Cool Girl!

Ave loves trying on the rest of the family's shoes, hair accessories, hats, etc. Today she found T's glasses...what a ham!

Avery's Words

I am gonna post Ave's speech development here and update as we go...

• Words in the last two weeks: "mdra" = raindrop, mom, dad, hi, bye-bye.

Yesterday at speech therapy:

• meow and ball

Today:

• kiss noise and the word "hug"

Big Steps and Little Steps

This afternoon I got Avery's psychological assessment from the Perinatal Clinic at the hospital. Routinely given at the 21 month mark, the test evaluates cognitive, language and motor skill development. In addition, it offers some insight as to adaptability and temperament.

• On cognitive, she scored in the 9th percentile. Essentially operating at a 15 month old level.
• On language, she scored less that the 1st percentile. Operating at a 12 month old level for expression and a nine month old for reception.
• On motor, she scored less that the 1st percentile. For fine motor skills, she is operating as a 13 month old would, for gross motor skills, she operates as an 11 month old would.
• For her social and emotional development, she is considered average with a score at the 25th percentile.
• For her adaptive score (i.e., her ability to be independent, solve problems and self-help), she scored in the 5th percentile. Sleeping, of course, proves the biggest hurdle and her stubbornness makes it challenging to teach her new concepts when she is unwilling to tackle them.

Hooray!

Avery just walked the width of the living room all by herself!

Reminder: Weight: 10.98 kg (5th percentile), Height: 81 cm (10th percentile) and Head Circumference: 46.5 cm (15th percentile).

Ave Makes Sense Outside the Family!

Avery says stuff amongst us four that we understand since we know the context of what she speaks (e.g., "mdra" is raindrop). Today, however, she clearly said buh-bye repeatedly when we were leaving G and G's house! When we came home, and before bedtime, I made her watch baby phonics videos since we have work to do!

Ave's 21 Month Perinatal Clinic Visit

We had one of those long three hour appointments at the hospital today...here's the results:

• Had a psychological test for an hour to check on Ave's language and motor delays. They are quite happy with how agile she is and kept remarking how "determined and strong-willed" she was (esp. since she did not allow them to check her ears, eyes, heart or blood pressure...yeesh!). They like how she worked with tools and by her inquisitive nature in figuring out how things work.
  
  Her language is quite delayed given that she does not articulate much of the basics at all. While she will sing along with her favorite songs, much of it is still at the "scream along in fun stage" rather that speaking the actual words. Finally, she is not cluing in to the concepts as they are being explained to her as most kids her age would (e.g., when asked to "point to your arm" or "look at the light", she does not respond).
  
  
• Her hearing test was fine (we had another session in the soundproof booth) however she did not let the pathologist look at her ear drums. Probably a good idea since I am sure they were dirty given her recent fondness for sticking her fingers in her ears (esp. at dinnertime!).
  
  
• The pediatrician did not have much luck in actually getting any of her vitals, reflexes or visual/auditory feedback (Ave was not having any of it and was esp. tired at this point). Given our discussions, she wants Ave to be checked out by an opthamologist (since when she is tired, her right eye tends to wander) and the stroke clinic.
  
  In going to the stroke clinic, much of it would largely be informational (since they don't do much more than research). However, they could recommend an MRI to get the full extant of any brain damage and offer advice to her speech, occupation and physical therapists on areas that they should pay particular attention to.

She was so tired after all of this (esp. since we had bought her walker and she ran all over that joint) that she snored like a trucker on the way home. And her thrush is clearing up which is making her much happier than she was last weekend! Now we all have to just catch up on our sleep...hmm...

Ave Enjoys the Swings

Sleepy Ave