She's Normal?!!

The challenge with an adopted kid, I think, is always wondering, "is this due to adoption? malnutrition? genetics? difficult birth? Just plain normal for her? Regular developmental step?"

Despite the cause, when the Newbie (boy, do I need a new name, she's been home for over a year) came home we dived into the world of Early Intervention. That meant DT once a month, OT every-other week, music therapy class and DT/PT playgroup once a week. We also had her evaluated for speech, she qualified and then was on the waiting list for a loooong time. I liked this, the therapists gave me action plans and things to do and new areas of focus. For a type-A person, it was great. In the confusion when your child first comes home and you are getting to know on another, it was great to have a plan, some structure. Now work on eye contact, the pincher grasp, hand strength, alternating weight shift, the vocabulary! Ok, it's time for therapy balls, wooden puzzles, blocks, now shape sorters!!! Hey, what about stairs?! Climb them! They also gave me hope--she WILL crawl, she WILL walk, she WILL call you by name, yes, the biting IS a developmental phase. And, sure enough, the Newbie did all the right things in all the right orders--just a bit late in some cases.

Since it has been a year, we are doing her re-evaluation. We haven't had our "official" group meeting yet, but I think OT and DT are done--she really doesn't have any needs. PT wants to see her a couple of times a month to keep an eye on her flat feet (orthodics in her future, maybe) and loose-but-getting-better ligaments.

Speech was this morning. The nice therapist diligently wrote all my concerns down, spent two hours with us and then told me that the Newbie was completely normal. What??? She wouldn't even recommend a speech therapy group. Her recommendation? That the two of us spend more time with two year olds. The Newbie needs to be with other well- spoken two year olds. I need to remember what the expectations are for normal two year old speech. It has been a while! Wow. I think the therapist thought I should have been elated and instead I was a little down.

See, I know we're good parents. And the nutritional issues are past us, and even the DT and OT stuff. The Newbie's progress is amazing! But....these services were my safety net. They picked up on things I had missed, etc. And we'll never know how much of the progress was therapy, how much was nutritious food and enough of it and how much was nurture. I know in my heart we'll be fine, but I'm a little sad that this advice and frankly, the community, is coming to an end. Just when I'm getting good at navigating Early Intervention--but that is another post for another day.

The end of all these activities will also mean the end of my relief pitcher. Too tired to read goodnight moon 47 times? It's ok, she had playgroup today! We're up for the challenge, but I'm sad to see them go.

So thank you to our therapists. I don't think we could have done it without you. I'm off to find some two year olds to play with!

Behind in life...

I was out of town for two weeks so I have vacation and mothers' day pictures to post and I owe my readers some words. Here is one of my favorite mothers' day pics to tide you over until I can spare some time to be on the computer.

We found the good attitude!

Doodle has this super awesome kindergarten teacher, Mrs. I. Doodle's had the best year in kindergarten, and this means so much to me. I was so afraid my sensitive Doodle would be crushed by unkind kids. Since we've heard Mrs. I's not looping next year, I'm desperately hoping that Moo gets her for a kindergarten teacher.

I did in fact alert Mrs. I to the missing attitude via email, and I received a reply:
"We found it. It waited for her in her locker. I hope she brought it home." I love that Mrs. I didn't think I was a total weirdo for sending the email, and played along with the Doodle. So thanks, Mrs. I!

I know it was around here somewhere.....

The Doodle had a rough day yesterday. It was back to school and a major letdown from spring break activities like Craftapalooza 2010 and trips to the aquarium and the nature museum (Thanks Hoosier Girl!). There was a meltdown before gymnastics and much infighting with Moobear. There was begging for sweets and TV. Then there was a naughty chair after Moo got hurt in the backyard and instead of helping her, Doodle hopped on the B*G Wheel she vacated and pedaled on. Finally, after Doodle calmed down, I asked her what happened to her good attitude? She started crying and in all seriousness said, "I left it at school in my locker and forgot to bring it home and now the school is locked!!!" More sobbing ensued. It took all of my willpower not to laugh. I just said, "Well, that is unfortunate." Then, I went out to the back deck where Dan was grilling and laughed until tears ran down my face. I MUST email the Doodle's teacher. We don't want to let that attitude escape when she opens her locker. Then we'll be in a world of hurt.

In other news, the Newbie is so addicted to chocolate that she is now trying to find wrappers in the garbage and lick the remaining chocolate off of them. Anybody have a lock on their garbage can? Perhaps those of you with pets could help me out with some suggestions?

Easter 2010

I posted more pictures from Easter in the slideshow on the right. I'm not sure why some are blurry--could be movement, even though I had the camera on the highest shutter speed possible, could be because the Newbie likes to lick the lens, could be my bad picture taking skills. Anyway, enjoy them. We discovered after a while that the Newbie could open the plastic eggs and was having a breakfast feast of chocolate. It's a good thing she's so cute, since she had us up almost all night the night before. My mom, brother and his boyfriend all spent the night, so we had a great time Easter morning.
The rest of my family joined us later in the day. We had a great meal, followed by an Easter pinata. I can't believe I didn't get any pictures of that!

Oh, and nobody tell my mom I posted pictures of her in her nightgown without makeup on the internet (I'm looking at you Auntie Marcia and Auntie Angie). I think she looks great, but she would freak out. Good thing she doesn't have a computer.

Heredity

The worst part of our collective genetics is being exercised in our children. The older girls had crowns put on 4 of their baby molars (3 for Moo, 1 for Doodle). The perfect storm of having teeth too close together(from me)and cavity attracting teeth (Dan). To top it all off with sprinkles, Doodle broke out in hives on the outside of her cheek after the procedure (hmmm, possible latex allergy--that's going to make for an interesting safe sex talk!). So, in addition to the dentist looking at me like I was a crack mother who gives my kids kool aid in flasks before bedtime (thanks for the image Jennifer!) I had to worry about the Doodle's new allergy.

Two days later, after removing a band aid on her face, she broke out into hives. Those are my genes, too, I have an allergy to colophony--which would not be a big deal, except that it means I can't decorate a real christmas tree, can't wear regular band aids and had several unfortunate incidents with waxing until I figured it all out. And of course, Doodle's a snotty mess now that spring has sprung, again, my bad genes. Truly, if this were prehistoric times, I would have been left by the herd and been eaten by a saber tooth tiger long before I procreated.

I've been giving her allergy meds, and asking Dan every day whether it's time to call the allergist. I think he's finally breaking down. I don't have the heart to tell Doodle about allergy testing and a possible childhood filled with allergy shots.

This morning, the Newbie started with the sniffles. And I think, nuts. I hope it's a cold. I would hope that after suffering the loss of her birthplace and her birth family, that she would at least be spared the worst of our crappy genetics and prove to be healthier and more fit than the rest of us. To have the benefit of the nurture without the crappiness of our combined natures. We'll see. Dan thinks it's allergies.

She likes it spicy!

This is just a quick post. We've been in the weeds for a while with various and sundry illnesses: tooth trouble, ear infections, hives, etc. More on that later.

Monday, Dan stayed home with the girls. The Newbie is in that stage where she likes to open and close everything-- cabinets, the garbage can, the recycling pail, etc. We're forever saying things like, "Get out of the trash!" "Do not play with the diaper pail!" "Do NOT put that in the toilet!" "Not for Newbies!"

Apparently, on Monday, the Newbie was digging in the trash, found a container of buffalo sauce and ate the heck out of it. I know, sooo gross. Dan found her, took a picture and emailed it to me at work (which was totally awesome). He then took the packet away and threw it in the garbage. Five minutes later, she had it again. Again, so gross. Eventually, Dan had to take the packet out to the alley garbage. We knew she loved spicy foods, but the buffalo sauce is new.

I apologize for the blurry picture. You know, heat of the moment and all of that!