Explosion of Words

 It's been so long since I've done an update on Jake. 

Life has been a whirlwind of activity. It always is, especially when he has six hours of ABA (Applied Behavioral Analysis). 

We're fighting insurance, and have been for months now.  Despite the fact that ABA is clinically proven to be effective for those with Down syndrome, insurance only wants to pay for those who have Autism. But six hours per day of ABA would mean nearly $2000/week in fees without insurance. 

Our doctor has given a diagnosis that insurance has said qualifies him for ABA, but they still won't pay for it.  It's been months and we're still fighting them. I'm not going to lie. I'm beginning to sweat. Any moment, I can get a phone call from our ABA provider cutting us off. 

I've tried to get a second opinion, and they're 18 months out for appointments. 

I have only one more person we can call.  We actually made an appointment with them four months ago, but they changed their registration proceedures and took us off the appointment list. So now we're starting all over again. 

Add COVID to the mix, and everything is getting done at a snail's pace. It's brutal. 

But do you know what isn't brutal? 

Jacob's recent explosion of words. 

Yes, so many new words!

Words like 'thank you' used to be signed by blowing a kiss. Now he says, 'dank you.'

Today, as we watched Abominable before bed, I heard words like "home" and "Buddah" "fish" "baby" "water" "whoop" "snake" and a few other words. He's actively using and practicing words. And he delights in seeing my reaction to each new word. 

Plus, he's beginning to see the power of words; telling me what he wants to watch rather than being forced to choose between two movies of my liking. Counting, and asking for ten more minutes before going to bed, or asking to play with his big brother. Asking for (chicken) "nuggets" when he's hungry, or a "smooth"(ie) if he wants something different. 

Last week, my husband and I went on vacation alone for the first time since Jake was born. Jake didn't like it. Our adult son was watching Jake and his sister for the week, and said that several times, Jake would come to him and sign simultaneously while saying, "you, me, drive, mom, dad, now." He wanted Nathan to drive him to get us from wherever we were. Right NOW. 

When I came home late Monday night, Jake was already asleep in bed. In his usual fasion, he stirred late in the evening, so I crawled into bed, and put my arm over him. He rolled over, opened his eyes, and looked up at me. A grin washed over his face and he said, "Ahh, Mamma." Then he wrapped his arms around my neck and hugged me until he fell back asleep. 

Life is good. 

Speech, when we hear it, is amazing. 

It's hard to believe Jake is no longer a child. He's an eleven year-old man-child with meaty hands, and mischevious grin.  And I love him to death!

Are Those Words I Hear?

How can it be that it's been 4 MONTHS since my last post?!?!

Oh, that's right.  Life has a way of seeming to slip through your fingers at mock speed when you're the mother of four incredibly wonderful, but unbelievably different children.  Living life with an over-achiever 18-year old senior, a just-figuring-himself-out 14 year old, a precocious smarty-pants-wants-everyones-100%-attention 4-year old, and ever-curious-crazy-busy-wonderfully-delightful 3 year old sometimes takes its toll on me.  

But I wouldn't change a single minute of it for all the money in the world (don't quote me on that in the midst of the chaos though!)

Jacob is already 1/2 way through his first year of pre-school and the differences are startling to say the least.  Who knew that 2 1/2 hours per day, 4 days a week would make such a difference?  But boy howdy it has!

(Jacob's school picture)

Since school has begun, Jacob has finally begun to say words!!  I'm not saying he's speaking in full sentences or anything, but considering the fact that before pre-school we were lucky if he'd even make a sound, his attempts to vocalize are massive!

Although most of it would be considered merely grunts by the lay man (isn't that always the case when any child is beginning to speak?), he's been generous enough to accompany some of his words with their coordinating ASL sign as well.  Now Jake will not only wave good-bye, but say it as well.  As a fully intelligible word, mind you!  He also says "hi", "mom" (but only when he's mad and can't get my attention any other way), "Elisha" (sounding more like 'la la' - but I'll take it!), "Nate", "no", "dad" and my all time favorite: "three" - which is usually because he is COUNTING to three!!!! Woohoo! 

In addition to the awe-inspiring phenomenon we dub 'speaking' I've noticed that Jake has mellowed.  Yes, MELLOWED!  This is the little boy who wakes up and hits the ground running full-speed from area to area creating disaster faster than a Level 5 tornado.  If you take a moment and watch, one cannot help but marvel at his efficiency.  It's quite impressive, actually, how someone so little can create so much destruction in such a little time. 

This too, has diminished significantly over the last few months.  When we left Children F.I.R.S.T. one of the goals they had for him was to have Jacob sit at an activity for 3 whole minutes before losing interest.  To date, I have seen him "read" books, color, sit for an entire meal at dinner, and, as I write, he is sitting at the back sliding glass doors staring out at the newly fallen snow covering our back yard.  - Oops!  I spoke too soon.  He's now pushing his chair to the cupboards to see if he can pour the cereal out onto the floors!...and now into the living room where he's knocking off all the throw pillows (sigh).  OK, he's not PERFECT!  But his attention span (for things he's interested in) has increased from a minute or two to as long as 10 or 15 minutes for the truly engrossing activities. 

Yes, I would dub pre-school a success.  :)



(Our favorite family past time is listening to Jake laugh!  It's the best sound in the WORLD!)

Now...if I can only motivate myself to get him potty trained.....