First speech therapy

Adam had his first speech therapy session on Tuesday.  I watched him through the 2 -way mirror and he was having a lot of fun and was cracking up his therapist Courtney.  They worked on L's this week.  Unfortunately we will be taking the next 2 weeks off because I had forgotten Adam has camp in the morning. We were given a bunch of homework to keep him busy.  I had brought a couple of pictures of Adam pre-tongue reduction just so she had an idea where he started.  It was nice to hear that she actually did some research and looked up BWS and hemi!  The 30 minutes flew by and I don't think Adam wanted to leave.  He was having too much fun playing games with Courtney.  I am soo glad he liked it!

This week was also another round of Sporties for Shorties.  Adam has kind of attached himself to a little guy named Caleb but not in the crazy obsessive way he did with Lucy last time.  There are 2 other boys in the class that can't keep their hands to themselves.  Sometimes they push Adam around saying he cut in line (which he didn't), tickle him, poke at him to annoy him, push him as he's running for the ball, and tackle him as he's sitting like the coach asked them to.  Adam has been doing so well listening and then they go and bug him!  At one point today I couldn't take it anymore.  I got up, walked through all the kids, and told the 2 to keep their hands to themselves.  It worked for a little while until one took a basketball and threw it at Adam's head.  He also threw it another kid's face.  There are 3 coaches and somehow they all missed it.  Annoying!

Speech update and other stuff

Adam starts speech therapy on Tuesday!! I hope he's as cooperative for it as he was for his evaluation. 

Adam has started playing the piano again for the past 2 days.  He remembers most of what he learned and went through all his books and Christmas songs.  I asked if he wanted to start taking lessons again but he said he didn't like Mr. Schmidt. I said he could get a different teacher but he still said no.  I asked if he wanted me to buy the next set of lesson books and he said yes but I don't think I can do that unless he's taking lessons. 

 

or http://youtu.be/3hp3Itk3MPk

Adam and Dave had their dentist appointments today.  Adam did SO well!  Last time I think he sat on Dave's lap the whole time and only got a few teeth polished.  Today he sat in the chair all by himself and let Pam check and polish every tooth!  No cavities!

 

 

 

Not the best angle. :)

Speech Evaluation

Today, Adam went to Columbus Speech and Hearing for a speech evaluation.  Some of the concerns I had were his articulation: "F" sounds for "TH", "W" for "L" and "R"s and his speech just being generally slushy.  Turns out most of those are age appropriate.  TH & R don't fully develop until about 7-8 years; L around 5.  But things that I saw as slushy (s, z, ch, j), he's actually lateralizing his tongue.  He kind of moves his tongue to the right. It actually makes sense in a way because it is really the right side of his tongue.  Most of the left half of his tongue was removed in his tongue reduction surgery.  He also has some trouble because he doesn't really have a tip to his tongue and his tongue is soo thick.  So the summary was:
Voice/Fluency: Age appropriate
Expressive Language (talking): Age appropriate
Receptive Language (understanding): Age appropriate
Articulation (speech sound skills): Severe

Despite most being age appropriate, she wanted to keep it at severe so that we could get one of the therapists that had more specialization in oral-motor skills rather than just general articulation. I guess there is someone who has worked with cleft-lip kids and "other" issues (other I hope meaning large tongues) that she thought would be good for Adam.

I had checked "trouble maintaining eye contact" on one of the forms will filled out.  She said she noticed it too but that part is age, part is Adam just wants to look at everything.  He's an explorer.  He may also be sensory seeking and that they have these heavy pillows that the kids can put on their laps that helps kind of calm them during therapy.  They also use iPads during therapy so he'll like that!

We are on a waiting list and someone should call us within 2 weeks to schedule individual therapy once a week for 30 min.

After we got home, I contacted Westerville schools to see if they offer Speech Therapy for preschoolers.  The woman that answered said that they do but not in the summer and that the person who knew more was out until July 18th.  I left a message for her to give me a call back when she gets back.  Maybe we can get started this summer at Columbus Speech and Hearing and continue with Westerville when school starts.  I guess it also depends on their experience as well.

Last days

Adam had a couple "lasts" this week.  Wednesday was his last Sporties for Shorties class.  The kids did some running around, a little obstacle course, and then they got a certificate.  Don't they all look thrilled to have certificates?

 

 

 Thursday was the last day of preschool!  That year went by quick!  The kids sang us some songs which was adorable.  It was funny to see how some of the kids knew every word and motion and then there were some that just stood there.  Adam was kind of in between but they all LOVE a song called "Tooty-Ta".  Here's a picture of them doing the "thumbs up"part.

Here's Adam getting his Certificate of Completion.

This was something they did before we parents got there.  These were hanging on the wall outside the door before we came in and we all got a great laugh!

 

Some pictures to compare to the first day of school:

Last Day of School

Last Day of School

Last Day of School

Happy boy in an Angry Birds shirt from Gramma

Little meltdowns

Today was the first time this year that I have been pulled aside by the teachers for them to talk to me.  It happened several times last year so I always get nervous that Adam has punched or tried to strangle someone. Apparently Adam had 3 mini meltdowns at school today. He gets upset about something (I think one of them today was over a toy that someone wasn't sharing...I don't remember the rest) and just throws himself on the ground crying and then it's over pretty quickly.  They asked if he's been doing this at home and the best way to calm him down.  He has been and we tell him to take deep breathes and talk.  His problem is that he doesn't like to talk about stuff.  I told him in his Sports class to ask someone to move instead of crying that someone is standing where he wants to be.  Guess what?  The following week he did, and everyone was happy! But I guess he forgets that it applies anywhere/anytime...to just ask! 

He threw a fit as we were leaving school because as I was looking through his book bag, I found a little note/picture to him from a girl named Ella.  (It was a heart with an arrow through it.  I think she likes him.)  He said he didn't want it and threw himself on the floor crying. What the...?  The only notes he wants are invitations to parties,  letters from Gramma & Pop-pop, and from Santa.  I tried to explain how nice it is to get letters from anyone, especially friends and he said he doesn't want her as a friend.  His friends are the 3 boys in class and the girls Abby and Aizza.  He said that at the end of the school day as the kids get picked up, he says "Goodbye (insert each of the 5 friends names)!  I love you!"  but not to Ella or Farrah (or the other girls names he can never remember).  Dave suggested saying something like "See you next time!" to everyone but I don't think Adam was into it. 

Anyway...I'm trying to pay attention to what he eats (or doesn't) to see if there may be food dye issues or hypoglycemic type issues that lead to his meltdowns or violent streaks...or if it's just part of being a 4 year old boy. 

Bedtime

What time do most kids go to bed these days?  Our neighbor-kid (who's maybe 7) said he goes to bed at 10.  I think that's pretty late! Every night when Dave puts Adam to bed (starting at 7:30), Ramona and I take a walk.  There tends to be quite a few kids out playing still.  Tonight, Ramona and I walked to an adjoining neighborhood and there was a little boy standing in his front yard eating some mozzerella string cheese.  He's 5 years old.  We had a funny little conversation:
Kid: What kind of dog is that?
Me: A boxer.
Kid: Oh, I think my mom likes those.  What are you doing?
Me: We're just taking a walk.
Kid: Are you bored or something?
Me: No. My son is going to bed and Ramona and I like to take a walk at night.
Kid:  Do you want to play with me?
Me: (Searching for a parent somewhere...) Umm, no we really need to get going.  Mona needs some water.
Kid: We have some water here.
Me: No thanks.
Kid: Where do you live? Down the street?
Me: No. We live in the neighborhood over there (pointing).
Kid:  Did you cut through that yard?
Me: No there's a path over there.
Kid: Do you know ____? They live next door.  I play with their kids __&___.
Me: Oh, that's nice to have kids your age to play with nearby....We really need to get going.
Kid: Do you want me to come with you?
(Seriously - where is this kid's parents??)
Me: No. It's our girl time.
Kid: OK.  I'll see you..sometime?
Me: Probably...except this weekend because I can't take my boy with me when his dad is out of town.
Kid:  Why not?
Me: He doesn't like to take long walks and it's his bedtime.
Kid:  Maybe if he rides in something.
Me.  I guess he could ride in his wagon but..
Kid: Yeah.  Give him something to eat and drink and he'll like it.
Me:  OK. Well...Goodbye!
Kid:  Enjoy the rest of your walk!

He was soo cute but it was sad. It was getting close to 8pm and I did not see parents anywhere.  I would never let Adam out front alone, talking to strangers, asking if he could go with them.  Maybe I should.  (kidding)

Another place for pictures and videos

I am trying out Shutterfly's "share site" to post pictures and videos.  http://theaikinsfamily.shutterfly.com/  It looks like I can do "journal entries" too so I might move over to there for updates as well.  We'll see... I added Easter and Slate Farm pictures to that site for now.