What's New With Rex?

Another month of preschool has passed for Rex and we are very pleased with his progress.  Rex has mastered certain goals from his treatment plan, such as performing ten object imitations, identifying me in a photo by touching where I am, rolling a ball back and forth with an adult across five feet, and walking up the stairs upright only holding an adult’s hand.  He is now working on gross motor imitations, identifying body parts, receptive labeling of objects/people, matching, and verbal imitations.  Rex is slowly learning how to ride a tricycle and more quickly picking up the skill of propelling himself forward while lying down on a scooter board.  His muscle tone is still low all the way through his arms and hands, so these kinds of tasks require him to build up his strength as well as his coordination.

Rex has been doing incredibly well with circle time and other opportunities where he must remain in one place and pay attention to a group activity.  In recent weeks he has sat for as long as 17 minutes during circle time without being disruptive to others or trying to evade the activity. I am especially proud of him for this accomplishment because I know that 17 minutes is a long time for any three-year old.

Ready for school

In occupational therapy Rex is doing a good job kicking a ball (he prefers his right foot for it) and catching a ball.  Rex used to not even raise his arms in preparation for an approaching ball, and now he usually catches it in the majority of trials when thrown from about two feet away.

We are working on teaching Rex three new signs: play, work, and cookie (to encompass all sweet treats not from a spoon).  He seems to be picking the signs up rather quickly.  He continues to say “go” and has added a new word to his vocabulary which is “in.”  He says that mostly to get access to a big box of pebbles that he likes for digging.

Love him!

At home we see Rex playing more appropriately with toys: spinning tops, stacking pegs, rolling cars, etc.  At school they tell us that he parallel plays with his classmates and even seems to have one special new friend with whom he likes to sit side by side or lie side by side.

In a rather unexpected twist, Rex has been increasingly sweet and loving toward me over the last several weeks.  He has been giving me hugs and showering me with giggles that used to be reserved only for his daddy.  He is also doing much better allowing me to pet or kiss his cheeks.  Sometimes it looks like he might even enjoy it.  And Rex has been bringing me some of his favorite toys in an attempt to share and show his love.  When the stars align and he is able to call me mama, he is so very proud of himself.

Our growing boy

Lastly, we see very little tantrum behavior now.  I think we just had one major one in the last month.  Unfortunately Rex still does a little head-banging, but it tends to be a very short signal for help and ends as soon as we meet his need.  Meanwhile, Rex no longer hits himself at all.  And thankfully his window banging has stopped as well (you may remember that he broke two windows this summer to the tune of over $700 in replacement costs).

Rex has been very happy and very joyful for the last several weeks.  He understands the routines of our life and seems to be thriving in them.  He seeks and expresses love in his own wonderful ways.  We are thankful every single day to have him as our son.