A great week!!

We met with LaQuita (speech) at 4 yesterday and Carrie (OT) at 6. So it was busy but both were really good sessions.

In speech, LaQuita was asking Preston to identify objects on flash cards. He nearly got them all right which was a first for recognition of objects. She even got him to answer his FIRST question EVER---- when pointing to an apple on a card that we had already asked him to point at she asked him “What’s that Preston” and he said “apple” or “ah-all” So, that was great!! He was able to stay focused and do the tasks and didn’t have too many throw downs.

With Carrie she had some new toys and kept him placed on a towel on the floor. He could play with those toys if he would stay on the towel and he did great. He loved the toys she brought. Lots and lots of fun and learning. One was putting coins into a farm (Fisher Price Farm Bingo) and he handled the fine motor operation great which has been a problem in the past. Even having to turn the coin to the side to put it in wasn’t above him and we were both pleased at how well he did. In the same game he did some matching of animals and seemed to be pretty consistent and handled the task well.

All in all a fantastic week!!

Preston's session with LaQuita last week was less than perfect. He did have some real positives that had happend and that he relayed for LaQuita. He "talked" to his dad on the phone and made inflections and intonations that indicated a conversation. He is responding to "look" and his name much better. We'll say we're hoping for a really good session today and if yesterday's session with Angie is any kind of precursor for how today's session with laQuita will be....it should be fantastic. He did really well with Angie. We were able to redirect him several times. He did one activity with Angie for 20 minutes!!! That's definitely nearly record setting. Taking turns was difficult for him. He didn't really WANT Angie to have a turn using the magnetic fishing pole to pick up fish but a little redirection and some high fives and we got him back in line. YAY!!

Imy reported that when she gave Preston his lunch the other day, he looked right at her and said "thank you" plain as day! I guess all of the kids got excited, too!

Preston's session with Angie was strained yesterday. He wants to control everything. We had to force him hand over hand to complete a puzzle he was perfectly happy doing until Angie took the pieces from him (he was already controlling where the board was placed) . He did a few other things for her but it was pretty limited. At the end, he went over sat on her lap and loved on her a bit....probably just enough to convince her to come back next week!

Angie discussed the possibility of having a team meeting with all of the therapists, our caseworker and Mike and I so we can lay some ground rules for what we will accept and what we will put our feet down on. I think it's a good idea.

Yucky Progress!

The other day we were sitting at the dinner table and Preston said to me "deghkky". He said it with an upturned nose. Sort of like "gross". Well, I know from our diaper duty that this is for "Yucky"...when I change his diapers I say "Pee-yuuuu...YUCKY" and he loves to say that back.
So, he was telling me at the table that he had a poopy diaper! So, for some that's not exactly rocket science but it sure was nice being forewarned and told it had happened!

We're hoping for a good meeting with Angie today. The last few sessions with all of the ladies haven't been too whippy. Hopefully, we will be back on track today and I can report some great advances!

Mike met with Carrie (OT) and Preston on Monday. Sounded to me like it was not a great session. Preston really wanted nothing to do with Carrie no matter how engaging she is! He showed her over and over how stubborn he is. Carrie wanted him to drink some yogurt through a straw to help strengthen his mouth muscles. He kept going to the kitchen and getting a spoon and using it instead...and then when they wouldn't let him do that, he used the straw as a spoon. Carrie says he is one tough nut to crack!! She left him some chew toys this week and he is actually using one quite a bit. We have seen him chewing on it. We notice he doesn't really seem to suck on his pacifier as much as put it in his mouth and hold it off to the side.

He is mimicking so well these days. We even think he is replying to "I love you"...now his sounds more like "ba-ba-bo" but hey it's something! Also he is covering his eyes and saying "tee-doooo" (Peek-a-boo) All good progress!!! I seem to hear him babbling a lot lately....just general vowels but I think he is sneaking new consonants in on me. I need to pay more attention and then record those. I keep forgetting.

Preston seems to be getting frustrated with tasks he does not want to complete during his speech therapy sessions (well and the sessions with Angie). He was difficult for LaQuita yesterday. She was, however, able to engage with him a little at the beginning by being silly and playing silly tickle and peek a boo games. He lost interest quickly with most of tasks LaQuita had for him. We're hoping next week is a better week in general! We are all noticing a lot more mimicking. He said "Go" once PERFECTLY....the rest of the times he said "Dough" but once was good to hear. He CAN do it. So that is good.

Lately when I change his diaper I will say "Ewwwwww. STINKEEEEEE"....He thinks that is really funny. The other day, he just had a wet diaper so I said to him "Let's go change your diaper"...He went over laid down and scrunched up his nose and said "Ewwww....Deeekchy" It took me a second to realize that he was instigating that conversation-I had not said that since the last REAL stinky diaper the night before! He said it several times. It was wonderful to hear him saying that! Hearing him say anything is nice.

LaQuita would like for us to continue to work on asking him "What's that?" and praising whatever response he gives with "That's right. That's a truck", etc. Angie has us working on matching this week. LaQuita also suggested some matching by taking animals and having him put them on the correct flash card with the matching animal on it.

Preston wasn't too interested in Angie's toys or games today. We finally figured out that we needed to start out with something more simple like the play dough. The toys were just too demading for him today. He was agitated but Angie got him involved with some sensory therapy near the end of the session. He was having issues with his fine motor skills too and that seemed to frustrate him which in turn discouraged him.

One thing we have noticed this week is that he is mimicking much more! Seems like you can ask him to say about any word and he says it. Now, no one would necessarily hear him say the word and understand it but the annotations and inflections are correct. It's fun to hear him "TRYING" now to respond to our requests for words.

We had a great session with LaQuita last week. Preston was very engaged with her. He stayed at several tasks for several minutes. He worked HARD. He identified several pictures. He said "open" as well as he can say "open"...it sounds like "uh-oh". LaQuita left us with a good task. We are to ask him "What's that?" just evoking any kind of verbal response and then respond to him "That's right. It's a ball" or a "truck" or whatever. It's not going great so far but I think it will just take a little time.

Angie taught us the sign for "Help" a couple of weeks ago. Preston has been using it very well for the last week or so. He seems to "get it" most of the time and understand what it is for. Sometimes I have to remind him and sign Do you need "help"? and then he signs it and a couple of times he has actually instigated it himself.

Tonight we went to the park to play. Aboout 10 minutes before I had planned on leaving, Preston started to whine and throw mini tantrums....he was not happy and he and I could not figure out what it was he wanted. Finally, I asked if he wanted to go bye bye and he seemed happy with that answer. I got Coop and we headed to the car. Preston seemed happy once we got in the car but let me just say it was a long time figuring that out and it amazed me. He never wants to leave the park!

He does seem to be understanding much more of what we are saying to him.
Yesterday we were in a Doctor's building and he was engaging with strangers....smiling and waving like I have never seen him do before. He was waving at anyone who went by and was expecting them to return the exchange!