On Tuesday, Elsa, Henry's early intervention coordinator, stopped by around 3PM. We had to go over Henry's IFSP (individualized family service plan). Basically, every 6 months, we have to come up with outcomes that we want Henry to reach in the next X number of months and then explain why we want him to achieve those outcomes. The files are going to be audited by the state in a couple weeks, so Elsa wanted to make sure that all of our ducks were in a row. For example, one outcome was that we wanted to see Henry walking by November. This was a goal set up last May. We then had to come up with a reason for why it was important for Henry to learn how to walk. I'm not joking. One might think that the reason for why learning to walk is...obvious. Another goal is for Henry to learn how to feed himself. Again, we had to come up with a reason for why learning to feed one's self is important.
The state actually doesn't have specific goals for children to meet. It is all directed by parents. I find this a weird set up, because most parents don't have a firm grasp of child development, so I'm not exactly sure why the state isn't more proactive in guiding what realistic and important guidelines should be for children who have been identified as having special needs. The paperwork is quite time consuming, which I am fine with because I feel like Jeff and I are good advocates who can strategize how to work the system to get our son's needs met. I also do a heck of a lot of reading on child development. That said, a lot of people aren't informed, so shouldn't the state be helping guide the process? Doesn't it seem to be a bit asinine to require parents to come up with reasons for why learning to walk, talk, or feed are legitimate goals?
Afterward, Jeff took Henry to visit Grandma and Grandpa around 4PM or so. They were having salmon croquettes for dinner, which Henry likes, so Henry was invited to dinner. We like that Henry is getting his fish, which we acknowledge is quite nutritious. I don't eat or know how to cook fish. Jeff doesn't like it. So it is great that Grandma is encouraging Henry to develop a palate for it.
Believe it or not, there was another snake incident. From what I understand, a door was left open or something and a snake got into my parents' living room. Jeff helped my parents search the house for the snake. Spent time lifting furniture. No luck finding the snake, which my parents were pretty sure wasn't a poisonous type. My dad took Henry to the family room. In the early evening, the snake was discovered in the dining room, which is fairly close to the front door. My dad was trying to encourage it out the door with a rake, while preventing Henry from helping him.
When Henry came home last night, he was pretty wound up. He was obviously tired but not willing to relax. It took both of us to settle him down. He flopped back and forth between us on the bed for about an hour before konking out.
Wednesday is one of my teaching days. I really like my graduate seminar this semester. The students are the most hardworking lot of graduate students that I've encountered, which is awesome. But the class meets in the late afternoon, which means that I don't come home until 6:30PM, and it really cuts into my Henry time. Sigh. Henry helped me get ready for work, and he was really upset when I had to leave, which broke my heart. He was wearing his muscle outfit today (looks like a wrestler's uniform). He is so very handsome. He went over to Grandma and Grandpa's in the afternoon. It is more convenient for them to spend time with him at their place because they can switch off. And Henry does like to get out a bit and see new things. He was asleep when he got home. He woke up for a brief spell. He wanted to transfer from his crib to his bed. Jeff and I are taking turns snuggling with him.
My mom mentioned today that Henry's vocabulary is coming along. It is. He is working hard on it. We noticed a bath or two ago that he's beginning to mimic two-syllable sounds. We said the word "purple" in reference to a soap paint, and he repeated the sound. My mom said that he repeated the word "turkey" the other day.
He can say the following words:
Mama
Dada
Boo (as in Bitsy Boo the Cat)
Ball
Bye Bye
He can also say the following words but they aren't as articulate:
Pool (according to Grandma)
Book
Tea
Poo
Dog (comes out as Daw)
Cat (comes out as Ca)
Bottle (I think that he is trying to say "bottle" but it comes out as Ba, which unfortunately is a syllable that he likes to say in general, but it does seem that there is a Ba-Bottle correlation.)
Up (usage is inconsistent; comes out as Uuuh)
Off (usage is inconsistent; occurs when turn lights on and off, which is a pasttime at the grandparents' house)
Sounds:
Roar ("What sound does a lion make?")
Bok Bok Bok ("What sound does a chicken make?"; taught to him by Jeff, Henry makes Bok Bok sounds if you ask him if he wants to eat some chicken)
Hand signals include:
Milk
All done
More
Ceiling fan
*** We haven't been as consistent in teaching him signs as I wish we had done.
Understands the meaning of or can point to:
Roger ("Where's Roger?")
Bitsy ("Where's Bitsy?")
Pet nicely ("Can you pet Roger nicely?")
Tummy ("Where's your tummy?")
Ears ("Where are your ears?")
Head ("Can you pat your head?")
Hugs ("Can you give Roger a hug?")
Clap your hands ("Can you clap your hands?")
Stomp your feet ("Can you stomp your feet?")
In ("Can you put the block in the bucket?")
Poop and toot ("Did you make a toot?")
Blow a kiss ("Can you blow a kiss?")
No (but like a cat, he sometimes conveniently "forgets" what this means when it suits his purpose)
He also understands "Do you need your pants changed?" This is followed by a lot of resistance in getting him to the bedroom to the diaper area.
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