Bringing in the cavalry

Saw the health visitor this afternoon, as planned. Had been back *just* long enough to open the doors so that we could be in the garden, but not long enough to change the smelly nappy 😳

Can’t recall at which point in the process we’ve mentioned home education to this woman, but we obviously had, as it did crop up later in conversation. First though, she spent lots of time talking to me and Small and observing him, playing games with him, reading a book together, piling blocks, doing jigsaws. He also demonstrated how close he is to pedalling the little trike, and Big got some paper out so he showed off his pen skills too.

As anticipated, he is judged to be forward in all areas apart from speech. Could be something, could be nothing, but the first port of call is a re-referral to the hearing clinic, just to double check that there is no glue ear developing. This could take a couple of months to come through. We are also getting a referral to a specialist speech and language therapist who concentrates on speech development as well as chewing. I’m not 100% sure, but Small has a self limited diet, and I think that he mainly avoids chewy foods. I can put them in front of him, then I am screamed at, he doesn’t eat them, and I get to take them away again. 🙁 This could also take a couple of months to come through, so in the meantime, she is going to bring a nursery nurse round, who now works with them, to see if we can come up with some games, songs, rhymes and so on that would interest him enough to join in. He dances to Bob (bom!) the builder, but he doesn’t join in with anything much. I do nursery rhymes, usually at bedtime, and he likes them a lot, but never makes the slightest attempt to accompany me, or the tweenies, or Big.

And where Big is concerned, I need to get her to stop doing things for him! There is little motivation to make yourself understood when you have this extra mummy taking care of your every wish… 😉

As L was leaving, we talked a bit more about home education. She thinks it’s great, and completely understandable, especially in this age of testing and exams, just wasn’t sure that she could do it herself. There are many days when I feel exactly the same 🙂

She rang to make next appt within minutes – we were still in the garden and I didn’t hear the phone! So we’ll be meeting with the nursery nurse after Kessingland. Quite happy to give it a go, you never know!

Rest of the afternoon, what little there was of it, disappeared in a dash to ballet, and they are only just eating tea now.

Real nappy event was rather good – (cloth, obviously!) goody bag included a lovely board book, as well as some baby wash stuff from Avent. Filled in a survey to get a free low energy lightbulb – we like free. And touched base with Kate from pumpkinwraps who was demonstrating the art of knitting on four needles (the item was on four, she was actually knitting with a fifth). I’d always assumed she used a circular needle thing as her wraps are knitted without seams, but no, it’s little straight ones. Sarah was there as well with Dino, and looks like we might get to see her tomorrow – she’s going to come over and help me organise myself!

Didn’t manage to get new hat for Small – Adams only had age 3-6 yrs, and they seemed to be the same size as the hat he’s currently wearing. Dunno if that means this one has stretched a lot, but did make it a bit pointless buying a new one. And didn’t have time to get to the camping shop, so guess I’ll be stubbing my toes on a non-flat peg for the bedrooms.

Right, must yell at the children to eat and see if I can process them into the bath…

oh, and no, no news yet. 🙁