speech therapy

One thing I neglected to mention in my last post about the weekend was our futile search for some sort of baby sign language DVD.   Why the sudden interest?  Last week, amidst my own personal breakdown, Liam had an evaluation from the speech therapist to see if he needed therapy.  At two, he probably has less than 20 words that he uses and he does virtually no two word combinations (the only one being “wa-shat?”).  It’s nothing majorly concerning and I’m not worried.  His pediatrician isn’t really worried either, but referred us out anyhow just to be on the safe side.

I’m not sure why we’re not doing Early Intervention or something would require less piling of the kids in cars and driving clear across town every week, but… whatever.  The gal was nice and Liam took to her right away.  And his stubborness to speak on command became clear right away (as did his nearly non-existant attention span).  But before our hour was up, she got him to two things: ask for an M&M (personal favorite) by going “mmm” and to make the sign for “more”.  And… well, WOW.  Kile and I are both sold.

Of course, finding a baby sign language DVD has proven much more difficult than I would have expected.  We did find a board book at Babies R Us that has illustrations of babies doing the signs.  This will give us some general signs that we can start teaching him.  Also, we discovered last night that Evie LOVES THIS BOOK.  I was looking at it while she was in my arms and when she saw what I was looking at, she about threw herself forward and out of my arms towards the book.  Her eyes were wide as saucers and she started to breathe very excitedly.  Of course, it was the pictures she was jazzed about.  But it made me realize, “Hey, just we can do this whole signing thing with her too!”

Very exciting.

I never would have imagined that Liam would grasp on so quickly to the notion of signing.  He, since yesterday, has already learned the sign for “hug” (he would request them continually after that, which was so adorable I think I died and am dead right now) and I plan to go over more of them this afternoon if I get a chance.  I really would like a DVD though, that we can look at together.  Mostly because that’s an easier format for us both to look at in case I might be tied down nursing Evie or somesuch.

So does anyone have any good recommendations?  What DVDs or VHS movies have worked for you?  Where did you find them to buy them because so far we’re coming up blank there too.  Any and all information will be greatly appreciated!  (We’re total newbies, can you tell?)

I have zero concentration this week.  I have about a bazillion things buzzing around my head but I feel like I’ve been unable to concentrate on any one thing at any one time.  Even now, I’ve gone and laid Evie down up in her crib in her room (with the monitor within arms reach of me down here, of course) and Liam is distracted by “Jack’s Big Music Show” (LOVE) and a pile of plastic blocks.  But do you think I can concentrate long enough to gather my thoughts into a cohesive post?

NOPE!

I feel like I’ve been pulled into a million different directions lately.  A little piece of me is needed here, a little piece over there and another piece needs to be thinking about that over there too.  Nothing has my full attention and that is worrisome to me.  I’m scattered, is what it is.  I’d quite simply forgotten what it was like to feel this way.  Friggin’ thyroid.

Here’s just a little sampling of what is buzzing around in that empty cranial cavity at the moment:

• I’m trying to make an appointment with a new doctor.  Our new primary care physician on our new insurance has a web-based appointment maker thingie.  I filled it out yesterday but haven’t heard back yet.  I hope they haven’t tried to call because our landline is at the mercy of two very f’d up phones that can’t hold a charge for more than two minutes and the charging stations are nowhere NEAR where I sit and nurse Evie.  So if they’ve called, chances are I’ve missed it.
• You’d think, then, that I would check voicemail to see.  But I haven’t.  I should probably do that.
• Speaking of phones, I won one.  You know, nothing much. ;)  Those that follow me on Twitter probably saw me lose my freakin’ gourd over it last week.  The only thing is that since we’re already AT&T customers, I need to wait until the end of August to renew my contract in order to get the reduced cost.  I think.  I’m still rather confused by the whole thing, to be honest.  But very excited to get my hands on it.
• Evie is sleeping in her crib RIGHT NOW.  That freaks me out.  She didn’t sleep in there very long last night.  Only an hour or two and was in bed with us by the time we went to bed but STILL.  Baby steps.  I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but I’m not too excited to get this particular milestone achieved just yet.  She’s only 4 months old!  SHE MAH BAYBEE!!!
• I’ve discovered Rockstar in the last week or so and I really kinda like it.  MUST GET MORE.  May just be the only thing to punch through my Thyroid Fog right now.
• Still haven’t seen “Dark Knight”.  Am pretty sad about that.  Hoping to remedy this little problem at the drive-in this weekend.
• Am so glad that Noggin’s monthly theme will switch in a couple days.  Am rather tired of the “Are we there yet?” song.  Actually, I think I was tired of it after the first day, to be honest.
• Where was I?
• My anniversary is this month!  TEN YEARS, yo.  Do we have any plans made?  NOPE.  Not that I know of, at least.  Crap.  Should really start thinking about this.  Anyone want to take bets on if I can get a DSLR or laptop out of this?  (That hysterical laughter you’re hearing is my husband.  He thinks I’m SUCH a kidder!)
• Liam goes in for a speech therapy evaluation tomorrow.  I haven’t really mentioned much about that, have I?  I don’t know why we’re not doing Early Intervention or if Nevada even DOES Early Intervention.  So in lieu of that, we have to journey clear across town to see this therapist.  And pay a standard office visit copay to boot.  Oh well.  It’s for the Good of the Child, which you can’t ever really bargain away, can you?

I’m sure I’ve got more.  But my brain keeps slipping away and thinking of stupid things like, “Should I do diaper laundry before or after lunch? This evening?  How about a shower?  Should I try to take one today?  Oh!  Don’t forget to Evie’s prescriptions filled at the grocery store!  When should I go to the grocery store?  Tomorrow?  Yeah, right, as if I’d go by myself.  Dang, when’s lunch?”

So… yeah.  Sorry about that, folks.  I’ll try harder to whip my lazy brain into shape for tomorrow’s post.  In the meantime, feel free to read yesterday’s post which I have on good authority is a pretty good one.