Jackson: A Difference a Year Makes

My lack of blogging has been pitiful.  I get really mad at myself because one of the main reasons I blog is to preserve special moments of Jackson.  I want to be able to look back years from now and remember his sweetness.  Pregnancy hormones don't help, but lately I have just wanted to freeze time, so I can really remember all the things he says and does.

 

 

My case in point-  the above picture I posted on IG and FB a few days ago.  Look at the difference a year makes.  For Jackson, a year has made a world of difference. 

 

This time last year we weren't certain about anything with him developmentally.  He didn't start walking until almost 19 months (Sept. 2013).  He started receiving ECI services at that time for speech therapy.  Then, in October, we were able to get him into Occupational therapy through Cooks Children's.  In December, he started receiving additional cognitive service along with physical therapy because he was still so behind.  To say we were worried would be an understatement.  He wasn't making the progress as quickly as other kids. 

In April, his ECI speech therapist, threw out the term, speech apraxia.  Try googling that.  It will freak you out!!!  Our minds were spinning.  While the neurologist we met with in March didn't seem concerned.  He called him precocious, and suggested maybe having his ears checked.  Sure enough after an evaluation in April by an ENT tubes were scheduled for May 30.  Along with "apraxia" scare, we started looking into getting him more speech therapy, which led us to Monkey Mouths in Fort Worth.  After getting his tubes, in June, he met with Ms. Kim, his new speech therapist, at Monkey Mouths.  Her evaluation was that he didn't have apraxia but was very, very behind.  His weekly 30 minute sessions with her proved to be amazing and for the first time we started seeing drastic speech improvement. 

At the same time, my parents suggested we get J into a good preschool in the fall.  It had already been encouraged through ECI, but I hadn't been ready.  So we ended up touring Children's University and fell in love with it.  More than a Mother's Day Out, they have real curriculum they follow.  That is what we felt J really needed.  Not only social interaction but in-depth curriculum, not the fluffy stuff.

 

In August, ECI reevaluated him for his one year.  He was exited because he no longer qualified.  Let me say again.  What a difference a year makes.  August 2013 I cried as the five evaluators told me J was so behind and needed speech, physical, and occupational therapy.  One year later I cried because they were telling me he was doing so much better and their services were no longer needed!!! 

 

Over the past 5 months, J has blossomed!!!  Monkey Mouths and Children's University has done so much for J.  He talks nonstop!!!  He uses way more than 2 and 3 words together.  He speaks in sentences.  It's truly amazing!!!

 

Now, don't get me wrong he's not perfect.  In the last several months, with speech development he has definitely hit the twos.  We got a little delay from that, but it has hit.  We have some major tantrums!!!

 

I know every parent thinks there kid is the smartest, so I will get in line with the rest of parents.  Because J is so smart, he is only 2 and he know all of his letters and the phonetical sounds they make.  I love that when he picks up the letter F.  He not only calls it my name, but he follows it up with the sound it makes.  He can count from 1 to 10.  He LOVES numbers.  He is obsessed with digital clocks.  He is constantly wanting to know the time.  He says, "What time is?" (leaving off the it)  He can randomly read off that it is 8:49.  And not only say 8 4 and 9, but say 8 49.  How many two year olds know that? 

 

It is really phenomenal when you know where he has come from. 

 

J's Likes at 2 almost 3:

 

• Food- J is super picky!!!  But some of his likes as of now- Oatmeal, waffles, rice and beans, chips and salsa, pbj, veggie patties, grapes, apple, mandarin oranges, banana, chicken nuggets, French fries, pizza (sometimes).  Really any on this list is hit or miss.  One day he might like it.  The next day he doesn't.  To say meal time is trying at times would be an understatement!!!
• Places to Eat- Taco Bueno (aka Dauby); Wendy's; Chickfila; most Mexican food restaurants (for the chips, salsa, rice and beans); McDonald's for pancakes and ice cream 
• Letters and numbers- he can't get enough of them.  Digital clocks; numbers in the song book at church; magnetic letters on the fridge; foam letters and numbers in the bath tub (His favorite number is 9 and his favorite letter is M.)
• Technology- He loves the iPhone, particularly mine.  He is always asking when he will get to see it and play with it.  Sometimes it's exhausting.  We have meltdowns over it, too.  He loves RaRa's iPad and Uncle Tommy's iPod. 
• Television- It started with Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.  Then, we went through a Chuggington phase.  Now, it's Bob the Builder.  He enjoyed the original Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer this Christmas, too.
• Sleeping- He still sleeps really well.  Usually 11 to 12 hours every night and a one to two hour nap every afternoon.  We have skipped a nap here and there and he has done okay.  Mommy still loves the naps.
• This Christmas J has really gotten into Santa Claus.  He says, "HO HO HO!!!"  His four favorite Christmas songs are Jingle Bells, Santa Clause is Coming to Town, We Wish You a Merry Christmas, and Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer.  We sing them ALL the time to him!!!

 

I know I am forgetting some other stuff he says and does, but these are the highlights.  He really is the sweetest kid.  I think he is going to be very empathetic.  If he finds out if someone is sick, he keeps asking, "Daddy feel better?"  Aaron had the flu 3 weeks ago and he still asks him if he feels better.  We've had a lot of sickness in our family, so he's constantly asking if "________ feel better?"

 

If this year was a major growth year for J, I can't wait to see what is in store for the next. 

 

2015-  Jackson is ready for you!!!!