May 6

This week we got 11 hours.

I forgot to mention that a week ago Sarah had a more connected (than ever before) phone conversation with Mom-Mom. Today she started saying "Mom-Mom" in full instead of "Ma-ma." This correction was all of her own accord. She wanted to play with Mom-Mom. (and wanted to ride on a plane together to see G-ma and G-pa)

A few days ago with prompting she said a perfect (if stilted) "do-nut," though she mainly reverts to dropping the "n" when it is in her new phrase of "buy a donut" (sounding more like "buh uh do-ut").

Sh. noted that Sarah's hands seemed more connected to her arms than in the past. Also, after Sh.'s session with Sarah we were all in the family room so Sh. and I could discuss their time and just as we were finishing talking, Sarah climbed into Sh.'s lap and snuggled for a few minutes. What a sign that we are achieving the connection and bond that we want! I know Sarah has always been a snuggle bug but that is usually with me and Carl or in a stimming way with people's pants. This was pure snuggle.

L. pointed out how great it was when we were having our group meeting (when S was supposed to be asleep but wasn't) and Sarah came downstairs and seemed excited to see her friends and went over to them saying some of their names to the best of her ability.

Sarah has a very active interest in our cat now which was not the case at all when she was younger. Now she will change her trajectory to follow him and will pet him while he eats.

When G. last worked with Sarah she was very chill towards the end of the session and then suddenly got up and ran to her room, lay down, reached under her bed, and retrieved a toy school bus that had been missing for weeks. I am amazed that she knew where it was and doubly amazed that the thought of it seemed to come so suddenly and clearly.

And yet another testament to her memory... when K. did Reiki she started working silently with Sarah while S played with blocks. Sarah then turned to engage K., saying her version of "eat rock." (sometimes K. brings crystals which S attempts to put in her mouth). K. didn't have crystals this time so Sarah was remembering past sessions and the two of them had a lovely time laughing, joking, and teasing about not eating rocks and the different colors of pants. Since Sarah sometimes isms on the blocks this purposeful connection away from block play seems extra great.

When S. played with Sarah, they finished their time with lots of eye contact during tickle exchanges. Sarah would point to where she wanted S. to tickle. Then S. would offer herself to be tickled back.

Sarah and I had a great session with playing board games where she didn't want to open the box at first so asked "but how are we supposed to get the dice to shake and roll?" (while playfully shaking her midsection and pretending to roll her. We went through this several times and eventually we opened the box and eventually we took turns rolling and then placing the pieces on the board (I gave her the right piece and then she did the correct placing on her own).

The amounts of fruit and veggies Sarah is eating has doubled or tripled. This is partly my offering more and partly her accepting more. She has eaten broccoli (with the promise of calling Mom-Mom and how excited Mom-Mom would be to hear about it) and raisins this week, both of which are relatively new for her. She's enjoyed a lot of Naked green juice and apple sauce too, which are sometimes rejected and this week have been greedily consumed. Most nights I chop of fresh fruits and veggies and put them in glass containers for me and Carl for the following day. I have now started making Sarah her own little glass container and twice last week she ate almost everything (it is always a medley).