Brendan has made so much progress in the last 2 weeks. He is really starting to imatate sounds. He is saying, "momma" and it just melts my heart. He is saying. "go" a lot. He is starting to say, "baba" for bounce. However with his apraxia unfortunately what happens is when he learns a new sound a current sound or word will disappear. For me as a mom it is really hard because I am so afraid when the day ends and new day starts what he will not say and not do what he has learned. On Friday for example I couldn't get him to say, "momma" at all. Every time I said, "momma" to him he would say, "baba". Thank goodness the next day he was back to saying, "momma" but then he was no longer saying, "baba". This is what is hard. He is doing amazing with the PECS the picture cards. He will bring me a picture of chips at 6:30am and yup thats right he gets chips. This is still so new for him so we are honoring the picture exchange no matter what. Haley doesn't think it is fair but I think now she is ok with it. The picture exchange has made it easy for him to communicate and I believe this is why he has started to make sounds.
Brendan doing ABA therapy with Katie
Brendan saying,"go & ba" (bounce)
Last week we had our first appointment with Dr Raun Melmed himself. I was really nervous going into the appointment and I am not sure really why. He first observed and played with Brendan. Of course he did the main autism test and called him by his name lots of times and Brendan never turned around. Then we chatted about what services Brendan is getting. Then we started to talk about apraxia. His doctor previously at the Melmed center is the one who wanted us to meet Dr Melmed because she had never had a child as you as Brendan with apraxia. Dr Melmed did his own assessment with Brendan and then told us he definitely has apraxia. But then he told us we are doing everything right for him. He has all the right therapy and to continue fighting because it makes all the difference. In the autism world here in phoenix there is nobody higher to see then Dr Melmed. It really made me feel great listening to him tell us that.
Brendan being silly trying to put Haley's American girl glasses on
Monday is April 1st and April is Autism Awareness month. I am so excited to spread awareness in any way that I can. April 2nd is national Light it up Blue day. We will be lighting our house blue for the whole month of April. Then April 6th is our big bowling tournament and Team Brendan has close to 50 people who are going to bowl. I am so excited to get our friends and family together to raise money and awareness.
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