Thanks for all the well wishes over the weekend. As you read this, Max is either preparing to get Botox, getting the injections or recovering from them.
On Saturday, Max's school "Progress Report" arrived in the mail. It's a rather dense document that lists the goals set up for him, whether he achieved them or not, and how his progress compares to his last report (which was in November). I typically read these thoroughly but try not to take them to heart, as I know that even when something is listed as "Status Unchanged" or "Limited Progress" that could quickly change in the near future.
This time, Max had a bunch of "A's" (for Achieved). Allow me to boast:
Objective:
Max will recognize printed words with moderate cues and 75% accuracy. ACHIEVED!!!
Objective:
Max will recognize numbers 0-10 with 75% accuracy. ACHIEVED!!!
Objective:
Max will sort up to three groups of objects with 75% accuracy. ACHIEVED!!!
Objective:
Max will use his communication device to describe current weather conditions when given a choice of three with minimal cues and 75% accuracy. ACHIEVED!!!
Objective:
Max will learn about the changes that occur during various seasons and will answer questions such as "In the winter, does it snow or is it hot?" with moderate cues and 75% accuracy. ACHIEVED!!!
Objective:
Max will drink from his sippy cup with moderate physical cues during snack and lunch time. ACHIEVED!!!
Objective:
Max will use total communication to request, respond to simple question, greet, turn take and participate in three of four opportunities, given moderate cues. ACHIEVED!!!
Objective:
Max will pull down the zipper on his jacket, take it off and hang it up with moderate-minimal physical assistance and verbal cues 75% of the time. ACHIEVED!!!
Objective:
Max will transtion from the middle of the floor to standing using a half-kneel strategy without upper extremity support or physical assistance. ACHIEVED!!!
Objective:
Max will throw a lightweight ball with two hands to a partner three feet away. ACHIEVED!!!
Objective:
Max will continue to demonstrate extreme cuteness, good cheer, a great sense of humor, determination and prove all of those pessimistic doctors in the NICU wrong. ACHIEVED!!!
OK, that one wasn't on there.
He got a "Good Progress" in every single other objective.
Funny, just this week I was telling a friend that progress comes much more slowly now, but I'm OK with that and nowhere near as anxious as I was about it when Max was little. (Someone calls these little achievements "inchstones"—is it you, Melanie?) Back then, it took a long time for Max to reach milestones, and the wait could be excruciating. Especially because we weren't sure he would achieve them. Remember, we'd been told the worst when he was born. When Max did reach milestones, they were miraculous-seeming—Max crawling, Max walking, Max walking up stairs, Max saying words, Max feeding himself, Max going potty, Max riding a bike.
Progress may come in smaller, more subtle increments now, but it is just as miraculous-seeming.
