I am just astonished at what Wesley is doing these days. He is on such a roll that I can't seem to keep up with all that he can do! It seems like every day, he does something new or something on his own that we've been working really hard at.
I try to limit T.V. because we use it as a reward for him when he has worked hard in therapy that day. We have PECS of Jacks Big Music Show from Noggin and Thomas the Tank Engine on PBS Sprout. When he earns the T.V., we put the pictures on the top of his PECS folder and he gets to choose. Not only is he making a choice, but he's actually saying the choice too! He says either "Jack" or "Thomas". Not just once or twice, but EVERY TIME! It's amazing. There are a few times where we didn't even ask. He just pulled the picture off, walked up to me and said the name of the show he wanted!
The other night, Tim and I took the boys out to eat. We went to this place where you order your food and sit outside to eat. It was such a beautiful day. Tim set Wesley's bottle of water he had ordered on the table. While we were sorting out the food, Wesley pointed to the bottle of water. Tim asked if he wanted a drink and he did his happy hand flap! He was telling us that he needed a drink of his water! We made such a huge deal out of it. We looked kind of weird, I'm sure, but I don't care! My boy can communicate with us! His is a major thing for us. It means less tantrums, and less frustration!
We've been going for walks around the neighborhood and Wesley has been holding our hands and walking nicely beside us. Two months ago, he would have thrown a fit for not being put in the carriage. Going for walks were not possible. We went for a pretty long walk on Saturday and he did so well. We went to a playground at the Elementary school and he went up and down the slide like a big boy.
It's taken us 7 months to get this far, but I wasn't prepared for it to go so quickly. He is such a hard worker. I'm more and more confident that he will be mainstreamed into a normal classroom as he gets older and that maybe we won't have to work so hard to keep him up to where his peers are.
I try to limit T.V. because we use it as a reward for him when he has worked hard in therapy that day. We have PECS of Jacks Big Music Show from Noggin and Thomas the Tank Engine on PBS Sprout. When he earns the T.V., we put the pictures on the top of his PECS folder and he gets to choose. Not only is he making a choice, but he's actually saying the choice too! He says either "Jack" or "Thomas". Not just once or twice, but EVERY TIME! It's amazing. There are a few times where we didn't even ask. He just pulled the picture off, walked up to me and said the name of the show he wanted!
The other night, Tim and I took the boys out to eat. We went to this place where you order your food and sit outside to eat. It was such a beautiful day. Tim set Wesley's bottle of water he had ordered on the table. While we were sorting out the food, Wesley pointed to the bottle of water. Tim asked if he wanted a drink and he did his happy hand flap! He was telling us that he needed a drink of his water! We made such a huge deal out of it. We looked kind of weird, I'm sure, but I don't care! My boy can communicate with us! His is a major thing for us. It means less tantrums, and less frustration!
We've been going for walks around the neighborhood and Wesley has been holding our hands and walking nicely beside us. Two months ago, he would have thrown a fit for not being put in the carriage. Going for walks were not possible. We went for a pretty long walk on Saturday and he did so well. We went to a playground at the Elementary school and he went up and down the slide like a big boy.
It's taken us 7 months to get this far, but I wasn't prepared for it to go so quickly. He is such a hard worker. I'm more and more confident that he will be mainstreamed into a normal classroom as he gets older and that maybe we won't have to work so hard to keep him up to where his peers are.
4 comments:
It sounds like everyone's hard work is paying off. Hat's off to all of you!
Yes I second that!!!!!!
I will third that - Keep up the great work!!!
Thanks for the offer Jess!! I ordered a bunch of PECS and the notebook online last night. His therapist had started working with him on it, but when he started echoing they quit-they wanted him to talk more. I have ordered a whole bunch of ABA books,DVD's, and other things last night. I can't wait to get them!! Sounds like Wes is doing great!!
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