4 posts from June 2008

I have just had so many nice days with my family.  I feel so lucky.  Yes, I waste a lot of time worrying about how we are going to pay for things, but somehow God always gets us through.  And yes I am still wasting time and energy lamenting my career.  I may never get over it entirely.  But man it's nice to see my boy every day.  It's a huge relief to be able to take care of him.  I would have worried over him just not being there every day.  You know me.  Well today was gorgeous outside.  We had our exercise early at one of the parks near our house and took my sis and nephew, too.  Nephew took his basketball and I played with him for a while, then other some kids joined us and he played with them.  He's such a good kid.  He's got a good soul.  I love him and am proud of how he's growing up.  Meanwhile, my sis watched my boy and I got a break for a bit while my son wore himself out.  My little munchkin has a good heart, too.  He so much wants to be friends with every kid he meets.  I guess one of the little ones at the park today said they didn't know him and wouldn't play.  He was sad, but trying to buck up.  I wish I could smooth his way, but I know I can't always.  He does stick up for himself, sometimes.  We have to temper the "Be Nice" with  "It's ok to say 'no" for him because he's so eager to please other kids.  He's had his feelings hurt a few times by children  mocking his speech, too.  The real problem in that situation is children who are getting away with being mean to others.  While I won't tolerate it, I can't really stop it from happening.  I can get him help.  I'd like to lessen his frustration, also.  He's really wanting to feel in control of his life right now.  We've had a few meltdowns.  He had a rough month with the food allergies and all the tests.  And we are not done yet. 
So I want to get on top of the speech stuff.  Read a book today about Speech Therapy and took several good things from it: 

• You shouldn't "Wait and See"
  
• Speech problems are not caused by parents anticipating their kid's needs
• Even if public School services say your kid doesn't qualify for  their help, s/he may still need private Speech Therapy
• Pediatricians should refer you to a specialist and not make the determination
  
• Your child is not too young to be evaluated
  

It said several times not to put off evaluation, no matter what you were being told. 
Well we got the good news/bad news report from the Speech Eval.  She said he's smart.  Then she's like, "...every parent says they understand so much more than they do in the tests- but your kid is really smart.  You'll have to make sure he doesn't get bored.  You should think about putting him in Montesori."  She said he was (in the test) two years ahead.  She said a lot.  I don't need reassurance on his aptitude. I need him to be happy and healthy.  He will need speech therapy, and will not qualify through the school system.  So we will be paying for it.  And we'll pay for school too if he doesn't get what he needs there, later.  I'm not thinking that far ahead, now.  We have another year in our great preschool and I have to worry about Kindergarden next.  Smarts are good, but you need emotional skills to function well in the world.  As a parent, I have to make sure he is growing in both areas. 

Last week was a whirlwind.  We kept my nephew for a week while his parents went on vacation.  We decided to have a vacation at home.  We went to the Aquarium, then the Water Park, then the Amusement Park (twice), and to a  huge Video Game place, and both boys went to the library for the summer reading program.  We had so much fun keeping J.  I love him like my own.  Thanks for letting me borrow him, KC.  He's so grown up now.  It's hard to believe.  He's a good cousin too, and still plays with our Dear Son. 
Today DS went to a Birthday Party at a bowling alley for som friends.  He had such a blast.  We can't wait to see them again.  He was in a good mood this afternoon, so I pounced.  I buzzed his hair outside before dinner.  He was very good.  We only have problems when I try to squeeze in a trim.  Today he was in a good mood, I was relaxed (not rushed) and he had plenty of things to do while I cut his hair: bubbles, spray bottle and candy.  It looks good.  So why did I cut it when I like it just long enough to show the curl?  Well, his hair is baby fine, even though I let it grow a bit for sun protection.  When it's wet his skalp is unprotected, showing right through.  He needed sunscreen on his head.  And putting it in his hair was messy.  Should be easier now that his hair is only 1/2 to 3/4 of an inch.  And he probably won't need another cut for months.  We will have that awkward grow-out with the cowlick sticking straight up at the back of his head, but so what.  It's so smooth, now.  He's a handsome little sprite.
Finally, more RAST test results are in from the allergist.  The bad news is that milk is just as high as it was, and we have several low scores for other foods.  We need to talk to the allergist before he can eat eggs again, or any nuts.  If indeed he can eat eggs and nuts it will be after a food challenge for eggs and a scratch test for nuts.  I'm not sure we're going to do a scratch.  I was so hoping that the milk scores would have at least come down a bit.  But no.  Still the highest.  We still pray that some day the milk allergy will go away.  DS doesn't understand.  He can't stop talking about the Pizza place that has the playroom- he saw it on TV.  And he wats to go to McDonald's, because he sees the play areas when we drive by.  I'm so bummed. 
He still hasn't gotten help with his speech, either.  We are in line through the place our insurance covers.  She said it could be "months" until we get in.  The public school system won't even re-test him until fall.  I am following another lead, will call Monday.  I can't believe how hard it is to get this going.  I told myself we may be down this road again, so take note and keep cool.