Levi has a new tooth pretty much any time I look! He also LOVES food and will eat almost anything that you put in front of him. He also will eat things you do not put in front of him but put in front of his cousins. We have had many-a-cousin-meltdowns because "Wevi took my chicken!" and many apologies from Mitch and myself on Levi's behalf. So if you ever go out to eat with the Jaeger family and you are stuck next to Levi, guard your plates!
In addition to new events, Levi also stood alone for the first time last week! This was a HUGE thing for him. Levi also started holding his own cup/bottle in the last month as well. Both of these small steps forward have really encouraged us about his development. As I mentioned in his last monthly update, Levi's pediatrician has been monitoring his delays since this summer. At his 12 month check-up, we decided to observe him over the next month and reevaluate after that. In November, we re-met with his doctor who encouraged us to have some tests done and to have Levi start visiting a physical and speech therapists for his delays.
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| Meeting Levi's newest cousin Wesley |
All of this has sadly brought out so much sin in my heart! My pride burned the first day that our doctor suggested something might be wrong with my child. My pride was bruised when I watched other kids Levi's age far surpass him in development. I am ashamed to say that I have had feelings of embarrassment. Not embarrassed about Levi himself, but embarrassed because I sometimes feel that Levi's delays could have been caused because I have not been a good enough parent. All of these feelings, and many, many more dark thoughts that lie in my sinful heart, are all proof of the vanity and pride that lives in me. So while we are not sure why or what has caused these things to happen, I am confident that the Lord was not surprised in the least that these sins laid waiting within me. And I am also confident that the Lord is using this time to sanctify my heart.
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| Happy Howl-a-ween |
-Does not respond to his name
-Does not use any words (such as Mama, Dada, or Bye-bye)
-Does not understand words or commands (come here, or are you all done?)
-Does not use gestures or pointing to show things he wants or needs
-Does not point to objects that you name (where is the dog? or where is mama?)
-Does not mimic sounds or gestures
-Does not walk by 15 months
After some consideration and prayer, Mitch and I decided to hold off on visiting a neurologist until after he had been evaluated by the pediatric therapists. With the start of the new year, Levi will be doing speech and physical therapy in hopes diminish his delays all together. Although his process has been scary and uncertain, Mitch and I are very encouraged by Levi's forward progress and are thankful that he has yet to regress in anything so far (which is a huge answered prayer!). We are also very thankful that Levi's personality has not been effected by his delays so far and he is an absolutely joy to be around (about 90% of the time- no baby can be perfect!) The Lord has been so faithful to us in this journey and we know that his faithfulness and goodness do NOT change; and in that promise we are resting!
Dear Amy, my friends, Barry and Sharon Gosnell told me about your blog. My husband, Marvin, knows Mitch from Mitch's time at First Bible in Decatur. The reason Barry told me about your blog is that we have a four year old grandson who is autistic and we share all our updates with our friends the Gosnells. As I read your blog, I know exactly where you are coming from. We felt their was something wrong with our Baylor from about 18 months old. We did the hearing etc...we just watched but finally at age three, he was diagnosed with moderate, classic autism. Being a former nurse the big warning sign for me that he was autistic was that he did not respond to his name. Here we are almost a year later...is it easier? Yes in some ways...having a diagnosis and a plan has been helpful. He is in therapy quit a bit and he is just not starting to talk some. His speech therapist says it will come and we hope she is right. But in some ways it is just as hard. Like you, it is hard not to get impatient with those Facebook moms who are having a hard day with their normally developing toddler. But I will say that God has lead us down this path and we are learning to rejoice in new skills and to say that we will trust God for our "B" even if he does not progress any farther than the skills he has now. He has a great smile, loves to give us love by rubbing our hair and our faces, and most of all we know God made this boy perfectly imperfect. A friend reminded me one day that our grandson is a pure soul...that has encouraged me as I know "B" has much to teach us about life and love. I will be praying for you as you walk this road with Levi.
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