January 9
Happy New Year!

We've increased Luke's cholesterol to 2 more pills (now at 6 a day) since his bloodwork still showed low levels and have also increased his iron. He seems to be doing very well, especially with socializing/interacting with other children. He's been initiating conversations (okay, one-liners) and activities but saying, out-of-the-blue "steal my belly button" (with his shirt pulled up) and "I want to go back to the cabin" (referring to our 4 days at the Mile High Resort cabin over New Years). Tonight before bed he said "I don't want to go to bed" and "I want to go in the bathtub". This is fun to hear and everyone that works with him has been thrilled with his talking. He and Joel seem to communicate well and play together a lot. Luke doesn't always pay attention to Joel's demands, so Joel's left yelling at him over and over, but hey... it's teaching Joel patience right? Haha. Luke has been needing hugs lately, and is also initiating "rub noses" (something we've done for a long time, but always with my asking)... after the rubbing of noses, he asks for a kiss, which makes me smile. It's hard to explain, but he's more "with us" than ever. He still annoyingly turns my head to look at him (cute the first time, but gets old fast... am I sounding ungrateful? I hope not... just the repetitiveness can make one a little crazy especially when I'm really focused on something like cooking dinner or watching a favourite show). He's otherwise not too bad lately with the repetitiveness... he does, however, cry out or make a whiny noise when he wants our attention and we refuse to acknowledge him until he uses his words. It's slowly working. We've taught both boys their manners (please and thank you) and they are saying them more frequently and without prompting. When I hear Luke "toot" and say "excuse me" automatically I have to smile! I'm currently teaching them to say "bless you" when someone sneezes. I am also in the process of getting Luke to say "hi" when someone says hi to him... it's a work in progress, however he is saying "Thank You" and "Bye Bye" much more quickly and more often without much prompting. I love his politeness. Oh, and he's been asking for a kleenex only when he really needs it (remember when it was a stim!?!). He then says "blow" when he wants us to hold it to his nose (and yes we often make him do it himself which he tries but then usually says "need help"). He also says "wipe tears" if he's been crying. And for some reason he knows the word "booger" haha. He is also discerning between "yellow pee" and "brown poo" (toilet talk again, sorry!). Luke will often sit on the toilet and wait for us to come check, but I'm teaching him that he only has to call me for "brown poo" and a wipe. [As an aside, I was using a "wipe" on Joel the other day while changing his diaper and he started saying, "Swiper, No Wiping" from Dora which he has only watched maybe 3 times - haha]. Anyways, Luke has also decided to assert when he's finished. We used to ask (with no reply) and eventually go check, but now when we ask he says "Not finished" or "Finished". The other adorable word he's been using is "OK"... as in, can you put your mittens on? "OK". And "uh, oh" every time he drops something... which I've kind of been waiting to hear since he was a baby, so it's extra-cute. What else? Hmmmm..... He's become very sensitive to Joel as far as being afraid when Joel has a hockey stick or a stickhorse. I think he's been hit one too many times and gets immediately nervous when Joel grabs one of these... he takes it from Joel and brings it to me and says "Take away!" He also gets very upset when Joel doesn't listen to me... he knows Joel's behaviour is making me angry or will get Joel in trouble, so he'll grab at Joel and try to get him to obey me.

Outside of the house, Ms. S, the BI that attends Luke's gymnastics, says he's more and more comfortable in that environment. Last week he stayed in the big foam pit for much longer than ever (usually finds the fastest way out); AND he did the spider-walk (or ape-walk) which he's never done before; AND he initiated a conversation with another child... which is HUGE, and yes, by conversation I simply mean he spoke at them with one or two words, but it's all about the fact that he sees they are there and he wants to interact with them. This is a really big deal for children with autism.

Last week also our great autism team has provided new interesting programs for Luke including "rhyming" and a type of "memory game", and a few more I can't remember (which happens more often now that I'm getting deeper into the forties!).

We're planning to do HBOT during the month of March and are awaiting confirmation on that. We'll be staying with my sister for the whole month and I've arranged appointments with both Dr. Bratt and Dr. Sass during that time. I'm looking forward to more time with my family, and to see what further results the HBOT will show. I've requested the $2800.00 from the Cops for Kids charity and am really hoping they come through for us, but won't know for another 6 weeks or so.

All the therapists will be visiting with Luke this month at his preschool and hopefully here at home before we go away for March. I'll try to update soon with their comments and suggestions.

We've decided to not go to the sacral-cranial therapy for a while, as we're pretty optimistic about Luke's progress right now. We do, however, have another appointment with Dr. Wagstaff for February 10, and are comtemplating another food-panel allergy test to see if there's anything new to be concerned about, or anything old that's been resolved and we can reintroduce.

January 17
It's a quiet Sunday as both boys are taking a nap. Luke doesn't nap any more, but today for some reason he said "I want to sleep" so he's curled up with a blanket on the couch. He's been exerting more and more independence both at school and at home. At preschool, during circle time, Ms. R. was discussing Martin Luther King and racism and used the "different eye colours" as an example of our differences. Luke mentioned, in context and timely: "I have blue eyes". He's actually participating in conversations during circle time! He's also going through the motions of playing with his activity more fluidly... and by that I mean not stopping every minute or so to get Ms. M.'s approval that he can move on to the next thing (ie selecting the activity which is on a tray, putting it on a table, pulling the chair out, playing with it, cleaning up, putting it back). Ms. M. just usually has to suggest that he clean up when it seems like he's bored with it.

This morning we played with playdough (me and the boys) and I couldn't believe Luke's conversation! A lot was repeating, but a lot was also original thoughts and requests and basically he nattered the whole time. It was fun to just sit and enjoy hearing his voice as he nonchalantly chattered and conversed in his own style. It was music. I also must add that Luke's strength while playing playdough was amazing. He used to barely touch it, and then with really weak hands, but now he's rolling it with real strength!

We have swivel/rocking chairs around our kitchen table and the other day, with Luke on my lap, we spun around fast a few times. He LOVED it. He often sits on my lap and says "Pin", while trying to grab the table to push off. I think this is absolutely wonderful because it wasn't long ago that we had to put Luke in these chairs and spin him slowly and carefully 10 times one way, 10 times the other way. His vestibular system was so awry that we had to try to train it to right itself. Look at him now... as well as jumping from higher and higher heights (ayiyiyiyi) and not tantrum-ing or freaking out every time he trips, stumbles or falls.

The last few mornings I've been making him pick out his own clothes and so far he has pretty good taste :). I've been working on getting him to put his own shirt on, and on the odd occasion he's been attempting to put his own socks on. He'll figure it all out eventually.

The other miraculous milestone is he's feeding himself (not willingly, of course). Every morning we've "helped" him eat his porridge until one day he seemed so disinterested that I said "If you're finished, put it on the counter". He did, and sure enough for the next half hour, every time he wanted a bite he went to the counter and fed himself! Now we know that we were being had by him for a long time, but it was never the battle we cared to fight. As of that day, however, I refuse to help him and he squawks and squeaks, but if he's hungry enough, he'll get most of it in his mouth on his own. He has issues with scooping too big a bite and having porridge somehow land on his hands or around his mouth (horror of all horrors - haha). We decided not to care about his rantings and watch him begrudgingly keep trying. He's not going to learn how to properly scoop the right amount without a lot of trial-and-error. We're quite relieved to be near the end of this stage! He has also been biting into cookies, crackers, apples and muffins. He had always wanted us to cut things "little", but now he'll attempt to bite into things more often. Daddy taught him to go "Arrrrrghgh" when taking a bite, which he does and it sounds very cute!

He has not been grinding his teeth much at all, although the odd time I do hear it, it's usually when he's very, very tired.

Another first this morning... almost forgot!... Luke called for "Mommy" from his bed at 5:30 in the morning. Luke has NEVER called "Mommy" from his bed.... ever (just made noises). I, of course, ran to get him and had him cuddle with us in our big bed for a while... until he said "I really have to go pee" - haha. And a little later said "I want to go play".

January 18
Just a quick and AMAZING note. We've been giving Luke his B-12 shot (in the top, fatty part of his bum) every 3 nights for the last 2 years and it has been a combination of scary (needles bent by Luke twisting/turning), frustrating (needles don't work after 45 minutes of warming up), gratefully quick-and-easy, and all out anger over having to jab our sweet little boy. It has been one of the most difficult things we've had to do on this journey. Because he was waking up more and becoming stronger, we decided it was time to explain this to Luke and see what happens. We showed him the needle and said it had to be done, and that we didn't want to do it, but it was necessary to make him feel better. The last two times I held Luke in a horizontal baby position to keep his one arm against me and the other I could hold down while daddy injected the vitamin. Luke was very anxious both times and wriggled fearfully in my arms.......... until tonight! I told Luke it was time for his needle, and at first he said "no!" but then he went straight to daddy. Daddy showed him the needle and asked if he wanted mommy to hold him. He said "no". He TURNED AROUND and pulled down his pants a little so Daddy could give him the shot with no major reaction. Daddy rubbed it gently and Luke was fine. We were both very, very proud (and told him so!). This is a MONUMENTAL MOMENT and we are so grateful for this new milestone (are we ever!!!!!) and so proud of Luke!

Oh, and another thing... Luke's been putting his hands over his eyes whenever Joel gets in trouble or if Joel's making too much noise. I think his little brother is a bit too aggressive for Luke. Luke is quite sensitive, but I think hanging out with Joel is going to toughen him up a little! And hopefully Joel will learn to be a little more gentle and considerate.

January 31
It's February already, but I don't feel like making a new webpage yet. Haha.

Life is pretty good. Luke is doing well... we still worry about his speech, and I specifically worry about his imagination and if he'll understand "concepts" and so much more. It seems we're always looking to the future and saying "I wonder if he'll..." and hoping for completely typical behaviour. There's no guarantee and there's where the faith comes in. Luke talks more and more now, but sometimes in a gravelly low voice which he and we think is pretty funny. Imagine him saying "Gorilla Munch" in a low growlly voice.

I have to say that I am pretty shocked at his progress. Yesterday the Occupational Therapist came and asked him to do a number of things I have NEVER seen him do. Not only did he do them, he said "ok" and did them right away without any coaxing. Like slithering along the floor like a snake... and clipping clothespins to a "tree"... and threading a string through some open-holed pegs (which he has easily put in a pegboard after doing the wheelbarrow walk to get them). He was so well behaved and quick to respond I was in shock. He amazes me.

Preschool is thrilled with his accomplishments. He's much more physical and comfortable on the playground equipment and he seems to be more and more sociable. He's left at the snack table with 3 other children and they seem to have some kind of conversation or at least, fits of giggles. He's been participating in the actions of the songs, and has become even more independent by selecting his choice of activity without intervention and cleaning up when finished on his own (without guidance or reminders).

He has been annoying/bugging Joel lately and I can often hear Joel scream "Quit bugging me!" as Luke will continually "threaten" to touch Joel. He does not seem to know when to stop, but I'm sure he is pestering on purpose (typical behaviour, right?). Sometimes they need to be put in separate rooms, while other times they can play or wrestle nicely together which is so nice to watch.

We are laying low until we leave for HBOT at the end of the month. Still hoping the charity comes through for us ($2800), but may not know right up until the day. I stopped stressing about these things as God always seems to provide.