A hint of spring

Well, more than a hint. Today was simply beautiful here in our little California town - 80 degrees, sunny, and wet. Wet? Well, at 80 degrees it was time to jump in the pool! Days like today are the reason so many people want to live here. Of course it will be back in the 60s tomorrow and it will rain this week, but let's not think about that today.

Today was even better for other reasons. Grant had a great day today as well.

The last 3-4 weeks have been a bit puzzling as he seemed to hit a plateau after such improvement since starting chelation and the diet. It started with breakfast... he's usually stuck with one of two choices - either wheat squares or homemade pancakes. He generally loves the pancakes but we've been out for about a week, so it's been the cereal all week. Of course, it would be great to have some choices for cereal, but we haven't found anything else with no sugar, no oats, no corn, no soy, no dairy, no...

So this morning he said 'bo' (bowl) and got out the cereal. Whoops! He grabbed his siblings' cereal which he can't eat. He really seems to understand now when we tell him why he can't eat something. He put it back and pulled out his cereal, which he's really tired of eating. He poured it and got out the milk. Whoops! He got his siblings' milk which he can't have. Another explanation - he put it back and got his rice milk. He opened and poured, not a drop spilled. He got out the rice syrup and poured a little on for a sweetener. And he ate, and ate, all with his spoon, until he was all done. It wasn't just the eating, it was the independence and the focus.

As the day went on, it was his communication which stood out. It's still surprising to see and hear him trying to talk all on his own - using words (at least some of the time) as the first point of communication, before pointing, before pulling us silently to something. Sometimes we understand him, sometimes we don't. It's always a challenge to try and decipher a new word - is he missing the beginning the word, the end, the middle? But the important part is that he's trying.

Of course, communication is only communication if it goes both ways. Today, it was. "Grant, go put on your swimsuit." "Grant, turn off the TV." "Grant, it's time for lunch." He was listening and responding today.

Warm weather. Swimming. Talking. Listening. Focus. Can't beat this Saturday!