Lunch Break

So, this is terrible, but I spend a lot of time running errands, coordinating therapy schedules, talking on the phone with insurance companies, etc, etc while on my lunch break. Sometimes it is hard to remember to eat, or that is I don't want to take out the time too. I really need to work on that. But, I do have some good news to report. Last Friday, I started to tickle Luke, just being playful and I asked him what his name was, and he said "Luke," I stopped and he said "again" and I asked him again what his name was before I would tickle him. The tickling was his reward/reinforcer for responding (alot of what ABA is about). And he said it again, and again and again. Praise God! We randomly asked him all weekend what his name was and he answered correctly. Such a relief to know he now responds to that question. That was a big thing for us!

Last night he also spontaneously told Jonathon that he loved him when he kissed him good night. No prompts, so no echolalia involved. Just a random, "I love you." It was sweet music.

Had a meeting this morning with Luke's program supervisor over his ABA program. His therapist were there too. It went well and the PS was very happy with his progress so far!

We may have landed yet another therapist to work with Luke. When you need up to 30-40 hours a week of therapy and the need for Luke to generalize his behaviors'responses to more than one person, it is almost impossible not to have at least 3 therapists working with an Autistic child at a time. Overwhelming to say the least in trying to coordinate a schedule that works around the other therapist, Luke's naps, or shall I say lack of naps, his OT and ST schedules and of coure Jonathon and I's work schedules. Thank goodness we have the help of family to pitch in. Just praying that God will work out the best schedule for him and us as a family!

I think that is all for now to report. Oh, I forgot I had food in the microwave. Need to run and eat!