week 19.

This week wasn't the best as far as Emmett's progress is concerned. Ten minutes into his speech therapy session he shut down and didn't want to do anything Zena offered him. He kept burying his face in my lap and shut his surroundings out. Zena said this happens with many of her patients where they become tired of therapy and "hit a wall" in progress. Some kids need a week or two break. Hopefully, Emmett just had a bad morning and will be back to his cooperative self next week. Because of his shut down in speech, OT did not start out well. Teanna had to dim the lights and calm him down with a massage. He responds very well to this. It's like hitting the reset button for him. Emmett spent the majority of the session on the therapy swing. He really relaxed and even let go with both hands while swinging. This is a good sign because it means his brain is processing what his body is doing while moving through space (proprioceptive skills).
I feel like Emmett has been fighting me lately on the things he needs help with. He hasn't been cooperating while I try to brush him and do joint compressions. He has also been asking me to put a diaper on him instead of wanting to go pee on the potty. I do not know why he is doing this. Structured eating times have been difficult as well. I have read a lot of material on autism in the past four months and many times I have read that I will want to give up trying with my child. However, immediately following that statement, the statement that always follows is DO NOT GIVE UP ON YOUR CHILD. Some days are harder than others and I need to keep repeating that statement in my mind each day. I cannot give up on my child.