Am I reading too much into this?

+I emailed Randy's teacher at the developmental pre school and asked for to write a summary of his present levels of performance and what he has accomplished this year and what he needs to be working on.  I am gathering data for his IEP meeting since he will be turning three in about six weeks.  His teacher forwarded the email to the PT, OT, SLT, and vision teacher so that they could give me feed back as well.  This is what the SLT wrote:

Here's a few s/l observations on Randy:


Verbal responses to questions are improving in accuracy but still very inconsistent; familiar questions are obviously easier.


Continues to have difficulty choosing an object requested when two choices given; strategies such as presenting each separately and letting him touch each before asking would be helpful


He is able to name some visually appropriate pictures however may perseverate on the name of one pic and use that word to name those following; ex. "happy"

He is able to spontaneously sing words of familiar songs and will sing and/or say words or phrases that are associated with an activity within his school routine in anticipation of the activity. (ex. sings "Open, shut them" when sits down for snack; says "other side" when handed chew tubing used for oral awareness))


He frequently echoes phrases he has heard, sometimes in a delayed manner.


His articulation appears to be within normal limits for his age; he's easy to understand most of the time.

This is also the same therapist that called me because she was concerned about the amount of echolalia that Randy was using.  I think the real reason it is bothering me is because I am worried about his speech..... No, I am worried about his language.  He says tons of words, but he does not "talk" to me.  He cannot tell me anything about his day.  He cannot tell me a story.  He cannot identify things.

Am I reading too much into this?

The eyes continue to improve

Boy are we glad! Randy saw the eye doctor Monday and got a great report.  Not only is he using both eyes, he is using them together!!!  We are reducing his patching from 2-2.5 hours Monday-Friday to 2-2.5 hours Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.  If he continues to use them together with this amount of patching, then we will try no patching.

I am so grateful for his current opthamologist.  Although he does not freely explain as much as I would like (he makes me ask sooooo many questions) and we disagree about vision therapy, I respect that he has always valued my sons quality of life.  I felt like his first opthamologist looks at his scans (brain), looked at his history, and wrote him off.  He kept saying "his eyes are fine" when it was pretty obvious that they were not.  His current opthamologist also cares how Randy appears to the world.  He wants to surgically align Randy's eyes before he reaches kindergarten.  So we will continue with his plan to patch to strengthen the vision, and surgery in the next year or so to align his eyes.

And I will pursue vision therapy, without his blessing.

Conversation: On the way to daycare

Me: Randy what are you going to do at daycare today?
Randy: I go daycare.
Me: Are you going to play with Michael, Payton, and Dakota?
Randy: I play Michael.... uh, Munoz
Me: Munoz is not at daycare.
Randy: Munoz at Daddy's house.

LOL.  He watches Yo Gabba Gabba in the basement with Daddy every evening.

Look Ma, no hands!

That is Randy on the swing in gymnastics.  It was the first time that the little ones have used it.  There were three kids in class that day.  The little girls in the glass seemed to like it a little, but Randy LOVED the swing.  He had this huge belly laugh and cried when he had to get off (she gave him a second turn).

Randy has been in gymnastics since August.  It has been a great addition to his therapies.  We are in the Mom n' Tots class; it starts at 15 months.  There is a 2/3 class and a 4/5 class.  We started in this class because he was not walking in August.  The first couple of classes consisted of me dragging him from station to station and putting him through all the paces.  His teacher and I talked about moving him up.  We both agree that maturity wise he is ready.  He is able to follow directions and take turns much better than his classmates; but he is also 6-12 months older than they are.  Physically though, he is still behind these much younger peers.  The coach and I plan to move him up when he turns 3.  She will be moving some of her older girls in the 2/3 class and thinks that he will do great.  There are two instructors in the class. I am so proud of him.

5:45 p.m.

Someone missed their nap today.

Belated 1st Shuntiversay!

How could I have forgotten?  It has been a year (and a few days) since Randy's last shunt revision.  I am soooo happy and moved with emotion.  I have mixed feelings about the fact that I forgot.  I am happy that we are living life and not worrying about his health, but I don't ever want to forget to the point that I take his good health for granted.  I want to always remain grateful.

One year ago-Post Surgery

Guess what's in his hand?

A chicken drummette!!!!!! I can't believe it.  He nibble on it.  Chewed the chicken and then spit it out. LOL.  It is certainly progress.