Stop and See The Good

So, so, so much good going on over here with Zachary! I seriously feel like I need to be pinched to be sure that this amazing progress, and this FAST progress is really happening to MY little guy! So much progress in so little time. Better than trying to put it into words, I'll just give you his words. His beautiful, wonderful WORDS!!!!

- He has grown more observant lately. Whereas most parents probably talk about things that they are doing, errands they are running, etc with their kids - we've never really done so much chitter chattering with him since it was both one sided and he wouldn't have understood anyway. Well, times are a changin'. Yesterday I was putting some cards in neighbors mail boxes, and he said "Mommy, are you putting a letter in Hunter's Mommy's mail box?" I about fell over. Yes, yes I am Zachy! He's always known every one of those words, but he's just never strung them all together before - as a sentence that HE created not something he's just repeating. And it happens all the time now.

- He is talking to others more freely and a little less shyly these days. Not only just the people that he knows, but strangers too. He's finally answering the "how old are you" and "How are you doing" questions that check-out counter people ask, etc. Yesterday at swimming lessons, while we were waiting for his class to start, he started befriending a little girl. That in and of itself could be it's own whole message here about how far he's come socially, but it gets better. Since girls obviously wear their bathing suits over the top and bottom, it threw him. He asked her: "Little girl, are you wearing your life jacket?" HA! Love it! He didn't understand her being covered up on her chest unless it was a life jacket. Creative thinking. Independent thought. Initiating interaction and conversation. Beautiful.

- I had to go over to his class at swimming because for some reason this time he wasn't sitting on the side wall waiting his turn like they have to do so that the teacher can work one on one with each kid. He was jumping in and the teacher was having to get him out. So while I'm usually out of site, peeking around a corner - I had to go up and intervene as this college kid isn't going to know how to get Zach to pay attention and do what he's supposed to do. So I walked over and the look of shock and UH-OH was all over Zach's face! It was funny. Anyway, I told him that we were going to leave if he didn't listen and do what he's told, etc. He then says "go away mommy, go over there to sit"!!!! I couldn't believe the SASS. Aside from fixing that, I was excited at again, the spontaneity and the appropriateness of his FULL sentences and thoughts.

Things are going so well right now. So, so well. He hasn't progressed this much in such a short time span EVER over the nearly two year journey so far. It scares me. Will this continue? Are we really speeding down the big hill that we've been climbing over for two years now? Will Zachary be one of the kiddos to "recover" from Autism? That's a lot to even hope for, but hey when things are good how can you help but be wishful!