Almost 9

It's been awhile since I last made an entry here on this blog.

It's such a wonder how time flies... even when there are challenges.  Remy has been such an angel, a gem.  He has provided me with so many opportunities, so much encouragement to be better than I am.

He was diagnosed just before the age of 3... this was almost 6 years ago now.  For more than a 2 thirds of this life, he's lived with autism.  Or shall I say, he's had the label of autism?

I have certain seen the development, the "regression" and the development.  

At this point, Remy seems to express fewer verbal sounds than he did last year.  However, he has come to use his iPad with a program called Proloquo to Go.  he started it last year, and in one year's time, he really seemed to start using it more consistently asking for food, for his shoes, for playing...

Then the iPad went into mud... wet mud.  It's like his "voice" has been turned off.  Fortunately, he has his first iPad.  The only thing is, it's not programmed with all the words that he had with the mini one.

Remy's latest progress:

- using iPad as his communication device
- more   eye contact
- seems to be calmer at times
- eating almost anything (we let him off the gfcf diet) - and now we're challenged with a heavy boy - something will need to change again
- sharing food with others
- continues to nod and shake his head
- extremely high pitched forceful "ehHH|"s from the back of his throat
- ripping less bags

I am looking forward to celebrating his birthday.  Not sure what we'll do... but every day, I am grateful for his presence, his gift to this world.