New Challenges

After three or four separate sessions with this Sunday school class worksheet, Levi was finally able to do the last few numbers today. And that was with my hand over his, giving plenty of direction. Obviously, this is not a concept he has worked on previously. I had no idea that it would be so difficult for him. It usually takes about three times before he starts to catch on to something new. He did seem to struggle with it less today.

We also worked with pattern blocks during our school time today. Levi did great with the top of the flower, but really had to work at the little green triangles in the stem. He signed for me once or twice that he was done, but I just helped a bit with the maneuvering so that he could finish up. I think that we both breathed a sigh of relief when it was time to clean up! I can imagine that great gains come from staying consistent in pushing through the things that are not always easy. Help me, Lord, know when it is time to stick with something a bit longer and when it would be best to lay it aside for the day or even week.

Signature

First ever signature on the Fall Hiking Spree form!

 Levi reached another milestone tonight upon completing the Metro Parks Fall Hiking Spree. For the first time ever he was able to sign his own name on his form. It is such an encouragement to see growth occurring. I am so thankful.

Pockets!!!

Wonder of wonders, Levi discovered pockets today. Both the one on his shirt and the ones on his pants. We were hiking and he wanted to bring something along. Rather than risk him losing it, we introduced the pockets to him. He kept stopping every so often to make sure that it was still in his pocket. It was entirely adorable.

Learning at the Grocery Store

 

 

 

Shopping ranks highly amongst Levi's fascinations. Fortunately, there is much learning to be done on our shopping trips. For starters, we are able to work on his impulsivity. We must look for cars before crossing the parking lot to enter the store, when all he wants to do is sprint inside. Upon entering, we must help Levi to walk with us rather than dart off on his own. He has gradually gotten to the point where he pushes the cart for us. In the beginning, he had the hardest time navigating everything. I can smile now as I remember all of the close calls with displays and people, but at the time it was always a bit hair raising. As with everything with Levi, we also had to remind him to slow down with the cart. That boy can zoom through a store with a cart! I imagine he will be highly productive and efficient, not dawdling over each little thing like his mother. Another thing we must help him with is the actual shopping. He wants to fill our cart with everything imaginable, but we are forever making  him put things back. Once in a while something sneaks through the cracks and we discover the undesired item in the grocery bag when we get home. Life is always an adventure with Levi.

 

He is totally obsessed with the check out process. He loves loading the groceries onto the belt and watching the cashier scan each and every item. In fact, we must watch him like a hawk because he has surprised many an unsuspecting cashier by reaching around and in front of them and scanning things on his own. The looks on their faces have been absolutely priceless. I bet this is not something that they experience very often. Some have been entirely gracious and others have been extremely annoyed. We do the best we can, but he is quick and we're not perfectly able to contain him at all times. We do try. Since he loves the check out process so much, we've decided to treat him from time to time by going through the self check out aisle. Oh, does he love it! He knows all about where all of the bar codes are and he greatly relishes packing each item into our bags. He gets to make payment for us, push buttons on the screen, and collect our change. He adores the automated voice walking him through each step. So great is his joy, that oftentimes he will pump his fist in the air, clap, and cheer. It really is hard not to smile as I take in his gleeful little face. Exhaustion has been a near constant companion of mine for years now, but God, in his mercy, gives me these beautiful moments to keep me going.

O.T. in the Kitchen

 

Our kitchen has proven invaluable in our occupational therapy efforts at home! Levi washes dishes, rolls dough, shapes cookies, peels and chops potatoes, scoops out squash, etc... With the chilly temperatures, a butternut squash soup sounded fantastic today. Always looking for ways to grow Levi, it occurred to me that scraping the squash out would strengthen his fine motor skills. He had to securely hold the bulky squash in one hand while using the other hand to spoon out its contents. Whew! That gooey, stringy mess was hard work for him, but he gave it a good go.

Kids Fun Run

Levi recently had the opportunity to run in the Kids Fun Run in dowtown Akron. His sisters had run in it last year, but I hadn't known how he would do. There are hundreds of participants and a squirmy little boy can easily slip away undetected in the hubub of all of it. This was another victory for us. Another thing that we could share in as a family. He actually ran the majority of the mile and allowed the volunteer to slip his medal around his neck at the end. A good day for sure.

Leaf Rubbings!

Thankfully, the days have been cooler now and this seemed like a great fall art project with Levi. I figured that grasping the tiny crayons and rubbing them on their sides would be wonderful fine motor skill practice. I did not realize how much work this would end up being for him! We really take for granted all of the little things that we think nothing of, but can be such a struggle for others. I didn't expect it to be a piece of cake, but I didn't take into consideration how he would need to be able to keep the paper from shifting, not to mention keeping the leaf in place underneath. And I think he was just thinking, "WHY? Why does she want me to do this?" But we did it and it was forward progress.