Good Signs

We're noticing a lot of positive changes in Elise now. On Wednesday night, she played with A & me. It was a really basic game of stacking these magnets on a doll thing to dress it. We were only creating a pile and then breaking it apart and rebuilding it, but once I showed A how to play best with Elise, she tolerated playing with him for over 5 minutes. Then he got hyper and wild and she became annoyed, but it's a start.

She's communicating consistently for the first time in her life. This is by far her biggest achievement to date. It's not yet with words, but she's finally consistently using a gesture. She uses her open hand to touch her chest to tell us "I want". She does this 100% of the time now, generally without prompting. She's always been able to use gestures and even words, but NEVER has she done anything 100% of the time like this. I'm very hopeful that this is the first of many new communication skills. I believe wholeheartedly that she will be verbal and conversational someday. It's just going to be slow-going and essentially on her own time schedule (with regular reinforcements from us). She's smart, so she may begin to quickly figure out that it's easier when she can communicate more freely.

Today we went on a bike ride. I was with A & her. I pushed her on her tricycle and she even pedaled a bit (a new skill for her). At one point, A got off his bike and decided he wanted to use the tricycle. I was willing to push her on his bike since we were close to home. Usually she's dying to sit on A's bike. Well, she was not having any of this change. She saw what A wanted and she patted her chest emphatically twice to signify I want. Then, she pointed ahead and said "Go!" Then, in case we didn't understand what she wanted, she proceeded to reach over and push A out of her way. The pushing isn't nice, but I was gushing with pride in her new communication skills. She was essentially putting together a sentence.

Another big change is in how her brothers are responding to her now. It's like all of a sudden they're, without prompting, including her as a peer more. They really used to just ignore her most of the time. They were all 3 in the pantry walk-in closet on Friday night. A had some Skittles in his hand. When I walked in, he was giving them to Elise because they were her share. She was just looking at his open hand suspiciouly. It was obvious she wanted them, but I think she thought the generosity must be some sort of trick. Funny. When I told her to take them, she quickly did. Today, B was playing in the yard with some "berries" he'd picked off a bush. Elise had been watching her brothers do this and at one point looked like maybe she was trying to join them. B was asking me if I wanted some. I told him that maybe his sister wanted some. She was off by herself playing on a bike. Usually, she would ignore anyone approaching her because she'd be in her own world. B went up to her with a berry in his open hand and said "Here Elise." She actually looked and then took it from his hand.

Later, hubby was throwing himself the baseball and hitting it with the bat. She started picking up the ball and bringing it back to him to play again. I realize that dogs will do this, so one normally wouldn't brag that their child has developed this "skill", but when you have a child like Elise, you realize what a monumental step this sort of interaction is. That desire to interact with dad was great to see. It was followed by a big hug and a "Daddy" word. She is beginning to show a strong desire to enter the world instead of remaining in her own.

Her teacher mentioned that during this past week, they noted a big change in her style of play. She began using much more Child as Agent type play. For example, she undressed a doll, put it to bed, rocked it, gave a bottle and fed it. She's played like this before, but again, the quality and quantity has improved.

This afternoon, she was alone in the playroom with abuela. A had left out his Halloween candy. She picked up a candy bar and gave it to abuela. Abuela opened it and took a bite. Elise was fine with this, like she was sharing. Then, abuela asked if she wanted it. Elise then took it and ate it.

We're officially back on an upswing. I hope we swing really high this time and that the downhill is very short and doesn't fall very low.