Never for a minute believe that the smallest moments won't bring the best reward. Just last week Bradley used top and bottom teeth together and bit through rolled up cheese; twice. We can go further and claim the third bite - though thank you God he didn't bite all the way through my finger. But he used his teeth together ;-). So consider this when you start your next meal, imagine that you aren't able to bite together very well and when you do, imagine how it must feel to not know what to do with the food in your mouth. Today Bradley used his tongue in what is called 'lateral transfer' and moved peaches from the center of his mouth to the left where he could use his molars to chew a little bit. Mind you, peaches are slippery so I'm certain that one or two chews and he just swallowed... Still, a chew is a chew and in the world of Bradley - a chew is a victory.
During Physical Therapy today Bradley tackled the bouncy bridge. When his therapist encouraged him to bounce he voiced his disapproval and walked into my arms for a hug, his little body shaking in fear. I wanted to sweep him up and in my head I saw us running from the playground to the safety of the car. However, I hugged him and told him how proud of him I was. With a smacking kiss, I tousled his head and let him go. He then decided to sidestep across the bridge and even managed to bounce his knees just a tiny bit, enough that I knew he did it and I told his PT. Remember, the tiniest movements and moments with Bradley. He didn't move the bridge for sure, but I felt the impact all the same. As it was really warm today, he was the one to end our session as he moved away from the playground and then finally lifted his arms for me to carry him the rest of the way to the car. We have Sydney now and wait for Madison, but my triumphant warrior is sleeping peacefully in his carseat, so tired from such a day of tiny steps and huge moments!
Maybe I can't keep him above 30 pounds, maybe the Peds GI is not going to be happy because of this on Friday, maybe our time on the feeding machine will extend out through the night again.... Maybe, maybe, maybe...lots of maybes, lots of stepping back. But these are my challenges to shoulder, Bradley is conquering his. Life is requesting more from both of us, he is showing me how to keep putting one step in front of the other until we just GET there. Bradley is going to keep pushing forward: he's going to keep learning how to eat, how to master the way his body moves, he's going to keep pouring half the cat food on the floor until the day he hits the bowl with all of it. Bradley will learn to leave trash in the can and not to go back for it so he can keep practicing. He's going to put his head through his shirt on his own so he can put it on by himself , and he's going to master pulling his pants up his legs as well as he puts his arms in his sleeves. And all of it will come in tiny movements that will build into great moments.
Maybe you want to know how I can be so sure... Look into my son's big blue eyes; see to his very soul, and tell me how you can be anything but certain.
