Communication milestone (possibly)

It was very exciting when Krassi learned his first sign - "more" - his first way to communicate with those around him with something more specific than what he can get across with the continuum between laughter and crying. It took many many months of repetition in every appropriate situation, but one day we noticed it starting, and now it's very consistent - when he wants something - anything - he signs "more."

He's been going to summer school with Reuben two mornings a week (we're halfway through the five-week course), and I was delighted to have his teacher email to let me know that he had signed "more" during snack time with a para on his first day. How amazing - not only has he learned how to communicate with us, but he's learned how to do so in a universal enough way that a stranger can understand what he's saying!

However, that's ONE sign. It made sense to me that it would take a very long time to get the first sign - so many barriers to overcome, not insignificantly the impact of no one ever really caring what he thought or felt about anything for so many formative years of his life, essentially teaching his brain that expressive communication was of no value. But I *was* somewhat surprised at how long we stayed stuck at one, solitary sign. My mind was thinking, there's so many things this boy has picked up on! Isn't the potential for expressive communication, now that he realizes its there, enough to drive him to learn as quickly as he possibly can?

I still can't understand why it took so long, but over the last few weeks, we've finally seem glimmers of potential with a few of the 8-10 signs that we are focusing on.

Did he really just do that?

I think you were just signing "yes"!

Do you think he was just trying to...oh, no, he was just scratching his nose...I think.

Today at lunch, after I can't tell you how many days and weeks and months of repetitive practice at one or two meals every day, Krassimir used sign to tell me he wanted a drink. He's very motivated by his drink (pediasure, thickened slightly with plain, whole-fat yogurt, and protein enhanced with dry milk, served in a bear cup.) So motivated, that we were rather confused about why it took so long for him to put this together.

But today - today he surprised me by signing "drink"!!!! Did I really just see what I think I saw??? And then he did it again! And a third time! Seven times he beautifully signed "drink" for me. With each one of those I had to hold down his left hand as he was trying to sign "more" and tell him I wanted him to tell me "drink" if he wanted a drink, and it took verbal coaching (put your hand up to your mouth to tell me, Drink!) BUT HE DID IT!!!

In all honesty, I'm not completely certain he completely understood what was going on, or if he was just responding to my excitement, because by the sixth and seventh time, he wasn't really into drinking the drink when I gave it to him, but I feel like we've crossed the big hump on that one, and I really think that "my turn/please/I want it" (a conglomeration of very related notions that we're simplifying into one basic sign - right hand single pat on the chest) is coming, and possibly "yes" as well.

Oh, if we can get "yes" and "no" we will be MILES ahead of where we are now. I remember when Reuben at, what was it, three years old?, finally was able to tell us "yes" and "no" and how that transformed how we could communicate. Are you thirsty? Okay, you are. Do you want milk? No, how about water? No, well then, are you looking for juice? Yes! Okay! Let's get you some juice!!

~~~

Later in the afternoon, my little boys delighted me with a beautiful round of back and forth. Reuben, who is not known for his discernment in gentle touches, came over and gave Krassi a big friendly slap on the chest while I was changing his diaper. He jumped (typical reaction, largely because of his tone and increased startle reflex, and not so much because it was SO hard), and I reminded Reuben to be gentle. Reuben tried again, slightly more gently, but still eliciting a startle response. Krassi laughed, and signed "more"!! Ha ha! I told Reuben that Krassi had just used his sign to ask for more, and Reuben happily complied. More laughter, and Krassi signed "more" again.

"Reuben, he likes it! He wants you to do it again! He signed, 'more'!"

The next time, Krassi slapped his own chest once, and signed more.

Whoa.

I'm wondering if we just saw our first two-word sentence out of Krassimir. I'm not sure if he was telling us "I want" and "more" or if he was showing Reuben what it was he wanted more of, and then signing "more" but either way, I am certain he was putting those two hand motions together on purpose to communicate what he wanted, and Reuben was cheerfully providing it.

Oh, were we all laughing!

And my mind was spinning at the potential of what we might be seeing here. Wouldn't it be amazing if this was the tip of the iceberg? It seems as though today has been a turning point of sorts. I suppose what happens from here will tell.