NotSheep

I am so glad I don’t have to get my children out of the house every morning in time for school; we had to leave just before 9 this morning, and it didn’t matter what the boys were wearing, and we had no lunches to pack or anything like that, and it was still an experience I don’t want to repeat

The reason we had to be out early was that Toby had an appointment with the paediatrician for an assessment - kind of a replacement for the routine assessments that we never wanted… I had no concerns about him, but this paed has been reasonable and supportive, so I figured, what the heck. She did all the usual stuff - checking out his comprehension, asking about what he’s doing motor-skills-wise, etc. He passed with flying colours: he’s doing all of it and more. Some of it - like drinking from an ordinary cup - he’s been doing for so long that I was surprised to be asked. (He’s never used a sippy-cup - he just flat refused, so he’s been using a regular cup ever since he started drinking anything other than breastmilk.) The only way in which he’s not hitting and passing all the milestones is his speech, which is definitely delayed - but it’s just the actual verbalising bit, and it is progressing. His comprehension is excellent. The paed requested that he have a hearing test, just because it’s what’s routinely done when there’s a speech delay. I’ve no concerns about his hearing, but the hearing-test is a pain-free, risk-free procedure, so we might as well do it. The paed wants to assess him again in a year, and to have the health visitor (who, as far as I know, isn’t even officially on the case) check his weight every three months or so. He’s now maintaining his weight-curve - a very low one, but he’s still on it - and gaining in height, and there are absolutely no health concerns about him, so I think this is probably unwarranted, but I’ll go along with it until the next assessment anyway.

So that and a couple of errands took care of the morning. After lunch Freddy and George did some more maths and French - that’s what we’re concentrating on this week, apparently Jack did a couple of reading/writing worksheets; he is just begging for “work” these days. I set him up on Starfall for a while too. I know lots of people rave about Starfall, but, well, I’m just not enthused. The phonics stuff isn’t bad - or it wouldn’t be, if it wasn’t for the very very American accents. The word they say after the sounds isn’t made up of the sounds! cuh-ah-tuh… kehyat. puh-eh-nn… piyun. Bah.

Scratchy back, dogs out for a walk, dinner, the usual evening stuff… and that’s one more day counted down to Barney’s return. Nearly half-way. Argh…half-way - is that all?