Michael

Michael has started eating with utensils by himself. He has been feeding himself for a while, but mostly using his hands. I still had to help with many things, things that weren't easy to pick up or required a spoon, etc. He has been stealing our forks for a while, but mostly just playing with them. Trying to poke his dinner, but not really getting anything. And then last weekend at Lynne's, he had his fork and my fork - one in each hand - and started actually getting some bites in his mouth. He was actively trying to feed himself with the forks. Then, to show how serious he was about his new, emerging skill he worked hard on some chocolate chip ice cream and really put a dent in that bowl with his spoon.
Before this weekend,I would periodically work on this with him - help him scoop something and move his hand to his mouth. But, I wasn't worried about it. I was not really trying to get him to do this. In therapy, there are exercises and things we would work so hard on and then as he accomplished them, we were so excited. This feels different to me. A different excitement, one that makes me cry. Michael decided by himself that this is what he wanted and he worked on it and tonight at dinner - ate stir-fry by himself. This gives me hope.

On a different note, the physical therapist and I think his right leg is shorter than his left. He always has his weight on the right with the left bent. We measured as best we could, he doesn't like other people - mostly doctors - touching him. But, it seems there might be a 1/4 inch difference. Sometimes, the bowing of the tibia occurs in those with neurofibromatosis, so we are going to see an orthopedist, get an x-ray and check it all out. Just what I was hoping for - one more specialist to add to the list of doctors that he needs to see periodically. Did I mention he hates going to the dr? :)