Second helpings

You woke at 7am today. And came to us in bed. It was the first day of summer, 34 degrees and Uncle Paul's birthday.

Your behaviour was much as the last few days, good eye contact, language was excellent. I gave you something and when you took it I asked you to say "thank you". You turned around and actually said "thank you". You've never said it after you get what you want. You only said it before to get something. There is, for me, a huge difference. One is a tool to employ to get your own thing. The other one has no pay-off. A big step.

Your number obsession, particularly with TV channels is still very strong. It is hard to actually watch TV because you strop if we won't change channels. Lifts though, well, we took it twice today, and still no real frustration if we don't visit all the floors. A little tear maybe, no more. That is a massive step. I know we have to work with you, use your obsessions as a route in as Greenspan says, but I also have to live in the real world, and I really don't need you commandeering the only lift in the building on Shabbat for 20 minutes. Nappy changing was still great - and you were very relaxed with Mummy when she changed you. No kicking or rolling. And there was quite a bit of joint association. Four or five times you showed, pointed and connected with my eyes. The first with the kite on the Hop TV channel logo was in front of your mum. It's clear that the therapy is working. I know a lot of this blog is about the diet, but the diet is something we do three times a day. The Floortime therapy is constant. And I will be a happy man if the nutritionist and the therapist want to argue about which contributed most to your progress. I'll just take the progress.

There has been a couple of times when you have grabbed my face lately, clamping my cheeks in your hands, hurting me. I say I'm sad or cross, you say "happy" or "oh, no cross, oh no!!". And then today you smacked Mummy in the face. She does overreact sometimes, but I wouldn't be surprised if you did. You don't know it hurts, and one thing you really lack is empathy. But it is a concern if you suddenly, alongside squealing, start to lash out for the first time. I tried to explain to your mum that you have just had your drug taken away (maybe, if the theory is right), and after the last dose from Saturday wore off, around Thursday, your body is making you do strange things. Most people think we need to just ride this one out. And we will.

You had a big meltdown - well, big for your standards around 11am, we couldn't get you to sleep. You started being drowsy, but by the time Mummy could coax you away from channel hopping you had broken her, and I tried to put you to sleep and we had hysterics over the number 137. Eventually you got up and

Ifat and Yehuda came to visit us today, you went to sleep ten minutes before they arrived and we had the chance to eat the gluten cake Ifat brought thoughtfully! Just as well you were asleep. We had a good chat though. Ifat seemed to think we were right to stick with the diet if it worked, and with anything that worked. She did say that you might be able to get into nursery because she has heard of parents putting pressure on and getting part-time and getting in before Bituah Leumi approve everything. We'll look into that next week. I'm hopeful actually, especially after Vered and Ayelet both seemed to think that there was some space somewhere in an Alutaf, maybe Herzliya.

Ifat and Yehuda were very impressed when you played with your numbers and how much communication went on, back and forth. I did some Floortime when we were all sitting together and it went pretty good. Ifat also was skeptical that switching Mummy's language into Hebrew was that important. There is a few things that don't make sense as I've said, the fact that we are teaching you the skill of communicating and not actual words. It is transferable and I know you will transfer it reasonably well. Also, your Hebrew is good enough. Something dawned on me today when me and your mum were working with you to get you to ask for things. If all three of us do Floortime together, it will be in 2 languages. And we very often do. Surely that will be more confusing. We'll speak to Dania and Yael this week before we make any changes. We also talked about your sensory profile and we all thought that maybe the nappy changing was a sensory issue. You have started to insist on socks, and trousers, and maybe the air or something on you bum irritates you. Maybe you just like it covered. Interesting how a month ago, I didn't even understand autism is a sensory disorder.

After yesterday's food, and my resignation that you will never eat a bloody thing I cook for you, your mum suggested white rice. Bland and boring. And you bloody ate it. And asked for more! You also ate, well, I didn't see it but it was nowhere to be seen, around a third of a lentil patty I made. Success! Peeved as I was that your mum's food went in first time, you'd actually refused white rice the last time I offered it to you. You are still asking for "milk", and "pitta cheese".

In the evening, your mood was much better. All the stress and impatience of this morning was been replaced by a boy who was keen to interact and play, great eye contact and very patient. Maybe the sleep helps, maybe the exercise - we went out for an hour in the late afternoon. I really can't say. But sometimes it can be just a pleasure having the chance to play with you, other times, it can be hard. This evening you made your mummy very happy.

Today's Food

Breakfast: Chocolate Cake (yes, I know). Cornflakes with Rice Milk. Strawberry & Banana Smoothie (which you didn't like - because I put too much water in it), Spring Strawberry & Banana Nectar (which you did because they didn't!)

Snack: Apple.

Lunch: Rice Cake with Peanut Butter. Once you licked the Peanut Butter off, I put some more on and you ate 3/4 of the rice cake too.

Dinner: White Rice! You had seconds!!! And you had half a lentil patty too. There is hope. Strawberry & Banana Nectar mixed with Strawberry & Banana Smoothie. Mango juice.

Snack: Chocolate cake. Again. And Carob Shoko which you left because Mummy made it too strong. Half a big orange and a bowl of strawberries.