So, how are we doing?  We are doing pretty darn great!  Words are finally starting to come, lots of them.  Marty never lost the words, there was just a wall between the words and his mouth.  The wall is starting to come down.

At therapy on Monday, Amy asked Marty if he could sing Happy Birthday.  It was very slow and he needed help with some of the words, but he was able to do it.  She asked if he could sing the alphabet song.  He did, SUPER fast, in Spanish.  Then he got mad.  It was easy in Spanish but he can't do it in English.  Then he asked Why?  He took Spanish for 3 years, he's been speaking English for 40.  Amy said she didn't know why.  There are certain tasks that we do without even thinking.  At some point in time, the Spanish alphabet was ingrained in Marty's head and at this point in time, that's what his brain chose to release, without effort.  WEIRD!

Marty's problem is with initiation.  He is very slow to get started with his words.  Once you get him started, the rest of the phrase, sentence, song, etc seems to flow much better.  Amy has Marty speak to a metronome.  This gives him something to focus on and helps him form a rhythm with his words.  Amy started a "game" with him.  She will say a word and Marty has to come up with a 3 or 4 words sentence using that word.  He can take as long as he needs to do it.  It is often painfully long to start the sentence, but then it comes out fine.  We taught Rylee how to play this game with her dad yesterday.  She loves it.

When Marty has something to say, but he can't get the words out, he gets very frustrated.  He wrings his hand, smacks his head, pulls at his arms or clinches his fists.  The more frustrated he gets, the harder it is for the words to come out.  Amy watched him do this over and over again.  She asked that when he gets to this point he stops, takes a deep breath and then tries again.  It's amazing how a deep breath can help the words come.

Roberta came to visit with us yesterday.  She brought her granddaughter Duffy with her.  Miss Duffy brought Marty a sand stress ball that he can use when he gets frustrated.  Very thoughtful of her.  Roberta had brought a list of categories with words under each category.  Marty was asked to say the words that fit in this category.  His reading is improving.  He can now read out loud single wards or small groupings of words.  I think we'll try some of the many books that have been loaned to us by our dear friends. 

There are a few things that Marty really, really wants to do.  Reading his scriptures and driving are right at the top of that list.  For now, the IPAD reads his scriptures to him.  What a blessing.  He is able to spend hours "reading" his scriptures.  He says he doesn't understand them yet, but he loves to listen to the words and try to remember. 

Driving is a totally different story.  I'm not sure when I will take him somewhere safe to drive.  However I know it's not any time soon.  His reaction time is just SUPER slow.  He used to have ninja like reflexes.  Now he realizes he needs to take action well after it's too late.  Until he can catch a ball, or remember to flip an egg over, I don't see him actually driving.  I suspect this will stress me more than teaching my girls to drive did.

Marty still has this amazing innocence.  So many new experiences.  Marty trusts everything that everyone tells him.  He is amazingly obedient.  He doesn't trust his own judgement, so he relies on the judgment of others.  As long as those around him are trustworthy, he'll be fine.  I think he could easily be duped by a stranger. 

I take for granted so much of life around me.  He is the first to notice birds at the bird feeder.  He smells everything and takes a moment to enjoy the smell.  He will stop when he hears the slightest of noises and wants to investigate.  He'll watch emergency or construction vehicles for a very long time.  Life for me is routine.  Life for Marty is new.  There is a lesson for all of us in this.  Enjoy every moment.

Finally I will close with a scripture from my studies this morning.  2 Nephi 9:20.  There is great comfort in this knowledge.

20 O how great the holiness of our God! For he knoweth all things, and there is not anything save he knows it.