Day 14

[Guest guest]

If you visit Mel's blog through http://www.pursuitofresearch.org

you'll be able to see the photos that should be uploaded with today's

blog later today. We hope to get the video added to the blog soon as

well. I have today's blog earlier than usual because it was just such

a wonderful day (again) Please leave comments for Mel and her

sisters at the blog, I'm so proud of all three of my daughters!

Day 14

I know I keep repeating myself but what another amazing day today! I

was thinking this morning of everything that I needed to get done and

wondering how I was going to get my things done plus still help Mel

with her therapy and computer. I have one friend that is just out of

the hospital so I wanted to make dinner for them this evening and

another friend who moved into their new house today so I also wanted

to make them a dinner. That means a lot of cooking this morning.

Mel woke up in another great mood and very talkative plus this is the

fastest I have seen her walk down the stairs saying " good morning " as

loud as she could to make sure her sisters

heard her. I explained to Mel that I needed to do a lot of cooking

this morning and asked her to work on her computer with her different

games on her own so we could get everything done this morning as we

wanted to go Christmas shopping this afternoon. Wow to my amazement

Mel worked on her games for over 2 hours. Not a lot of frustration

today as she really used her touchscreen the most with her games but

her attention was amazing.

After lunch we all went shopping together. Mel really enjoyed being

out once again today. We were waiting in front of the dollar store

for Mel's sister when Mel kept telling me " treat please " over and

over again. I said Mel what are you talking about and then she went

over to the poster on the store's window and pointed right to the

candy in the picture. This poster must have had at least 20 items

displayed on it. We have been to this store many times and never has

she done this before. So I said once your sister Mindy comes you two

can go get some candy.

Well Mel was quick to take Mindy's hand and walk her to the candy

aisle where Mel chose some candy and then said " movie " so I guess we

are planning candy and a movie later on this evening. It was

interesting to see when we came home from shopping Mel went back to

her computer and doubled tapped on one of her games and began playing

once again. While I am blogging I can hear her at her computer and

each time she does something correct she is actually clapping for

herself!! Mel has always had issues with clapping as well due to her

global apraxia.

A lot of chatter continues with Mel today. She really is trying to

put more words together and trying to communicate more and more with

us. The dramatic increase in eye contact is amazing to us and it's

almost like in some ways she's really seeing us and the world. The

other thing that stands out is that she's humming and smiling so

often now, she really seems to be so happy. I know Mel is proud of

all her accomplishments as well. Dr. Black made a comment about

Mel's past that she would usually do something maybe for 3 to 4 days

and that would be it and it would be lost again. We always felt like

we were doing three steps forward two steps back with Mel on a

constant basis. The Nutriiveda has made it possible for Mel to

continue to make progress each and every day and not lose that

progress and it has now been 2 weeks!