Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Max is talking and thinking in sentences: holy progress!


I love words, always have. As a kid, I made up crossword puzzles and borrowed about ten books a week from the library. In college, I wrote for the newspaper and actually enjoyed writing papers (taking tests, not so much). In my adult life, I've made a living off working with words as a magazine editor and have found bliss in blogging.

You might think that Max's struggles with words would get to me, but they don't. I am grateful for the iPad and speech app, happy that he can articulate some words, and thrilled that lately he's been talking more and more. It's hard to understand just what he's saying sometimes, but he is trying so hard. His speech therapists have noticed; the one at school emailed to say she's hearing him talk a lot, combining different sounds. "His approximations have increased and improved," she wrote, a seriously beautiful sentence.

At bath time, Max likes to have chats with himself after I've washed him, shower curtain closed. I perch on the toilet seat and listen to him animatedly babbling away, his pitch rising and falling. It's all good practice, a way to play with sound and speech. The babbling was something I ached to hear when he was a toddler and now that he is doing it, I am in awe.

I get particularly excited when Max does something new with words, which is what happened last night. We were hanging out in his bed, as Sabrina read in her room and listened to a Katy Perry CD because she aspires to be a teenager. Max was telling me he wanted me to buy him a Lightning McQueen bed, and I've been deflecting him on that because he has a perfectly good bed and I've been trying to contain the Cars 2 obsession (mostly unsuccessfully).

Suddenly, Max pointed to something on his dresser. Then he pointed to his bed, his whole face lit up, he waved his arms and he said something. I had no clue what he was telling me. Again, he pointed to his dresser, said "onney," pointed to the bed, waved his arms again and said "uh-ize!"

Then it dawned on me: Max was pointing to his (Lightning McQueen) wallet and telling me I should use the money in it to buy him a Lightning McQueen bed, and then surprise him with it.

I squealed, I was so excited. This was a complex sentence and thought, too: He understood the concept of money, and he knew he wanted a surprise. And he was up for spending his own money, not mine! What a thoughtful kid!

As is often the case when Max does something awesome, I immediately covered him with kisses. It will be all kinds of embarrassing when I do that and he is, like, 45 years old. But he's only 10 and he's making true progress in one of the areas he's very challenged in. And I am loving it.

35 comments:

  1. That is so exciting. You keep at it Max!!!!!!!

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  2. Yay!!! That is awesome!! How did you keep from going to buy the bed after that? ;) LOL

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  3. I love the thought there!!! That's some seriously complex thinking (and talking too). Ahhh-maz-ing! :) How could you not buy that bed and surprise him with it? I'm sure there's enough in his wallet. haha!

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    1. But he's supposed to be saving that money for a Mother's Day gift! He, he.

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  4. That's fantastic! Go Max! So proud of you, kiddo! :)

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  5. Omg he's so cool he reminds me of my son (11years old ) he has no speech also cp but he does critical thinking too and let's me know his ideas in gestures....very smart max!!!

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  6. So when is the bed being delivered? It's going to be as aahh-mazing as Max!

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  7. I think that deserves a Lightning McQueen bed!! :)

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  8. So cool! So, when are you going to buy the bed? :)

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  9. Go Max - from a mom of a mostly non verbal little guy who says a lot that we don't understand this is so encouraging. I love the moments when they are trying so hard to communicate and you figure it out and it's so exciting on both ends! Plus he's willing to buy his own bed - so sweet!

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  10. Wow, that is a really complex thought. I love that he added that it'd be a surprise for him after you used his money to buy the new bed. Congratulations, Max! Congratulations, Max's mom!
    So...have you already ordered the bed online? ;)

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  11. Thanks for the celebratory props, all!

    OK, here's the deal on the bed: I MIGHT consider getting it, but the available ones are all for toddlers and Max is getting big. Even if he fits now, he won't be for long. And I am just not up for investing in a piece of furniture right now that he will quickly outgrow. He has a great bed already, with all sorts of Cars 2 bedding. So, I'm putting my foot down on this one.

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  12. Good for you, Mom! (And obviously, Max - that's very awesome thinking there). Yeah, I remember when my kid was completely non-verbal, just pointing, we'd say we'd buy him anything if he said that word. Like when we were at Wegman's & he wanted one of the many mylar balloons. We'd buy every one, we thought.
    Now that he is honestly asking for stuff - I'm so glad he's talking - but no, I can't do that. Fortunately, I think he was too young to remember. I hope. :)

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  13. Cool!So wonderful that you were able to deduce what he was saying. We've had times like that with Ben and it's so exciting -- but it also always reminds me of the times when we don't understand him, and how unbelievably frustrating it must be.

    I'd go shopping if I were you!

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  14. Love all your posts, but this one is really making me smile. What a great moment! So glad you shared it with us.

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  15. Thank you for inspiring me, Max. Now I play the flute because of you.

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    1. I also thank the wonderful Mrs. Seidman for letting Max inspire crowds.

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  16. Have you seen this? It's a twin headboard. May be a possible compromise (although admittedly I don't know my Cars from my Cars 2 stuff). :)
    http://www.wayfair.com/Delta-Childrens-Products-Disney-Cars-Twin-Headboard-BB87172CR-L6119-K~DEL1482.html?refid=GX13750949940-DEL1482&gclid=COCgjIj9_LQCFUQw4AodOxEAhw

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    1. Ilyssa, you enabler, you! This is adorable. But not sure it will suffice and he already has a perfectly lovely wooden headboard. In other news, I caved and got him a Cars 2 fake computer.

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    2. I know, I'm terrible. BUT, I love the comment about the decals. Such a great idea! He would love it. :) And because it's totally removable you wouldn't have to feel like you totally gave in. Perfect compromise!

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  17. This is so awesome! I just found your blog and read Max's birth story. I have a long way to go back and follow the whole journey, but I plan to do so. My 4-yr-old nephew has CP, so I know how awesome these milestones are! I look forward to going back and learning more of Max's life and your take on things. I think it will give me more insight into what my sister-in-law and brother-in-law deal with as parents on a daily basis. Much love to you, Max, and your whole family!

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  18. I know this feeling....it is so amazing to hear new worlds...something most parents take for granted.

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  19. What an amazing feeling! I can only imagine how proud you must be.

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  20. Ellen, Max is so fortunate to have a mom so perceptive. Your keen ability to decipher his approximations will encourage more and more effort on his part. You have good reason to be psyched!

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    1. Thanks, Cathy. I always was good at foreign languages. :)

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  21. Ellen, that is great progress. If you want to reward Max with some Lightning McQueen stuff, consider getting peel and stick decals -- they are like colorforms and they go up on the wall easy and come off easy too--they have CARS stuff. Not quite a CARS bed, but hey, if he is sitting in the bed and looking at CARS stuff on the walls as well as the CARS bedding, it'll feel like it!!

    http://www.peelandstick.com/En/166/Disney_Cars/default.aspx

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  22. I feel like Colombo the tv detective with this "just one more thing..."

    Here is another link--these decals are three feet long, this might be a good Lightning McQueen fix that brings joy and is mercifully temporary....

    http://www.wallstickeroutlet.com/wall-decor-detail.php?RecordID=50489

    Bring the action of Disney Pixar's Cars to any wall with this giant wall decal of Lightning McQueen. Measuring over three feet in length, this decal is sure to make a statement in your son or daughter's bedroom! And since Lightning is completely removable and repositionable, you can move him to a new location at any time. Be sure to check out all our other Cars products for even more fun!

    # Dimensions 1 sheet of 18" x 40"

    assembled size 16" x 38.5"
    Price: $18

    You know how frugal I am and this is something even I could afford!! I know there are other outlets that do this kind of thing, so you might even find a better deal, but these two were low hanging fruit and might do the trick.

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    1. Felicia, you always come up with genius ideas. LOVE this. Doing it! Thank you, you are my patron blog saint.

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  23. Such exciting news! You must be on cloud 9!

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  24. Very good news! We are so excited when my six year old says a new word or sentence. We don't take anything for granted, everyday we are witnessing a miracle.

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  25. I love good news like this. It keeps me motivated in regards to my Emma's speech. She is coming along, just hard to understand a lot of the time. I really think Max is one smart kid. He is amazing! That communication was so revealing. Thanks for sharing. Reading this gives me hope and happiness. I know how proud and happy you must feel.

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Thanks for sharing!



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