I am going to start with the cuteness today. Trevor had a million pictures during breakfast as he went through his range of dramatic expressions.
He was giving me such a cheesy ham face, it doesn’t even look like Trevor anymore! It was too funny then, and still funny to me now!
Then Trevor discovered the treasure at the end of the rainbow. The secret stash of loud clanging pots and pans.
He has to get out every one
Brendan came to investigate the noise
There was a little battle
Trevor got lunch in his hair and as I cleaned him up, this just happened
When Uncle Kevin made these tables, I don’t think a Trevor sandwich was what he had in mind.
For the first time since the boys were born, the four of us sat at the table and had dinner as a family. Trevor loved his steak and potatoes. I should have made him his own steak!
Aside from the cuteness, today was pretty stressful. I let my emotions get the better of me and am embarrassed that I got upset during the therapy meeting today. As I feared, the three hours a week of therapy that Brendan used to get (1hr each of PT, OT, and speech) is gone and we are left with one hour a week of the “team based approach”. He will have one therapist that is a team leader that will visit, in Brendan’s case it will be an OT. That person will bring in the other specialists “as needed” to provide other services. The therapists will alternate instead of each seeing him weekly, as long as we don’t run out of “units”.
They promise me that “research shows this works” and that I will just have to wait and see. I can’t possibly imagine how less is more in this instance.
I have full confidence that Brendan will achieve any goals we set for him, therapists or none. We will have it no other way and his whole family will do everything to take care of his needs. Then their “research” can show just how effective this team crap is in his case and they can pat themselves on the back for how much money they saved.
I am furious with how poorly this transition has been handled. I am sad to lose the hard working therapists that have invested so much time in Brendan so far that were dumped like a dirty diaper.
I am angry with myself for feeling angry with them all. I am fortunate that there is any assistance from the state to provide early intervention services without massive out of pocket costs to us, and I should be grateful that he gets therapies at all. It is hard to separate the stress and emotion in this huge time of change.
Today was a raw gut reaction to the fact that we are losing help in the form of people and time. It sucks, but as always, things could be a lot worse.
There’s a lot of cuteness in the pictures and video! The funny faces of Trevor, the kitchen drawer discovery (you know where they will be now!), Trevor’s hair, and Trevor sandwich!! 🙂
It’s too bad that they are cutting Brendan’s therapy hours, but I know that the progress that Brendan has made is more due to you and Bill working with him, and pushing him, encouraging him, and exposing him to all kinds of stimuli and experiences than it is to the hours he’s had therapists. As long as the one who comes shows you what he needs to be doing, you know that he cooperates more for you anyway because he trusts you. I’m sure he will be fine. I know it is a big change, and you should not feel bad or embarrassed for being upset by it. All change is disconcerting, even if it turns out to be fine in the long run. Brendan is growing and changing, and getting stronger and more determined every day to be like every other little boy his age. He has Trevor to mimic, and I can see on the blog how fast things change each and every day. He will be fine, and I know for a fact that you will see to that! You are amazing! You give the therapists a lot of the credit that goes to you. I’m sure they’ve been wonderful to Brendan. But, he wouldn’t be doing so well if not for you! Try not to be afraid of this change, just think of it as part of the amazing progress he is making. He’s accomplished SO much in such a short time. He has overcome some big bumps in the road, he’ll overcome this, too.
I love you! I love those little boys! I wish there was more I could say to help.
Lots and lots of love and hugs and kisses,
Gramma
Sometimes you wonder if the people who make the decisions remember that there are real people and real babies behind each case number! It sounds like the transition was just so abrupt, and of course that would be upsetting! Mom is right – Brendan has made so many milestones because of hjs parents. The therapists are like any teacher – you get your hour a day, but it is the practice at home that inspires true growth. Brendan will show them all, because he has support that can’t be reduced or replaced.
Trevor and the pots and pans is so cute, especially when he is sitting in the stove drawer. The tug of war between the boys is priceless, Brendan is strong as Trevor found out.
I don’t blame you for being upset about the therapy, we all want what is best for our children and when something is taken away we get angry and rightly so. You and Bill are doing such a super job with Brendan that I just know everything will work out eventually.
The group of shots of Trevor are so cute and the one with a Mohawk is so funny.
Aahhhhh……the ” The secret stash of loud clanging pots and pans. ” 😮 🙂
My first thought was, maybe it’s time for “childproof locks” – – which was immediately replaced by the thought that, * There appears to be nothing that is – Brendan and Trevor “proof”- ! * 🙂 🙂 🙂 😉
At he 😉 risk 😉 of sounding like I agree with Gramma……………Therapists establish the parameters of the program, and demonstrate how it should work. It’s you, Tiffanie, and Bill, and – – – ( thought I was going to forget your part in this, didn’t you Trevor ? ) 😉 Fearless Leader 🙂 Trevor, who have made the therapy work so well.
Only the program changes. The driving force of success is still, Mom, Dad, and “Fearless Leader Bro”.
I’m confident 🙂 it will work! 😉
I feel your frustration, I feel your concern…(I feel the same). You are a super mom and I have no doubt that you will make sure things are done to provide the best for Brendan! If you ever need me…I’m here for you! I miss you guys.