Knock on Wood... we see some progress!

Dare we even say it... we are seeing some improvements in Dray. He is still a happy kid, he doesn't talk incoherent sentences (maybe once in awhile), but he really is responsive to any comments and questions. He answers our questions!! I can understand MOST everything he says and doesn't have to work so hard to get the words out of his mouth. Also, he is saying and mimicking new words every now and again. Which is awesome for him. We are still trying to push the sign language, so that he has that as a back up, and he does awesome with it. He can understand a lot in sign and uses more and more everyday. He knows his entire alphabet and a lot of numbers (he knows those better than me). He is starting to spell out words (by signing what the word starts with). Especially people's names. It has really been helpful and we get so excited to see the confidence he has in being able to understand us all the time. So, Dr. Thompson has switched to the "pulse" method of steroids. He will only take his dose on Friday night and Saturday morning with a dose on Wednesday night as well. We pray this will yield the same progress we have been seeing. It has made such a difference in our home to have him finally able to communicate better. What a sense of peace that prevails when our little guy is doing better. Everyone can sense the change... it is a very tangible thing to all and we are so thankful to see any and all changes for the better. He takes it all so well and continues to fight to speak and communicate. We have decided that Dray is a fighter and does not give up on trying... he is always trying!!

Friday night he got to stay at Grandma and Grandpa Russell's house for a sleep over. I told him he got to go to BYU (which he signs very well) and he was so excited. He told Grandma, once he got in the car to go, where she should turn and which direction to go. He told her she was doing a good job when she followed directions correctly. Grandpa took Kate and Dray swimming in the "scuba diving pool," that is the diving pool with boards, and he went off the high dive all by himself! He just climbed right up and jumped off. Swam all alone to the edge to get out and do it again. He is so brave!