We're pretty sure Niblet needs some physical therapy, and maybe speech therapy, and we have no idea what to do about it.
We don't know exactly what she "should" be doing, but her legs are very tense (she still has the high tone from being a drug addicted preemie), and she walks very stiltedly. She can't run, really. I could imagine maybe just suggesting to her parents that they get an Early Intervention evaluation, but I'm not sure how I would explain *why* I'm suggesting it. I suspect that, if we say that her walking isn't as good as it should be, they'll just say "she's fine!" Or that she should be saying more words than she is, they'll disagree with that, too.
I don't want to come off as telling them what to do. Or even as knowing more than them about kids in general, and their kid in particular.
I'm just worried about Niblet and don't want her to get worse because I'm too scared to say something.
"You know you are a foster parent when... Your heart is bigger than your brain."
Cast of Characters
We're two moms working with who have worked with the foster system and provided a loving home to each baby as he/she comes through our care. We had 9 foster babies including our FD "Niblet" (who we had for a year) who left us at the end of October 2006. She came back into care a year later and is living with relatives, hopefully permanently.
Our son, Squeak, came home to us in March 2007 (through domestic private adoption) and became ours in early April (legal finalization in June 2008).
Now we're "just moms", not foster moms. We're already planning on adopting our second child through domestic private adoption. But we'll probably convince ourselves to take up fostering again in the future. Because we're just crazy like that.
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5 comments:
Maybe if you said something like- you were thinking the otherday about how far Niblet has come since being a preemie and "rememebered" that the doctors told you when she was little that it would be a good idea to get an EI evaluation when she was around (whatever age Niblet is- I can't remember how old she is)just to make sure everything was okay because she was a preemie.
Offer to help them get it set up if they seem receptive. Make is sound like no big deal and just something extra to do because she was a preemie and if they have questions ask their doctor because THEY think she should have the EI evaluation done due to Niblet's age.
I hope that made sense.... it's early and things sometimes sound better in the head this early. :)
Good luck!
Kikilia
That was a great suggestion that Kikilia made. I agree that I would definitely mention it.
You might want to suggest that they get her evaluated in order to ready her for school. It might alleviate their fears that she isn't "normal" if it is put in the context of getting her ahead instead of getting her caught up. Explain that being born premature puts her at risk for developmental delays and that it's easier for her to work on it now rather than later when she'll have other stuff to work on in school.
These are good ideas, but the snag is that Niblet *already had* EI services. And she graduated. She got OT twice a week for about 6 months.
We might be able to call her OT person and use her as an excuse for them to call EI. However, they'd have to tell them *why* they're calling. EI doesn't do "check-ups" - they only come in to evaluate if you have a problem.
THe thing is- Niblet could have regressed and might qualify for EI again due to her age and what she's now able to do....
Good luck!
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