First Steps Evaluation

First Steps came out and did their evaluation today. Little B did awesome playing with their toys and telling stories. They said he has a 10-15% delay in speech and communication so he'll qualify for services. However, they also said that he is soaring cognitively it's just a matter of getting words and gestures to go with it. They said he's ahead in every area otherwise. They affirmed what I'd already suspected: he is so far ahead physically that is why his verbal is delayed. They explained that only one area can develop at a time so they take turns and that just by watching him, he wants to run and explore so much that is why he is behind some verbally. The team comes out Monday to go over things with us and develop our goals and then we will pick our therapist. I will actually work on looking over the options prior to their arrival.

I will say my guess about what some people think was correct. I figured at least a few neighbors were beginning to question our work. Sure enough, the ladies today thought we were both students. I'm sure people think I've lost my job and we've went on welfare and sit on our bums all day :) They also commented on how Daddy B was one of the few dads involved - no surprise!

Aside from that, they suggested that we work on taking away the bottle and nuk (one at a time) to help improve his speech. They commented on his mouth being open and to tap his chin and tell him to close because he can't say vowels when his tongue is always thrust out. They also said he's behind in self soothing so we need to work on getting him to sleep on his own. Without saying the name, they said to let him "cry it out" and after a few nights he'd do fine. They mentioned when you have hands-on, attentive parents that know how to meet the child's needs because they are in tune, the child won't request his needs verbally or try to meet his own so to allow just a slight pause and then ask (if he wants a drink). So, we've already got some really hard things to work on. I can't decide if the sleep, nuk, or bottle will be hardest for all of us. I still feel that while I understand he's growing up, he's also a baby and I want him to know we love him and will meet his needs. Not sure how cry it out will go (that will def be hardest for me!). Alas, we won't start any of that today though because he has had a fever on and off and just wants cuddled. Poor guy has already woke four times in less than three hours. Get well Little B!