18m Well Baby and Pulmonology Appt!

Well today was Gray's follow-up appointment with the Pulmonologist Dr F... the amazing doctor that I just LOVE... well we had a late start... got stuck in traffic and almost missed our appointment... but we made it! Grayson did great... lungs sound clear... so we will continue with the current meds... but we added a nasal spray for at night to hopefully help with his post nasal drip and clear up the night time cough... but we will see... also we will be using a nasal wash at bath time... we will see how that goes tonight... I am fearful of doing it... but I hope it will help and work!!! SO the plan is to do all this and see her again in June... once spring hits we will see how he does... and at that appointment we will reassess his condition and hopefully wean him off the steroid during the summer! Normally kids with asthma have issues during the winter but during the summer clear up SO the plan will be to take him off meds in the summer and then restart once the winter comes back... but we will have to wait and see! But at least I am hopeful!

After that appointment we RUSHED back to this side of town for his 18 month pediatrician appointment! In the last week my mom commented a few times about how he looks bigger... I knew his 2t pants were fitting better... BUT didn't really see him getting bigger... I still see my little man! Well his 12m stats were 31 in and 23 lbs... he is now 33 3/4 in so almost 34 in and 26.5 lbs... so he grew almost 3 in and 3.5 lbs in 6 months... I know in the first year they grow a lot... but still he is getting HUGE!!! I can hardly believe how big he is really! Also he was impressed with everything about Gray... still dissappointed about his lack of speech but we will overcome that also!

SO this is what has been going on! Will up-date with pics and more later!

7..9...18...27...29...

Well first new tubes are in and working GREAT... he has NO side effects... he is doing awesome... only issue we had was the day of surgery he didn't like the anesthesia... and he was MR Grumpy pants... but after that... the next day he was back to normal!!! And last time Gray had LOTS of NASTY discharge... this time a little bloody discharge the next day... then NOTHING!!! Woohoo!!!

So now it is a wait and see on Feb 10th to see how his hearing is doing... lets hope better!!!

Well as I have said before we have been waiting for ECI to come an evaluate Gray... we started this process in December... and it has taken this long to get all the ducks in a row and working and have the speech pathologist come with the ECI person... and see if Gray qualifies... last time we met with them it seemed like he prob would not qualify... cause they have to be 6 months delayed... and they ECI person didn't seem to think that he was... SO I was nervous and excited and confused! Well as Grayson is now 18 months... he needed to be on the level in his language development of a 12 month old! Well today they did lots of little "tests" and asked lots of questions... and it was very interesting to see how he reacted and what he can do for others and it gave me LOTS of hope! No he didn't break out in full sentences... BUT he did make different sounds... and showed off his coloring skills and playing skills for the 2 women! Well as the eval was coming to an end the 2 women had decided that his main issue is speech... duh... but they feel it is more hearing... breathing related than an actual speech issue! Meaning... since he has the ear issues with some hearing issues it has delayed his verbal skills... and once prob after a year of clear ears is when we will see a true hearing improvement... my question is why can I ask him to do something.. YET the reason he has the speech delay is hearing... the SLP said that she feels that yes he can hear BUT he doesn't quiet get the language part of it.... I don't know... then with his breathing issues (asthma) the reasoning the SLP feels he doesn't really "link" babbles together is that he gets short of breath and thus he doesn't want to waste the breath to talk! SO after all this the way these women were talking it seemed like she felt that only after his hearing is better and we have his asthma better controlled then he will improve and that there was no need for ECI for him... I was a little upset... then she told me how he measured up on the tests...

the different areas they tested are to follow along with what age range he scored at!

for Gross/Fine Motor development - 29 months

for Social/Emotional development - 27 months

for Cognitive development - 18 months

for Receptive Language - 9 months

for Expressive Language - 7 months

So as I already knew he has awesome motor and social skills my active social butterfly... BUT he scored even less on his language than previously thought! :( A few things that the ECI people said... was they were SO impressed with what he could do... how advanced he was in other aspects of growth... they really think that the language will come! They feel that his receptive language is prob higher than 9 months but because he doesn't express himself using words... he scores low on the receptive scale! SO the plan... Ms. P (ECI lady) will be seeing Gray at KRK once a week doing play therapy using games and sounds to improve speech and once a month Gray will meet with the actual Speech Therapist for ST... then in 6 months (when he is 24 months) we will reevaluate him and see if he needs more or less... and if he is to continue we will start a new plan and start the talk of what the plan will be when he is 3!

I am SO excited to know... I really am not crazy or imagining the language delay... yes I have heard SO many times... boys talk later than girls... oh it is perfectly normal for him to still not talk... but today my issues were validated and confirmed... so I am happy that I was correct and that Gray will be getting the help he needs... BUT with that being said... I am VERY sad to know that he is delayed! I want Gray to have everything in life and want for nothing and I fear that I have done something to cause this delay! But so far it just seems like it is life for him! But at least we have a plan now!

Also the best part of today... is my homework for Grayson... how I can help my little man! I have been trying to do research on how to help him talk and I have listened to others advice but today I got VERY good advice that we have already started to use!

First... we were told to stop with trying to make him use words... to actually go back even further... and use syllables or sounds of letters or fun sounds and see if he can copy that... like ba ba ba ba... I know this may sound simple to most people but remember he is testing at the babbling stage... so we have to go back to this... yes we are still talking to him and I still tell him what we are doing and I talk to him and ask him questions... but we are also working on him trying to copy my sounds... next similar to the previous when we color... or slide or whatever... try to make a game of it and use syllables to describe what I'm doing... like a line drawn as I'm drawing I say "weeeee" and try to get him to copy the line along with the "wee" then lots of praise! Next instead of reading books to him (as Gray is not the fan of the whole story) we are going to read books that have themes... like a duck... and every page all we say is duck and point out the duck till Gray starts to point out the duck... then he will eventually start to say duck... at least that is the hope! Also with every day magazines like my Parents or Baby Talk magazine... use those for Gray and have him point out objects... so we are gonna try all these suggestions! Oh another one is since Gray LOVES outside... we are gonna start playing "Red light/Green Light"... we will start at one end of the yard... then I will say "Ready, Set, GO" and run till I say "Stop" eventually he will start to say "Go" and "stop" then all of it... at least that is the goal!

SO that is what is going on... 29... 27.. 18... 9... 7... the only valid number is the 18... which Gray's cognitive skills... so he understands things at the correct level... everything else he is WAY ahead or WAY behind!

I'm Getting better again...

See 2 posts in the same number of days... ha ha!

Well today we woke up feeling better... Gray was a little stir crazy... and so was I... SO since I am trying NOT to spend as much money... and Gray LOVES it outside... I decided to go to the park in my neighborhood... I went before back before Grayson was walking when he was 11 months... and I looked at the playground thinking it was really nice... but HUGE as in... too big for Gray to play on till he is like 10 years old... ha... well I thought it would be nice to take him and let him run around... play on the swings... and play with his race car on the sidewalk... well we got there and Gray ran to the playset... no second guessing... up the stairs... and down the slide like we had just left a few hours before... yet we had never been before... I don't know where he learned how to do all that he did... but he sure had fun... and here are a few pics from our trip... oh and the last time we went it was only for the swings... this time... I don't know if Gray loved them or hated them... he was laughing SO hard he was crying... or was he crying so hard he was laughing... needless to say... he ran all around... went up and down the stairs... and down the slides having a blast... the swings... we will have to wait for another day to see!

18 Months old...WOW!

WOW it has already been 18 months... how time flies... it seems like just last week we were coming home from the hospital! Heck it seems like I was just pregnant with him! But nope... I have a running... screaming... crazy... silly... dancing... kissing... loves to play... colors all the time... and overall... love of my life 18 month old toddler! This past week has been hard trying to continue to fight the insurance company for Grayson's speech therapy... finally figured out that there is not a single one in 30 miles... so they gave me another hospital... not the one that I requested that the doctor recommended cause they have a known excellent pediatric speech department... no they just recommended for me to go to this hospital... turns out they don't normally see kids... so back to next week having to call the doctor's office again and see if they will call the insurance company AGAIN and see if they will ok the waiver to go the the hospital they recommended to begin with a month ago... this is such a PAIN in the BUTT!!!! Then cause Grayson is getting new tubes this Wednesday I had to change his ECI appointment that I have already waited a month for... till next week... but God willing after their evaluation all this calling around will be for NOTHING cause he will qualify for the state program and thus I won't have to worry about outside speech therapy! I really am torn about weather I want him to qualify or not... it would be nice if he would cause then he will get therapy started through the state... and started in the program in case he needs continued therapy... and well I want this whole speech delay fixed! And yes I do know... it is normal for boys not to talk till after the age of 2... some not till 3... and if that was the only issue... well yes I would worry... BUT he did talk... he did say momma... he did say hi... he did say dog... now... all I get is the sign for "more" and he says "oh" for everything... yes I am trying my hardest to do what has been recommended... I really think that he is doing better in his new class at school (did I mention that he moved up to the next classroom... which is a bit of a shock... cause hello it is the 2 yr old classroom... and he just turned 18 months... and he still is not talking... BUT he is doing SO much better in there... except now he is back in the class with the kid that likes to bite... so we have been getting "boo-boo reports" weekly again... but he enjoys the class SO much! It is funny... it used to be that he would hang on me and scream and cry when I dropped him off and when I would come to get him from school if I didn't immediately pick him up and leave... oh it was the end of the world... now... I go to drop him off... and he runs to be with the other kids... then when I go to pick him up... he finishes cleaning up whatever toy they have out... and does his own "bye" to people... not quite sure how to explain it... he still really doesn't wave... he doesn't say bye... but he says bye to his friends... then he will leave... it is so refreshing... which is kinda funny cause this is the classroom that my niece HATED and decided that she did NOT like the daycare... but Grayson on the other hand LOVES this classroom... even with less teachers and more kids.... he is happy... and doing well... SO I guess I am not upset that he is moved up to the 2 year old class early cause I think it is a good move for him... it just makes me laugh a little...

So ok I got off track of what I was writing... the 18 month re-cap.... Grayson is...

• weighs 26.5 lbs
• 32" tall(my guess we have not been measured)
• wears 18m-2T pants and shirts
• signs more
• says "oh" and with a phone says "oh-o" also known to others as 'hello'
• still has asthma and takes a steroid inhaler and singular chewable pill
• is about to get a new set of ear tubes
• is spoiled rotten
• loves to dance
• finally will watch tv... yes bad for him but awesome for me... he loves "The Upside Down Show" and "Yo Gabba Gabba" and will tolerate "The Wonder Pets" doesn't like MOST other shows or cartoons...
• loves to "write" or "color" if he finds a pen he will hunt down paper lay on his belly and write... it is too cute
• love outside gets very upset when he is not allowed outside
• still loves his veggies... getting better with a variety of fruits... loves most of all HEB sauteed onions with peas in a garlic butter sauce... still not a meat eater
• is lactose intollerant... no not a medical diagnosis... but when we started cow's milk he had tummy issues unlike anything else... now that we do lactose free milk... no issues... funny thing is that he can have yogurt and cheese without issue... just not milk... I think it is cause yogurt and cheese is so processed...
• runs everywhere... and really doesn't like to be still
• goes up and flies down the stairs that boy can boogey down the steps!
• will shake his head "no" when asked if he wants something or to do something... even if he wants it
• understands mosts requests and will follow simple commands
• attempts to put on his own shoes (knows in order to go outside he needs shoes so if I say outside he finds his shoes to put on)
• uses a plate (sometimes) fork/spoon (all the time except at the end of the meal he just wants to finish so it is easier to use his hands) and a straw cup (ECI recommended as it could help with speech) he not only feeds himself table food but also apple sauce, yogurt and baby food that I still give if he isn't eating very well!

I'm sure that more is going on... and more developements... but I'm at a loss right now... I'm so tired and I'm already a day late for this... so I'm sure I will right more later!

Grayson you are the love and joy of my life... I know at times a loose my temper like a bad mommy and I leave and go to work for way too long... but you are the reason that I am here... and I love you more than ANYTHING else in the world... you make me SO happy and a love every rotten minute that you are with me... I love our screaming snuggle time... the soggy animal crackers you give me cause you put them in your mouth first then give them to me... I love the smile that you give me when you see me walk in the room! I LOVE YOU!

Mommy

Now on to pictures... these are from last month... I still need to get Christmas pictures... but yup I forget to borrow mom's camera... so maybe this week!

Enjoy!

Grayson and Fireman Santa... and he is not crying... yay!
Gray playing on the fire truck!
Maggie the firedog... Gray LOVED this dog... we spent the whole night not playing on the truck like the other 2 kids did... we kept going back to play with this sweet dog
My happy boy...
He thinks he is such a big kid!
I love this picture... Grayson holding hands with Uncle Brian...
Classic Santa picture...
Me and Gray at the Dickinson Lights... Bad pic of me... it was FREEZING... but once again very nice... Gray loved the lights...

Sugar cookie... we all got cookies to decorate... Gray enjoyed his

Gray and his cookie

Gray and one of the Lights...

All the kids with the BayBrooke Santa... not too bad of a pic...

Waiting in line for Santa to come back from "feeding the reindeer" he was tired!

Avery and Grayson at a craft show... she was being a doll while we waited for Noonie and her momma... I pulled out my camera cause Gray looked so cute... and she was like oh let me do this and this will be cute too... she was such a big help and so sweet with Grayson!

This photo is thanks to Missy Avery... she said... now I take the picture of you and Gray... and not too bad of a pic...

This was the day it snowed... it was snowing when I took this pic... but it was not quite cold enough to stick... but he did enjoy it... he hated the cold of it but liked to play with it!

Grayson in the bath tub... his favorite time... he will stay in there till he prunes... too bad we have to limit the baths cause the cold weather kills his skin and drys him out... and makes his eczema break out on his back!

Bad Mommy!!!

I know I keep saying that I will up-date more often... and its not like there is a lack of things to up-date about... SO much is really going on in our lives... thus why i have not had time to update!

Well Happy New Year... Merry Christmas... umm what else did we miss... I have no idea... so I will try to write in order of events... but it prob won't happen the way it should!

First as I have stated before I was worried about Grayson and his lack of talking... he has in the last month started to sign more again and says "oh" for everything... he gets his point across even if he doesn't talk... well I brought this point up to the pediatrician and he recommened we get him tested with the state (Early Childhood Intervention) and to see a Neurologist! Well we have started the ECI testing to see if he will qualify for that... and we saw the Neuro! At the appointment they did some testing in 4 categories.... Social(hold eye contact, smile) so he passed that... Gross Motor (standing, crawling, moving) so since he was running all around no probs there... Fine Motor (pincher grip, hold crayon) and since he is advanced and uses utensils to feed himself and hold a crayon correctly not in a fist he passed that... and last Speech (he should be saying 8-10 words be it sign or verbal, and pair up words -- ie hi momma) he is ranging about 5-6 months delay since he does sign/say 2 things... but he does not pair sounds when he babbles... does not say anything that he thinks he is talking but I just don't understand.... so he is having a pretty severe delay... at his age the Neuro normally wouldn't be concerned as he is still young... but since he used to say more (momma, dada, dog, milk, bye... I know there were more now I don't remember... short term memory) So... he is going to aggressive on his stance... we will be starting very aggressive speech therapy of twice a week for the next 6 months... we will be seeing the Neuro again in 3 months to see if he has had any progress BUT if he has not had any progress he will do more testing (MRI/CT) but for those he will have to be sedated and I would rather wait! Also, today we are going back to the ENT for another hearing test to verify that it is NOT a hearing issue!

Can I lie and say no I'm not worried it will all be ok... sure I can... but I really have NO idea... Do I want to find problems where there are none... not really I would rather have my happy go lucky baby without worries... but since as soon as I think all is good... it seems that we are thrown a curve ball... I think we will always have something... but we will see!!!

Christmas... it was good... Grayson got way too many toys... I have no idea where we will put everything... I need to be cleaning an organizing... but as always I am not!!!

New Years... lets hope that year goes better than last... I feel that this year will bring lots of change lets just hope that it is for the better!

I will add pictures later!