Blue Starburst Please

Within a few minutes of being in the playroom with David tonight, he said "I want I see David please". I was warmed by his smile and fleeting glance. I wondered later why that request made me so happy. I think it's his way of saying; I remember you, and the fun we had last time we were together.

Last week he was happy to have us both in the playroom, this week he went for longer periods of time with just one. I sat and watched through the window while Ed joined with him. We just did whatever he wanted. He did at one point announce that he was happy, and several times through out the evening held on to our arm or leg and was squeezing tight. He seemed to know if he did it too tight he would hurt us, and seemed to be shaking in an effort to control his strength. We figured they were hugs and either thanked him or told him "I love you too".

He had been playing with Ed for close to an hour when suddenly he walked toward the door, opened it, and walked to me and then started his 'isms'. Which I took to mean, that he wanted me to play with him now. Someone else had mentioned that David had talked about people watching him though the window, this action seemed to confirm that he is aware of that happening. He did that twice tonight.

Things David asked for; I want a peanut butter sandwich please, I want a blue starburst please, I want a pink starburst please, I want a drink please, I want I see David please, I want I see Ed please

I See David

Tonight was our first official play-date with David on the Son Rise program. Ed and I were in the play room together and we traded off as David wanted. He played hard and full on; we ran from one side of the room to the other dropped to our knees, laid on our backs legs in the air and pushed our bodies up to sitting position. Then we would jump and run from one side of the room to the other, and then start the sequence up again. After twenty minutes of doing that I would pass him over to Ed, who fortunately got David's quiet time, while I tried to catch my breath in the corner. Whoever he was working with at the time, had his whole attention. After a while he returned his attention to me and we did the whole run/jump sequence over. We were with him for three and half hours and he was very active.

The last 40 minutes that we were with him, we played 'I see David' . He had hidden inside the playset and I could not get eye contact with him in there. So I started to peek through the holes at the top and when I caught his eye I would say "I see David" he then would cover the hole with his hand so I couldn't see him .. so I started to tickle his hand. He laughed and then started the whole thing over. In an effort to break up the sequence, Ed covered up the hole that David was poking his fingers through. This became 'I see Ed'. He would say either "I want I see David", or "I want I see Ed" and we would act accordingly.

David also asked for water after seeing us drink from our water bottles, we offered him his water bottle, but he instead asked for the green one. (mine had a green lid) As David drank from the bottle, he formed his lips over the hole so that it made a sucking sound when he released it, and then as he closed the lid it would make a popping sound. Ed joined with him making the same noises with his bottle, which David thought was great fun. We came away tired but satisfied, as he had given us lots of eye contact and spontaneous hugs. What a sweet boy he is .. we love him so much!