Trying to connect with Andy

I've been trying to see lately what Andy is able to reciprocate back to me communication wise. His speech therapist at school has noticed that he is indicating clear choices by touching things with his hand. I am seeing the same.

While eating lunch today, I had his water cup with straw, and two food items in front of him. Sometimes, when he was ready for the next bite, he would touch reach the food item he wanted. Or touch the fork sitting on the plate. Andy is unable to coordinate a utensil to his mouth yet, or to pick up a food and put it in his mouth with his fingers. Other times, I would ask him "which one do you want, this one or that one?" and he would then touch the plate he wanted. So, I'm happy that there is a sort of gesturing communication going on.

When I brush Andy's teeth, I ask him to say "ahhh" and open his mouth. I open my mouth while saying "ahh", and he thinks this is funny. Then, he will let out an "ahh", and I feel so happy! He seems to be imitating me, and understanding me!

After waking, he was babbling for about ten minutes, then started babbling mama. So, I raced up the stairs calling out, "You're calling mama, I'm coming, I'm coming, I heard you calling me!" I also told him, "I'm so happy you're talking to me!" I hope he likes how proud we are, and wants to show us more.

Rescue drug

Andy's neurologist told me today that I need a "rescue drug" when Andy is having his temper tantrums. He screamed during most of the visit. His high-pitched screaming was giving us both a headache. He told me I was enduring too much suffering dealing with Andy, and I deserved to be rescued. It is some kind of prescription wafer that will melt in his mouth. I have yet to see if CVS carries it. I'll try tomorrow. He told me, "he needs one right now"!

We are in the new house

Andy is adjusting well to the new house. He is napping fine, and sleeping through the night. The bus hasn't started to pick him up yet, so I don't know how that will go yet. It has been chaotic trying to unpack, and we still have more boxes to move from the old house.

Hoping to Stay Healthy

Andy loves going to school. He has a lot of fun there, and is always happy and smiling when I pick him up. I hope that he can stay healthy enough to go for a full week every now and then. When I see him running a fever, I keep him home. Unfortunately, he has had quite a few colds lately.

Andy is in a class of ten children, including him. All of the kids are mobile, except for Andy. As of a few weeks ago, an additional assistant was hired to help Andy in the classroom. It's really nice to know someone is right there to make sure Andy isn't going to get stepped on by another kid. Also, to help keep kids from taking every toy away from him, or to help him to stand, and move him from station to station. It really puts me at ease to know he has someone looking out for him the whole time he's there.

Taking my mind off of worrying about Andy

We are packing up our whole house and getting ready to move about 30 minutes from here. It is really keeping me preoccupied. I have also started trying to run again, thanks to my husband. He is going to attempt to run a full marathon at the end of May. I think it is helping him to have something else to focus on. He'd like for me to run the 10K, but I don't feel confident that I can do it. So, for now, I am focusing on packing.

I am also thinking about decorating the new house. It gives me a lot to think about. We have a budget, and can't go crazy, but I think we can find a good style that isn't too expensive.

Andy had a great day at school today, and was so happy there. It was his first day back after Christmas break. It's a bummer he only got to go for one day! I think he'll be upset there's no school tomorrow. He seemed really happy when I told him he had school today. It even sounded like he tried to say "go", when I told him he was going to go to school.

I still have Andy taking Risperdal, .55ml now, because it seemed he needed a little more to help his temperament. Although, he does still have outbursts to try to communicate he doesn't want something. I am a little concerned about my son taking an "anti-psychotic" drug. I've read about these types of drugs inducing breast growth in teenage boys, and I will have to raise my concerns with my son's neurologist.  We will be seeing him at the end of the month.

I have tried taking Andy off of this medication before, and the results were bad. However, I am  concerned about Andy's recent constipation. He has been having hard stools and I have to keep an eye on it. It is a side effect of Risperdal, so we may have to stop or switch to something else if it persists.

Words and sounds stopped for months now returning

Andy hasn't been making sounds or attempting to say any words for months. He has had a very frustrating last few months. He had ear infections that wouldn't go away, followed by constipation. Then he had a very inconsolable Christmas eve and bad Christmas vacation. It made me increase his Risperdal dose to .50ml, then to .55ml, which seems to be making him happy again. However, I've noticed a slight night waking going on, once a night. He goes back to sleep after 20 minutes or so, but babbles for a bit first. We will meet soon with the neurologist to see what other meds we could possibly try with Andy. If he continues to require more and more of this medication, I am concerned about his sleep being slightly affected.

I recently started Andy back on Gummy Omega-3 vitamins, and he's been feeling better. He isn't ill, and he is taking a higher dose of Risperdal, which is putting him in a better mood. Today, he seemed to be using "wa-wa" to ask me for water. I hope, so badly, that this continues. He has also been continuing to wave to people at school, and family members. Seeing any kind of communication from him is a real joy. He seems to understand when I talk to him sometimes, but I just don't know for sure.

Andy has recently grown two inches. He is also getting noticeably bigger. It makes me wonder if maybe his brain has matured a little as well. This could be the reason he is trying to communicate with us now, paired with school, and feeling better.  I know that he typically moves forward, then slides backwards, so just waiting to see what happens next.