James has "JUMPED"

As Opa would say (when something has improved greatly), James has "jumped." After a week-long vacation and an almost equally lengthy illness, James roared back. He is talking even more consistently. This time the change is that he is responding to questions.  For instance, when he was trying to shove me out of his room, I asked him what was going on.  He didn't respond, so I asked what he was doing. "I'm poopin'" WOW!  I left.  (Aside: Toilet training will not be conducted until the month vacation at the end of the school session.  James has just returned from a week of diarrhea and that was not the time to start.)

James is also soaring in this ball playing.  He is thisclose to making a basket in an adult sized basketball hoop.  Yesterday, he kept hitting the rim and the net.  I am so excited!  Where is the camera when you need it?!  His new gym teacher also praised his abilities and skill with a ball.  Go James!

His ability to pretend and his interest in doing so have changed as well.  As he was getting better (and therefore growing a bit bored), I was making up games left and right.  The one he liked was taking couch cushions, pretending they were islands, and playing catch (careful not to drop the ball in the "water").  Of course James inched closer and closer.  Soon our cushions were touching and then the game mutated into who could tickle the other off the island into the water.  Oh he LOVED it. Sometimes he would roll onto the floor just to hear me scream OH NO! This morning, Dad was tickling him in bed.  James rolled to the edge of the bed, looked at me and carefully put his foot down before pretending to fall, smiling the whole way, loving our "concern." What else can I say but ADORABLE!

I hope this behavior translates from home to school.  He is back to form at his sensory gym but is still getting upset at school.  I know it is a long day for him, considering his week-long virus spent listlessly on the couch watching television. Unfortunately I also think he notices the change from how he is treated at home and at school.  I expect James to talk and communicate to me.  I include him in what I am doing and why. They do this at outside therapy as well.   I am not sure if they can do this at school all the time.  When I entered on Wednesday, the first day back, he was screaming hysterically.  I have heard him cry - unfortunately a lot - but scream?  I let his teacher try for a bit. She is the authority - and an amazing one at that - and defer to her.  When she acknowledged me and tried to show James that I arrived, I stepped in.  I dropped to my knees. It took me a few seconds to get his attention focused on my face.  James, James, why are you crying?  Is it because "R" is crying?  "YEAH" he said loud and clear.  Okay then James, that's all over now, right?  "MAMA" he said and nodded. And what happens when Mommy comes?  He turned around and said, in his own voice, not high pitched one I hear sometimes when he tries and can't quite get out the sounds, "BYE-BYE."  Everyone was astounded and clapped and cheered.  I have no idea why he doesn't talk at school but he will!

This lovely viral bacterial infection also introduced us to yet another pediatrician.  There are several in this practice.  I have heard about this one as he has recently opened an Autism Center.  After declaring James well on his way to recovery, we chatted about James, his schooling, therapy, eating, sleeping, and toilet training.  He was impressed with James and his ability to communicate and to understand.  He wants to explore James' gastrointestinal issues.  He was extremely interested to learn that James shuns cheese and dairy (even pulls it off pizza). He thinks James might be doing it because he can't process dairy.  The doctor also feels - and this is the blockbuster - that this might be hindering toilet training, especially considering how well James had just listened and understood the tests that were just done to his body.  Who knows?  This is definitely worth checking out.