(no subject)

[lls_mutant]

Ugh. This is just one of those days.

It's snowing outside, and hard. The roads look pretty clear for right now, but I think going anywhere is just out of the question, because I don't have to go anywhere. We have tons of food in the fridge, no one needs a doctor (please let it stay that way!), and we don't even have plans. So we're in for the day, and I am BORED. I'm also tired. The one thing about the meds I'm taking for PMDD- they knock me out pretty badly. I feel like I've taken NyQuil.

I've almost got this week's chapter of Not Where I Belong done, at least the rough. It's a long one this week, because when you hit the mutiny, you pretty much have to put it all in one chapter. And let's just say I'm really, really pissed now that they killed Cally, because I like to think this version actually should have happened. It's not a huge change at all, but it still makes me annoyed. I also really need to get started on my remix. I know EXACTLY what I'm doing, I just know it's going to be long and I need to get moving. Plus, I've got to do some reviews for MRFH. I wish I felt like writing.

Got a few books on Afghanistan from the library. I'm really looking forward to working on this project- it's starting to take a little more shape, and I figured out a good way for the book to start that's exciting and that leads nicely into the big plot. I'm also really excited because I THINK I have a title. (I do and I don't. I know the title is the name of the bar, which I THINK is Adamaey Rising. The "Rising" part is right- the "Adamaey" part is a possible translation of "Humanity" into Pashto.) But the point is, a title is good, because it usually means I know the big, overarching plot of my story. This makes me happy and hopefully means I've got a good grip on the project, even though it's in very early stages.

Trevor's still grabbing at his ear a bit. I can't call the doctor because he HAS improved, and he's still on the antibiotics. (The doctor put him on for three weeks this time, as well as a course of steroids.) If this doesn't work, we're going to tubes. Gah. Can we just get to the tubes already? I don't really mean that- I appreciate that my doctor doesn't want to jump into surgery and wants to see if we can resolve this with medicine. I think it's just because I've had so many rounds of tubes. I think we might call early intervention about his speech, too. His vocabulary is improving, but he's still not saying any consonants except for "r". (Or c in words like "car", "cookie", or "cupcake".) He does better if he's naming his letters, but speech is still really unclear. Worst that can happen-slash-best that can happen is they'll tell me he doesn't qualify because he's fine. But early intervention is FREE until he's 3, so if I can take advantage of my tax dollars at work, I will.

Amusingly, Toby has vision, hearing, and speech tests at preschool. They cost a little, and I'm half-wondering if I should even bother with the speech one. Aside from the occasional lapse, the kid is incredibly articulate. (Although it amuses me- and I find it totally adorable- that he never says "animal" right. It's always "aminal.") And this isn't just proud mama talking- the doctors and the therapists down at CHOP were constantly commenting about his speech. In theory, snow nonwithstanding, I have my parent-teacher conference with his teachers tomorrow- I'll ask them for their thoughts. Apparently, right now he's got half the class on a "sea slug" rampage. They are constantly playing "sea slugs."

Seriously. Sea slugs. With all the creatures he's fascinated with, they play sea slugs. Oh well. At least they aren't pretending to shoot each other.

I've been thinking a lot about CHOP this month, because it's now been a year since we were in eating boot camp. I seriously can't believe the difference. It was absolutely the best thing we could have done for him, and it just amazes me. Last year, he would eat muffins, waffles, a jelly sandwich, baby oatmeal, yogurt, and applesauce, and not much else. Tonight I'm making calzones because he asked me to. He eats pretty much any fruit except raspberries (which I discourage anyway- they're MINE, damn it! :) ), he eats carrots, broccoli, green beans, and tomatoes, he eats sandwiches, he eats pretty much any meat as long as I don't put sauce on it (but marinade is okay).... He doesn't like pasta much (except Kraft mac n cheese), and he doesn't like anything that a bite is made up of small pieces, like corn or peas or small pastas or rice. He loves pizza, which he wouldn't have touched last year. Not much a fan of potatoes (even french fries), but is perfectly happy to eat a fruit cup, apple slices, or one of his veggies that he likes. It just constantly amazes me, and I am so grateful. We don't do the structured mealtimes anymore, where he has to take five bites of five foods- I just put a plate in front of him and tell him to eat. Yeah, we have our battles, but we do with Trevor, too. It was a long, hard battle, but boy, am I glad we fought it.

I should do something today. Clean the house, make cookies with the kids, something. :P I just feel like curling up and taking a nap. Oh well.

Comments

[ivanolix.livejournal.com]

I'm really, really pissed now that they killed Cally, because I like to think this version actually should have happened

Not sure what you're changing exactly, but I think I can safely say SSWA!

They are constantly playing "sea slugs."

That is so adorable! I love kids' eccentricities.

[brennanspeaks.livejournal.com]

*sigh*
Can I have your snow? We barely got clipped by this storm and all our Snowmaggedon snow is finally melting. Bare ground is depressing . . .

Sorry to hear Trevor's ears still haven't cleared up. Hopefully the antibiotics will help. If his speech is delayed, the speech therapists will probably tell you it's just from not being able to hear quite as well because of the infections. My sister went through something very similar at his age and she turned out fine. When his ears clear up, words will probably follow. Early intervention might just help him catch up a little.

Congratulations on winning the mealtime battle with Toby! Sounds like he eats *way* better than I did at that age. Heck, he probably eats better than I do now.

[velvetmouse]

I'm so glad eating boot camp worked for Toby. I remember how hard it was on you, and I'm really glad to hear that it's worked. That list sounds like a normal little kid list of what they will/won't eat (my brother wouldn't touch potatos in any form until he was about 12 - go figure). That's one less battle you have to fight on a regular basis :)

[prophetkristy.livejournal.com]

Sea slugs are awesome! ;-)

I know pretty much absolutely nothing about kids and early human development, but if Trevor has lots of problems with his ears, could that be affecting his speech development?

Can you send the boys out in the backyard with lots of layers on and let them wear themselves out so everyone can take a long nap? ;-)

[blue-crow.livejournal.com]

What does playing sea slugs entail? That sounds like a sort of sedentary game.

[ignipes.livejournal.com]

It's so good to hear that Toby is doing well with food! (And it's super adorable that he loves fruits and vegetables so much. Good for him! *g*)

[lls-mutant.livejournal.com]

I think so. Can it be Friday yet so I can post this and talk about it? I'm dying here! :)

And isn't it funny? They've been playing "sea slugs" for months now at preschool. They build them out of bristle blocks, they wrap stuffed animals in scarves and carry them around and those are their sea slugs, they draw pictures of sea slugs... it's like this little private club. It's so weird, but cute.

[lls-mutant.livejournal.com]

Take it. Although it's at least not sticking here.

I'm figuring that the ears are having a LOT to do with the speech right now. (That and he has an older brother that NEVER. SHUTS. UP.) But since EI is free... why not, right?

Thanks! We actually now have parents envying how well our kid eats. It's a weird turnaround!

[lls-mutant.livejournal.com]

Thanks so much! Yeah, we're pretty much down to the normal eating battles. It's such a huge relief. I don't care if there are foods he hates- the only reason I'm never served something I hate is I do all the cooking ;) But there's a lot of foods you won't get me to touch too easily, so I can't fault him there. At least now he eats something from every food group.

[lls-mutant.livejournal.com]

It could definitely be affecting his speech. I think there's two big things:

1.) his ears, and
2.) his brother never shuts up. (I'm actually serious about that- getting a word in edgewise around here is a challenge.)

I worry a little about his mental ability, just because mental handicaps run in my husband's family, but I think I'm wrong there. He's picking out letters by two, so I think he's pretty bright. It's just the speech we're having a lot of trouble with.

I would!!! If it was just Toby, we'd be outside in a heart beat, because it's actually fairly warm for a snowy day today. But Trevor cries when he has to wear his boots and refuses to keep his mittens on. ::sigh::

[lls-mutant.livejournal.com]

It sounds it, but I think the most it bears any resemblance to the actual creature is that it has the same name. I know bristle blocks are involved- they build sea slugs out of blocks- and they wrap stuffed animals in scarves and carry them around calling them their sea slugs. And they draw pictures of sea slugs. I'm not sure what else goes with the sea slugs- I can't wait to talk to his teacher. (His teacher finally came up to me at the Valentine's Day party and said, "okay, what's with the sea slugs??? Are they real?)

Kids' games are hysterical at this age, though. There was one that he and a buddy made up that was called "fly like a skunk." I have no idea how they got the name, but the goal of the game was to spin in circles, arms extended, yelling "fly like a skunk!", fall on their butts, and laugh their asses off. It was really funny to watch. I'm trying to remember what Toby and Trevor call their current game that essentially has the same rules, but for some reason, it's slipping my mind. It's something weird like that, though.

Kids are strange.

[lls-mutant.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I'm SO relieved- he's doing so, so well!!!

(And getting HUGE!)

[blue-crow.livejournal.com]

...okay, that sounds ridiculously adorable and totally endearing.

I love it. Kids win at life.

[aome.livejournal.com]

MiniPlu had an unbelievably emo morning, not helped by the fact that the sisters were very squabbly, so things were pretty rough for us until lunchtime, but thankfully calmed down after that. It also helped that a neighbor returned a recent playdate by spontaneously inviting the girls over for two hours in the afternoon. And now they're outside, building a snow fort with Will. But I well remember long winters with kids too little to really do that sort of thing with. Hope you were able to just relax some, and not put too much pressure on yourself (although, lol, I've mentally thought of doing cookies with the kids for several snow dates/school inservices, and still haven't done it. :P).

I can do any Tues for the foreseeable future except March 9th. Want to try next week, on the 2nd? Or the 16th?

Edit: Oh, and congrats on a full year of normal eating!

[forest-rose.livejournal.com]

You might find that Trevor's speech improves when his ears are better - he could well be having some hearing problems that are affecting him. Hopefully things will resolve soon.
Early intervention also sounds good (is that speech therapy?) - generally, the earlier you catch a language/speech issue, the better the prognosis.
Your boys sound incredibly adorable *squishes them both* xxx