Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Elvis Wants a Cookie

Anyone for some positive stories?

  • We've heard so few words from Joy, for so long -- other than the "more" sign, some photo-choice-making on her Go-Talk, and the occasional "uh-oh". But tonight at dessert time, she echoed the word "cookie," clear as clear. Just once. JoyDad and I both did a double-take. And gave her one with chocolate chips.

  • Speaking of the "more" sign. The other day at breakfast, JoyDad came swooping past to distribute kisses to his breakfasting ladies. Joy giggled at him, and tilted her face up. And then after receiving her kiss, she signed a great big "more"!

  • And still more "more" -- today I was home with Joy, and had a few minutes where she was playing in the living room and I sneaked in some plunking on the piano. I've given up trying to play piano when Rose is around. I don't know why, but I get great big huge objections to my playing if Rose is within earshot. So it felt really good today to end a section of the Maple Leaf Rag with a big flourish... only to look up and find Joy grinning at me and signing "more"!

  • Some totally cool imitation/initiation -- this morning one of Joy's baristas reported that Joy had snagged a tissue from the box and used it to go after the barista's nose! She did it again to me later on in the day. Unfortunately in my case it was with a nasty tissue that was blowing around the playground that she picked up. But the thought was in the right place.

  • We had a therapy-team meeting last night, where positive stories are always the first agenda item. Joy bopped around the living room during the meeting, with her Baby Einstein video on repeat-play. She has never shown much interest in the meetings. But last night as the meeting was nearing a close, she decided that she wanted in on the action. She sidled up to Lynda (her Wonder Woman daycare lady) and climbed right up on her lap. And then she did this marvellous flirty little sequence of turning to make eye contact with Lynda, with a great big ol' grin. Over and over.

Accentuate the positive!

11 comments:

mama edge said...

You should see the dance I'm doing in honor of Joy's "cookie" and "more" moments.

Well, no, you probably shouldn't. But it is definitely Joy-full and totally in her honor.

(P.S. WHOA -- Word verification was "tryst". Is this a sign that we need to get together secretly for our next coffee klatch?)

Tanya @ TeenAutism said...

Very positive indeed! Joining in the collective happy dance over here!

jess said...

what fabulous stories!!! i love the 'more' to daddy kisses and mama's music. this was the perfect way to start my day!

Niksmom said...

Exactly as Jess wrote...a great way to start my day! Love the loving and the wanting more, more, more!

Anonymous said...

The "more" for JoyDad kisses just MELTED me. I love this girl!

Maple Leaf Rag is one of my favorites. Are you doing the handbells this year?

JoyMama said...

mama edge -- SHH! No kaffee-klatsch planning in public -- wink wink, nudge nudge...

rhemashope -- alas, no bell-ringing this year, not with the table-load of spinning plates that my LEND program brings. Rose and I will get to be in the audience, though. And I'll actually get to go to Joy's daycare holiday-party for once, which is usually precluded by bell performance!

Everyone -- thanks for the collective affirmation & happy-dancing!
(Word verification is 'impol' -- these happy dances pushing the edge of what can be shimmied in polite company?)

Mimzy said...

Ahhh wonderful - the happy note my my blah day wonderful! Yay Joy!

JoyDad said...

I'm glad Joy wants more Dad kisses... very glad.

Anonymous said...

fingertips together on each hand right touching left
apart touching apart touching

JoyMama said...

therextras - actually in Joy-speak it's actually more like a little self-administered fist-bump.

We'll take it, though.

JoyMama said...

OH!

therextras wants MORE!

I am so obtuse sometimes...

OK, here's more. Last night during bedtime, it sure sounded to me as if Joy said "Kih" in the middle of our bedtime kiss-ritual. JoyDad didn't hear that one. But I did.