A Truman Update

At Truman's six month appointment I expressed some concern that he wasn't eating solids. So Dr. Miller referred us to First Steps and we waited the maximum 45 legals days (so he was then eight months) before he had an evaluation with the therapists.

Martha and Vickie checked him out, noted he had low muscle tone, gave us some exercises to do to get him sitting up on his own and getting out of sitting on his own (before his sister so kindly 'helped' him out of that position). But he wasn't far enough delayed to warrant therapy. They told us they'd be back to check him out in January, if I wanted that.

We went in for his nine month well-baby visit at the end of December and the NP, Noelle, was concerned at his weight. So was I. At six months he was in the 16 lbs range. And when I put him on the scale then he was still in the 16s. And then the nurse asked me to take off his [soggy] diaper. Ugh. My heart sunk. Noelle told me to get on First Steps and make sure they were coming back ASAP.

He had his second First Steps evaluation last Friday. About two minutes before Martha and Vickie got here he crawled on his hands and knees for the first time (yet to be replicated). Since their last visit he's learned to sit, get out off sitting and army crawl. And he's taken to eating crackers and toast, with occasional other foods thrown in (but usually just a few bites before he starts flinging around his left arm, signing all done like a maniac). But he still isn't drinking anything from a cup, straw or sippy, and I refuse to buy more sippy cups to test out without seeing results.

He's still behind in his gross motor skills, and they said all 10-12 month olds fail the measurement set for communication and interaction. So picking that up, he meets the requirement to be behind in two categories by 1.5 standard deviations (or behind in one category by 2 SD). Hooray! He qualifies for services. Now we wait the 10 days required by law before we meet with an intake coordinator and set a plan. Then we can get to work with a therapist!

Early intervention. Something I never wanted for my kids. Now I'm fighting for it with all I've got. This motherhood gig is funny.

We sure love our Truman. He's coming into his personality and he's funny. He's [mostly] patient with his big sister. His little giggle is infectious, and he's starting to learn that if he does something once and people laugh, he should do it again. They'll keep laughing. He's about the most delicious baby around. Low muscle tone makes babies extra squishy and edible.