So proud of my boy

Krassi's been making gains in his eating abilities in teeny tiny incremental ways. Tonight at supper he was doing so much that I was laughing with delight.

Tonight's menu was beef stew and canned peaches. (Some nights that's all I can wrangle together.) His stew was pureed like we always do, and he didn't particularly like it, but was eating it pretty well, but what really impressed me was the way he was eating little chunks of the peaches! He ate two whole slices over the course of the meal, and they weren't just slipping down his throat - he was chewing every single one! Watching my dear little boy working those chunks around with his tongue to get them in between his teeth and chew was incredible. It wasn't that long ago that the only thing his tongue did with chunks was push them out of his mouth, so to see every single piece of those two slices go in and have him work to keep it in and handle it properly was amazing to watch.

We decided to keep the momentum going by putting some of the juice from the peaches into his cut out cup since he is capable of handling "nectar thick" liquids. I've been playing it safe by going significantly thicker than "nectar" when we work with the cup, but he's been doing so well with it at home, and pushing the thinner stuff with his speech therapist that I decided to try it.

He LOVED it! And having him love anything that goes into his mouth is a victory. ;) It was a perfect opportunity, too, to work on the back and forth of signing for communication. "Krassi, that's so yummy! Krassi, do you want some *more*?? If you want more, use your hands to tell me *more*. Put your hands together like this to tell me you want *more*. Yes, Krassi!! You want MORE! Here you go! Mmmmmm. Isn't that good? Good job, Krassi!"

What a dear, precious, little boy.

~~~

Tonight he smelled a little bit like he could use a bath, so after Matt took the little-ish ones up to bed (Reuben and Rinnah), I asked Krassi if he wanted a bath. Oh, I love that big bright smile that spreads across his face! I got him part-way undressed, and then helped him "walk" to the bathtub where he sat on the stool while I ran the bath water. He doesn't generally experience a lot of clonus except when he's working really hard and is seriously fatigued, or when he's really excited about something. The combination of "walking" the five feet into the bathroom and the anticipation of the bath set his left leg going!

Judging by the smile on his face, it was all worth it.

There is such JOY in making that boy smile, and in being able to enjoy the simple pleasures of splashing in the water with him.