The Little Things

Frosting Face

We had a fabulous party for Connor’s 2^nd birthday.  There were family, friends, yummy food, dog decorations, cake and games!  Connor enjoyed the frosting on his cake this year.  He was quite the mess!  His OT was happy he had such a tactile experience!

Not a ton to report on the medical front, thankfully.  We are now followed by a great nutritionist through Early Intervention because we’re no longer seeing the nutritionist with the Feeding Team at CHOP.  She mostly monitors his weight and gives ideas about different foods and textures to try.  We’re also starting augmentative communication strategies.  A specialist was out and suggested really trying to teach “yes” and “no” both with words and head nodding.  She is also going to get him an iPad to work on fine motor and communication skills.  I think we’ll have a very jealous 8 year old on our hands soon!

I tried to get Connor into a developmental behavioral specialist to help figure out some ways to curb his tongue biting.  The wait list at CHOP is nine to twelve months long.  The next best place isn’t in-network for our insurance and so now I need to move to Plan C.  If you’re not sure what to do with your life, I suggest going into developmental pediatrics– there’s evidently a pretty big need.   I’m also trying to get him in for new hand splints and braces for his feet.  Hope to conquer that in the next two weeks.

First time in a restaurant highchair

Connor continues to make a lot of sounds, but really no new words.  He’s trying REALLY hard to say the “f” sound, so I think that will come soon.  He’s following more instructions like “pat the ___” and “hand ups, hand down”.  The 6,000 times we’ve all sung “If You’re Happy and You Know It” with him have also paid off.  He now claps (more like pats) his hands, kicks his feet and raises his hands up on the appropriate verses.  Carrie has also taught him to wave hi and bye.  He’s a bit more choosy with these, but he can do it!

Connor has graduated to two seemingly small, but VERY helpful stages for life out and about in the world.  With only some back support, he can now sit in a high chair at a restaurant and in a cart at the store.  So amazingly freeing to not have to drag his eating chair around and to not have to manage a stroller and a cart.

It’s been the little things this month – and for each and every one of those we give thanks!

Bonus pic of these cuties at the park this fall!