June 4 update

Hi everyone--Susan here again.  We decided to take Sunday off from blogging.

We visited Alex both yesterday (Sunday) and Monday.

Today (Monday) is a holiday here--I honestly don't know what--so the institution was employing different staff both today and yesterday, and things seemed professional but a bit less structured.  We spent Sunday and Monday partially inside, partially outside.

Our sessions have had a bit of a pattern--play with and in the ball pit, try to play catch (or avoid getting hit by balls in the head.  Jerry has joked he is clearly meant to be with us, because Alex accidentally keeps clocking me in the head, just like playing with my other kids).  Eat the "second breakfast" that is brought to him.  Go outside for a while, indulge the swings until we give out (we have to hold him on the swing, but he loves it so much--his whole body wiggles and giggles when he sees it!).  Then find a nanny who can take Alex back.  Today, we were escorted into his groupa (they organize the residents into groups), into what was clearly their bedroom--cribs, a couple of beds, very neat, lots of children, two adults.  I guess there were 10 kids there.  There was also a TV running.  Maybe it was near naptime or maybe this is where he spends a lot of his day.  We don't know.  The staff were very affectionate with Alex and helping him say goodbye to us, and we (again) reassured him we'd be back tomorrow.

Alex is a little over the top when he is with us, and a glimpse of that room gave us a snapshot as to why.  Was the room bad?  No.  Was it stimulating?  No.  We play with him one on one.  No matter how tired he is (and he does get tired), this is too awesome an opportunity to pass up.

I'm kind of concerned about the throwing.  He throws everything (well, except food.  I guess he has limits).  It's hilarious to him.  I'm more concerned just because he has no aim, lots of strength, and I spent a lot of Sunday wondering if he will ever learn to play in other ways.   I wish I knew.  Trying to figure out what is a result of where he has lived and what is a result of any permanent mental impairment is really tough.

One other thing--when the nannies say he likes to move, they aren't kidding.  We had a short video of him crawling with his arms, heading straight for the door.  Then one of the nannies today showed us (as Alex's request, we think) how he climbs the wall with support.  I kid you not, climbs the wall.  There is a ladder on the wall, built into it, for this purpose.  No one he has arms like a weightlifter!  He will need it, because he needs to compensate for his legs...but it is still striking to me.  The staff people here have clearly worked with him.