Breakthrough...

How was my day, you ask?

Well...it was busy. I woke up with terrible arthritis pain. I got both kids up and dressed. I greeted Miss Sara and we fed the boys breakfast. I drove Brian to pre-school. I got home in time to greet Miss Janna for Gavin's therapy. When that was over, Gavin, Miss Sara and I ran to Jo-Ann Fabric to find foam-like felt to cover the edges of Gavin's walker so our walls could possibly be saved from more dents and bruises as he learns to steer. (Tip: I picked up remnants of car ceiling interior - which is both padded AND felty - AND moldable - AND cheap!!) We ran back home to put Gavin in his walker for a few laps before I went to pick Brian up from pre-school. Whew. Then! I had a report from Brian's teacher that he is such a happy boy, participates in every activity they ask him to and catches on quick. I met Brian's friend, Mackenzie's Mom in the parking lot and we both agreed that there is a mutual love fest going on between our children and need to arrange a playdate. I came home to open Brian's backpack and found his very first piece of art from school and I nearly cried. (Don't you think he has great technique??)

We had some lunch and I started clearing out Darcy's shrine...er, I meant the empty bedroom that would have been her nursery...to start dreaming about Brian's new room (more on that later). I blinked and Miss Carol was here - Gavin's hearing teacher - for her monthly visit. We both agreed that Gavin is a rock star and I unloaded a lot of "old" hearing aid paraphernalia and equipment of his that she could donate to needy families she works with. After she left, with an hour on the clock before Miss Sara left for the day - I quickly ran to Fed Ex to ship a birthday present to a Mr. Sam Burney who's Mommy is a long time reader and friend of this online journey of mine - then the post office to mail a very important letter. I was home in time to say goodbye and THANK YOU to the wonderful Miss Sara (she really is)...put dinner on (corned beef and cabbage)...and say hello to Miss Katja and her boyfriend! Franco was here to give me an estimate on painting the boys' bedrooms (more on that tomorrow) and helping me cover the corners of our walls downstairs with plastic shields from Gavin's walker practice!

That was my day - what did you do?

You know what? None of it matters. With all due respect to everyone - you, me, Brian, Sara, Sam, the nice Fed-Ex lady...everyone. It all pales in comparison to this:

Gavin...he had a breakthrough.

I recently told you that he was pulling individual blocks out a bucket in OT...something that we have been working on for years - but has been a serious mission in OT for the past year. And he is doing it.

Well, another goal is color matching. It has been his teacher, Miss Janna's, mission for this whole first year. Twice a week she is here - and twice a week she would attempt to get him to color match. I am ashamed to admit there were a few times here and there that I actually (internally) rolled my eyes and thought it was hopeless. ME!! His MOM!! Shameful, I know. But Janna persisted and each week she brought her calm, cool demeanor to therapy. Each week Gavin would gaze at her with stars in his eyes. Little did we know he was taking it all in...because today - he did it.

HE DID IT!!

Take a look after grabbing your tissues.

He would start off touching the block and it would fall anywhere. But we waited...and saw that each time he would correct himself! He would pick up the block that fell - and sweetly place it in the matching color square. We were all a bit speechless. If you're new to this blog...you'll have to just trust me and all of Gavin's fans. This is big stuff.

And if that weren't enough to upstage anything that you or I did today - he was also a rock star in his walker! I know that doesn't seem like "new news"...but it is! You see, I un-attached the sling seat that was holding him from falling to the ground. The sling seat gave him some extra security. It kept him "halfway" in the walker instead of on the ground if he got tired - which meant he only had "halfway" to pull himself back up to keep on truckin'! So we unhooked the sling seat yesterday and today - and he is doing SO GREAT!!!

We struggle a bit with his wanting to give up if he falls - it's hard to convince him to stand up again. This is the time I'm grateful for physical help - Gavin is dead weight and trying to lift him under his shoulders when he refuses to put his feet on the ground is rough on this ol' lady! Check him out...

Each day he is improving in this walker. And, as Miss Sara says, one day he's going to just walk right out of it and show us all. That Miss Sara is pretty smart.

So, like I said...whatever anyone else did today is small potatoes. No hard feelings, right?