Help Me Grow....eventually

Help Me Grow was out again yesterday. This is the 5th visit from a HMG person. It seems like we've had a lot of people come out to do the exact same thing over and over again. We fill out paperwork, they ask me a lot of questions, they talk to Ellie, see what she can do and then they are off with a promise of another appointment with the speech therapist.  Finally, yesterday was the therapist appointment.  I was ready to get some exercises to start on with Ellie and get this girl talking.  She came out bright and early, filled out paperwork, asked me a lot of questions, talked to Ellie, observed her then made an appointment to come back in two weeks.  That was it.  Yet another appointment of nothing!  Since Ellies food issues are still such and issue, she wants to come back when Ellie is waking up from her nap and see her when the food issues are at their worst.  If dinner isn't ready to go the minute Ellie wakes up from her nap, we have problems.  The therapist is hoping to see the tantrum in action, evaluate how she reacts and start to incorporate ways to communicate through the tantrum which will help get the talking going.  It didn't seem to matter that I could get a tantrum going right then and there and avoid another 2 week delay.  This is how they roll, slow and steady.  

She was able to tell me that cognitively, Ellie is on a 21-24month level.  She understands everything, follows commands, imitates like a pro and makes all the necessary sounds with good lip movement.  Her actual speech is on a 12-15month level.  For what ever reason she just isn't grasping a lot of real words.  Fortunately, its a small hill to climb and once she's over it she should be talking non-stop just like Ben.....we might be in trouble!