Early Intervention

I am truly blessed to have delivered a perfectly healthy baby boy and I never forget that. I know not everyone is as lucky as I am and I count my blessings everyday. So far, we haven't discovered any major allergies, aliments, or injuries. However, I felt that he wasn't talking as much as most almost 18 month olds are. I try my very hardest not to compare him because babies do things at their own pace the first few years of their lives, but I felt uncomfortable and luckily my pediatrician took my concerns to heart and recommend he be evaluated by Early Intervention to easy my worries and to help him progress.

I was pleasantly suprised how quickly he was able to get into the program. I called immediately after his appointment (a Friday) and was called back Tuesday to set up the intial meeting. They came the following day! I was very nervous because I didn't want them judging my baby but the first meeting was mostly paperwork, getting background information, and lots of signatures. We set up an appointment for his actual assessment for the following week.

The assessment was a bit difficult for me because he was not doing ANYTHING they wanted him to do in true Shane fashion and I knew he could do the things asked of him. He was ready for his nap so that may have contributed to his lack of interest or the fact that out of the 3 ladies here, he had only met one of them before. I was shocked to see that he scored right on age for verbal but they scored him at 10 and 12 months for two other categories (one was fine motor skills and the other had to do with his interest level). Because he was 30% delayed (he'd have to be at 12 months for any of the sections to be eligible) we were eligible for services. (Side note: his fine motor skills are totally fine. He can stick my car key in my ignition and use a fork. He was just not having the game one of the ladies was trying to do with him)

Yesterday we developed his ISVP, which is basically goals and deadlines for both Shane and I. They gave me a list of resources that were available to me which included a tot time for Shane and a Mommy's group for me. Right now they are going to come work with him at least twice a week at home, more if we need it.

These are the goals I set:

Learn 10 new words in 3 months.
Develop an stronger attachment to daddy's voice/picture to help to form a healthy social/emotional bond
Help him to communicate better with me to avoid tantrums.


In addition to the regular home visits, I am receiving sign language classes, stress management classes, and financial planning classes! I was amazed that this program has so much to offer me and not just little man! But the more I think about it, this is really a family assignment. Shane can't be learning these things without me helping him so I need to be as equipped as I possibly can be. And the fact they provide these wonderful services to me for FREE makes the icing on the cake that much sweeter.