Monday, January 28, 2013

Up to Some and No Good

Can you see Bridget's backpack?
It's been almost two weeks since I posted.  How can that BE?!  Everybody was sick for one of those weeks and when everyone is sick, the system breaks down.  I used to wonder what the big deal was when people used the excuse that their kids were sick to get out of pretty much everything.  Now I know.  It's because it is a full time job for a team of people when a child is sick.  Emil had to go to the Respiratory Clinic at the hospital to get suctioned out, plus breathing treatments here at home.  The air here was so bad that the doctor advised us not to go out.  Nobody was sleeping.  Truthfully I can't remember much about it.
Bridget heading to school on Crazy Sock Day
For a few months I've been thinking I need to have Kids on the Move come evaluate Emil and Colin.  Emil is only saying a few words regularly and Colin only says, "Uh-huh." Neighbors with twins highly recommended the program and I didn't think it would hurt to get educated myself on how to help them.  The first evaluation measured their behavior.  While I was watching the nice lady play with the boys and take notes, it occurred to me for the first time that Emil is almost always the one being stubborn and defiant.  Hmmm.  I thought it was both of them who would purposefully do something I just asked them not to do.  When the woman asked Colin to bring her toys or point to things, he did his best to please her and he watched her face very closely.  When she asked Emil to do the same things, he would walk off with the toy.  Ha!
The second person to come (the boys are officially "speech delayed" so we qualify for the program) evaluated their vision and hearing.  She brought really interesting toys.  Both boys see perfectly.  Emil failed the hearing test in one ear and Colin failed the hearing test in both ears.  No ear infections.  I don't know how long it's been going on, but the nurse said the way Colin hears us is like we're talking underwater.  We have an appointment with an audiologist in a few weeks and we're learning as much as we can in the meantime.  I hesitated to post about this, but I've found that everyone I've talked to about it has made me feel better.  Maybe it's just because I told the right people.  Anyway, I don't want to miss out on good advice because I'm hiding my guilt feelings.  
Bridget on Crazy Hair Day.  Emil participated even though he doesn't go to school.
In other news, Bridget and Brian have been skiing a few times (she got lessons from Daddy again for Christmas), piano lessons have started back up, I finally finished and mailed some cute stuff to Katy for her baby who is due any second, and Bridget went to a monster truck rally with a couple of friends to celebrate the friends' birthday.  Also, my house is a huge mess.  That is not news.

4 comments:

KQ said...

My husband, Travis is a twin and an audiologist. He said it's not that uncommon for twins to have speech delays. He and his twin had their own language that they spoke to each other for a long time.

It's also very difficult to get an accurate hearing evaluation at home, much less on a 2 year old. And especially by a nurse, who isn't a hearing professional. (Um...no offense to nurses! Love you guys!) Lyla failed the hearing test that the nurse at the pediatrician's office gave her last year. I just laughed and asked her to do it again 3 more times until she got it right.

So, yes, there could be some hearing loss, but there's also a pretty good chance that once they are tested by an audiologist you're going to get a whole different story.

If there is hearing loss, don't hesitate to ask us any questions you want answered!

Jill said...

I'm glad you're telling people. Someone might say just the right thing that you needed to know to fix it. I'm sure they will fix it. Your boys are darling and yes, you're doing an amazing job!

Jess said...

Isn't it amazing how the other senses affect a little one's ability to speak? A friend of mine found out her daughter had a vision problem after she wasn't speaking at 2. I hope that the Kids on the Move program helps, it looks great.

Katy said...

Your boys are so cute watching Bridgie head off to school. I'm also glad to hear that your house is a mess. Only because I can never seem to get mine under control, even with children who are perfectly capable of cleaning up after themselves.