More fun to go on the floor

Well, it was a frustrating weekend of potty training. Some successes, some failures. Cash went in the potty properly on Friday - probably thanks to Aunt Dianne being very persistent in keeping him there until he went. Then over the weekend, I got him to pee in the potty a few times, and sign potty as he peed a couple other times, and other times he missed. And now, what I'm seeing is that he is intentionally waiting to go. Like we'll be on the potty, nothing happens, we stand up and move on, and then 5-10 minutes later, there is pee on the floor. This morning, we woke up and I immediately put him on the toilet - he went, and we celebrated (an M&M, singing, flushing, woo-hoo). While I was cleaning up, he went again - more celebration (more woo more hoo). So then he got down and went on to play. Not 5 minutes later - NOT FIVE MINUTES - he was sitting in a puddle. My feeling is that he is totally able to hold it. Anyone who can stop and start like that has some control. So now we have to work on making him want to go appropriately.

Lots of detail about potty training, but voila my life. Potty training and job interviews (3 this week, 2 next week).

Changes

We are switching to a sensory integration program next week for PT, OT, and Speech. It sounds promising, so we will see how it goes.

We have decided to do a push for potty training over the coming four day weekend. It may be a very loooonnng, messy weekend.

It's a Tuesday

Cash was at Shriner's Hospital today getting fitted for new leg braces. It will probably take a month until they arrive. He also did some OT there, but we may switch to a facility that specializes in sensory integration issues for PT and OT after next week.

Boo very clearly can use the iPad to ask for pretzels. Apparently the time is coming for me to buy the full (expensive) communication app.

I'm off to the gym to try to burn off all the pierogies I ate for dinner - and the chocolate I am going to have for dessert -

You mean there's more to it?

I haven't written in a few days - mostly because things are pretty calm and quiet here. I am doing school and job interviews, and Cash is motoring along doing his thing. He has been healthy and very alert. He has been playing with his tongue alot, and he has been sticking his fingers up his nose (until it BLEEDS, which is super annoying). He has been giving me little tongue kisses and some nice hugs. We are starting a new push for potty training - this morning I put him on the toilet and he peed. It was coincidence, I think, but still nice and we made a fuss. He is funny about the potty - as soon as I put him on it, he signed for book. The last time we tried potty training, we spent alot of time reading books while we sat there, so apparently he remembered. Also he uses the potty as an opportunity to play with his stuff. There you go: potties, the time for reading and messing with yourself - he's halfway to being potty-trained already.

Almost bedtime

Tuesday

Cash has an appointment with Shriner's Hospital tomorrow. We are thinking he will get new orthotics and start some PT.

We bought a potty today. And I had a job interview. Welcome to my life.

Our friend Susann has called to offer Cash a kind and heartfelt gift. I must say, SHE has been an amazing gift in our lives. Her generosity and thoughtfulness astounds me.

Home sweet home

Whew, long travel home. Our flight out of New Delhi was delayed by 5 hours (fog. dense, impenetrable fog.) and so we missed our connection. We ended up overnighting in Munich, where Lufthansa put us up in a nice hotel and paid for our dinner of spaetzle. Cash slept the whole 9 hours Delhi to Munich, but he (and I) were awake pretty much the entire 8 1/2 hour flight the next day from Munich to Newark. Happily, he is a super traveler - he sits quietly and plays with his toys.

Now we are home. Cash went to school today. He is really doing well. I know I was having a spasm of doubt about the stem cells before we went to India, based partly on the CNN interviews, but it is hard not to feel good about them again based on what I am seeing now. It's all small stuff, but it adds up. A bunch of new signs (he said "blue" for his dad on skype), signing "poo" when his diaper is dirty, the temper tantrums, using his iPad to make requests. Plus he seems stronger - his walking is more stable and his hands seem both stronger and better at fine movements. And ... this is hard to explain, but he seems more THERE. I guess by that I mean that he seems increasingly responsive and interactive. It is hard to explain. Anyway, he is good, and we are glad to be home.

Aunt Dianne bought Cash a new Blue Music for Christmas. His old one died a few months ago and we could not find a replacement. He was thrilled to see it, totally thrilled. He danced to the music, and he "sang" with signs :-)