Today ends my second week of entering stay-at-home-momdom and I’ve got to say that it has been the best two weeks of my life.
The kids have been sleeping better and are generally happier overall. Xander is not forced to transition into a new environment twice a week and he has grown in leaps and bounds! He spends so much more of his time being engaged and not off in his own world, and he is talking more. He is not using any new words, but he is being more creative with the words he already knows. For example in Xander speak, a “cheese light” is a camera flash and “tickle Mama’s nose” means he is about to jam his finger into my ear knuckle deep.
Hey, progress is progress!
one of the most emotional things for me is that Xander actually played, face to face, with his early intervention counselor yesterday. She has been coming to our house weekly for 5 months so she is not a stranger by any means, but in true Xander style he has always been aloof. Until yesterday.
They played with bubbles and then balloons while Xander giggled gleefully and yelled “Again! Again!”. I nearly cried when they hugged and played by rocking back and forth on the floor.
Every day this kid amazes me, and I am so incredibly thankful for the help our family is receiving. Every single person who knows us is playing a role in our lives. My readers who support us, our family for their constant support and babysitting skills with Damien, and of course all of the professionals who are making sure that Xander gets the help he deserves.
All of our hard work is paying off. Thank you.
In other Beronilla family news this week, Vito “crazy eyes” Corleone has graduated from beginner obedience class! Yay!
Valentine’s Day was great. I was spoiled as always, and we had a lovely dinner as a family with my in-laws and Pat’s Tita and Lolo. I couldn’t have asked for a better day! But if Pat keeps giving me extravagant gifts people are going to start thinking I’m a good wife! Ha!
Next Thursday we have an appointment to view a preschool for Xander. We are looking at placement in a school that is made for children with severe developmental delays. This particular school is strongly geared towards kids with autism and so the staff are all very experienced with the wonderful little quirks that make these kids so special. The biggest draw for me is that the entire building was created to be a safe haven for children who have sensory processing issues. From the lighting to the sound proofing, and they even have a special sensory room! While Xander doesn’t have an autism diagnosis yet, he has been assessed as having a severe speech delay, and I think this school is going to be perfect!
I am very excited.
And of course I will keep you all updated!
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Fingers crossed for the new school. And HOLLA for the face to face play. That’s SO big. I love “cheese light” – I can follow the logic so perfectly. He hears “cheese” then sees a light!! And your poor … erm … “nose”
The face to face play is still amazing to me. He is doing SO WELL!!!
He is still a long way from appropriate social interaction, but holy flying spaghetti monster we are on our way!!
I LOVE the made up words! The logic is undeniable. We are working on re-learning the body parts. Somehow he remembers penis but forgets nose and ears? Haha, boys will be boys!
so glad to read your post today!!!!!
I’m glad, Paula!
Great news Dawn! It’s also nice to have your stay-at-home decision completely validated so quickly. Not that it wouldn’t have been anyway but to see such progress must feel fantastic!