Seeing things in a whole new way.

There's something going on with Ian that I can't explain. It's almost like he's coming out of his shell. He's more vocal, exploring sounds. He's exploring different ways of doing thing, like with the phone, the drum and combing the dog. Today he even turned a knob on a toy to make it go, which is very tricky. Just moved it with his thumb, but did it more than once and got it going. He's also now mastered a fab Eric Carle book he got for his birthday which has a flat panel with pics of animals that can be pressed to make the sounds. I can ask him if I can hear the: dog, cow, horse, frog, donkey, duck, snake, etc. and he will find them and press them. So awesome!

Pediatric Minds is pretty cool and helping a lot. I've now met with the OT and Speech leads there and have gotten quite a bit of really great ideas and feedback. We've got a ton of systems to put in place around the house. As far as communication systems, we will have begin with a binder with pics for him to pull out and then eventually the iPad system. Daddy has already downloaded and partially set up one called GoTalk which Ian has seemed to figure out a bit.

More speech direction... once they implement the oral motor exercises that the ST has suggested, we will begin to do those a few times a day to try to stimulate all of the muscles he needs to speak. I've been doing various general exercises for a year or so but not as specific as what she's showing me. PM ST is working with his regular therapist to devise the plan so everyone is on the same page. He's mastered the hhhh and mmmm sounds. We've even had quite a few sessions of back and forth hhhha and hhhhhe.

I also need to put all the toys out of reach in bind and have little picture label cards avail at his level so he can bring me the pic of what he wants. Trying to get him to finally have a "voice". And the OT is suggesting more sensory toys/tools around the house. A pod swing and a cube chair and a peanut ball, all of which I've been looking at for a while but wasn't sure about. He actually received money for his birthday that I haven't spent yet because I didn't want it just going to random toys but more specifically chosen for development. It's tricky to figure out just what he needs but now I have some direction and am quite excited!