It's All Good

Things have been going very well in Bobby's World lately.  He has been surprising us almost daily with new achievements, some big (at least to us) and some small.  It is like he has entered the toddler developmental stage where you are so excited to see what they are learning...better late than never!!! Compared to where we were this past Feb-July (almost rock bottom), we couldn't be happier!!!!

Santa's watching you Bobby...you'd better be nice!!

Today was his school's holiday program.  This is the first year that Bobby is actually going into music class and participating (well, participating Bobby style...I'm sure other kids would get in trouble if they acted this way!!  LOL).  Bobby had a HUGE achievement yesterday while the school was having their dress rehearsal.  All the kids sat in the bleachers to watch each other so that they could see the show.  Bobby Smith went into the gym and sat in the bleachers and watched the program for an hour.  Yes, for those who really know him, I said an HOUR!!!  He sat for an HOUR. In case you didn't get that...he sat for an HOUR.  Ms. Kim sat beside him, not holding him.  They used his token system and he earned his tokens for his reward.  Yeah Bobby!  Now this is a skill that this child really, really, really needs to learn.

He didn't/couldn't stand with his class during rehearsal without being held by his teacher, so his teacher and I decided that he wouldn't participate in the actual program.  I didn't want him being held there by a teacher, I want him to be able to stand there independently and participate.  But I am still so beyond thrilled that he stayed in the bleachers and watched.  Who know, maybe one day we will be able to take him to a movie or a show or something!!!  I know, I'm jumping way ahead of myself.  I went to the program anyway and watched the other kids, they did a great job.

 Checking out the Christmas tree before school this morning.  Grandma did a great job modifying Bobby's holiday shirt so that he can't chew on the sleeves anymore.

I already shared that Bobby ate lo mein, well he also ate a whole piece of Long John Silvers fish.  I know, it's definitely not the healthiest fish, but it was a piece of fish.  Even funnier, he didn't eat the french fries (his absolute favorite), just the piece of fish.  He took a bite of my hamburger the other day, chewed and swallowed it.  He didn't come back to get another bite, but he didn't spit it out either.  He has also been trying yogurt, it takes him over an hour to eat about 1/4 container, but it is not his preferred consistency of food.

He gets himself set up on the computer all on his own (it's a touch screen computer).

Putting on his coat to leave school today.

Bobby figured out how to zip his coat completely independently.  I don't have to start the zipper for him, he's got it covered!!!  Fine motor skill triumph!!!!

A few weeks ago Bobby was sitting playing in the dirt.  He removed all of the rocks from his dirt pile one by one and pitched them away.  I finally dawned on me...he is throwing those rocks overhand with purpose and getting them to go where he wants (over the fence).  Throwing overhand has been a goal on Bobby's IEP since he was 3 years old.  Yeah Bobby, he's got that one down!!!!!  Not sure if he has demonstrated this for Coach Lorri, I'll have to remember to ask.

Words are starting to come to Bobby.  After we got home from school today Bobby said "outside" which he does often.  This can either mean that he wants to play outside or that he wants to go for a ride in the car.  He then said "play."  This is a word that I have never heard spontaneously so I jumped up and said "yes, Bobby!  Lets go play outside!!"

For those of you who have heard Bobby in therapy while you were in the waiting room because your child was next or if you were in with another therapist, you know very well that he has had some rough sessions this year.  Over the past month or two he has been doing so much better.   The tone of the sessions lately has moved from feeling like pulling teeth to his behavioral therapist and I jumping for joy.

The hallway of Bobby's school where his classroom is located.  They are having a door decorating contest and the teachers decided to do a theme hall...The 12 Days of Christmas.  SOOO CUTE!!

The door to Bobby's classroom is 3 French Hens and Bobby actually painted the hens.  His teacher picked out the colors and gave him a paintbrush and he painted them with water colors.  Someone else cut them out and made the actual hens, but Bobby painted them.  I'm not sure that I would have believed it if he hadn't done such a great job working on a Christmas craft project (I'll share those pictures after the presents have been distributed).  

Lovely hens...a true genius must have painted them!!

After Bobby was diagnosed with autism, a special needs mom said to me "ebb and flow...ebb and flow."  I totally get what she meant.  We have been ebbing for so long that it is about time that we get to sit back and flow along.  It's so exciting to be in this period where he is wanting to learn.  I pray that it lasts for....well, forever!!!!!

YUM-O

I wish that I could take credit for being mother-of-the-year because I got Bobby to eat a new food that is way, way, way out of his normal food selections.  But alas, I can take zero credit.  Bobby picked up a lo mein noodle off of his dad's plate and ate it.  He reached down, got another and ate it too.  Simple as that??!!??  He showed an interest in the lo mein while we were having it with our Chinese take-out dinner the previous evening, but didn't actually chew and swallow the noodles.  Why he decided to actually put it in his mouth and eat it when Bob heated up leftovers the next day is an answer that I will never have.

This food choice really shocks me because Bobby has never been a pasta eater, even as a toddler before his food selectivity began.  No spagetti, no ramen noodles...he never even showed an interest.  The foods that he has eaten out of the blue in the past few months have been things that he has previously eaten well in his life.

Since he took a couple of bites off of Daddy's plate, I got out the container of veggie lo mein and heated up Bobby a plate.  This time I even remembered to give him a fork.  While I stood there with my mouth gaped open watching him actually eat these noodles and I was smiling from ear to ear watching him try to use a fork.  It was like watching a toddler, after all, Bobby never learned this skill as a toddler.  I had to grab my camera and snap away...

He ate the noodles until all of the remaining ones had veggies wrapped around them.  I then took each noodle and ran it through my fingers so that they would be "clean" and then he finished them.  Oh what we moms do to get our kids to eat!!!  Hopefully this was not a one time only thing.  Can't wait to see if any other new foods interest him soon!!!

It's Party Time...Autism Style

One of our fellow autism families, which I met through the Mon Co Autism Support Group, invited Bobby back to the Hardy Girls Gym at Nemacolin Woodlands Resort for a VIP Christmas Party for children with autism and other disorders.  We were so excited to go back to this gym because Bobby had such a wonderful time when we were there for a birthday party.

Grandma Carolyn had the day off of work, so she came along to witness Bobby having so much fun.  We stopped off for lunch on our drive to the gym.  Bobby sat very well and ate his lunch...

I didn't take my camera in, so we took a picture with Grandma's phone. 

Then the funniest, best part of the day happened....we got back into the car and I started driving.  We hadn't told Bobby anything about where we were going, we just wanted to see his excitement and he didn't disappoint.  I took the next right and turned onto Rt. 40....Bobby started bouncing in his seat with the biggest smile on his face....he knew exactly where we were going!!!  He could hardly wait to get out of the car when I parked at the gym.

He ran right in and claimed his spot on the yellow trampoline!

He was joined by Lucas...

and eventually more kids came along...

I just worry that Bobby jumps way too hard and high for some kids, but no one seemed to mind.  Every once in a while Bobby would get up and run a lap around the room and come right back to his spot.  He looks sad in this picture, but he's not, he's just intently watching other kids jump...

Sonny came over and watched the jumping too...

Bobby spotted the guy that works there, who jumped with him the last time we were there.  Bobby went and brought him over to the trampoline to jump with him again...

He remembered Bobby and commented how Bobby wore him out the last time we were there!!

There were cookies from the resort as well as some other treats for the party guests...

Our friend Lucas was in his glory with these cookies!!!  He kept sneaking away to get another one.  Just like at the birthday party....the treats and drinks were there for you if and when you wanted them.  The kids didn't have any schedule of events dictated for them...they just got to play.

We were happy that the other Smith family could attend this party.  Sonny and Joey came over and joined Bobby and Lucas on the trampoline...

Everyone else needed a break, but Bobby is still jumping...

Alright...break times over...everyone back to the trampoline!!!!

Sonny decided that he would go ride the stationary bike...

Joey went to help a little girl try to get on the rings and when they weren't successful, he decided to swing from them himself...

We had to start telling Bobby that it was time to leave about 15 minutes before we were ready to leave so that he could start the transition.  He finally left the trampoline and went to put his shoes on and go get in the car.  The good thing about it being a very rainy, foggy day was that we could stop the car in the middle of the road and look at the animals (and I could take pictures).  However, because of the rainy, foggy day the pictures are not that good.  Oh well, you can't have everything.

The kids all had an AWESOME Christmas party!!!!!  Thank you so much Mike and Jen for the invitation.  We had a great time!

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Friday was pajama day at school.  I took a couple of pictures of Bobby before we left for school...

Sensitive Santa 2012

When I picked Bobby up from school on Wednesday he was sleeping.  Not a huge deal since he was up at 3:30 am, even though he has never fallen asleep in his classroom before (and he wakes up this early once or twice a month).  Ms. Kim then told me that Bobby didn't eat his lunch.  Uh Oh, this can't be good.  I finally got him awake and we were off to our next stop, behavioral therapy.  Yeah, that didn't go very well, we could tell that he didn't feel well.  After 20 minutes, we were back in the car headed home and then....well, use your imagination.  I got him out of the car at home, stripped his clothes off of him, washed his hands and face and then he went upstairs to bed and didn't get back out (except to go to the bathroom) until 5:30 the next morning.  Poor guy is just full of congestion.  He stayed home from school Thur and Fri and still today doesn't have his normal appetite back, but is feeling much better.

Bobby at breakfast this morning, trying to decide whether or not he wants to eat breakfast.

Today the Morgantown Mall held their 3rd annual "Sensitive Santa" event for children with autism and other special needs.  So we were off to see Santa before the mall opened.

As soon as we got there, Bobby ran right up to Santa, he didn't care that it wasn't his turn.  Daddy took him for a walk while I filled out the form and got Bobby a number.  Number 8 (and they are currently on number 2), so time to go to the play area and let Bobby play because he is not waiting well.  He ran up to Santa again!

Alright Karate Kid, please don't jump.

It was finally Bobby's turn, so we went to see Santa.  Bobby went right up to Santa and sat right down beside him!!!  This is the first year that Bobby actually sat down, he has always just stood beside Santa.  The elves took four pictures before the got one with Bobby's eyes open and not jumping out of the chair.  With verbal prompting, we got a picture of Bobby sitting beside Santa...

Great job Bobby!!

Bobby got to walk around the mall since he did a good job (don't tell him, but he would have been able to take a walk either way!!).

He walked around the Santa area and stopped in front of these trees and looked at me...like he knew that I would want to take his picture there.  I fumbled for a minute getting my camera ready, but I got the shot!!  Thanks Bobby.

Doing a little window shopping at Belk...he is probably picking out Mommy's Christmas present!!

Gosh, how did he become such a big kid??  Where is my little baby boy???

The funniest thing then happened...Bobby said "french fries" and walked off to the food court, sat down and was waiting for us to indeed get him some french fries...

He wasn't leaving either, only to walk up to the Chick Fil A counter and see what was taking so long.

Bobby, you will have to wait until Monday to get french fries from Chick Fil A since they don't open on Sunday.  I'm taking this as a very good sign that his appetite is coming back.  Let's go home and Mommy will get you something to eat.