Jim Edmonds claims son Hart is making ‘great strides’ and has improved in recent months

Jim Edmonds appeared to contradict estranged wife Meghan King’s update on their son Hart’s development in new posts he shared on Tuesday.

Edmonds, 49, said that 23-month-old Hart, who has irreversible brain damage, is making ‘great strides’ just days after Meghan, 35, wrote in a blog about her guilt at seeing his development ‘regress’ after coronavirus lockdowns meant he could not go to therapy.

The former RHOC star explained that Hart’s brain injury, which is known as PVL and affects premature infants, means he struggles with motor skills.

Meghan had been taking him to speech therapy, physical therapy, and occupational therapy in Los Angeles where she has been living with the children since her split from Jim.

The former couple have daughter Aspen, three, and twin sons Hart and Hayes, 23 months, together. 

But Jim – who took the kids from Meghan over the weekend – appeared to be really pleased with Hart’s development in his latest Instagram stories, which he shared from his mansion in St. Louis, Missouri.

‘So happy he is making such big strides. Still a little behind Hayes but so much better than 2 months ago.’ he wrote with a photo of the little boy.

He also shared a photo of him cuddling Hart as he gushed ‘Hart is growing so fast’. 

It comes after Jim also said his kids are ‘easy to handle’ just days after Meghan poured her heart out in a blog about struggling with the toddlers who ‘scream non-stop’.

On Sunday the former baseball player documented on Instagram his youngest kids playing in his recently-built mansion, including his basement bowling alley.

Jim boasted that their kids are ‘easier’ to look after now they’re older, words which will no doubt sting exhausted Meghan, who said Friday that she struggles as a single mom in her three-bedroom LA rental property. 

‘They are getting so big and so much easier to handle’ Jim wrote on Instagram along with ‘Sunday funday’ and another caption which read ‘Best day in a long time’. 

Jim had been apart from his kids for a while amid the coronavirus lockdowns. He battled COVID-19 in March and Meghan was taking care of the children back in California.  

Jim even shared photos of his new girlfriend Kortnie O’Connor, the former friend of Meghan’s who is now living with Jim, caring for his children.

The family au pair Nahomy Calderon could also be seen in one of the clips helping Hayes with the heavy bowling balls. 

The Fox broadcaster showed Hayes rolling a ball down the alley while his twin brother Hart was carried by Kortnie.

Aspen got to play on her trike outside the sprawling property, after Meghan complained of not having any outdoor space at her LA property for the kids to play.  

Jim’s updates will no doubt frustrate Meghan who described in a new blog the difficulties she experiences with their three children.

She described her heartache at seeing son Hart regress and how the tot normally participates in speech therapy, physical therapy, and occupational therapy several times per week. But it’s stopped since the coronavirus lockdowns.

‘For me to try to takeover these therapies at home as a single-parent – it’s impossible. Between trying to get my own work completed and fighting for Hart’s focus (while also keeping the other two kids occupied), it just doesn’t happen. Therefore… I feel guilty. All the time’ Meghan explains.

The mom-of-three admits that Hart’s progress had plateaued back in February before the quarantine.

‘But that demoralization was months ago. February. Now we are in May. And Hart has regressed. That’s right, Hart’s current status is below the level of that depressing plateau I just told you about. His balance is much worse than it was at the end of 2019.’  

She wrote about how she rarely gets quiet time or finds enough peace to work on her podcast. 

‘I forgot what silence sounds like. My kids scream non-stop. They can’t verbally communicate well, even though cognitively they know what they want. And my house doesn’t have carpet—so there is nothing to muffle the sounds as they reverberate off every wall.’

‘There is nowhere to hide from the constant screaming. Not even the bathroom is safe. Try to pee in silence, let alone listen to yourself think…never mind, don’t waste your precious energy.’ 

While Meghan admits she has a nanny, and a beautiful home, she explained she finds it very challenging with three extremely energetic and opinionated children.

‘I don’t have a yard. There is no enclosed, outdoor space for my kids to run and play and burn off some of that toddler energy. And I’m going crazy. 

‘So yes, I am incredibly fortunate… but I’m still going nuts. Because I’m still a mom: a working mom. I’m going through a divorce: a messy, public divorce. And I have three small children: one of whom has a disability. ‘

Meanwhile, Meghan is now dating handsome entrepreneur Christian Schauf, seven months after her split from Jim. 

The reality star is said to be spending time with Christian in Utah after dropping off the kids with Jim over the weekend.

‘She’s head over heels in love… He’s very down to earth. He’s a nice guy and the perfect catch. Yes, this is still pretty new, but Meghan is very happy.’ a source told InTouch. 

Meghan and Jim married in her native St. Louis on October 24, 2014.

They split last year after Meghan accused the former MLB player of behaving inappropriately with their children’s nanny. 

Jim and the nanny denied the allegations but he filed for divorce on October 25, 2019, the day after their fifth anniversary. 

It was revealed last month that Jim is now in a relationship with Playboy model Kortnie O’Connor – who once had a threesome with Jim and Meghan.