While we were dating my 2 youngest siblings thought the idea of a non-twin, shared birthday was unacceptable. For 4 years my baby siblings and I would bake a cake for Char the day BEFORE his actual birthday. Sadly, they outgrew this fun little tradition. But it was super adorable of them while it lasted.
Around 2:15 in the afternoon we get the kids loaded up and started to go down to Aunt E's house for dinner and cupcakes. About half way there, the heavens opened, and out came a deluge. It was raining fast, with big drops mixed with a little hail and quite a bit of lighting. The Interstate slowed down from 70 MPR to 35-ish MPR. We saw motorcyclist hunkered down underneath some overpasses. Plus the screaming from Anastasia and Rowan really helped the situation (not). What should have taken 35-45 minutes turned into over an hour drive.
Wait. Maybe I'm getting on a tangent here. Let's rewind and go back to earlier on Sunday afternoon.
We get to Aunt E's house at 3:15 and dinner was supposed to start at 3:30. Somehow, it worked out that just our family, Aunt E's family, Aunt S and her fiance were the only ones able to attend. One sister had work and the other one just adopted a new rescue puppy and didn't want to leave him alone after just adding him to their little family.
Uncle Z got out a box of toys with wheels on them, so Rowan was pretty content. He kept saying "Train" or "Car". Anastasia just follows Rowan around now and liked the cars as well. Char and I also did damage control with the babies because they wanted to explore Aunt E's house. Plus they both missed their afternoon naps. Meanwhile, Heidi Anne played happily with her cousins.
Around 4:30 we had dinner. (One thing to know about Aunt E is, she makes everything from scratch.) This dinner and the cupcakes were a labor of love from her. She made a good vegetarian chili, brown rice, a salad, and delicious cornbread. It was so sweet and moist you didn't need any butter added to it.
Around 6 the babies were getting cranky and it was close to bed time. We had yummy cupcakes and ice cream. I hate eating and leaving but the kids missed their afternoon nap and they're going down for the night around 7:00-7:30 pm.
Heidi Anne's had her first consultation for braces on Monday. You may have noticed a lack of her pictures lately and that's because she hates her smile right now. She has rather crooked teeth. We can't put braces on until a missing front tooth comes in. Once it comes down, she needs braces.
She'll need them for about a year, then get a retainer. She'll be reassessed after a year of using a retainer. We're just waiting on that 1 tooth.
She'll need them for about a year, then get a retainer. She'll be reassessed after a year of using a retainer. We're just waiting on that 1 tooth.
Anastasia had her 18 month check up on Tuesday. She weighs 20 pounds 2 ounces and in the 16th percentile (just 5 pounds less than Rowan). She's 30 inches long, which puts her in the 5th percentile. Anastasia started crying as soon as they took us to the back room. I guess she remembered 3 months ago when she got 4 shots at once. Today, she just had 1 shot.
We tried to do the 18 month assessment, which she failed. To adjust for her pre-maturity we did the 15 month assessment. She barely squeaked by on that one. They also had me fill out the autism assessment, which showed she may have autism. But it's hard to tell just yet due to her being 3 months premature. What we plan on doing is the evaluation again in 3 months to compensate for the age difference. Then go from there.
With Rowan we knew for sure at this age that he had autism and were able to begin intervention. Right now, Anastasia is developmentally delayed (even for a preemie). But not so delayed that she qualifies for Early Intervention. Apart from that she is pretty healthy overall.
Anastasia is really starting to walk more. Right now she has issues with different surfaces, so she won't show off her skills that often. When Anastasia walks, she puts her hands up high over her head, bouncing up and down with each step. She looks like an orangutan when walking.
Rowan had ABA on Wednesday, it was his first session in a week and he doesn't have another one until the 21st of August. I tried to take this opportunity to work on the laundry. I had folded towels and folded / put hangers on the babies' clothes. I left the room for a minute to put some towels away. I came back to find Anastasia had unfolded the laundry and taken the clothes off their hangers. At least she put some of the items back in the basket. She was so pleased with herself.
Rowan spoke a lot at ABA, he still says words randomly, often without a purpose. However, he talked so much they had a hard time writing down everything he said. On average he'll speak about a row's worth of words, this time he took up the whole page. Even more exciting, some of the words where used in proper context!! I love ABA.
Thursday we were supposed to go visit Aunt L and go to a cool splash pad near their house. Instead, I got a killer migraine, (nausea, light sensitivity, the whole 9 yards). So the fun plans got cancelled.
We're working on getting Heidi Anne some guitar lessons. Char taught her some finger strengthening exercises and a few cords for her to practice. As of day 2, she loves the guitar. I think it's good for her to learn an instrument and to have a hobby. I'm not big into pushing kids into activities they don't like, but I might be changing my mind when it comes to music lessons.
This evening Rowan was super talkative and interacting with us very well. I brought out my phone and on lark I told him, "Rowan, say cheese!" While he didn't look at me, he did say "Cheez!" In shock that he talked with me, I did it again and he said "Cheez!" Apparently, this game only works when the phone is out because as soon as I put the phone away, he wouldn't say "Cheez" for me. Once it was back out, he'd gladly say "Cheez". He can be such a ham sometimes.
When I get him ready for bed I ask "What does [insert animal] say?" Typically, I carry the conversation for both of us by answering my own questions after a bit of a pause. The pause teaches that I'm trying to communicate with him and that it's his turn to talk.
Anyways, Heidi Anne was asking Rowan "What does a sheep say?" To which he promptly responds "Qurack, Qurack."
Encouraged by this I ask "What does a sheep say?" He says, "Maaa, Maaa". Close enough for me and probably more accurate then baaa, baaa. Heidi asks "What does a dog say?" He looks down at the floor but still answers with "Roff, Roff." I was super impressed!! This is huge!
We tried a few other animals but he didn't answer. Like, when Heidi asked "What does a rabbit say?" (Nothing, it says nothing.) Anyways, we circled back to sheep, duck, and dog-getting a response each time. Until he covered his ears, which meant he was getting overwhelmed. I stopped playing the animal noise game and resumed our normal topics of conversation. For example; talking about our day, singing the brush our teeth song, telling him the game plan for tomorrow.
We tried to do the 18 month assessment, which she failed. To adjust for her pre-maturity we did the 15 month assessment. She barely squeaked by on that one. They also had me fill out the autism assessment, which showed she may have autism. But it's hard to tell just yet due to her being 3 months premature. What we plan on doing is the evaluation again in 3 months to compensate for the age difference. Then go from there.
With Rowan we knew for sure at this age that he had autism and were able to begin intervention. Right now, Anastasia is developmentally delayed (even for a preemie). But not so delayed that she qualifies for Early Intervention. Apart from that she is pretty healthy overall.
Anastasia is really starting to walk more. Right now she has issues with different surfaces, so she won't show off her skills that often. When Anastasia walks, she puts her hands up high over her head, bouncing up and down with each step. She looks like an orangutan when walking.
Rowan spoke a lot at ABA, he still says words randomly, often without a purpose. However, he talked so much they had a hard time writing down everything he said. On average he'll speak about a row's worth of words, this time he took up the whole page. Even more exciting, some of the words where used in proper context!! I love ABA.
Thursday we were supposed to go visit Aunt L and go to a cool splash pad near their house. Instead, I got a killer migraine, (nausea, light sensitivity, the whole 9 yards). So the fun plans got cancelled.
When I get him ready for bed I ask "What does [insert animal] say?" Typically, I carry the conversation for both of us by answering my own questions after a bit of a pause. The pause teaches that I'm trying to communicate with him and that it's his turn to talk.
Anyways, Heidi Anne was asking Rowan "What does a sheep say?" To which he promptly responds "Qurack, Qurack."
Encouraged by this I ask "What does a sheep say?" He says, "Maaa, Maaa". Close enough for me and probably more accurate then baaa, baaa. Heidi asks "What does a dog say?" He looks down at the floor but still answers with "Roff, Roff." I was super impressed!! This is huge!
We tried a few other animals but he didn't answer. Like, when Heidi asked "What does a rabbit say?" (Nothing, it says nothing.) Anyways, we circled back to sheep, duck, and dog-getting a response each time. Until he covered his ears, which meant he was getting overwhelmed. I stopped playing the animal noise game and resumed our normal topics of conversation. For example; talking about our day, singing the brush our teeth song, telling him the game plan for tomorrow.
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