Speech Update

Yesterday I had a meeting with Ty's preschool to see if he qualified for speech services. In September when he was assessed, he qualified for special education services for significant delays in gross motor skills and adaptability (self help). He did not qualify in language, but we needed to wait until palate repair to assess speech.

In the last few weeks, new sounds are coming rapidly. Granted, they aren't always clear and consistent, but they are there, and he has the ability to make them. For example, today he went to the refrigerator and said, "ooose peeeesh" which is "Juice Please". Three weeks ago that would have been, "ooo eee" He can also string a few words together "you ay dow" for "You lay down!" and the infamous and most clear, "Mama, Bus!" He is obsessed with buses and loves to show me his buses. Sometimes "s" comes out more of a "sh" sound...hard to explain, but I think you get it.

So at 2yrs 8 months, he can make all the sounds a two year old should make, except w. He is trying to string words together, and he understands very well. He has about 30 signs as well. All that to say, he does not qualify for special services for speech at this time through the school district. I came out of that meeting just floored. This is not to say that he is not behind or "caught up". It just means that for now, he does not qualify as being significantly developmentally delayed in speech.

Of all the areas for qualifying for special services, I always assumed he'd qualify for speech. And at some point in time he may qualify, but for now, he's making remarkable progress for only being in the country 6 months and learning a second language, as well as undergoing palate surgery. He is such a little sponge--he soaks up everything around him. We realized this the moment we met him.

I have decided to stop private speech therapy sessions until his regular therapist returns from maternity leave. I have personal reasons for this, and if you really want to know, send me an email, but I think for now, the pros for stopping outweigh the cons. When his regular therapist returns, we'll be back in full swing, which will be in May. In the meantime, because the speech therapist at his preschool works in the classroom, Ty will still get the language/speech lessons as well.

On March 22nd we will return to Childrens for cleft team appointments in audiology, speech, surgeon, and ENT. That will be 3 months post surgery. In May the school district re-evaluate Tyson in all areas to see if he will continue to qualify for special education services for birth to 3 since he will be 3 in June. I am not worried about adaptive skills--he is doing just fine. Gross motor I am still concerned. While he has made enormous progress, he is still very behind the gross motor milestones. But I am hoping being outside more as the weather gets better will also help in this area. And again I must remember, he didn't walk on his own until somewhere between 18 and 22 months of age.

So once again...I try to plan for the future, and God says, "Hold on Jolene...you aren't in control." I want to fix it all now and have a long term plan, but I have to realize that our journey will have peaks and valleys. I guess I just prepared myself that his speech would always be delayed significantly. He is still behind, but not behind enough for services through the school. One one hand I should be happy, and I am. On the otherhand, it's sad that he's still behind but not enough to get extra help. But like I said, we'll let his palate continue to gain strength and get the private speech back going in May. It's really only 2 months off, and we are working at home like crazy!

Maybe I just need to give it time. Not maybe...I do need to give him time and go with the flow. Easier said than done with my personality, but I think I'm learning a good life lesson here.

Random Pictures

Just a few random photos. I have a meeting tomorrow to discuss Tyson's speech evaluation. I'll keep ya posted!

How Tyson makes Cup-of-Noodles

I had no idea what exactly he was doing! I got a good laugh this morning.

How Tyson makes Cup-of Noodles

Step 1: Find your favorite red cups.

Step 2: Find a spool of dental floss. Pull all the dental floss off the spool. (Notice the empty floss container?)


Step 3: Put the dental floss in the cup. Go show mom how proud you are, and see mom's very puzzled look on her face.



Step 4: Go to the drawer and get yourself a spoon. Stir the contents of the cup.


Step 5: Pretend to eat, show mom how proud you are, and watch mommy laugh!



EDIT: After I posted this, Tyson decided to feed Elmo! This kid never makes me stop laughing.

Six Months...Then and Now--MUST SEE!

Six months ago today, Tyson became officially ours--August 18, 2009. Here are pictures from that day. As you can see, he still wasn't eating on his own, and holding a cup was difficult.







And this is Tyson NOW, six months later!




Is that the same little boy? Yes it is!!! Wow...I just have no words to describe how these pictures make me feel. We love you little man!

The consonants are coming!

Tyson's "b" and "p" sounds are increasing rapidly.

Today he brought me a pack of M&Ms that grandma gave him, and he said, "Ma Ma open". And the "p" sound was there!!! That is the first time he has truly used words that I understood to request something.

Then there's potty training, which will have to be another post. Tonight I said, "Tyson, do you want to go potty?" And quickly and crisply he said, "Nope!" Again, with a "p" sound. He also says "oop" for "oops".

He is also saying "oby" for our dog "Koby". We praise him up and down for using his words.

Other consonants are lagging or coming very faintly. But this week was such a huge increase in using "b" and "p" purposefully, not just by accident. It's not 100%--far from it, but it's there, and I'm so proud of him!

Six month "GOTCHA" Anniversay!

On September 18, 2008, on a computer screen, we met Chang Li Chen through pictures.

First we saw this one and said, "Oh, he's a cutie!"


Then we saw this picture and said, "Wow! Look at his eyes!"


Next we saw this one. "Oh, he's in pink!"


But then we saw this picture, and in so many words we said, "HE IS OURS!"


It would be nine months later that we would finally see new pictures of Tyson. During that time we wondered, what does he look like? How is he growing? Is he loved? These pictures answered all of those questions.







And then it would be almost two months later that we would finally meet Li Chen, who would be our Tyson.

On August 17, 2009, exactly 6 months ago today, we met our little man.








More pictures and videos to come soon. How 6 months has gone by, I have no idea. But at the same time, it feels like he's always been with us. And I guess in some strange way, he probably always has.

Home sick today

This is one sickness you don't want to get! I've had a cold for awhile, but it was manageable. Friday in the early AM hours, my husband woke up vomiting and was very sick. I knew it was bad, but I had no idea how bad it was.

Saturday was supposed to be our "date" day to celebrate my birthday, which was yesterday (Sunday). He was feeling much better, but he had been in bed feverish and throwing up most of the day before. It was the first time we left both kids with my mom here at our house. We condensed our plans and just went and did some shopping and went out to eat.

And at about 2am on Sunday, guess who was next? Happy Birthday to me! I vomited violently for 12 hours. I was in bed all day, sleeping most of the time when my back didn't hurt so bad that I wasn't in tears.

Today I woke up feeling much better...relative to what I felt yesterday. I still feel slightly ill and my back, chest, and neck ache from what I went through yesterday, but I'm on the mend. I hope to be back to work tomorrow. In the meantime, I'm getting to hang out with Tyson all day since I was definitely absent yesterday.

I'm over it

Today we were talking about a family who is now having child #3, and they barely take care of child #1 and #2. Those stories used to make me very angry and bitter. "Why not me God?" I'd say. "

And now I know.

It was during this conversation that I realized, I'm so over it. I can be over it because of Tyson. This was what God wanted us to do. I don't have to ask God "Why" anymore, because now, I know.

This is not to say that this has been an easy road. In fact, next to the first 2-3 weeks home from China, this week has been the hardest. Ty is testing my boundaries, my patience, and anything else that can be tested. His favorite word is "NO!" because he can say it quickly, crisply, an it carries meaning and power. Hitting returned this week too. I come home so happy to see him, only to be frustrated beyond words after being in the door for 5 minutes. But, we've discussed things we can do differently, and we will try those new things out next week.

But through it all, God gave me a gift bigger than anything I ever wanted. I wanted a to be pregnant, but secretly, I wanted to adopt even more. I have since I was 19 years old. God granted me that of which I asked of him, but wow, it hurt. I didn't want it that way. I don't like to be told I can't do something. Yet there I was being told, "You can't get pregnant." Huh? Even Kacie says, "Mom, you always get what you want." That's true, I do. But even as I waited for Tyson, I was bitter and hurt that I couldn't get pregnant. Even though I was happy to be adopting, I was angry that others could do what I couldn't.

And now? Praise God that he put me on that road because I can now say, "I'm over it!". And I'm so glad!