Speech-less

Well, we are a speech-less family! I should explain. The Developmental Specialists are supposed to take a couple of months to have an opening for Jule, so I emailed his previous Speech Therapist to see if she could at least evaluate the speech portion of his "problems." Her name is Sarah. She got us right in, and we went bright and early Monday morning to see her. I really didn't know what she would say, and I dreaded the thought of getting up really early on Monday mornings again to take him to speech, but I was more than willing to do what Jule needed. He walked into the waiting room and played with the toys, and he didn't seem to remember where he was. He had not been there since the end of January or something like that. The minute he saw Sarah, he got all excited and took off for her office...without her! I loved how much he loved her and how excited he always was to see her. Several months made no exception! To our delight, Jule passed with flying colors. She said she is very comfortable with where he is at with his speech, and he has no need to go back! We celebrated the fact that he does not need help with his speech!

He has been changing so much in the past couple of months. With all of his breathing and croup issues, he has ALWAYS completely freaked out when they put the oxygen sensor on his finger. He also hated band aids with a passion. A few days ago, Noly needed a band aid, and Jule asked for one. I put it on his finger, and he did not mind one bit. It was so wonderful to see him take a step in the less-tactile-sensitive direction! He has been wheezing really bad for a few days, and he has been on a steroid inhaler once daily for over a month now. It has been helping, but I was not comfortable with the way his breathing sounded this morning. I took him to the doctor, and he was FINE when they tested his oxygen level. I told him it was a band aid, and he accepted it and was totally calm. Yay, Jule! And Yay, God, for doing such amazing things in this little boy. He is still very wheezy, which the doctor thinks is due to the high heat index, but he does not have croup and is happy.

I'm feeling better about his eventual Developmental appointment, though I'm not convinced that he will not need some Occupational Therapy. I have no idea. But it does my heart so much good to see him make strides verbally, emotionally and physically. He is still my wild at heart, strong-willed child, which I am so grateful for. I want him to have the character qualities he needs to become what God wants him to be. He may or may not have inherited his strong will from his Mommy ;)

At our church, we have crosses on the front walls. During an invitation time, anyone can go forward to write on a piece of paper and tack it to the cross. A few weeks ago, I felt like I was supposed to go and write a simple word on the paper...JULE...and place it on the cross. I had been living with such fear of what may be wrong with him, and I have to (sometimes daily) remember that he is God's and give him back to God. It was at the cross of Christ that a mother's heart broke as she watched "her" Son's torture, and it was at that VERY same cross that He won the victory for all of us. Truly, He is capable of handling my fears, my fragile mommy's heart, and each difficulty that we will encounter in this life.