Before I get down to business - can you just look up? Not to be a total braggart, but can you even stand how adorable the new header pictures are?? The matching outfits? The poses? I took all of the pictures and didn't pose ANY of them. Brian stood that way on his own. Can you stand it??? Okay...moving on.
I have big news. And by big - I mean as big as the "Christmas miracle" that was Gavin beginning to walk. Big - like when it happened, people cried.
As you all probably know, communication is an ongoing project with Gavin. And a topic that is very emotional for me. I never know what Gavin actually understands - if he grasps the concept of communication using pictures or iPads or buttons or sign language. We've tried so many different things with him and he's been inconsistent with all of it.
This afternoon, while making a Fluffernutter for Brian's lunch, my phone let me know I had a text. The text was from Sara and it read: "BIG DAY TODAY!! Pick up will be extra exciting today. Milestone day caught on video!" My mind was racing wondering what it could be. I couldn't WAIT to get to school!! Brian and I pulled up in front of the Kindergarten Center and out came Gavin with Miss Sara and his teacher, Miss Megan.
The two of them were so excited to show me a video Megan had taken on her iPad in the classroom.
Two days ago they had shown Gavin a Big Mack switch (think of a Staples "Easy Button" that you can record your own message on). It had a picture of the sink in the classroom taped on top with "I want water" recorded on it. Gavin is SO motivated by playing with the water in the sink. He was shown this switch a couple times and needed hand over hand assistance to touch it before they would turn the water on for him. That was Tuesday. Wednesday they didn't touch it. Today, during PT with Miss Wendy, she had him walking to the sink - the Big Mack switch wasn't part of their therapy and was down the counter away from the sink. Now that you have the background.... watch this video. Without any prompting, Gavin initiated communication on his own.
Sara said he did this not once, but FIVE times. No one helped him...prodded him...asked him, even. He did this all on his own which tells me one thing: He gets it. He gets it more than I thought. And I am a Mom who gives him a LOT of credit - so that should tell you something.
I hope you all realzie that this is such a big deal. We are so, so happy tonight. As soon as we got home from school, I went online to a local assistive technology lending library and requested THREE Big Mack switches for home. I'm so excited.
Before any of this happened, I had a whole blog post planned about Brian and how he's communicating lately. Ironic, right? I'll post that soon... along with all the other adorable photos from our Spring photo shoot. Here's a couple sneak peeks...
As always, thank you for loving our family! And thank you for cheering on our superhero.
I hope he inspires you as much as he inspires us!!
