I am very behind on Eli progress but there is a reason for that. Two weeks ago, we skipped therapy because I was off work at it was his school fall party and I am not able to go to most parties and field trips because they fall on days that I work. I enjoyed spending the day with Eli who was dressed up as Mickey Mouse. The following week I had a lunch to attend at work so Andrew took the day off to take Eli to therapy so I could go enjoy the lunch.
We divided the speech and OT up this time. He came in for speech at 10:00, went home and took a nap, and came back at 1:00 for OT. Andrew seemed to think that that worked well for him. I am going to talk to the therapist this week to figure out if that is the best route for everyone. Andrew was amazed at the way the OT was able to keep Eli's attention and focus on one object at a time. Surrounding objects that used to make him go crazy are seeming to fade to the background and we are able to stay on task a lot better. We still have some melt downs but over all lots of improvement. I took him to target yesterday to start shopping for Christmas ideas and look for items for his new big boy room and we were in there at least 45 mins. I bought him some popcorn and an ICEE and he sat in the cart the whole time and I hardly heard a peep out of him. He was so content. After we went to Target, we went to Walmart to pick up a few more things for his room. We were only there for 15 minutes but he was still very good. The last 5 minutes he started getting a little grumpy but what child wouldn’t after 2 grocery stores and getting close to nap time.
His speech is growing so much. He is coming up with words and sentences that blow me away. Some things are still very tough to understand but we are making a huge improvement. He talks NON-STOP! I love it most of the time. I also love the fact that I can joke with him about things and he seems to understand me and joke back. The play for his age is becoming much more age appropriate. Toys are being used for what they are made for. He is starting to play pretend and that makes my heart happy to watch his little imagination at work. This week he has decided he is a cat named Figaro. If I call him Eli he tells me that is not his name he is Figaro. He also loves to pretend that he is a super hero.
We are starting to plan for baby number 2 which means converting Eli's current room into a nursery and making our guest room into his new big boy room. I am having so much fun shopping and planning for it but not so much fun making room for everything in our house. We have very small closets in each bed room and no extra closets in the house so finding room for everything that is stored in the guest room is going to be a long progress. Andrew and I are trying to work on it at least 20 minutes a night until we finish the room.
That is about all that is going on these last few weeks. As far as my pregnancy goes, everything is going pretty well so far. Just lots of morning sickness that I pray will calm down in the next few weeks.
I am so thankful for the support I have from mine and Andrews family and friends with everything that goes on. I always know if I need something, advice, help with Eli, or just an encouraging word, I have someone to call. I have had days where my patients gets worn thin. I have to remind myself that he is 3 sometimes and not 20. I have days where I feel like I have completely blown it as a mom but those same days he still hugs me at night and gives me a kiss and says "I love you night night mommy". It reminds me of God's grace and no matter how much we think we blow it sometimes, God is still always there to tell us he loves us. I am thankful for the good days and the bad ones because the bad ones just make the good ones that much better!
-Britt
