Lukas - 2 1/4 update

Oh Lukas (here's the last update)...  we definitely have our hands full with this little guy.  Lukas has the most complex personality of the boys.  He's our "spirited child" which seems to make the highs sweeter and the parenting challenges often more daunting.  He shows the most empathy. always quick to bring one of his brothers a lovie if he sees that they are sad.  He has the best grin and loves to be tickled, cuddled, and played with... except when he doesn't and boy does he tell you!  

I try not to take it personally, but this kid definitely is more attached to Lena & Karla than to me.  I think it's because they are able to give him more of their undivided attention than I can.

I've spent a lot of one-on-one time with Lukas since I left my corporate job.  We've had a lot of doctor appointments as we figured out if he had any development delays or other issues that we needed to focus on.  In addition to general stubbornness and inflexibility (which we were coughing up to his German roots) we had been concerned with his fine motor skills, some speech delays, and feeding issues.

He also has some sensory issues we are learning to navigate.  For example, it took two weeks for him to adjust to wearing socks & shoes instead of sandals and we are currently in the process of adjusting him to needing to wear a coat.  Adjusting him = listening to him howl and fight us.  It makes for a pretty miserable and stressful morning of getting the kids out of the house.  I've been reading up and there are other kids that have much more serious sensory issues (can't tolerate certain textures, both what they wear and what they eat), so we feel very fortunate that Lukas doesn't have something more serious.

We visted a developmental pediatrician and Lukas is overall fine, just "spirited", which is the modern way of describing a "difficult" or "challenging" kid (the logic being you take the negative tone out of the phrase, to include the benefits and positive attributes of strong-willed children -- seeing the positive qualities in this personality-type can take work, let me tell you!).  

Part of our doctor journey was visiting an ENT (ears nose and throat) team.  It was determined that Lukas had fluid that wasn't draining properly in both ears, but no signs of hearing issues.  He had tubes put in his ears in June.  We didn't see a material change in things as a result, but I do believe he's in less discomfort now.  It was right around that time that he began to really start talking more, which may just have been a coincidence of timing.  In terms of verbal skills, he's actually a bit easier to understand than Alex now and can string more words together to make sentences.  

Lukas has been going to a feeding clinic since last December. He currently survives on a diet of breakfast carbohydrates and snack food.  He will also sometimes eat yogurt and applesauce, but eats no protein other than peanut butter.  Occasionally, we can get some fruit and veggies in him via a smoothie, but otherwise he's not getting much in the way of real nutrition. It's maddening!!! Especially, having been spoiled with Oliver's eating habits (who will happily chomp on some red pepper slices or some baby carrots, if he's still hungry after dinner).  We have tried all kinds of tricks to no avail, including chicken nuggets in the shape of letters.  What kid won't eat pizza, plain pasta, or rice?  This kid!  

We have seen some progress in the year since we started, but not nearly at the pace I would have liked.  He's willing to touch foods he doesn't like, can tolerate them being near his plate, and has even occasionally surprised us by trying something that he wouldn't normally consider (like biting into an apple while we were grocery shopping).  Baby steps on this front.... 

Lukas also qualified for help with an Occupational Therapist, who sees us (for free - state-funded program) once a week.  We have been alternating having her come to the house and to daycare.  No surprise given his temperament, that adjusting to daycare routines has been a bit challenging for Lukas.  He needs help managing transitions (putting away toys for circle time) as well as handling life's setbacks and disappointments (another kid has a toy he wants).  

Lukas is a very snuggly kid.  For some reason he doesn't like the swings, unless he is being held by one of us on the big swing.  That's OK by me! 

No surprise given his eating habits, that Lukas is still a little munchkin -- he's just above the 10% threshold for weight and also about 15 percentile for height.  We don't have tall kids.  Sorry boys, you got that from me.  

Lukas has got the cutest "cheese" smile.  

Lukas is a smarty pants!  He LOVES to sing the ABCs and is counting up a storm.  Super adorable to hear him count as he walking down the steps, building a tower, etc.  He can count all the way to 15. He can identify ALL of the letters, both capitals and lowercase and is constantly impressing strangers in the elevator when we are going to feeding clinic.  It's nice to have "proud mama" moments to offset some of the frustrations.  

This Tee-shirt says it all!

What I find amazing about Lukas is how unpredictable, for the better, he continually proves to be.  Take any situation where you would expect the "challenging" kid to be harder to handle, and Lukas will prove you wrong.  Multiple times now, he has been the more good-natured kid -- sitting completely still for haircuts, being a cool cucumber at his first pediatric dental appointment, and handling his routine doctor visits (including shots) with ease.  Of course we're not supposed to compare the kids (especially twins) but come on!  Go Lukas!