Hello again from 608 Gravel Brook Court! Today is 6 October and it's actually wet outside. We've been under drought conditions for many months this year and the last two rains have done little to erase a massive deficit. It would take a monster rainfall of tropical storm proportions to get us back to where we should be, but even then that would not help the many trees and lawns long since permanently browned. But we're thankful it's raining today and we'll see what the future brings and optimism never hurts!
David started preschool about a month ago and is making friends, eating sand and having a good time in general. He's in a class with about a half dozen other kids his age and I think the small confines of the physical room are a challenge for him (think tempest/teapot). But we don't get to choose everything and the exercises in control will serve him well in the future. Academically David is probably more in line with 1st or 2nd grade expectations. He's more than mastered the alphabet. He's almost gotten to the point with his numbers where he's figured out how to count indefinitely. And I have a funny feeling we'll be teaching him some basic arithmetic before long. The threes have seen their moments of challenge for David (and his parents) but those moments of challenge are always followed by accomplishment and learning milestones.
Not to be outdone by his older brother, Camden has really begun to shine with accomplishments. First, he's interacting with everyone in the family much more discretely and can name all of us on sight. His articulation will improve with practice, but we continue to be amazed by his verbal achievements and the variety of sounds he's learned to create is very promising. There has also been much development on the cognitive front. Camden can clap on demand. He can problem solve in the physical world; like moving object A to facilitate access to object B. He can roll a ball back and forth with a partner. And, oh by the way, he can caress your forearm gently when you're feeding him his nighttime bottle and man is that worth whatever you had to get through that day to enjoy. Camden's biggest challenge at present is the continuation of his gross motor skills development. He has just learned to execute a rudimentary crawl and he can easily sit on his own with confidence. In fact, he can stand if you hold his hands. For clarity, he has more than ample leg strength to support his weight of 21 pounds. He simply lacks the balance to complete the trick. As his gross skills become more robust, he'll accomplish the standing milestone. The net-net is that Camden is doing more than well. He's blowing away our expectations. And if corporate America has taught his mother and I anything, that means raised expectations are right around the corner. And if Karen and I have taught Camden anything yet it is to do the impossible today and put the simply difficult stuff off until tomorrow!
I wanted to update everyone on how Karen and I are doing as well, but the sounds coming from the monitor tell me that Camden is not long from waking. Thus it's time to make cereal and formula and settle in for a feed session. The net-net on Karen and I is that we continue to be each others rock. If I'm stressed or I need to disappear for a two hour bike ride, she's there for me. And should I come home to find Karen's had a 25 hour day in only 12 hours, I'm her man. I have worked out some flex time at work to help us coordinate preschool, speech, developmental and physical therapies as well as Dr's appointments. Karen's sister Lynn has also been a God send and helps with some chauffeuring that gets paid for in love and appreciation. We can't thank her enough for her help.
I hope this update finds everyone well.
No comments:
Post a Comment