focus on everything all at once and the physical side comes first. So, once he's not thinking so much about movement, apparently he'll make some great growth vocally. We're getting his tubes checked by ENT this week and the following week is his hearing test. We'll all cross our fingers that he passes!!!

Occupational therapy - (and speech- they cross when it comes to feeding)
We're working really hard on self feeding. He is still not wanting to use pincer grasp to pinch his food between his finger and thumb, he likes to grab it with his entire hand and scrape it in his mouth. We're working on many cognitive activities now that he's up and crawling on his own bunches, which is really important for handwriting and fine motor skills. We're starting to work on him getting the play coins into the piggy bank, sliding, twisting, turning, and pushing buttons properly on toys. We're working on pointing, blowing bubbles (strengthens his mouth), sipping from a straw cup (hoping to get away from the bottle), becoming more independent with feeding. He identifies the correct card when we're working on flash cards. We have a huge bin of toys/objects and he knows them all and gives them, puts them in bins, or gives them to sissy, whatever I ask of him...even he if wants to keep them to play. He is such a good boy. He is capable of so much and is so smart. I'm missing a thousand things, I'm going to include a list of what we're working on, this changes every month or so, I should have been attaching this all along for myself to look back and reference.

He growls like a bear/tiger/lion and makes a high squeak like a bird. He smiles all day and giggles on command. He is the happiest little man, minus the teeth and recent thrush. He looks like a porker in his two layered shirts but he's lean and strong. He has the fattest hands and fingers that I can NEVER get enough of, I don't ever want them big they are so chunky and cute. He loves to kiss and hug and he is starting to do closed mouth kisses, although I'm proud I miss his sloppy wet tongue. He is so funny and sweet and loves his sissy, dada, and then me...in that order. ;) He entertains himself very well but loves to play with someone too. He has stranger danger but settles okay with someone as long as we're not standing too close. He used to take people in for a long time before interacting and now it takes less time and he's smiling and laughing and capturing their heart. He can find his head, belly, mouth, ears, and lifts his butt for me when I ask when I'm changing him. He is working at his own pace, slow and steady wins the race, right? I'm so proud, every single time he does something for the first time it's so exciting, he works so hard for every single thing he does. He makes me so happy. Waking up to him daily is a dream. I can't even begin to imagine how he'll capture my heart when he is talking and walking.

He is older than Clara was when he was born, which is crazy. It's crazy because I can't believe that much time has gone by and also because I think about what she was doing at his age now. I remember my heart was broken when he was taken from my room and she came through the door looking for her baby brother. Instead she counted raisins in English and Spanish for 30 minutes and then Grandpa threw her Nunu on her head as she ran back and forth in the hospital room for another 30 times. The crazy was just beginning and I didn't even know it. Thank GOD! Ignorance is truly bliss. There is no point in comparing any child, but it's completely pointless comparing ours. We're so fortunate to have complete opposite children for so many reasons, they complete our life and give us exactly what parents deserve. His pace seems perfectly normal for him. Sometimes I get in panic mode when he hits a plateau. I need to be more patient at times, and worry less, haha, high hopes for myself.  His therapists are always proud and compliment us on how much he learns and how fast he learns it. We work so hard, I want to do whatever I possibly can to make his life easier and give him every tool to help him succeed. People ask, "How is he doing, where does he fall in the range if severity." It's just like every typical child, the range is so crazy huge it is hard to say. The average age for walking is two. I have no clue if he will be walking by May, but I am anxious because he wants to chase his sissy and do what she does so bad, I'm so excited for him to play at the park, on his feet! She is going to have a rude awakening! I'm told he has a great attention span and everyone loves to work with him. His personality is so bubbly and positive, what's not to love about the bubs?!?!

I'm supposed to get to all of these daily, there's way more than this, but these are the basics. It's impossible, I've let go of a lot, I do keep the list because it does help me keep my focus. When I get overwhelmed with what to do, I pick one and get started and before I know it, we're 10 deep.

ORAL MOTOR/SPEECH –

TOOLS on floor – spinny thing, z-vibe, nook, and chewy tube

Gemiini during meals

Animal flash cards in mirror – also picking between the two

Using “Ready, set, GO” having him vocalize the “G” in go – he is trying but it’s not a “g” sound yet – you can use race car track

Massage top lip down, bottom lip up and circular motion with cheeks.

Tongue clicking, “indian pat”, smacking lips

Review his objects –first have him choose the correct item, then have him give to you or put in a basket/bin next to him while working on crossing mid-line

Finding body parts on the puppy and pressing the buttons to get him to talk

Saying “pop” while popping bubbles

COGNITIVE PLAY

Hiding a toy under a blanket or in the bag in his box of goodies, have him get/find

Have him help clean up when playing is done

Have him use his toys with a purpose – rock the baby in his arms, “drink” from the cup, stir the spoon in the bowl or self feed, pretend the dolls are talking to one another, pretend cell phone call, etc.

Shape sorter

Using instruments – making music

Pointing at objects or people

Practice throwing and bouncing a ball

Itsy bitsy spider (Barbara) – Patty cake – use Clara or Barbara for help

PT

Pull to sits and pulling himself up on his side using arms – going back down supporting self

Bouncing – support him under his armpits, ask him to jump, try to get him to support himself as much as possible

Use bench for sit to stands – have him try and reach down to get a ball to put in the frog’s mouth – this game will have him bend down, and stand up with a purpose (I can’t get him to want to do this, let me know if you find something that works.

See if he will reach down for a toy while he is standing, without sitting all the way down

Brain gym – Barbara

Stretch body

Vibration on his body/body massage

Crossing midline – supporting himself with hand

Scoot on car/bike…have him push back himself for fun, teach him how to walk forward, alternating legs

Staying in kneeling position (or going up and down) – use mirror/window and suction toys

Yoga ball exercises

Cruising

Crawling up and down stairs

Getting on and off his bike/car – he is trying now

Standing with new braces on a pillow

OT –

Peg board

Stacking blocks

Coins in piggy bank

Puzzle – pincer grasp (dad will do chunky puzzles)

Rings on and off tower – maybe trying to get them from the floor if sitting on bench or from standing

Feed little ball the insects, pincer grasp help

Slide, turn, push, flip – toy – then close the tops down again

Building with blocks, big legos

Compressions

**GI – massage stomach using techniques from paper to help him poop.

Finally, I'm not the only one...

http://www.scarymommy.com/lying-down-with-your-kids-until-they-fall-asleep-is-not-bad-habit/

This link will take you to Andre's and my exact thoughts. It's an article about why catering to your child's needs at night should be accepted and the many reasons why. After cuddling with Clara at night, we always talk about how bad we feel leaving her since she always wants us to stay. I hold Everett as long as I can knowing he's outgrowing me fast. I want to hang onto my babies for always and this article made me feel right about that. It's really hard to explain to your three year old that you have to get out of bed to go sleep with daddy...two adults get to sleep together but a little nugget has to be all alone?!?!? How does that make sense? She is her most real, her most vulnerable, her most genuine when we snuggle. She talks so much and is ultra focused on the conversation. She is the most inquisitive and it's the best quality time and conversation possible. So, we'll stay longer, all night if we must. I'll get up and rock my bubby whenever he needs me and let the guilt go, and just enjoy his snugly little body while it's still little.

Happy 42 Daddy!

Daddy started his bday by taking Clara to soccer to see her cousins play. Bubs and I played at home and then he got to nap at his normal time.

Aunt Tiffy having fun with the girls.

Clara loves these apps.

Birthday lunch. We went out to lunch with Andre's family, Selene was in town! 

More fun at Bahama Breeze with Aunt Tiffy

I don't know how this one snuck in, this was from Thanksgiving when we were at Wilsons. Mama was having a bit of fun! 

Some random pics

Clara had about three good goes on her scooter and is now pretty uninterested. She goes through phases with everything, but I thought this would have lasted a bit longer. Hopefully she'll be back at it soon. 

She and daddy were "at the beach"

I love their love for one another...

Daddy surprised this nugget with some skates. I give it three tries...

This one is just funny, it looks like she is in a horror movie.

Thrush is fun? 1/16/17

So, our happy go lucky little man got thrush. For those that are unaware, it's a rash that is caused by a fungus in the mouth. Of course I start explaining how much I keep all of his bottles and things so clean and hands too...the doctor said it's easy to get and made me feel a bit better. 

Anyway, these two birds had fun in the docs office and of course Clara convinced the doctor to give her a check-up too! 

I know there are too many pics but I couldn't ever pick one. Thankfully I had Monday off so we got right into the office and I didn't have to worry about being late for work. 

I love this one.

All cozy.

Who doesn't play their ipad with their shades on?

This poor guy not only has thrush but he has TWO huge chompers fighting their way through. He has been whiny, he's never whiny. Poor little man. A full week of thrush medicine being flushed through his mouth 4x a day and drops in his ears 2x a day. On the mend Bubs! Thankfully he still smiles like this more than he whines. 

Watching her every move! 

New Tubes 1-12-17

This little bubby makes life so pleasurable, even on surgery days. He was so hungry and so tired since we had to be there at 5:30 am. This is his face when he is tired and hungry at 5:30. Everett, I love you so much, I'm so lucky to call you mine. 

The nurse said, "Oh, he's so sweet and happy and I have to upset him with all this..." Nope, no upsetting this little hungry, tired pumpkin. She then went to get another nurse to meet Everett. That nurse got another nurse and so on until everyone working that morning, nurse or not, came to see this cute little face. People fall in love with him instantly. This smile and giggle are so infectious. 

Okay mama, nufs enough with the photo shoot. 

Just kidding. 

The medicine that was supposed to make him sleepy made him antsy. Someone is just like his mama. He was still happy, just squirmy. Then he was taken away, thankfully he didn't cry or I would have had to run after him and stolen him back. 

It was a quick procedure. It went very smooth. These tubes should last 18-24 months. He'll very likely need more, for some time so we can just get used to this. :( We go for a checkup on his ears/tubes at ENT next week and then his hearing test follows at All Children's Rehab where we live. Let's keep our fingers crossed all is well and working in there. He's been a bit fussy lately, I hope it's the teeth I think are coming in, or the thrush he is just getting rid of. This poor little man never gets a break. I love you Bubs, you make me so proud and happy! 

"His was a hungy boy" I can hear Grammy Lang saying if she saw this.