Learning about my son....

Calvin gets very frustrated when he tries new things and can't do them. There is usually tears, anger and frustration. He is learning puzzles, the type you put the piece into the matching piece. He has mastered the zoo animals (putting the lion into the lion). Today we did farm animals and he couldn't do it. Many tears.
I remember when he first came home and didn't know how to push his legs to climb the ladder on the swing set. Help mommy, help. I am there to assist, encourage, but he needs to accomplish it himself and feel good about himself. He gets the cutest little grin when he does accomplish things on his own. We say good job and high five.
The other thing, he loves being surprised. Peek a boo, chasing, jumping out from behind somewhere, makes him so excited. We started occupational therapy  (1 session so far). Boy does he get overstimulated when we get there. So much to do. He is not a big fan of the ball pit. He has to use his stomache muscles to get up and out of there. I would say his favorite thing is the tricycle, which he hasn't quite mastered yet. He got to try scissors (didn't last very long because he got frustrated that he couldn't do it). He is now able to open the scissors and make a cutting mark, after practicing at home. He is so proud of himself and wants to show daddy when he gets home. The therapist did show me how to do joint compressions for him, which we have been doing every 2 hours since Thursday. Can't say I see a difference yet. We were going to get an evaluation with an attachment therapist, but I decided to wait until he was home for 6 months. We feel he is doing very well. My social worker did recommend the Connected Child book, so I just ordered that on Amazon. Can't wait to read it.
 Calvin has come so far, and yet I also realize how behind he is too. We recently had a friend over (I babysat him for a couple of hours) who is the same age as Calvin. He was talking my leg off. At one point he said, 'I don't understand Calvin when he talks". It was very funny. Calvin only speaks 2 words together most of the time and he is more at a 2 yr old developmentally. He cuddles toys, and his little friend is fighting with swords and slaying dragons. Calvin wants to watch Elmo and his friend doesn't. They do paint a lot alike though!  So this is where we are at 4.5 months home.

NAtional Adoption Month....Morgan

Morgan 26HA

Click on the above link to see Morgan. He is looking for a family, through Reece's Rainbow. If you can't adopt him, maybe you could give a few dollars to his fund to help another family adopt him. Thank you.

In honor of Adoption Month...

Calvin

Lion costume...

 Repunzel, lion and butterfly for halloween

Calvin's 1st Halloween

Calvin has been home almost 4 months and got to experience his first halloween. To get him used to his costume we had him wear it and play with it for the week before. He loved his 'lion' and even growled on cue. We told him we were going to friends houses to say trick or treat, get candy and say thankyou. We went with some good friends of ours. Calvin walked up to the doors with daddy and did great for the first 30 minutes. After that he wanted to be held and was done with trick or treating. We got home and he went straight to bed.
We also had his immunizations updated this week. Poor kid had to get 5 shots (one was a flu shot). I have never seen him scream like that. We of course have to go back in 8 weeks. I am not looking forward to that.  When we were in the doctor's waiting room he said, 'mommy shots'. Um, nope honey, Calvin's getting shots this time. He looked at me, and said, 'no, no, no'.
This Monday we are going to the University of Ann Arbor children's hospital for a 3rd opinion about his heart. Chicago says the opposite of Grand Rapids, so we are going to Ann Arbor for a consultation. Calvin never seems out of breath but his lips are blue quite often.
This week we also had our first post adoption report meeting. I was kind of surprised that we met at their office and not our home! Calvin did great, really, for being in a small office and playing for 1 hour. The social worker asked how attachment was going. Well, of course he isn't completely attached but he is making progress. She gave us a name of an attachment therapist who could help us see how he is doing. So I called him yesterday and am waiting to hear back from him. Overall it went well.
The last week Calvin had some set backs but the last couple of days he seems to be getting back to where he was before.
We have an appointment (consultation) next week with an occupational therapist to help us with his sensory issues, hoping they can give us some suggestions and insight.