Kinkeys, Bum Bums and Bee Boos

So, as of the last 6 months, we've been pretty concerned with my son Brad's lack of speech. We have him scheduled for a hearing test and on a wait list for speech therapy. He tends to communicate with grunts, gibberish and pointing. It's funny how we understand pretty much everything he wants though. Maybe that is why he doesn't feel the need to learn how to talk. We do reinforce the words of what he wants hoping to help him learn them...but to no avail (or so we thought).

For quite awhile though Brad has been saying a few words. There are ones that he repeats constantly (because he knows he can get a kick out of his sister). These words are bum bum (no explanation necessary), kinkey (aka dinky) and bee boos (this is what Ava called my boobs and would say whenever she wanted to breastfeed). Brad though says these words anywhere and everywhere we go. I don't know how many people truly understand him, but WE know what he's saying so it can sometimes be quite embarrassing.

Well, lately, his new word is "big". He's been saying 2 word sentences now, using big in front. Big kinkey, big bum bum, and big bee boos. I died laughing the first time Brad pointed to his daddy's "area" and said, "big kinkey". You should have seen the look on D's face - priceless! He was SUCH a proud father - haha and told Brad "yes, you are very right son!"

Then we took Brad and Angelina to a park a few weeks ago. Brad loves picking up and collecting rocks and sticks..such a boy. Anyways, he always likes to show his mama what he's found. I asked him (as I usually do) what he's playing with and he points and says "rock". WHAT did he say?!? When was he practicing this word?!? We had never heard it before! So, I congratulate him and he is SO proud. So, I figure it wouldn't hurt to ask a little more. What is that I ask? "stick" he says. Like he's been saying it forever. OMG!! Wonderful!! My boy can speak!!

The next day, Brad is at home playing, and the topic of his face comes up. D asks him,

what's this?(pointing to his ears)

E-yah! (Both of us are looking at each other in shock)

and this? (pointing to his nose)

Noah!

and this? (pointing to his mouth)

Mau!

Sorry, if I'm boring you. This may sound trivial, but after not hearing our son say more then a few words for the first 2 years of his life, this is amazing to us. I had been told by many, that he is just slower because he's a boy (not all boys are slow of course, but in general, I've been told they are) and because he's a second child. Plus our GP never seemed too concerned when I pointed it out to him at every appointment we brought him in after 1 year of age. It didn't help either that Ava started speaking very early on and in full sentences at 14 months of age. But, he has now started to copy saying some words, which is wonderful to hear.

Some other news. We just found out Brad is severely allergic to peanuts. We are waiting until he's better from his cold to go and get blood work done to see what else he is allergic to. The allergist did not want to do the skin prick test since in a severely allergic person, it could cause an anaphylactic reaction.

Brad was with my parents when he had his first reaction a few weeks ago (they sensed something was wrong, but not until well after it had happened, so they didn't take him to the ER) and based on the symptoms he exhibited, the allergist said he was very close to death. Luckily he survived and miraculously he started getting better on his own. The thought scares me to no end. I almost lost my baby boy!

Looks like I have to go through all of our food and discard everything that may have come in contact with nuts. Not an enjoyable thing to do, but definitely necessary.

D left about 20 minutes ago for his 4 day camping trip with "the guys" that go every year. Both kids are sick and I have no car (he took mine and I am not able to drive his car since it's manual), so it's 4 days stuck at home. Wish me luck!