Special Strides

Mary and I went to the Special Strides Annual Barn Dance fundraiser tonight-- how fun! We walked in and the first thing we saw was this handsome boy's picture right next to the registration table... I wanted to steal it for myself! I won two baskets in the Tricky Tray (thanks to Mary) and the biggest news of the night...


Michael's painting sold for $150!!! He's a famous artist now. There was a little bidding war going on, too, and neither Mary nor I were even bidding! I got tears in my eyes when I saw the bid, I'm such a dork. He made the painting at an event over the summer I went to with him at an art studio. He actually really enjoyed choosing his colors and making the strokes... all I really did was write his name and get him started a little. The "Artist Bio" said: "Michael enjoyed making colorful strokes with watercolors. He is a very gentle young boy as represented by this picture".

So I'm thinking he could use his newfound talent to start earning some of that french fry money... the Grandparents' Art Auction will be held at his birthday party- bring your wallets :)

In other news, he's doing beautifully at OT and Sandi's. He also started seeing a speech therapist at NJ CARE as well... she thinks she'll be able to do great things with his oral motor.
I have begun working part time for Sandi (thanks again Mary!), and she and I talk about Mike all the time. I was telling her how great it is that we can work as a team, when it occured to me that his current "team" is so different from his team of the past. It used to be all doctors, just trying to get him healthy and growing and not in pain. Now, it's an educational team, working together to get him learning and developing skills. I am constantly amazed at how far he's come.

School is another roller coaster entirely... he definitely seems to have his ups and downs there. There are a lot of potential reasons for this, but I just think it takes people a little while to "get" our Michael. He's got so much going on in that shiny red head of his, but most people don't take the time to look for it. I hope they realize it soon-- now is the perfect time to really "full steam ahead" on his goals and objectives.

Oh, and he's going to start doing chores! We made a whole list of things he can do around the house... between all this and his art career, he's going to be one busy little boy!

P.S. Pooping and peeing in the potty are going GREAT! And Michael's doing OK too (ha ha). Seriously, he does most pees and almost all poops in the potty now. Quick-- knock on wood