GroshLink

I know many of you eagerly read the personal and family-type of blog posts (as I do on your blogs!) and I have not been consistent in posting updates.  I realize that Eden is learning so many new things and growing up so quickly I thought I'd share some things about her.

  As we mentioned last week we had surprising good news from the audiologist.  We were surprised b/c when Eden was 5 months old she had an ABR (auditory brainstem response) test done which showed that she did not have hearing in her left ear.  As she grew older we tried behavioral hearing tests which were not able to determine the level of hearing in each ear, because of her young age. Only that her hearing overall was good.  Now that she's 2 1/2 yrs. old we can get more accurate responses from her.  And last week's test indicated her hearing in both ears was just slightly less than normal.  Her speech therapist describes it as the kind of hearing loss you experience when you have a stuffy head from a cold.  Upon further discussion with her speech therapist it seems plausible that Eden's articulation delay may be the result of chronic fluid in her ears during her first year of life.  That's one of those things we'll never know for sure, but what she was telling me described Eden fairly accurately.  Little by little we're shedding some light on some of the mysteries.

My mom claims that Eden took a step on Friday!  We have been eagerly awaiting this momentous occasion and yet greet it with skepticism.  Just the other day Eden's PT asked me if I thought Eden was close to walking and I said no.  Now, what does close really mean?  I didn't think it would happen in the next few weeks.  Maybe months.  Hopefully year.  But maybe she's closer than I think.  Her preferred mode of perambulation (cool word, eh?) is to hold both my hands and walk with my assistance.  This is great for her, not for my back.  But in the last few weeks I have seen notable improvement in strength in her right leg.  When walking up stairs (with assistance) she now leads equally with right and left.  Previously her right leg wasn't strong enough for her to support her body as she stepped up.  She seems so wobbly when walking but she also tends to rely on my (or anyone else's) support.  Maybe when she takes those first steps on her own she won't be so wobbly b/c she'll have to rely on her own balance.  I know it sounds backwards, but her PT concurs.  I'm also going to start directing her to use her walker in the house when she wants to move from one place to another.  She's getting the hang of repositioning it when she runs into the wall or furniture.  She received a new type of walker this week but hasn't shown interest in using it yet.  She's also taking swim physical therapy which is helping with her balance and core strengthening.  And she loves the pool.  Of her own accord she put her face in the water and blew bubbles.  I don't recall showing her how to do that.

Eden has 2 favorite phrases.  One is My _____, as in My Mommy (she says loudly and repeatedly as we walk through the parking lot) or My boy (referring to one of her 3 cousins currently visiting with my parents).  The other is I need ____, as in I need Grandma or I need cup.  She thinks if she adds please on the end she'll get it.  The more pleases the better her chances.  Recent sentences have included, Mama, I need t.v. and I need Grandma, please, please, please, please.  In reality they sound like, Mama, Ah-nee t.v. and Ah-nee Gocka, pea, pea, pea, pea.  I have yet to figure out what Doe-doe is.  It seems to be her catch-all word for anything or anyplace she wants or wants to be.

Eden is a handful to say the least.  I often say Can you imagine if she was a twin???  She's more than I can handle most of the time.  She has a determination that is unswerving.  She never sits still.  She's not quiet.  And she wants to be in the middle of the action at all times.  That game of soccer in the backyard, no matter that I can't walk.  I want to be there.  I'm sure that's what's going on in her little mind.  She's such a delight and joy and so full of life.