She broke her silence
last week, and I forgot to post about it. First Olivia was so excited to go back to school on Tuesday, after having MLK day off. WHile I was getting her ready in the morning, and putting her shoes on she was very giddy and happy, and I asked her “Do you want to go to school today?” and she said “Yeah!”. It is such a wonderful moment to hear her come through every once in a blue moon. You don’t know how wonderful it is to hear your silent child “break through” if only for a moment. This is also after she said “HI!” when my Mother walked in the house the previous day. Mom didn’t hear it, but I did, and it was very deliberate.
I love Olivia with all my heart. The regression of her speech has been the most difficult to bear. Her development was incredibly slow, as we all know, as a baby and toddler. But she was still making progress, none the less. And then all of a sudden she just went silent. Before her 3rd birthday she could say about 15 words, and could sign about 3 (eat, more, want, please). I want so desperately to have my baby girl back… and it is very sad somedays because I feel she slips away more than she emerges.
I’ve noticed a difference in her habits, though. I guess for the good, since she’s been on the clonidine which she takes in the morning and at bedtime, she HAS not been “stimming” as much. I can’t remember the last time I heard her banging blocks together. hmmm. On the flip side though, I was having difficulty getting her to focus on play yesterday. Her Nana gave her some cheerleader pom-poms for christmas, which I thought she would just adore. And if you know Olivia, you’d think the same thing, but she had absolutely no interest. I’ll have to try again later today.
