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Brett is now two-years old and doing very well. He still wears hearing aids in both ears - and with them, hearing is one of his strengths. He loves listening to music (especially his Raffi tape), reading books and watching videos. We also continue to work with a vision teacher on a weekly basis to build on his current vision. We're using a light box to help identify what color preferences Brett may have and give him the opportunity to make choices visually about different colors. (Right now it appears that blue is his favorite color) Brett continues to experience physical limitations, but is showing more signs of wanting to move on his own. When lying on his side, he likes to bring his hand to his mouth - and sometimes will bite or suck on it. Right now we're focusing on putting Brett in a variety of supported positions, which will help with bone growth and strengthening. It will also help him gain strength so his head, neck and trunk control will increase. He spends the majority of the day in his orthopedic chairs - the Snug Seat or the KidKart. Both provide the necessary support so Brett can sit in an upright position and be available for other learning. We will also be getting a stander, which will allow Brett to experience standing in a supported position. This weight-bearing position, like the other supported positions, will help with his bone growth and strengthening.
Communication is a major emphasis for us with Brett. We constantly strive to find the best way to communicate with him - and for him to communicate with us. While he has learned to use his voice to vocalize, we're still waiting for his first spoken word. Because Brett has not had the opportunity to do many of the typical things that children his age do, he has found other ways to "play". One of his favorite things to do is make noises with his mouth - he blows raspberries, pops, clucks and does literally hundreds of other things with his mouth. We're slowly turning these games into different forms of communication.
Overall Brett continues to be a very happy boy and has a smile that is contagious. We've been blessed that he has remained healthy (especially during the winter months) and has shown marked progress in a variety of areas. So many people have contributed to his successes - and for that we are extremely grateful.