Q&A

Sorry about the weekend hiatus. We had no internet service for part of the weekend. That makes blogging difficult. :P

Liam had an appointment with the pediatric opthamologist today. Our appointment was at 2:45 and we FINALLY saw the dr at 4:15. Yes you read that right. So of course I was by myself with the kids and it was extremely unpleasant for all parties, me, Liam and Beckett. Liam kept coming up to me and saying, "Ready to go home, mama, hold my hand," where he would try to drag me toward the door.

So the dr comes in and evaluates his eyes, which was an interesting process. His pupils were dilated and she used a number of lights, tools & lenses to look into his eyes, after which she announces that he needs glasses. He also has astigmatism in both eyes. She said that if we did put him in glasses now it would be very stressful for him (and us!) given his delays...so we should wait a year to help him mature, but no longer. Great. Something to look forward to I suppose. <--sarcasm here.

One bright spot--the dr offered him a sucker.

Dr. Fishman: Would you like a sucker?
Liam: Okay
Dr. Fishman: Red, yellow or purple? (she held them up)
Liam: Purple (pointing to the purple one)

He only took the purple one, which is a major accomplishment. He usually takes all of them from my hand at once!!!

Okay, so on to the weekend updates. We had several good exchanges of information. I am noticing that he is able to answer questions more regularly. There are times when he doesn't understand what you're asking...and when he doesn't understand, you get your question repeated back to you. Sometimes it's tough to find a way to rephrase.

Me: Want to help me with the laundry?
Liam: Help me with the laundry? (pronoun confusion too)
Me: Help me with clothes?
Liam: Okay (follows me to laundry room and helps pull laundry out of dryer)

On Saturday morning he sat at the table eating his pancakes (or comecakes as he calls them???). I was cleaning up dishes so I said...

Me: Liam, are you okay?
Liam: I'm all right, Mama.

Big deal here...he didn't repeat part of my phrase. He said "all right" instead of okay. :)))))

More questions...

Me: Liam, do you want some Life? (Life is cereal for those of you wondering)
Liam: I want Raisin Bran.
Me: We don't have any Raisin Bran. (I felt horrible about this)
Liam: Okay.

The kid loves Raisin Bran. He demands a raisin in every spoonful and will hunt them down in the bowl.

He actually asked me a question this weekend...BIG deal for Liam. On Sunday I had to work at the Kenesth Israel/Adath Jeshurun Health Fair for Birth Care Network. I was drying my hair, watching the clock and trying to keep Beckett entertained as he howled next to me. I'm sure I looked pretty stressed out...I turned the blow dryer off and heard Liam asking me...

"Mama, what's the matter?"

Obviously he saw the look of stress on my face and knew something was up. I was in a hurry, Beckett needed to eat, I had no time, he was tired & I knew Brad would be stuck with two unhappy kids. I was pretty happy that Liam could read the emotion in my face and know that things weren't right.

So on Sunday afternoon he took his Buzz Lightyear tent downstairs and climbed all over it. He discovered if he laid it down flat he could climb inside of it. This provided hours of amusement.

Liam: Come with me. Want to see Buzz Lightyear?
Me: Okay. (he takes my hand)
Liam: Sit down.

So we sat near the Buzz Lightyear on the tent and admired his eyes, teeth & mouth. I got up to walk away and heard, "Come see Buzz."

When you have a speech delayed child, it is so very difficult to say no to something when they begin to make requests. I spent more time than I wanted coming back and sitting on that tent...but if I want him to continue to ask me questions I need to give him incentive. You ask a question=you get a response. Now it won't be like that forever, I know...

Later we heard:

"I climbed in the tent." (his head was sticking out of the tent). "I'm stuck!"

Two more little stories that make me smile. Last night in the bathtub he broke the little basket that holds his toys.

Me: Liam, you broke my basket. (I held up the the two parts to show him).
Liam: Let's fix it!

And another...after picking at baby Beckett and spending time on the piano bench for time out.

Me: Liam, please do not bother Beckett.
Liam: Sit on the bench?

This morning after we had a talk about pushing, he said, "Don't push Beckett. You hear me?" That was kind of funny, to hear what you must sound like.

Good job this weekend, Liam...keep it up sweet boy.