Potty Success

It's two days until Ally's fifth birthday.  We've been working hard on potty training for a couple weeks, putting him on the potty every 20 minutes or so, with no success.  Today we went to see the ophthalmologist up in Albany.  I put him on the potty there and he peed!  Later we went to lunch at a restaurant: he did it again!!  Still later we were shopping at Christmas Tree Shoppes: a third time!!!  We dropped our friend off at her house an hour and a half later: he was still dry and did it a fourth time!!!!  We got home an hour later: still dry and peed in the potty for the fifth time today!!!!!  Five times in five different locations!  Way to ring in your fifth birthday, Ally Bear!  Guess we don't have to worry about him being uncomfortable using the potty in strange places.  Woo hoo!!!

One Singular Sensation

Several weeks ago I started singing "One" (from "A Chorus Line") to Alex. It wasn't long before he was requesting it by name and singing along (this is the kid who gets stars in his eyes when Julie Andrews starts singing in the opening number of "The Sound of Music"). Last week I checked out the DVD of the 1985 movie version of "A Chorus Line" from the library so Alex could see the number "One" in action. He gets positively giddy watching it! We watched another number from it today and he was actually imitating the dance moves, my little budding Broadway star.

Ally's Play

I just observed something about Ally's play that I've never noticed before. He often plays by himself. We (his therapists and I) have always thought the he perseverates on cars and trains because he likes the wheels and mechanics. What we haven't noticed is that he is engaging in pretend play with the vehicles. They are always facing each other or him (yes, the toys have actual faces), and he makes them "talk" to each other! I thought he was just babbling gibberish to himself, but today I heard them tell each other "Come on!" and call each other by name (Toby and James). I think he was even trying to make them kiss after I kissed him! He also says "choo choo" and makes the whooshing steam sound.

I know I'm always talking down the boob tube, but I think the Thomas the Tank Engine video actually helped teach Alex this kind of play (watching "Cars" at his Aunt Chappy's last weekend probably didn't hurt either). That doesn't mean I'm going to let him watch more television, it just means I won't feel so guilty when I do.

Alexander's Diagnosis

We made another visit to the developmental pediatrician today. The boys have been seen bi-annually by this practice since just before they left the NICU. At their last appointment four months ago Dr. T suggested that Alex might fall under the autism spectrum and that she would like to keep a closer eye on his development. Today we visited again, reports from his various therapists in hand. After inquiring as to my observations about Alex's development, attempting to evaluate him (he was very difficult to engage), and reviewing the reports from his therapists, Dr. T delivered the expected diagnosis: PDD-NOS.

As Dr. T explained, reaffirming my already strong beliefs, the diagnosis changes nothing. Alex is still the same child. The diagnosis is simply a tool to help Alex get the services that he needs. I know Alex is going to be fine. He may always be different, but he will learn how to get along the best he can in this world that expects everyone to be the same. What matters is that he is healthy and happy. What matters is that Alex knows that he is unconditionally loved, and that he always believes in and loves himself.