Levi: 21 Months

As much as I hate still referring to Levi's age in months, "Levi: Almost 2" as a blog title sounded even worse. Not to mention, he really won't be 21 months until June 10th (which means I am AHEAD on my blog posts for once!)

Easter 2015

First day of school/Last day of school

Although the last few months have had some really challenging moments, the wonderful moments have far, far outweighed the hard ones. Levi's personality continues to surprise us and make us laugh. Although he has regressed in all verbal communication, he has started to show signs of understanding certain words and phrases that we use daily such as "Dance, Levi!", "Give kisses", and "Are you ready to go night-night?" In hindsight, maybe we should spend more time on practical commands but he just looks so darn cute when he "dances".

Last week, Levi and I spent the week in Destin with most of my side of the family (Mitch had to stay back and give finals.) During that week, my older brother Josh was able to teach Levi to "fist bump" and to shake his hand when Josh said "Put 'er there". This was HUGE. A.) Because Levi was associating words with certain actions, and B.) because he responded to someone who was not Mitch or I.

In the last few months, Levi has made some great strides in his social skills as well! For the longest time, he wouldn't even respond to anyone who was not Mitch or I and he pretended like most kids his age and adults did not exist. However, he has started watching and playing with his cousins a little bit more and has been interacting with his aunts and uncles a lot more as well! He also continues to steal his cousins' food, but that is a lesson to be learned another day.

Levi laughs all of the time and mostly during rough play or being "scared". He loves wrestling with Mitch or being hit in the face with pillows (seriously, it's his favorite game). He also loves loud noises and suspense games. His new favorite toys are two Frisbees that were given to us at a restaurant in Destin in March. He will spin the Frisbee for HOURS. His favorite thing is to get both Frisbees spinning at the same time. It's really quite impressive. When we are outside of the house (in the car, running errands, at daycare, etc), his favorite toy is his "MP3 player" with his strap attached to it (the strap is just as important as the toy we have discovered!) The toy has buttons that will play music and he constantly presses the buttons while we are out because it soothes him. One day he is going to look through all the pictures that we have of him from this time and will wonder why he has a toy with a ratty old strap attached to it in EVERY picture. But it works and he loves it. Therefore, we love it.

My Cousin & my MP3 player, what more could a boy need!

In the last few weeks, Levi has also become very attached to blankets. However, since he does not have a "blankie", he insists on carrying around our full size fleece blankets (which is hysterical). He also insists on having ALL of the blankets. I cannot even count how many times Levi stole his Aunt Laura's blanket from her at the beach last week but it was just too funny to stop him. I am thinking purchasing Levi his own blanket is in our future!

Although we still have not heard any words yet, Levi is slowly beginning to communicate in his own way and it has been such a joy to be able to sometimes understand what he is wanting or feeling! So until the words and talking come, this mama is completely content to continue with the hugs, kisses, and happy arm flapping!

Levi Development Update: April 2015

At Levi's 15 month check-up, our pediatrician referred us to a speech and physical therapist and agreed to let us see how therapy alone would work before we pursued other tests/doctors. However, after 3 months of therapy, we reconvened in March for Levi's 18 month appointment and he was even further behind. Because of this, Dr. S (who has been amazing and has treated Levi and us with so much grace and compassion), had what I like to call "the hard conversation."  And out of that hard conversation, came our "game plan" for the next couple of months as we strive to do everything we can to give Levi the best chance in all things.

Isn't he the cutest?

Levi has been currently diagnosed with PDD, or Pervasive Developmental Disorder. I say currently, because this diagnoses could change as we run more tests, and as Levi gets older. However, according to his symptoms and behaviors now, it is the diagnoses that fits.

Levi saw an audiologist a few weeks ago and passed his second hearing test, so we can officially rule out hearing loss or deafness, praise the Lord! We have an upcoming appointment with a Developmental Pediatric Specialist in Atlanta in June. We have been told to allot 4-5 hours for our initial appointment with Dr. Rubin (I choked on my coffee when the nurse told me that nugget of information- "you know he's 18 months right?") Although I am already struggling with anxiety because of the length of that appointment, I think that we are going to be able to learn so much from it about what is going on with Levi. So as strange as it is to say, I am excited for that appointment!

Fun at the park!

We are still annoyingly patiently trying to get an appointment with a Pediatric Neurologist. Because insurance is SO MESSED UP finicky right now, the only Pediatric Neurologist that will accept our insurance is in Augusta, Georgia, and they do not have an open appointment until mid August for out of area patients. However, because we don't want to wait that long and because Augusta is about a 4.5 hour drive from Columbus, we are currently in the process of applying for a "prior approval" with our insurance that would enable us to go to a doctor closer to town. We have a pediatric neurologist in town who has an appointment ready for us, so please pray that insurance will allow us to go to him!

While we wait for upcoming appointments and insurance approvals, we have been directed towards an organization called Easter Seals ( http://www.easterseals.com/who-we-are/history/ ). I had a tour/interview a few weeks ago and we have decided to start Levi there full time in August. He will be a part of their child development center and will also be doing his therapy there full time as well.  He will "checked-out" of class several times a week for one-on-one therapy and he will also have daily therapy goals that his teacher will work on with him through out the day. We have heard such high praise of Easter Seals' programs and therapists and we are very hopeful and excited to see how Levi progresses while he is there.

As far as Levi's development, skills and behavior, he is officially walking about 85% of the time!! He will still crawl some, but it is normally when he is playing with his ball or his Frisbee (I swear I have a child and not a dog). For the most part, his attitude and temperament have improved drastically since he has begun walking. He still gets very frustrated when we don't understand what he wants (which is most of the time) but who can blame him? All in all, he is a joyful, sweet, energetic little boy and he has been a champ through all of this!

Levi has regressed in almost all of the speech he had developed. A while back, I had blogged about him saying "dog" and "dada", but that has almost completely stopped now. The only communication that he has held onto is waving bye-bye and he is so proud of himself (as are we) every time he waves. It is absolutely precious! He also continues to sign "please" with our hands (not his own) for anything he wants. We do not even have to prompt him anymore, which is a big step!

Happy as a clam

We aren't really sure why he is regressing, but we are hopeful that his upcoming Neurology appointment and Pediatric Development appointment in Atlanta will really shine a light on whats going on and what we can do to help. We greatly appreciate all of those who are praying and loving on us and Levi! And we are so incredibly thankful for the gift that is Levi himself, we truly wouldn't change a thing!

Levi: 18 months

             "For you formed {Levi's} inward parts; you knitted {him} together in {my} womb. I praise you, for {he is} fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. {His} frame was not hidden from you, when {he} was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw {his} unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for {him}, when as yet there was none of them." {adapted from Psalm 139}

I never thought I would be writing Levi's 18 month post and shouting from the rooftops "HE'S WALKING!", but that is exactly what we have been doing the past two weeks! To everyone we know. And even random people at the grocery store that I do not know (sorry bag boy). We have celebrated A LOT in the last two weeks and so many wonderful people have celebrated with us.

Although there have been SO many difficult things that have come along with this journey we are walking through with Levi's development etc., one of the sweetest blessings that has come with it has been treasuring every, single little new thing that he does. He works so hard for new skills and sounds and every one has become grounds for HUGE celebration in our house. It has made us so thankful that God is using this season to teach us how precious every single detail is. So we will celebrate hearing a sound (any sound) that is not "d". And we will celebrate when Levi grabs a shoe and places it in the vicinity of his foot. And when Levi learns to "give kisses", after I have spent MONTHS trying to teach him this skill (so superficial and quite selfish on my part, but give a mom a break! I will only get kisses from my son for so long), I will freak out so bad that Mitch and Levi will be a little concerned about my state of mind.

This past month has brought about so many of these new skills! Levi is now officially walking about 50% of the time and has also learned to stand up in the middle of the room by himself. He also has learned to "give kisses", wave "bye-bye", and put together a puzzle (or close enough). He still has not adapted well to using sign-language, but he has started making a few more "singing" noises where he will change the octave of his voice. We have not heard any new words or letters yet, but hopefully one of these days he will just bust out in some "bees" and *fingers crossed* "mmmms" (I may or may try and teach him "MAMA" a billion times a day)

All in all, these last few months have been so precious for us as a family. After getting his initial evaluation back at the beginning of the year, our home was anxious, sad, and dejected. However, over the last few months, the Lord has truly transformed our house into a place of hope and joy. In addition, Levi's tantrums have become more subdued and less frequent and I think he is starting to feel a more joyful himself! However, I am not sure how joyful Levi will be come July when we welcome his little brother Lucas into the picture. (That's right, we are pregnant with baby boy #2 due in mid July!!)

Levi continues to love all types of bouncy balls & has just recently become interested in puzzles. He also has a new love/unhealthy obsession with brushing his teeth and we suffer quiet a large meltdown when we are all done brushing and have to put the toothbrush away. Levi is growing into such a sweet, cuddly-yet independent, funny little boy! His personality catches us off guard and he makes us laugh so much with his funny facial expressions and random bursts of sound and laughter. Levi is exactly how God meant him, and (thanks to a lot of prayer, grace, and hard truth) we wouldn't have it any other way.

Therapy, Tantrums, and a Cat Called Dog

We have officially been in therapy for a little over a month now and it is slowly becoming part of our daily routine. Although it makes every task a whole lot slower, almost everything we do through out the day can be a teaching exercise to help develop Levi's communication. Right now, the main thing we are working on with Levi is teaching him to communicate through signing. We are also working painfully joyfully on teaching him that we no longer respond to crying as a form of communication. (Obviously, if he is scared, hurt, etc. we respond!) This has brought about some pretty big tantrums, but it is so important for Levi to learn that toddlers communicate with their words and not their screams. 

Exhibit A: Communicating with our cries

 Since being in therapy, Levi has had some slow but promising progress! He is picking up on some signing, although he still refuses to sign himself. Instead, he will grab my hands and sign with them. It's reallllllly pretty cute, but I try and stay strong and make him sign himself. He has had a few moments where he has hinted that he might even understand a few of the signs enough to communicate with them. In addition to this, Levi has said his first word. Oh how I wish that I could tell you it was MaMa or DaDa. But alas, the single word Levi has chosen to learn is "Dog". And he uses it in reference to my parent's cat. But we will take it! 

We got the results from Levi's evaluation & communication test a couple weeks ago and it was one of the hardest things I have ever had to read. No one wants to hear that their child is not perfect. No one wants to hear that their child is further behind that they originally thought. And no one EVER wants to hear the words "severe deficit" and "half his age" in reference to their child's development. But, sadly, we did hear those things. And we cried, and sulked, and shook our fists, and had a good long day of hating everyone on Instagram who was posting photos of their perfectly developing child (okay the last one was just me). Thankfully, the Lord meets us wherever we are, and He met us in those moments and continues to meet us in the those moments every day. Because let's be real, I still have many moments of jealousy and hatred every week ever day. But if those that are single can rejoice with those who are getting married, and if those who are longing for a child and are without can rejoice with those expecting, then you better believe that I (after confessing the thoughts of my prideful and jealous heart) can and should rejoice and celebrate the lives and accomplishments of my friend's children. 

"Sit down? I don't understand that sign"

To summarize Levi's evaluation, he is 16 months old and measuring at an 8 month old communication level. This places him in 2-3 percentile of where his peers are (so he is not alone!) His hearing tests have come back normal, so as of right now we do not have an explanation for his communication delays. We most likely will be doing blood work and potentially brain scans in the following months to rule out a few disorders and conditions that can cause speech disorders. In the meantime, we will be seeing a speech therapist 2-3 times a week for the next six months. At the end of the six months, he will be retested and reevaluated. 

We are praying and hoping with pried open hands that Levi will not test positive for any disorders or brian damage and that he will make huge strides in his therapy over the next 6 months. We are also praying for positive outlooks and thankful hearts. And we are daily thankful and grateful for the sweet, cuddly, hyper-active, little boy we have been blessed and entrusted with. 

Levi 15 Months

The last few months have been filled with so many changes for our sweet, little boy! For starters, after his first haircut, Levi officially looks more like a toddler than a baby. And wouldn't you know it, the only way that we are able to get his haircut is if we play the Frozen "Let it Go" video for him on repeat! Almost a year later and he still LOVES that song.

 The last few months have come with many new firsts for Levi as well. We took Levi (and his cousins) to a pumpkin patch for the first time and he loved crawling around all of the pumpkins. At the end of October, he also got to attend his first "Trunk or Treat" at our church! Mitch & I's small group did a "Despicable Me" theme  and Levi made the cutest little Minion (but I guess I'm biased). October was a very full month but Levi loved every bit of it!

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.

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.

Happy Howl-a-ween

These are just a few of the recommended "warning signs" that suggest a possible delay and/or hearing problem in a 15 month old (and that we have seen in Levi):

                 -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!

Family Photos

So with Levi turning 1 this fall, I figured it was about time we actually had some family photos done with him in them! (Seriously, if you ever come over to our house you would think we were a single couple because we have NO family photos of the 3 of us.)

 We had a friend of mine, Jennifer Corcoran, take our photos at the Botanical Gardens in Columbus since it is right down the street from our house. Jennifer is an "up and coming" photographer who is just getting into the photography business.

However, you would NEVER know that she is just starting out because the photos she took of us (on the most humid morning this year with a teething, angry, uncooperative one year old) are INCREDIBLE. 

Seriously, I love them all. Jennifer is incredibly talented and had some really cute ideas for photos that turned out so great. I really could not say enough good things about her and her sweet hubby Blake (who spent the whole morning making silly faces so that Levi would not be sulking in every photo.) 

For the record: He picked up the piece of straw ALL by himself and started chewing on it. You would think we don't feed him. 

Long story short, we love our photos Jennifer! Thank you so much for the time and effort you put into giving us such a great gift through these captured moments. 

Months 9-12

How is this little thing a 1 year old?! I know every parent says that... but really, where did the time go? I know I have said this in previous posts about Levi, but THIS is now my new favorite age. When I look back on prayers or posts from "the dark ages" (aka the Colic days), I am truly amazed that my happy, flirty, giggly, little man came out of such an unhappy newborn! (So if anyone out there is reading this and struggling with a Colicky baby, do not lose heart! You're baby will not always be like this)

In honor of his first birthday, we had a very small, laid-back "tailgate" party at my parent's house with family and a few friends. I couldn't have asked for a better day! We ate, opened presents, watched football, and Levi has his first taste of cake (banana bread with cool whip). Although he didn't like the cake too much, he loved opening presents and playing with his new toys with his cousins. It was almost surreal watching him play all day (ummm when did you become a little boy?!)

 Levi has grown so much in the last few months. He has become extremely social and he absolutely loves being around people. Some days, if he is really grumpy,we will go walk around Target because he immediately perks up being in public. (And, because I am the selfless, sacrificial type, I'll oblige HIS need to go to Target. Okay fine, my need) Levi loves bath time and has officially graduated up to the regular bath tub. He loves playing with his bath toys and splashing anyone within a 5 foot radius. He also continues to really love music. He loves listening to music, "playing" music on his xylophone, and having people sing to him. Anything that lights up and plays music can entertain him for hours!

Of all of his favorite things, there is nothing that Levi loves more than Mickey Mouse. Mickey Mouse pictures, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, his Mickey toy, it doesn't matter to him at all. Anything and everything Mickey Mouse makes him smile. On a related note, if anyone needs to know ANYTHING AT ALL about Mickey Mouse Clubhouse let me know! Or, maybe a Mouseketool could help you. (Seriously, why isn't this a category at Loco's Trivia?)

Sarah and Taylor's wedding

On a more serious note, the biggest change for Levi recently has been his enrollment in "school." This past August, Levi started at Central Christian Preschool and is there 4 days a week since Mitch and I are both working full time now. In addition to going to CCC Preschool, Levi spends a couple hours a day with my mom until Mitch gets off work. This has been a HUGE adjustment for Levi. However, he has handled it like a champ (minus those first two weeks of daycare when he would scream bloody murder the whole time he was there). Levi loves going to school, his teacher Mrs. Roxanne, and, wouldn't you know it, his classroom's xylophone (do they offer xylophone scholarships to Juilliard?) Not only does Levi enjoy school, but it has been a huge help for his developmental delays and we are hoping that it will help diminish them all together!

First day in our new house!

 At his one year check up, Levi weighed in at 20 lbs 8 ounces (10th percentile in weight) and was 29 inches long (50th percentile in height). He is on the small side but he is completely healthy! He also has 8-10 teeth and hasn't met a food he doesn't like!  (I am not 100% on the exact number of teeth he has because I fear for the safety of my fingers!)

First haircut

When the nurse told me his percentiles, David (from the Old Testament) immediately popped into my mind; young and small but chosen by God and made greater than a giant. I can only hope and pray that the same will be true of Levi... not to be great, but rather to be chosen by the Great One himself.