Mom knows best

 We were in St Louis on Monday for the eye clinic. Benaiah did very well and does not need glasses.  His  eyes are not crossed even though he looks like they are at times.  Over all a good appointment and the eye doctor suggested that we have 2 more tests run to see how his brain processes what he sees. So we headed back to St Louis Children's yesterday for the 2 eye tests and also for a 2nd opinion on Benaiah's legs.  The Orthopedic doctor here was much better than in Columbia. Benaiah does not have a leg length problem but he does have tight ankles like Suzanne his physical therapist said. If we do not take care of it now with stretching and night splints we will have a bigger problem that will require more serious steps. I am praying that this is the answer to his falling and that we won't have any problems with his feet in Ukraine. It definately is something to run by Mike W. So he was casted in pretty blue casts and I wish that I had brought my camera and in 2 weeks his camo splints will be ready.  I am very thankful that I insisted on a 2nd opinion.  Today Benaiah had OT.  He now can cut food with a knife and play operation. Um, I believe we may have to buy that game.

Happy 4th Birthday Benaiah!

Benaiah woke up to presents, he had time to open them and then he had to head out the door to OT.

Playing with his friends. He loves these girls.

Here is the Birthday Boy with his Choo Choo cake.

Do you like the cake and ice cream?

He loves his party hats and noise makers.  Did you know noise makers are good therapy?

Today was the big day. I have been thinking back on these last 4 yrs. How Benaiah’s birth was very rough but we thought he was fine, then the thumper rabbit, then the head drops and during this time EI. How thrilled we were at 1 year to have a diagnosis, but not seizures, and such a happy baby, 15 months no talking, but he was walking. I found a wonderful group where I learned a lot about hemiplegia and found a lot of support  for all the things we deal with. At 2 years is when the seizures kicked in again and we knew our little guy needed something to stop them, 28 months is when we met a wonderful Doctor in Ukraine, Mike W, who I see the Lord guiding. We also invited Stefa, Momma Stefa as Benaiah calls her into our lives and Benaiah is/was immersed in Ukrainian. At 3 Benaiah loved to play with cars and his sand box; and go throughout the village. Now marks his 4th Birthday and boy are we happy with where he is now. He is able to communicate, ride his trike like a mad man, can count in sign. Thank you Lord for giving us Benaiah, thank you for taking us to Holland as I know You are here in Holland with us. Benaiah, I love you and I hope and pray that your 4^th year is your best birthday yet

Someone has a birthday tomorrow.

Can you guess how old he will be?

Thank you for the balloons, Nee. Obviously I am not good at taking photos at 5 am. We need another photo with the nicest balloon. 

Some new photos

                                                  The many different faces of Benaiah.

Tiger update

Walmart still hasn't found Roar.  I am beginning to think that either the store is very dirty or someone walked off with him.  But that doesn't matter now as Linn Drug had this tiger for cheap. So I now introduce to you Benaiah's New Roar Oasis.  He is cute and Benaiah loves him so much.  Benaiah's eyes just sparkled when I handed him it at home.  Now I can relax knowing Benaiah has his tiger that he needs.

The Lost Tiger and Surgery is scheduled

Well Benaiah did it, he lost his beloved Roar in Walmart. We are praying it shows up.  

He is going to need his tiger on Tuesday.  His surgery is scheduled for 11:30 am Tuesday morning.  Please pray that all goes well.

 

I am slacking

Sorry about not posting.  Life is busy, we went to the Zoo last week.  Benaiah has started outpatient therapy and he is doing really good.  He needs dental surgery for some major cavities and he will be having surgery for a circumcision on Tuesday. He did well at the dentist and let them take xrays of his teeth but it gagged him and I asked that they fix his teeth under sedation so he won't be scared of the dentist.  His cavities are from drinking sweet drinks and the only thing I can figure that he drinks sweet is the tea in Ukraine. I am praying that he handles the anesthesia ok.  He has been a blessing in that he now knows his colors in sign and can say some of the words.  He still does not talk in sentences. But he loves life, is usually sweet and loving.  He picked out his Birthday Cake and this is what he picked.

So next Friday we will celebrate his 4th birthday.  Mom is cruel though and scheduled OT for him that morning.

Update and new evals

So the school messed us around and gave us summer school, a whole 2 weeks for speech and so I went back to Benaiah's dr and asked for outpatient services.  Benaiah is qualified for 2 sessions of ot and speech a week and one of pt.  He is doing good in gross motor and is only 10-15 mons delayed and the pt promised to work on falling so he will learn to not bounce his face off the ground.  He has gained some months in speech and is now 1 yr 9 mons in expressive and 2 yrs 3 months  in receptive.  He is still very delayed as he was 47 months old when tested.  He is saying more words now but not complete sentences.  He also will copy you and I hope sometime it will click.  Last week he was really into his signing times dvds and he sat and watched them for a long time.  Since then, I have seen more signs. His speech therapist though does not want him learning signs and I told her that he says words with his signs.  He actually picks up some new words.  She agrees though that he is locked in his body.  The orthopedic dr turned into a flop so we are being referred to Children's.  I will not waste time in Columbia any more nor will I recommend them to anyone. Tomorrow we head to the Zoo.