I love you, Friday.

Because I'm a slacker (or maybe just because this week has been crazy), here is an old photo of Elijah, taken in May 2008, a few weeks after open heart surgery #2.



This first paragraph is for my dad..

A few weeks ago, Dan had a baseball game on tv and Elijah nonchalantly looked at the screen and said, "baseball." Uhh, how in the world..? Last week basketball was on and we heard Elijah say, "bashetball." Again, what?? Then last night, football was on and he said what sounded exactly like, "Super Bowl!" ???? I certainly haven't been schooling him in the different sports, and Dan claims he hasn't been either, so I have no idea how he acquired this knowledge. I think my dad and brother have been secretly chatting with him. I'm onto you guys.

We have always known that Elijah is a strong-willed (otherwise known as "stubborn") little man. I believe that his strong will has gotten him through his surgeries and recoveries and hospitalizations, so you won't find me complaining about it much. Except maybe a little bit recently. This kid has seriously STRONG WILL. The other day he was being naughty and swiped at me (he knows that this is very uncool), so Dan told him, "Please say 'sorry' to Mama." Elijah, knowing how to say "sorry," made the sign language sign for it and refused to speak it to me. Dan asked again and he continued to refuse. FIVE TIMEOUTS LATER, I got a "Sorry, Mama," and a hug.

A quick funny thing from our week.. I discovered two indicators that let me know one of our cars is very old and noisy: 1) The driver's door no longer latches when it's cold, so I have to hold it closed with one hand as I drive with the other. (Super safe, I know. At least it latches once it warms up.) 2) Elijah sits in the back seat and yells, "SQQQuuuuuueeeeeeeeeaaaaAAAKKKKkkkkk!" as he tries to copy the noise the car is making.

His cold got a tiny bit worse this week, but I think it's already turning around. Nothing to worry about, thankfully! This weekend involves NO PLANS for us, which is sweet sweet music to my ears. This week was the busiest week (work and otherwise) I have had in a very long time, so nothingness is extremely welcome. I don't mind fast-paced, but I'm too old for crazy-paced!

More later...and pics, too! Have a great weekend!

Just being stubborn?**

At almost two years old, Elijah is unable to communicate to others much of what he is feeling. More than anything, this just really confuses me. There are so many things that we have seen or heard him do (signs, words, actions, sounds), some of these things very long ago, that he just hasn't done consistently. Or ever again. Example: We have seen him do the sign for MORE, appropriately, on more than one occasion over the past year. If I did the sign in front of him right now and asked him to do it, he would push my hands apart so I would stop making the sign, and he certainly wouldn't do it himself.

I am starting to think that a big reason for his lack of progress in expressing himself is stubbornness. He has had constant physical/speech/occupational therapy for most of his life. People, including us, are constantly asking him to do this, do that, make this sound.. Maybe he is saying, "No thank you, I'll do it when I'm ready!" Could it be? It would be one thing if we knew he wasn't retaining information, but that is definitely not the case. Through pointing, he shows us that he has very good retention.

Sometimes his therapists (and other people, too) treat him as if his comprehension isn't nearly as good as it is. I think they assume that because he doesn't express himself with speech, that must mean he doesn't comprehend. The other day his speech therapist asked him to show her where the clock was and he whipped around and pointed up at the clock on the wall. She said, "Wow! Did you see that?" Me: "Uhhhhhh, he knows what a pterodactyl is, not so impressed with the clock.." His speech therapist works so hard with him on things that I have heard him say or seen him do long ago. He cooperates very little with her. I sometimes think speech therapy is harming more than hurting right now, but pulling him out seems so wrong when he is so delayed in this area.

All in his own time, is what I keep reminding myself. This is the kid who has fought bearing weight on his legs for his whole life, just because. I used to think he refused to do things because he was a leisurely fella, but I'm starting to think it has always had more to do with his strong will and letting us know that he'll do things when he is ready.

I am not super fretful, worrying that he will never communicate with us. I know he will. We're just in a frustrating stage right now and after the third tantrum of the day I want my baby to communicate!


** Based on the posts I've made recently, you would think we have a monster living in our home who does nothing but beat us with broomsticks. I have been writing about the negative behavior because it is new to us and we are learning how to deal with the new phase. If you spent a day with us in our home, you would see that it isn't all screaming and tear-filled. The majority of our time is very enjoyable. Elijah is a loving, sweet, tender-hearted little boy, and I don't just say that because I'm his mama. He's the best.