I took Matthew to his OT screen at Bronson on Wednesday and got a few surprises. Turns out his fine motor screen places him at a 5.3, meaning 5 years, 3 months old. That was a bit of a surprise to me because I thought it would be much lower. He is able to string beads, button, lace, draw shapes and line, write his name and do mazes as he should be able to do. His area of need is his grip/grasp which came out in the 2nd percentile. So he will receive therapy once a week to strengthen those small muscles to allow him to write better and with more pressure (right now it is very light and wispy). To my surprise his trunk is weak, so he will also receive services to strengthen those muscles, too. I would have never guessed because of all the running, climbing, jumping and exercise he gets.
Upon the screen, our OT noticed some "quirks" with Matthew's eyes. When he needed to focus and follow a line with his eyes he would look out of one eye with his head at an angle and at times one of his eyes would go cross eyed. We noticed that he does that a lot when he eats, but they said that was normal because both eyes are focused on the fork as they should. It is when he needs to go across the page to read that they are not working together. When she held his head straight he would move the paper to his more dominant eye. So, I am taking him to an optometrist on Friday for a complete eye exam and a motor evaluation. Looks like he may need some eye therapy to get his eyes to work together.
I am so glad that we are figuring all of this before he starts school and even more thankful for insurance! Now that his speech is where it should be, we need to get everything else working together as well. It is not set in stone yet, but it looks like Portage will be moving to all day kindergarten and most likely all day young-fives. My push will to have him in young-fives instead of kindergarten. Our screening is next month and that will give us more information to where he is, especially social-emotionally.
Sunday, February 19, 2012
Sunday, February 5, 2012
Is it February already?!
We have been one busy and happy family this winter (or shall I say the lack of winter). We managed to get out and sled a few times, shovel a few times and run the snow blower a few times. The boys are still waiting for their "BIG" storm where we can make unlimited snowmen. Maybe in a few weeks...or maybe next year. In the meantime we have been taking advantage of the 40-50 degree weather and going for bike rides and walks around the neighborhood these past few weeks.
Matthew is busy as ever and "graduated" from speech at the end of November. He is now going to go back to Bronson in a few weeks for a fine motor screen, because his fine motor skills are lower than I would like and despite working daily with him I don't want him to struggle with school in a few months. If he qualifies, great and if he doesn't they will give me things to use at home to help him strengthen those muscles. He has Kindergarten screening in about two months and will attend my school in the fall. We are hoping for a Young-fives placement because my district is about 99% sure at this point that they will switch to full day/full time kindergarten. I know he is not developmentally ready for eight hours a day at school! If we keep young-fives in the district then he will be bussed to another school for that one year and then be with me for K-5. I still can't believe that he is ready for school, where did the time go? Matthew will start indoor soccer in a few weeks and he is so excited. He has been wearing his shin guards and socks all over the house since we got them. We have a pop-up goal that they boys like to play soccer with in the hallway.
Drew is probably even more busy than Matthew. He follows Matthew's every move and I wonder what he will do in the fall when Matthew is not with him anymore at daycare. He is 32 pounds and 36 inches (both 85%), only about 9 pounds lighter than Matthew. He loves to read books, run, dance and jump off of everything. He seriously has no fear of anything. He will dance to any beat...from me humming, a song on the radio or a commercial playing in the background. He's a mover and a butt shaker! He has had a major verbal explosion recently and is a talking machine. He can count to ten (not too clear, but you can definitely hear the initial sounds and the double syllable of seven). Over Christmas we switched the boy's bedrooms and converted the crib into the full bed. Matthew is now in that bed and Drew took over Matthew's old room and twin bed. They both love being in a bigger bed and "new" rooms.
We all are looking forward to the warmer weather and the boys are itching to get on the boat. Drew has never been, so it will be an exciting time for him. Only a few more months :)
Matthew is busy as ever and "graduated" from speech at the end of November. He is now going to go back to Bronson in a few weeks for a fine motor screen, because his fine motor skills are lower than I would like and despite working daily with him I don't want him to struggle with school in a few months. If he qualifies, great and if he doesn't they will give me things to use at home to help him strengthen those muscles. He has Kindergarten screening in about two months and will attend my school in the fall. We are hoping for a Young-fives placement because my district is about 99% sure at this point that they will switch to full day/full time kindergarten. I know he is not developmentally ready for eight hours a day at school! If we keep young-fives in the district then he will be bussed to another school for that one year and then be with me for K-5. I still can't believe that he is ready for school, where did the time go? Matthew will start indoor soccer in a few weeks and he is so excited. He has been wearing his shin guards and socks all over the house since we got them. We have a pop-up goal that they boys like to play soccer with in the hallway.
Drew is probably even more busy than Matthew. He follows Matthew's every move and I wonder what he will do in the fall when Matthew is not with him anymore at daycare. He is 32 pounds and 36 inches (both 85%), only about 9 pounds lighter than Matthew. He loves to read books, run, dance and jump off of everything. He seriously has no fear of anything. He will dance to any beat...from me humming, a song on the radio or a commercial playing in the background. He's a mover and a butt shaker! He has had a major verbal explosion recently and is a talking machine. He can count to ten (not too clear, but you can definitely hear the initial sounds and the double syllable of seven). Over Christmas we switched the boy's bedrooms and converted the crib into the full bed. Matthew is now in that bed and Drew took over Matthew's old room and twin bed. They both love being in a bigger bed and "new" rooms.
We all are looking forward to the warmer weather and the boys are itching to get on the boat. Drew has never been, so it will be an exciting time for him. Only a few more months :)
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