I haven't blogged too much about my pregnancy, so I wanted to devote a post to Joel and how he and I are doing this summer.
I'm very excited about meeting him and having another newborn to cuddle. I wonder about his personality and if he'll look like his brother. I also wonder if he'll be a good sleeper like Micah, and if they'll have similar struggles (ie. speech) or if Joel will be totally different. I also have some anxiety about managing two. Micah is very into asserting his will lately (read: Terrible Twos); he really needs one person on him at all times.
How this pregnancy is different...
- No swelling...yet :-)
- Joel is extremely active, more so than Micah was
- Exhaustion
I went back to read my summer 2009 posts to find out if I felt as tired and worn out then as I do this summer. I didn't, but then again I spent all day behind a desk and not chasing a toddler who wants to be outside 24/7. When I pray at night with Micah, I say, "Thank you Lord for bringing me through another day." I can't even think about July and August.
- Hunger
Up until this week, I could have eaten full meals every couple of hours, preferably pizza or Cocoa Krispies. This week I feel like Joel is finally pushing on my stomach so I feel full (bloated) a lot quicker.
- Exercise
I was much more disciplined about talking walks when I was expecting Micah. At 30 weeks pregnant, I'm just now starting to do that with Joel. Strangely enough, I'm slated to gain the same amount of weight this time. I guess I'm exercising more than I realize chasing after Micah.
Jamie says we're done after two. I'm not so sure anymore. On one hand I know being done makes sense. I like things just so, and I get overwhelmed easily. I'm not sure I could manage more than two kids. On the other hand, I would love to have a daughter, and so I'm not ready to give up on that just yet. To be continued...:-)
Saturday, June 25, 2011
Micah's Speech Evaluation
Micah had a speech evaluation Friday with the Children's Developmental Services Agency at ECU. They came out to our house and evaluated him for about 90 minutes. Micah was very cooperative, and I felt like the evaluators got an accurate picture of his capabilities. His skills are age-appropriate or just slightly behind in every area except for speech, which is what I suspected. Although a definite diagnosis can't be made yet, the speech therapist who came thinks he has childhood apraxia of speech (CAS). This is a motor speech disorder, and the best way I know to describe it is that when Micah's brain sends a message to his mouth to form words, there's interference. Speech therapy was recommended, so we are in the process right now of selecting a provider.
I've had a whole range of emotions about his diagnosis, which I'm still learning about. On one hand, it was very affirming. I've always suspected that he had a speech problem, even when most people didn't notice it or felt like we should just wait to see what happens. Even the Ear, Nose and Throat specialist who put in Micah's tubes thought his speech delays were directly related to the fluid in his ears. To all the parents reading this, I would say trust your intuition. I'm also grateful that we got him evaluated early and that he'll begin therapy before he turns 2. His chances for progress are very good.
On the other hand, CAS is more than just your average speech delay. If we did nothing, Micah would never outgrow this and just one day begin speaking clearly. Although therapy is very effective - our evaluator said Micah's case was not severe and that she fully expects him to be a talker, start school on time, etc. - there are some kids who struggle with this throughout their life.
There are also moments when I get mad at God for allowing this. Didn't I pray so often for Micah's health while I was pregnant? I have visions of Micah starting school, and because he may not pronounce all his sounds exactly right at that point, being bullied. I just want to put him in a glass bubble and protect him from all of that.
So that's where we stand now. I have been so impressed with the ECU agency and everyone we have worked with so far. I am praying now that we choose the right therapist for him and that the therapy works.
I've had a whole range of emotions about his diagnosis, which I'm still learning about. On one hand, it was very affirming. I've always suspected that he had a speech problem, even when most people didn't notice it or felt like we should just wait to see what happens. Even the Ear, Nose and Throat specialist who put in Micah's tubes thought his speech delays were directly related to the fluid in his ears. To all the parents reading this, I would say trust your intuition. I'm also grateful that we got him evaluated early and that he'll begin therapy before he turns 2. His chances for progress are very good.
On the other hand, CAS is more than just your average speech delay. If we did nothing, Micah would never outgrow this and just one day begin speaking clearly. Although therapy is very effective - our evaluator said Micah's case was not severe and that she fully expects him to be a talker, start school on time, etc. - there are some kids who struggle with this throughout their life.
There are also moments when I get mad at God for allowing this. Didn't I pray so often for Micah's health while I was pregnant? I have visions of Micah starting school, and because he may not pronounce all his sounds exactly right at that point, being bullied. I just want to put him in a glass bubble and protect him from all of that.
So that's where we stand now. I have been so impressed with the ECU agency and everyone we have worked with so far. I am praying now that we choose the right therapist for him and that the therapy works.
Friday, June 17, 2011
Who's In Charge
Have you ever asked yourself, "Who's in charge in my house?" and grimaced at the answer? It's easy for me to look at other people's lives and make judgments about who runs their home. In far too many cases, I think it's the children. But I hadn't really thought of my own family that way until tonight. Let me start by saying that my child is an excellent car rider, a wonderful sleeper and he holds my heart in his hands, but he behaves terribly in restaurants. I guess he has far too much energy to sit in his high chair for 30 minutes, but as soon as he is done eating, he throws a tantrum. It is extremely frustrating, and yet I refuse to stop eating out because 1.) I enjoy it, 2.) I don't feel much like cooking these days and 3.) I'm rebellious like that.
Tonight we ate at Pizza Hut, and as usual, Micah started throwing a fit before our food had even arrived. Except this time, he burst into high pitched squeals. He knows we hate this. Jamie and I both looked at each other, panicked, thinking how can we shut him up? Do you want Dad to hold you? Do you want to take a walk? Why, yes mommy, that's exactly how I hoped you would react. Then it hit me: he is so playing us.
Restaurant discipline is a real struggle for me. At home time-out works well...and utilizing the DVD player at mealtime (I know, I know...)...but I feel my options are severely limited when we're out in public. First and foremost, I'm concerned that we don't disrupt another person's meal. So I do whatever it takes to make him quiet, even though I'm probably just reinforcing his behavior. And then I just get mad because I feel like other people's kids don't act like this. I know they do sometimes, but every time?
So tonight, Micah was definitely in charge. My best friend Stephanie said, "The only way to teach him how to behave in a restaurant is to keep taking him," but is there more I could/should do? If you have wisdom in this area, I'd love to hear your thoughts!
Tonight we ate at Pizza Hut, and as usual, Micah started throwing a fit before our food had even arrived. Except this time, he burst into high pitched squeals. He knows we hate this. Jamie and I both looked at each other, panicked, thinking how can we shut him up? Do you want Dad to hold you? Do you want to take a walk? Why, yes mommy, that's exactly how I hoped you would react. Then it hit me: he is so playing us.
Restaurant discipline is a real struggle for me. At home time-out works well...and utilizing the DVD player at mealtime (I know, I know...)...but I feel my options are severely limited when we're out in public. First and foremost, I'm concerned that we don't disrupt another person's meal. So I do whatever it takes to make him quiet, even though I'm probably just reinforcing his behavior. And then I just get mad because I feel like other people's kids don't act like this. I know they do sometimes, but every time?
So tonight, Micah was definitely in charge. My best friend Stephanie said, "The only way to teach him how to behave in a restaurant is to keep taking him," but is there more I could/should do? If you have wisdom in this area, I'd love to hear your thoughts!
Heavenly
We took our annual trip to Myrtle Beach with the Dicken family June 9-13. We had the best time yet...the boys were old enough to play together, and they both enjoyed the water so much. The weather was perfect, the ocean was calm, the food was delicious, Micah (mostly) behaved...we didn't want to leave.
This child is fearless...which is scary
He is obsessed with hoses/showers/running water. He was most entertained just standing here turning the water on and off.
My loves
The first bump photo I've taken this pregnancy...28 weeks
Playing in the tide pools, our favorite activity this trip
This child is fearless...which is scary
He is obsessed with hoses/showers/running water. He was most entertained just standing here turning the water on and off.
My loves
The first bump photo I've taken this pregnancy...28 weeks
Playing in the tide pools, our favorite activity this tripThursday, June 9, 2011
Summertime and the Livin' is BUSY!
I really need to blog more so I can remember my life as the weeks go by. We've spent a lot of time at the beach lately. Micah LOVES the ocean and playing in the sand. He eats like a man when we're there and sleeps well, although he did rise before 6 several days and demanded to go immediately to the ocean. When we told him that it wasn't time yet, he would bring us his sandals or our beach hats as if to say, "now we're all ready." So funny!
We did have a scare with him three weeks ago. Jamie and I were scoring a race in Cary when my mom called and said that Micah had a rash on his arm the size of a quarter. We decided that she should take him to urgent care when he woke from his nap, and when he did, two more welts had broken out on his face. We were thinking a spider bite, but the doctor at urgent care thought it was a bacterial infection called cellulitis. This can be serious if not treated, but we got him antibiotics and assumed all was well. Two of the welts disappeared almost immediately, but the third is still there. I took him to our pediatrician at home - we started doing online research (I don't advise this lol) - and were worried it could be something much more serious like Lyme disease. Our doctor said she didn't think it was cellulitis or Lyme disease. Instead she called it a granuloma. She described it more like an allergy. In three weeks it hasn't gotten worse but it also hasn't gone away. I'm considering taking him to a dermatologist for a third opinion.
While seeing the pediatrician, we also talked about Micah's speech. Since getting tubes, his speech has not improved. My heart is to be a non-irritating but still squeaky wheel, so I brought it up at this visit in hopes that we could now get him evaluated for speech therapy. Our doctor agreed it was time for that. She reassured me that he does not have a diagnosable condition (like autism, for example) - he's very social and understands/obeys commands too well - but we do want him to catch up with his peers on speech. I'm very excited that we're finally at this step as I can't wait to hear him talk instead of pointing and grunting. Even so, Jamie and I are constantly amused at how he is able to communicate without using many words. Pointing and the word "up" can get you far in life ;-)
Some of our summer plans include...
We did have a scare with him three weeks ago. Jamie and I were scoring a race in Cary when my mom called and said that Micah had a rash on his arm the size of a quarter. We decided that she should take him to urgent care when he woke from his nap, and when he did, two more welts had broken out on his face. We were thinking a spider bite, but the doctor at urgent care thought it was a bacterial infection called cellulitis. This can be serious if not treated, but we got him antibiotics and assumed all was well. Two of the welts disappeared almost immediately, but the third is still there. I took him to our pediatrician at home - we started doing online research (I don't advise this lol) - and were worried it could be something much more serious like Lyme disease. Our doctor said she didn't think it was cellulitis or Lyme disease. Instead she called it a granuloma. She described it more like an allergy. In three weeks it hasn't gotten worse but it also hasn't gone away. I'm considering taking him to a dermatologist for a third opinion.
While seeing the pediatrician, we also talked about Micah's speech. Since getting tubes, his speech has not improved. My heart is to be a non-irritating but still squeaky wheel, so I brought it up at this visit in hopes that we could now get him evaluated for speech therapy. Our doctor agreed it was time for that. She reassured me that he does not have a diagnosable condition (like autism, for example) - he's very social and understands/obeys commands too well - but we do want him to catch up with his peers on speech. I'm very excited that we're finally at this step as I can't wait to hear him talk instead of pointing and grunting. Even so, Jamie and I are constantly amused at how he is able to communicate without using many words. Pointing and the word "up" can get you far in life ;-)
Some of our summer plans include...
- Kindermusik camp in June
- Annual trip to Myrtle Beach with the Dicken Family
- Swimming lessons in August
- Baby brother in early September...ahhhhhhh!
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