Therapy

Here is Sean and his ABA therapist. They get along really well. The whole clinic is crazy about Sean and Eli. Every therapy session, Sean spends one of his breaks going around the clinic saying "hi" to everyone. He has to knock on the doors and ask to "open" them. He has to say "hi" and wave to everyone. He has a hug for all the ladies in exchange for tickling or being allowed to spin in their office chairs but he has to ask for "tickle" or "spin" with his words. Then he has to say "bye bye" to everyone.

Everyone at the clinic, therapists and patients, plays with Eli at least for a few minutes. Eli has even inspired some breakthroughs in very unsociable kids. One little boy came right up to Eli and looked him straight in the eye as they played with Megablocks together. His mother was in tears as she told me that her son never acknowledges other people and that she nearly fainted to see him spontaneously approach Eli to play. Another little boy came out of his therapy room and as he walked past us said "hi, cute baby." His therapist was in shock. It was the first time she had ever seen him initiate any contact with another person. Eli just seems to bring something out of these kids.

He brings something out of Sean sometimes, too. A few days ago, Sean was sitting on the couch and Eli pulled up on the couch cushion to stand up and see what Sean was up to. I guess it was the first time Sean had really noticed that Eli could stand up. He looked over the edge of couch at Eli's legs and was just shocked. Then, Sean started cracking up. He laughed so hard he couldn't catch his breath and it got me and Eli laughing, too. Every time Eli pulled up to standing for about the next hour, Sean started giggling again. It was so funny.