Christmas Wish on the Way

Remember my Christmas wish of having a socially engaged little boy? This morning, David and I sat down to eat our breakfasts. Jack was busily playing and usually likes to play awhile before eating so I did not say anything to him.

He looked up from his playing and saw the two of us sitting at the table eating our breakfast. He came over to the table, pulled over a step stool so he could sit at the table with us and said, "Bwekfast. Sit down. Eat bwekfast."

The Face of Determination

I don't know why he wanted that step stool upstairs but he was determined to take it upstairs.

Sweeper

But hey, if he's going down there to sweep, that's fine by me!

Mischievious Newly Acquired Skills User

To catch those up that did not know, Jack has recently learned to open door knobs and turn on lights completely independently. I turned my back for about 1 minute and he went down the stairs to the basement, made his way through the dark to the bathroom down there and was climbing in the tub when I caught him. Oh boy!

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Learning Fun on the Ipad

Fine motor work, visual therapy, hand-eye coordination, concentration...this ipad is this mother's dream toy!

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M-E-R-R-Y CHRISTMAS!

Santa wants this family to be active this year!

Merry Christmas Everyone!

I am blessed that God sent his son to pay for my sins. As a mother of a little boy, God's sacrifice means more to me now than it ever did.

Merry Christmas!

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The Tree

really is up now. Merry Christmas everyone!

Finally Got the Tree Up

It's a Merry Christmas, Charlie Brown!

Christmas Surprises

We were having fun stacking blocks which is pretty much a miracle in and of itself (it's a fine motor and visual task combined plus it requires being still a bit) and suddenly Jack looked intently at this block which was stacked on top and said, "I see a leaf." Just like that. This does not appear to be high contrast to me. I don't know how he made out the shape. He (of course) did not answer when I quizzed him on a couple other blocks. But then there were bricks on one block and a window on another and he did it again.

Oh how I wish he would tell me all that he can see...

Dreams Come True

Jack fell asleep and I put his bipap mask on. He rolled over on his side and I whispered in his ear, "I love you." He gave a little sigh and said, "I love you."

All I Want for Christmas...

David recently asked me what I wanted for Christmas. My answer? Peace on Earth and good will toward men.

And without being there and having the nonverbal communication portion to know, you are left wondering, "Was she serious/being sarcastic/just kidding around?"

Somewhere along the road of development, you developed a desire to communicate with others. You learned that you had to share attention with another person both to understand and to be understood. Part of that attention sharing meant being aware of non-verbal cues provided by your communicating partner. You began to recognize changes in tone, volume, facial expression, and other body language and it helped you to derive meaning in addition to the spoken words.

You can have a conversation with someone without paying attention to any of the cues/clues listed above. But you are not likely to make your communicating partner feel well understood. Nor are you likely to derive the kind of joy that comes from two people really spending time together.

Jack still has issues with attention sharing. He is paying more attention to others these days but I can't help but wonder if his vision (or lack thereof) is playing a role in inhibiting him from picking up subtle (and some not so subtle) social cues.

So back to the original question...I actually would like to see peace on Earth and good will toward men but don't really expect all of that this side of heaven. What I really would love to have for Christmas is a socially engaged little boy who delights in sharing attention with others.

Jack progresses daily and I expect to see my Christmas wish come true but maybe not this Christmas...
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Shopping Really IS a Pleasure

We had to go to our local Publix tonight--Friday night. Friday night means a crowd and a whole less likelihood of getting one of the coveted rocket ship driving carts. Ah well, I figured Jack would get to work on his orientation and mobility skills and I would get to work on my patience. Little did I know what wonderful things would happen...

Waiting in line at the pharmacy....
There was a little boy about 2 or 3 years old driving one of the rocket ship carts. Jack walked up and said, "Baby, hi baby!" The little boy tried to stand up and Jack said, "Sit down baby" while reaching for the errant little one.

At the bakery....
Bakery worker: Well, hi there! What can I get you?
Jack: Choklit chup coookee peas
Bakery worker: Chocolate chip? Sure! What a polite handsome young man (hands cookie directly to Jack)
Jack: Pank koo
Bakery worker:(smiling broadly) You're welcome. Y'all have a good night!

Going down the aisle:
Another customer remarked how precious Jack was and asked his name. I asked Jack to tell her his name. Jack: "Handsome!"
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Picnic Table or Boat?

Jack's ship came in! [Or his picnic table has been turned over]. He is now the captain of his own course!
It's amazing to see the ideas kids come up with.

Stocking stuffer question...

My neighbors are either going to
A. Thank me for the warning them that Jack is zooming down the street
OR
B. Wonder what the heck I was thinking putting that kind of racket into his hands.
Which do you think it will be?

Rough Patch

We've hit a rough patch here at the All Access Pass to Jack household....this adorably handsome young man is very strong willed. That strong will has kept him going through so much in his 5 years of life thus far. On the other hand, because he is only 5, he does not yet understand the many reasons that a person might be required to do something that he does not want to do right at that moment or that whatever he wishes cannot be granted at the moment of wishing.

For instance, why can't he go outside as soon as it occurs to him he'd like to go? What on earth can I mean saying things like we need to get dressed or we have other things to do right now?

And how, oh how, can I expect him to stop playing to brush his teeth? Surely, I'm not serious!