We had a speech evaluation done at All Children's to see if we could get Jeremiah into speech therapy over the summer.  He loses so much between the time school ends for the summer and then starts back again in the fall.

His results?  Moderate to severe articulation disorder, expressive language disorder, receptive language disorder, severe language processing difficulties, and moderate pragmatic disorder.  He was bumped to the top of the waiting list, and of course it helped that he was already in OT at ACH.  He started speech today and they managed to get him in twice a week, 1/2 hour before his OT so we're not making four trips a week to ACH.  Praise God!  Of course, I really have to prepare a therapy bag of stuff to do for the other kids on those days because, even with a TV and DVD's in the waiting room, three hours a week is a bit much for them.

Miss Michelle recommended a PC program called Earobics for Jerry and so we're waiting for that to arrive.  He will work on this program in her office as well as at home for reinforcement.

Jerry is still practicing his astronaut training and now practices playing crab soccer too, where he has to remain in the crab-walking position while playing with and kicking around a soccer ball.  Needless to say, his brothers and sister find this fun to play with him as well.

Today, Miss Erin added a few exercises to his astronaut training.  He has recently begun using an astronaut board (spinning board) at therapy.  It's basically a 2' by 3' piece of padded or carpeted plywood with a lazy susan underneath.  He needs to spin on this clockwise and counter clockwise at varying speeds to enhance the integration of the vestibular and visual systems.  What does that mean in laymans terms?  I truly have no clue!  The only thing I know for sure is that I have to buy one of these to work on it with him daily at home.  Therein lies the problem.  I have found them ranging from $50 to $200, not including shipping, which is almost as high!  I am on a hunt for the blueprints to just make one by golly!!  And did I mention there's a book and audio CD that the spinning can be timed and done to?  That's $39.99, just in case you were wondering.

We also had to buy two Energizer light pens today.  Miss Erin gave Jerry two pencil topper monster heads.  We put those on the ends of the light pens and Jerry has to follow the lights with his eyes only as we light them intermittently, changing the speed each time.  We need to do this with Jerry when he's sitting up and after he's been spun on the astronaut board and his eyes and still trying to recover from the ride.  Yeah.  I'll let you know how that one goes!

Needless to say, I am a bit overwhelmed.  We started on this SLP and OT journey knowing hard work would have to be put into Jerry's exercises and therapy, both at ACH and at home, but these little "extras" are strapping us to say the least.  All worth it in the long run though.  Of that I am most sure!