As week 4 begins I should mention that I will be updating the blog once or twice a week from now on. It seems more appropriate to do a summary at the end of each week. I also think it will make reading the blog easier.
Just this last weekend some nice things happened. The whole weekend was really wonderful actually. Viggo was so "in the world". His autistic behavior was minimal. He seems to feel secure and driven at the same time. One afternoon when his oldest brother John was leaving for the neighbor's house to pick up our middle son, Mikko, Viggo put on his clothes and volunteered to tag along. He really is taking action these days!
On Saturday Viggo managed to "sit" through his first whole hockey game (he sat for a while and then walked up and down the stands half watching the game and half playing with the foldable seats). It was his oldest brother John playing. There is always so much ruckus around the hockey rink that the players cannot hear their parents cheering them on. But John was able to hear Viggo's piercing voice yelling "come'on Johnny!"
On Sunday we were all invited to an outdoor Christmas lunch. Last year Viggo stayed behind with a babysitter as we went to this lunch but this year is a whole different story. As we got to the lunch a kind parent offered Viggo a cookie before I could stop them from doing so. He took a bite and I said he couldn't have any of it. Not only did he put the cookie back but he spat out what he had in his mouth. I am so utterly impressed with his dedication to this new diet. He didn't fuss.
Later he asked me to help him put his gloves on. "First the left hand", he said. "Then the right hand", he said. I started using these words at the beginning of the week and now he is using them. It makes me so happy to see that he is able to learn new words so easily. Until now that was not possible.
Finally, Viggo helped pick out a nice tree from the nearby forest. He has been so eager to get a tree for our house. He even used the saw, helping me take the tree down.
What better Christmas present could I wish for?!
Just this last weekend some nice things happened. The whole weekend was really wonderful actually. Viggo was so "in the world". His autistic behavior was minimal. He seems to feel secure and driven at the same time. One afternoon when his oldest brother John was leaving for the neighbor's house to pick up our middle son, Mikko, Viggo put on his clothes and volunteered to tag along. He really is taking action these days!
On Saturday Viggo managed to "sit" through his first whole hockey game (he sat for a while and then walked up and down the stands half watching the game and half playing with the foldable seats). It was his oldest brother John playing. There is always so much ruckus around the hockey rink that the players cannot hear their parents cheering them on. But John was able to hear Viggo's piercing voice yelling "come'on Johnny!"
On Sunday we were all invited to an outdoor Christmas lunch. Last year Viggo stayed behind with a babysitter as we went to this lunch but this year is a whole different story. As we got to the lunch a kind parent offered Viggo a cookie before I could stop them from doing so. He took a bite and I said he couldn't have any of it. Not only did he put the cookie back but he spat out what he had in his mouth. I am so utterly impressed with his dedication to this new diet. He didn't fuss.
Later he asked me to help him put his gloves on. "First the left hand", he said. "Then the right hand", he said. I started using these words at the beginning of the week and now he is using them. It makes me so happy to see that he is able to learn new words so easily. Until now that was not possible.
Finally, Viggo helped pick out a nice tree from the nearby forest. He has been so eager to get a tree for our house. He even used the saw, helping me take the tree down.
What better Christmas present could I wish for?!