Wow! It's so hard to believe that my little angel/bundle of joy/rock/everything that motivates me is already 20 months old. Four more months and he will be 2 years old. Where does the time go? I gave birth to him 20 months ago but it seems like yesterday. He has come so far and I am so very proud of him. So here is a little update on how he is doing and what his days and weeks are like.
I will start with all therapies and briefly describe them. So Noah started Speech with Early Intervention at 3 months old. The only reason he started speech was because he had some swallowing issues, this was because of his low tone. Which is way better now. He gets speech from Early Intervention every other week and it's always been like that, it will never change. I don't care how good they say he talks or signs. He also gets private speech therapy every other week. It use to be alternating weeks so he had speech every week but somewhere with our vacations and thanksgiving it's been all mixed up and ends up being on the same week. So as of now, he gets Speech Therapy twice every two weeks. I am hoping to have it end up on alternating weeks so he has it once every week rather than how it is now.
Physical Therapy is a big part of our daily and weekly schedule. It is the one thing besides, speech that we really work on. Noah started physical therapy around 4 months old with Early Intervention and private too. I have to add his private therapist is the best ever. She has made both our lives so much easier and I don't know how I would have gotten this far without her. She is truly amazing. Thanks Jeanine! Anyways, Early Intervention PT comes every other week. It feels as if he really doesn't learn or get much therapy when she comes though, because it's turns out to be her talking to me almost the whole time. Which is ok but she is here to do PT not socialize with me about things unrelated to therapy or Noah. Jeanine, Noah's private PT, see's him every single week. Which is amazing! If she could see him more it would be even more amazing.
Occupational therapy is at a whole other level. He does so great with this. He has received OT since he was about 5 months old with private therapy only. Early Intervention OT see's Noah once a month, which sucks and serves no purpose at all. It just makes me mad. His private OT, see's him every other week.
So his therapy update all together: PT is going really well. He is crawling on all 4's perfectly, like a typical kid. This is very unusual for a kid with ds. He pulls up to the standing position on almost all surfaces. The couch is the hardest place because he can't really grip it. He walks with assistance (holding both hands) very well. He may just be a little wobbly but still it's very well! He cruises along the furniture 1-3 steps by himself and then sits down but he will not do this unless you motivate him to do so. Noah's fine motor skills (OT) are very very good! He can pull pegs out from a peg board, he copies you to demonstrate using a crayon and making horizontal lines on paper, his pincher grasp is amazing, he can finger feed himself but only when you make him, he can hold his sippy cup but again only when you make him do it. He needs a lot of motivation for a lot of things but that's what I am here for :) Also speech, is going very very well! Noah mimicks almost every sound I say which is soooo great! I can't describe how I feel about it. I am so excited for him to be talking. He can say moo for cow, roar for lion, dada, he has started making "g" sounds and "k" sounds. He says and points up. We are also teaching him sign language. He can sign and say more, and all done. He also signs drink and eat. He knows one body part.
So he gets tons of therapy as you can see. I work with him at home as well. Some people feel as if I make him do to much therapy but it is good for him and me too. It gives me a break from having to work with him so much and he needs all he can get. I don't care how well he is doing. He is going to continue this therapy routine, if not more. This is a majority of our weeks and days including doctor's visits and him getting sick this is my life and I love it. I wouldn't trade it for the world. I can't see myself doing anything else.
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