Little Improvements
Good Morning!
I have been off from work for the last 2 weeks and loving every single second of it. We had lots of family time and lots of chaos. Cooper did amazing during all of it. I was blown away. He loved having his cousins and grandparents around and played so well. He even understood the concept of opening presents! At one point he started ripping open any present he could find. This is huge for Cooper.
Updates on Super Cooper
1. Cooper started opening doors.
This is so great for his hand strength. Woo-Hoo. I was running on the treadmill in the bedroom and Coops opened the door and walked right in. Note to self…lock door!
2. Potty training session number two was a failure.
We first tried to potty train Cooper in November, right before his 3rd birthday. He loved wearing undies and didn’t mind sitting on the toilet. Which is good. But the little stinker refused to pee in the toilet. He peed on his bed, the couch, behind the recliner and in front of the tv. I learned one huge thing that day…I am over-hydrating my son! We tried again yesterday and yet again the little stinker refused to pee in the potty. He will sit there all day. We had no accidents on the floor but also no pee in the toilet. He did enjoy wearing his Thomas the Train underwear though.
3.The differences between a baby babbling and Cooper are epic.
This one is hard to write about. Our 11 month old son Sawyer is a babbling fool. He says ‘dada, hot, that, mama, etc.’ These words are hands down the best sounds I have heard ever. I will admit I tear up at least once a day if not more. My husband and I will prompt him to talk more than we thought possible. It just melts our heart. Cooper still doesn’t babble. I waver between being mad at myself for not noticing this a year ago and feeling sad for myself on all the beautiful moments we missed. It’s a constant struggle.
4. Home is best for me.
I also noticed something about myself. When I am home with Cooper I have very little stress and worry. We haven’t had speech in the last two weeks and it’s been amazing. In a home setting Cooper is just like any other boy. Honestly, a person that didn’t know him probably wouldn’t notice anything. He’s wild and cute and loud and loves to play. He just doesn’t talk.
5. Cooper and other kids.
I don’t get to see Cooper with other kids very often. His daycare says he does really well but I don’t get to see it. Cooper played amazing with kids these past 2 weeks. He held hands, hugged, kissed, rough-housed, you name it. My heart melted a million times. I firmly believe Cooper is making improvements every day and I thank God for that.
6. Knowledge can be good and bad.
I joined a Sensory Processing Disorder Group on Facebook last week. I am so traumatized by it that I am going to have to unlike it. First, my heart breaks for those moms and dads. Their struggles are crushing. Some kids are violent. They kick and scream and bite. After joining this page I have thanked God 100 times for Cooper. His sensory issues are mild. He’s afraid of getting his haircut and going to the doctor. That’s pretty much it.
I hope everyone had a great Christmas! Next week we are back to reality. Operation let’s get this kid talking is back in action! Here is a picture of the boys together. Cooper never stops moving so this is the best I could do.
Sounds like he’s doing really well, Good to hear you’ve been enjoying the time off work. Happy holidays x
Happy holidays to you as well!!
I’ve been wanting to write to you since you posted on my blog, but it’s hard because when I read your posts I see so much of myself a year or 2 ago. I’m so glad you’re seeing improvements, and I can’t tell you enough how important it is to focus on those positives. One of the best pieces of advice I ever got was from a Resident Dr during a brief hospital stay who asked me this – “Has your son improved vs three months ago?” and my answer was yes. He told me to continue to use that as a yardstick, and try to avoid comparing to others. It is so, so, hard to do, but if you can do it, it really is the best way to look at the world. Look for the positives and focus on the things that make Cooper happy and motivated. Then use those things to build on those positives. The waiting is the hardest part, as they say, but I truly believe with all my heart that you, like me, will one day listen to your little guy telling you stories and explaining what’s wrong, what hurts, and what makes him happy, and you will get to enjoy those moments on a daily basis with a kind of ecstatic happiness that only comes after years of waiting and worrying :).
I can’t even tell you how much your comment meant to me. My husband and I were sitting in our living room last night and I got notification of your comment. I read it and then read it again. And then read it to my husband. You are the first person that I can say ‘get’s it.’. You made me feel better with your one comment than most of the people in my life. Thank you so much. From the bottom of my heart. Honestly. You have given me hope. Hope that Cooper will talk. Hope that he will lead a normal life. Hope that it’s okay to be hopeful. Cooper improves every day. He is a completely different kid that he was a week ago. And I try so hard to focus on those little improvements. But it’s really, really hard. I want the HUGE improvment. I want him to stop struggling. I want something to come easy for him. For the lightbulb to come on. But you are right and your advice is perfect. Stop comparing and focus on ‘his’ improvements. Thank you so much!
There’s something magical about not having any appointments or anywhere to be for a few weeks. Sounds like you had a lovely vacation.
I felt like a kid again! Back to reality now! Thanks for the comment.