he saw something

Lewis has been stimming a bit more the last couple of weeks. The spinning of various objects has returned with a vengeance, and he has been obsessed with a couple of videos (anger and crying results when we tell him we're going to watch something else). His current favorite is a Thomas the Tank Engine video. He LOVES it. He's constantly reciting parts of it, and while it is a bit dry, Owen likes it too. These are two boys who love trains. When we get to watch a train going by near our house, that is the ultimate source of joy for the Shepherd boys.

Anyway, because of the stimming and OCD-like behaviors, we have been trying to get out and walk around more which seems to help him get rid of excess energy and get some other sensory input (jumping etc.) that he needs. Oddly, he has not been very excited about taking our walks like he used to be, but once we get going he has a good time. Due to his heavy therapy schedule, and the often cruddy weather, it isn't easy. But today was lovely, so we ventured out.

We were in the home stretch when Lewis looked up in the sky and said, "Airplane!" Sure enough there was a small airplane flying rather low over Bowling Green, and Lewis saw it and was so excited. I have to admit that my eyes produced a few tears. That is the first time (as far as I know) that he's noticed something like that at a distance and labeled it--calling my attention to it. What is common and obnoxious for many parents of toddlers had never happened in our world. Had he pointed at it, well, I might've let him watch "Thomas" twice. But for now, I'm so thrilled that our Lewis had such joy over seeing something out there. It was such a normal moment. We are longing for more of them!