Keeping Busy

Yesterday afternoon Eric's therapists came when he was home from school. No tantrums when he was asked to leave his movie and I turned off the TV! That was a shock. A new therapist came today. She hit it off well with Eric from the start. Eric was asking for tickles right away. He can say it so clear now. It is amazing he picked that up within a week! The down side is that he keeps going with it, constantly asking to be tickled. I think it is time Eric learned a new word. He finally decided to play ball. He can also say ball very clearly. He would say it before he would throw it. The therapist started bouncing Eric on the ball and trying to get him to say bounce. We got an approximation that sounded like ball but they accepted it. He liked it, but he would not do it unless the ball was on the therapist's lap. I tried with the ball on the floor he wiggled away. When he was a baby he would want me to bounce him on my lap all the time or he would cry and not sleep. Everything was going great for an hour. Then the therapist mentioned Eric tolorated the light being on. A few seconds later Eric ran to turn off the light. He was told he had to turn the light back on to continue playing and tickle games. He turned it back on with my help. He was OK with it at first but then the tantrums started. I could tell he had enough at this point. He asked to eat in hopes of them leaving him alone. No such luck kiddo. We are working on having him put his cup down on a coaster on a portalbe cabinet instead of having me stand there and wait for him to get done and take the cup. He did not like the therapist in there with him while he was eating pushing this. That was not a quiet meal. We gave him is squishy frog, let him play on the computer and ended the session.

Eric bouncing on his ball. It is bedtime soon after nap, which results in crazy hair he will not let mom fix!

Eric during his feeding. He is not happy about the counter and the coaster there. He wants mommy to take his cup.

Eric's next session is Thursday. Tomorrow morning he has his appointment at the CHW feeding clinic. Eric has severe feeding adversions stemmed from his autism. The provider is waiting from the notes and results of this appointment so we can modify the plans for food tolorance. The hope is that the feeding clinic and the therapist can work together on this. This is his big appointment with the psychologist, nutritionist, nurse and GI doctor. This always makes me nervous and he can be quite combative since he hates being messed with and it is so long. At least with the in home therapy we should not have to worry about having to stay there on 8 West for 10 days or having to go to Baltimore. While these are not bad things, they are just not feesible for our family right now. I will update on that tomorrow after it is over. Monday is the team meeting with the psychologist in charge of his therapy (aka the lead therapist). Plans for moving forward should be made then. This afternoon is the IFSP meeting for Jon and early intervention. This has me a little concerned. I know there are minor delays, but I am hoping I am not told more. I will update on that later today.