"Our best session yet!"

My current mood:

Today was socialization class # 3 in this session for Joshua. After last week, I was really wondering how it would go. We got upstairs about 15 minutes early and he went directly to the giant playhouse as he always does. Joshua seems to think the clinic put this house there for him. His ability to share "his house" pretty much seems to reflect how the class will go on that particular day.

Today was a good day. He was playing in the house when another boy came over from the therapy area. Joshua looked right at him and asked him if he wanted to play in the house with him. The little boy did not answer, but smiled and walked in. Joshua asked him if he wanted to share the house. They played together until the other child was called into his appointment. Success! At this point, P, one of Josh's classmates, came upstairs. They said hi to one another, but then sort of weent to do their own things.

Ms. G. came out with the basket for their snacks to be placed in. Joshua ran over and put his snacks in and headed to the door. This time P was the one who needed to be talked into going to class. LOL After a few minutes, they both made it into the office. Their other classmate never showed up today.

So, the other mom and I were able to talk a lot throughout the 45 minute wait. It was nice. She was telling me about the gluten-free diet she is trying P on. She said it is a pain, but she is hoping she will eventually go bananas about it like some of the other parents she has met have done. He's been on it a month...she said though that she's been told it can take 6 months to a year before she may see an improvement.

So, finally 45 minutes passed. Ms. G. came out of her office with two very happy and grinning boys. They ran up to us and gave us huge hugs. Ms. G. exclaimed that today was the best session they had ever had! They had wonderful eye contact almost the entire time. The interaction between the two boys was amazing. She said at snack time they worked on sharing. They each had to ask if they could please have a bit of the other's snack. Joshua got right up to P's face and asked "Can I have one of your cookies, P?" LOL Ms. G. said she could tell he really wanted it, and P was not paying atention. Josh had to really hold himself back, but he did wait for P to give the cookie to him. LOL Silly boy. Then P did really well asking too. :)

They also played with trucks today. Mrs. G. said Joshua and P both did really well with sharing, pretend play and interaction with one another, and sound effects (which Josh has always been a pro at doing). To top off all the success, Joshua did not spin any of the wheels for the first time! I was so proud of him. Now, once he got out of the session, he did go to a table and find something to spin just at the same time she was telling me this. She laughed and said that he did so well keeping himself from doing it in there, that he must have been on overload and now needed to get all the spinning out. LOL She was really excited with how well both boys did, and emphasized how great it was seeing the two of them in there today. :)

I am so happy that there is obvious progress that she has now noticed. I can hardly wait to see what happens at the evals that start next week. I am feeling more encouraged now than ever before.