Talking Toddler...sorta

It's been a while, and for those who don't know me may have a lot of catching up to do in order to figure out what's been going on in the Hick's family the past year. But I really do hope to blog more often (and actually make the time to do so) and share all of the fun things around here. 

EJ has begun speech therapy, and just had his 3rd session this morning. He is now 27 months old and really doesn't have a vocabulary of more than 2-3 "words" which technically aren't even "real" words. He jabbers all. the. time.  And he has done so since before his 1st birthday, so we just kept thinking the words would eventually come. But they never did.

So after the holidays and really realizing how far behind he is after seeing him around other kids his age, we made the decision to go ahead and call the Early Intervention program in our area and have them come test him. As a Social Worker, I wonder why I didn't make this decision a looongg time ago, but I really try not to dwell on that thought much. Our pediatrician (whom I will not be going back to) told me at his 18 month check up that I didn't need to worry until he was 2 years old. And then when I brought up his lack of communicating well/ no words at his 2 year check-up, she told me that we should wait until he was 2 and 1/2 because he would very likely start saying words as soon as she made the referral for speech. So I really think I held on to the false hope that she gave me instead of trusting my own intuitions as HIS MOTHER. 

Early Intervention (EI) came out on January 22nd for EJ's developmental screening. They looked at every area of development, and he was on track or ahead of every area except speech/ communication and cognitive development. They told me then that they could see that his lack of being able to sit still and focus was probably the main reason he wasn't learning to talk. 

So speech began 3 weeks ago today, (on Feb 3rd) and I couldn't be more proud of my little fellow for all the progress he's made! He is learning to use sign language right now as means of communication, and he knows how to sign open, more, eat, drink, finished, on, and we're working on learning others. I'm amazed at how much his behavior has even improved since learning to communicate with us better. 

He used to bang on the table, walls, etc when trying to get us to get him "more" of something, but now he just stands there and does his sweet little sign, putting his fingers together and even sometimes going "mmmm". 

He progresses each week during his therapy, and it seems that as soon as the session is over, I can see light bulbs going off and he's doing something new on his own. This week, he imitated some of the sounds of words Ms. Maura (his therapist) made, and even did some of the signs on his own. Both of which are huge improvements, and one step closer to him learning to form words!

God has taught me soooo much throughout this journey. But I think the main thing I've realized is that I can do nothing on my own. I have to truly turn to Him in prayer about every single detail of my life, and my children's lives. Being a mother is such a great way to be humbled and molded into the image of Christ. I'm being taught that more and more every day. 

Now to go get the babies up from their naps and enjoy the chaos for the afternoon.