Fluid

As you know, Stella has had fluid in her ears since birth. They call it "eustachian tube dysfunction" meaning the tube that drains your ear has a hard time doing so. Children have a much flatter tube than adults which is why children get ear infections so much more frequently. The ear is better able to drain in adults. When we grow the tube gets more vertical and is better able to drain. 

Clara started physical therapy about a month ago. As part of the evaluation process, they will do a hearing test if they feel it's necessary, or the parents desire it. I've known Clara had some issues with her balance and coordination, but I also noticed her speech was much more difficult to understand than her sisters. As part of the evaluation I requested a referral for a hearing test. 

Clara hadn't had any ear infections until this past winter when she had three very close together. She was on antibiotics and steroids for a few weeks in order to get it to finally go away. Since that time I noticed she had a more difficult time following directions and listening consistently. 

We went last Thursday. Within a few minutes I was told that Clara has fluid in her ears and that we needed another referral to an ENT. With bone conduction testing they were able to determine the nerve is functioning fine and that the mild-moderate hearing loss she's currently presenting with is conductive. 

I'm grateful I'm able to be home with my girls as this was so subtle. There was no huge red flag telling me this was going on. I'm grateful I know my children better than anyone else and can tell when something isn't right and I'm so glad I pushed for the hearing test! 

I'm hoping we can get in to see the ENT soon as I'm hoping we can resolve this issue ASAP. 

18 Months Old

It seems each month I'm more and more behind on these updates. I'm not sure if anyone is even reading them, but I love looking back and reading about how they were at __ months old.

The girls are so much fun these days. I think they're to the point where I consider them to be more fun than work....most of the time. They are listening and following simple directions consistently and both trying to talk and communicate quite a bit. They are so full of personality and W and I are constantly amazed by their different strengths.

Lucy- You are so good at communicating to us what you want or need. You're starting to imitate anything and everything we say or do so we need to be careful around you. You are walking everywhere and just about running now too. You figured out how to stand up in the middle of the room without holding on to anything but first figured it out in the tub. We couldn't understand why you were so proud of yourself standing up until we saw how you managed it. You are such a great eater these days. If you told me that a year ago I would have laughed at you. One of your favorite foods is carrots. You are sleeping through the night about 50% of the time. The other nights you are up usually once and daddy sometimes has to climb in your crib with you to calm you down. This is the best way we've managed to keep you out of our bed. You now have 12 teeth including 4 molars. The only teeth you are missing for now are the canines. You're still wearing mostly 12-18 month clothing. Everyone keeps saying how much you are looking like your sister and I think it's because you're eating so well and gaining weight. You still love Elmo and seriously zone out when we turn on the T.V. We joke you get your love for T.V from your daddy because he was the same way as a kid. You love playing with the magnets on the fridge and puzzles. It's so fun watching you learn and grow.

"Cheese"

Playing with her Sesame Street cards

Getting ready for Mexico. 

Clara- You are getting so much better at walking. The physical therapist noted your balance was a little off and your right hip looked to be lagging behind the right when you walk, so we are seeing an orthopedic next week to check it out. Most likely it's nothing as you are improving so much every day, but we just want to be sure. You are walking all over the house with your sister and love carrying things with you. You love the little tins we have of pretend food (pineapples, peas and carrots, tea) and also the jewelry we have for you to play with. You finally got a molar and did so great with it. It didn't affect your sleeping at all but you're eating hasn't been great. You love your fruit but don't really like to try new things. I think you'd just eat fruit all day every day if we let you. You're trying to talk more and more but the accuracy is still lacking for sure. I love that you're trying more and gaining confidence in doing so. You are so thoughtful, kind, and sweet to your sister and you are always bringing her things. You always think of her and it's so incredibly nice. You love throwing things out in the trash and will walk 3 rooms away to do so if you have to. You are getting more and more brave in public. In music class you love picking up the instruments and strumming the guitar. You're venturing out more away from me and with the other kids. You're getting so big and smart!

Lovey on her head and fast asleep. 

Love that little face

The girls took their first trip to NYC this month and we had such a fun time at a children's museum. They are so much happier now that they are able to walk everywhere and get a little space from each other. This really helps with the fighting. They still have their moments, but the fighting lately has been much better. They are so into imitating everything the other one does and it's seriously so cute (and also seriously annoying at times, lol). They've discovered the dogs water dish and toilets so we are always on the lookout for water play around here.

In matching outfits with their buddy Jack. 

Helping Mama making guacamole

Passing out in the car is a regular occurrence with only one nap a day. 

Early Intervention

Lucy was evaluated by early intervention this past week. I was concerned with both girls' physical development in the early parts of the summer. It seemed most children their age were crawling and they still weren't. I texted a physical therapist I worked with and she offered to come look at them, but said that they were probably fine. I didn't have her come because I wasn't hugely concerned. Then Lucy broke her leg. 

Within the first week or so of Lucy getting her cast Clara started crawling. Although she's still not advanced by any means, Clara is still doing fine. She's currently crawling everywhere, moving in and out of sitting, walking behind a walker independently, and pulling to stand on everything. I'm no longer worried about her. 

Lucy, on the other hand, spent 5 weeks in a cast. The first night she came home she was moving all over the place. Since then she's been reluctant to do much. She's really not even rolling over consistently. She'll pull to stand if she holds on to your fingers but prefers to sit and play. She doesn't tolerate a lot of tummy time now. When she stands she's shaky and can't last long. Also, she has horrible posture and doesn't sit up tall like her sister. She has started to pivot and turn around while sitting. Whenever she does to much she seems to have a lot of pain at night. The other day W did a lot of standing with her and then that night was awful. She cried so much and was inconsolable. I think she was in pain as she just couldn't get comfortable. 

I do early intervention evaluations so I know how they work. I know a child has to have a "significant delay" in one developmental area as one way to qualify for services. I had a feeling the sooner after getting the cast off that I had her evaluated, the more likely she would qualify. Considering I was concerned with her physical skills prior to the cast it's no surprise I was looking to physical therapy as a good thing. So, the day after the cast came off I made a referral to early intervention. 

Her evaluation was this past Wednesday. I honestly had no idea whether she would qualify or not because I don't evaluate kids when the concern is their physical development. I evaluate when the concern is their speech and language development. 

Lucy qualified for physical therapy due to her not consistently rolling, transitioning in and out of sitting, getting on her hands and knees, etc. The therapist also blamed her poor posture on her having a weak core. Within the next few weeks a physical therapist will start coming to the house to provide services. I'm not sure how frequently at this point but my guess is that it will be once a week. 

I'm hoping Lucy won't take long to catch up and be where she should be with her physical development. I'm sure she and her sister will be running in opposite directions before I know it.