It's been a while since I've posted...so I'll give each little guy his own post and bring everyone up to speed on the latest and greatest!
After missing his first day of school due to a cold, Alex settled in a week later into the new routine. A new school, a new teacher, some new/some old classmates, new routines...for a little guy who isn't so fond of 'new', he settled in after only a few days (and some tears). He originally said that he didn't like his teacher, he didn't like his school, he didn't like his friends, he didn't like Tanner in his class, etc. Now, he's back to being his happy little self and loves it all. Well, almost all. He doesn't like Tanner in his class. They were separated last year, and put together again this year. It's funny how Alex is such a different, very chatty, little guy when Tanner isn't there dominating the conversation...and even funnier that he can now tell us that he wants Tanner in a different class. I can't say I'm surprised ;)
I sought out an occupational therapy eval for Alex beginning in June, with the intention that therapy (if needed) would go through summer. After 2 months of appealing through insurance, the eval and subsequent therapy has been approved. Hooray! The eval uncovered, as I suspected, significant upper body weakness and fine motor concerns. It amazes me how therapists (any of them...physical, speech, psychiatric, etc) can pinpoint areas of strength and areas of concern so methodically. What I knew as a mom about Alex was that he wasn't holding crayons, scissors, forks, zippers, etc well. He couldn't open his locker at school. Random things that most people wouldn't notice. His gross motor skills and constant activity level sort of overshadowed these other concerns at first glance.
Well, it was that wierd sense of relief you get as a mom leaving a doctors office. No one wants to be the overprotective hypochondriac type mom. So, you take your kid to the doctor concerned that he has an ear infection, and in a sick way you are somewhat relieved when the doctor confirms he has an ear infection. You take a kid to the doctor thinking he might need stitches...and are relieved to know that Dr. Mom diagnosed correctly when the resounding 'Yes' comes back from the doctor/nurse who see the little guy. I remember leaving the neurologists office when the boys were diagnosed with autism and having an odd sense of relief. Mystery solved...it's not all in my head. Ok...so now I've gone on and on about this...I'm the only mom in the world that has such a sick sense of relief...and I've documented it for posterity to look back on and frown. Nice Amy.
Anyhow, Alex has been referred for OT services twice weekly at Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital at least through Xmas. The clinicians consider the weakness to be secondary to prematurity which is the stance taken to win the insurance fight. They did a lot of tests...most of which Alex thought were fun (much better than speech evaluations...more active). He had to squeeze some sort of hand calipers which measured his strength. A child his age should squeeze/exert 22-28 lbs of pressure. Alex can squeeze 6 lbs in one hand and 10 in the other hand. A child his age should be able to do a wheelbarrow walk across the length of a gym mat and back. Alex can do about 3 'steps' with his arms and then crumples. He should be able to roll a marble from his palm to his fingertip using only one hand. He can not.
So, we've got a new set of 'homework'. Luckily, Alex likes his OT homework. He loves Mary Free Bed - we've gone there for a few years for speech so he's very comfortable there which is nice. We just tell him he's going to speech...does it really matter what they are working on? Same parking ramp, same elevator, same check-in desk, same treatment area...just a different therapist.
As for life outside of school and such, Mommy's little AJ is adorable as always. 'Beautiful' is the adjective of the week. "Oh mommy, deese stwawbehwies are beautiful" "Mommy, wook at my beautiful hair!". Swimming is the favorite activity...which we're managing to do about 3 times per week. Little fish...quite the swimmer. Reminds me of my brother as a kid...I can hardly keep him above water. Favorite song - 'Free Fallin'...which is stinkin' cute when he belts it out in concert with the iPod. Favorite food - pop - does that count as a food? Favorite might be a bit of an understatement...it's a bit of an obsession...if he see someone drinking one he has to run up close enough to see what kind. "Coca Cowa" elicits the most excited response. Good news is that most obsessions are fleeting...like the fire alarms which are a thing of the distant (though not quite forgotten by mom) past. Favorite book - any that he can read. Favorite game - Scrabble Jr. Favorite parent - Mommy's boy this month. Favorite show - Imagination Movers. Favorite pasttime - blanket fights with Tanner and playing with balloons.
Consider yourself updated on the life of my little Alex Jett!
