Hmmmmm....what HAS Mom been doing to have let this blog go so long without updating it?! Okay....let me catch you up. I have finally learned to walk by myself and now, I run every once in awhile! I still have the g-tube for fluid. Turns out, after having had a swallow study done earlier this year, (2012) that I am a silent aspirator with fluids. That means that when I drink, it goes down "the wrong pipe." Only I don't cough or choke or spit it up. Hense the word "silent." So all of my fluids have to be thickened to nectar consistency when I drink from a cup. That is, IF I drink from a cup. Since I've been aspiriating for probably a few years (unbeknownst to Mama and Daddy) I have developed a negative association with a sippy cup. I know that if I drink from it, it's going to hurt my throat. So, we all get to start over with the whole drinking thing. My name is Joshua and I have a drinking problem! (smiles)
I have learned to walk by myself and am now running. I don't run a lot, because I like to take in everything that I see. I don't want to miss anything! And I have learned to use the stairs on my own. Going down is much easier than going up. My over all body tone is still rather low, and it takes a bigger effort to go up the stairs versus down. (But it's still easier to just creep up and down the stairs rather than using the rail and going one. step. at. a. time.)
Preschool has come and gone. I started kindergarten in August of 2012. I'm in the PALS class. This class has kindergarteners through 6th graders in it....all with different-abilities. (We don't use the word "dis-ability" in our family. It's not that I CAN'T do. I just do DIFFERENTLY!) So far, I'm liking it. Mama and DAddy thought I wouldn't be going full time until October, because I always fell asleep on the way home from preschool.....a class day that lasted 2 hours and 45 mintues. But on the 5th day of school, I was already going full time! And I've only fallen asleep 4 times since school started! Not too shabby, huh?
I was elected "student of the month" for the PALS class in September! I got a certificate and a trophy! And I started riding the bus home from school in October! When I was in preschool, there was a school bus that stopped by our house and I always ran to watch it. So Mom thought I would enjoy riding one myself. And ya know what? I DO!! I get to sit in the second seat and I'm tall enough to see out the window! It's a fun ride and I get very happy when I see our hosue and Mama walking out the door to meet me! (I kinda think Mama gets a little happy, too!)
I have my favorite things: Mickey Mouse, Lightening McQueeen and Mator and Fin "Mac Mis-ile" I still like throwing things down the stairs. The bigger the object, the more fun and the bigger the noise! I enjoy throwing balls and playing with cars. But still, I enjoy the toys more when they play music or jiggle or sing or talk.
Speaking of talking, we have been working on getting me an iPad for communicaiton. I still do not speak. I say some consonants and grunt a lot. Mama and Daddy know what I'm talking about, but no one else does. So it's important that I have some way to communocate. I can't wait to be able to tell Mama when my tummy hurts or that my shoes are tied too tight or that I'm not tired, I'm just bored. It's been a process of elemination for the family to figure out my ailments, needs, wants, dislikes, etc. So we will ALL be glad to finally have this for me to use! Plus, there's some really cool games and music I can play! (smiles)
So now, you're caught up! I'll try to get Mama to keep this blog updated. By the way, do you know the story behind or blog name tootorpoot? Kinda funny...but it might embarass Mama if I tell ya! (smiles)
Christmas Day 2010
Playing can be so exhausting
Why must every mother make a bubble beard on their child?
