I am so excited! Yesterday was yet another feeding therapy
appointment. I have to be honest and say, that we go so often it becomes hard to see progress between visits. Yesterday, however, was a different story. We went in and Ms. Sarah started with the usual mouth
exercises, which Braden hates, and then she moved to actual eating practice. This is our routine and I have gotten very used to Braden's reactions and the distractions that Ms. Sarah uses to try to get him to chew and swallow. During our visit, though, Braden did something that I used to take for
granted. We have been working with tiny apple pieces for weeks now. Ms. Sarah gave Braden an apple piece and he chewed and chewed it, like always. Then...instead of spitting it out, he did what we have been praying for all along...he gathered the apple together in his mouth and swallowed it! I know to most this does not sound like a big deal but, to us, it is HUGE!!! He is getting it!! I was such a proud momma. Ms. Sarah could not contain herself either. This is a milestone in his therapy plan. He chewed and swallowed
four apple pieces. I seriously almost teared up right there in the room. Ms. Sarah was so proud of Braden that she told everyone she saw on our way out. All the other therapists cheered and wowed at Braden's success. I am not sure I have said this yet, but I am so proud!! What we are doing is working. We still have a long way to go but we are getting there quicker that I had expected. God is so good! He has given us such wonderful people with perfect knowledge to help us through this trial in our life. Braden is such a quick learner.
On a side note, it is awesome to look back and see how God has gone before us and has prepared the way for us. My youth interns Kendra and Jennifer are both speech therapists. Jennifer was Ms. Sarah's professor who helped to make her who she is as a therapist (the best, if I do say so myself) and Kendra who works with Ms. Sarah now. I love how God weaves our lives together and blesses us even when there are
hurdles to get over.
Anyway, I am so thankful for our sweet Braden who is such an eager learner and I could not be more proud and thankful for his amazing progress this week. Please keep praying that he continues this progress and that eating becomes second nature to him.
Ha Ha and Braden!
Cason and Sweets enjoying relighting the pumpkin that Dad and Cason carved together.
Cason loved blowing out the candle on the inside.
Cason getting a peek of the eyes being cut out of the pumpkin.
Dad and Cason carving their first pumpkin together. 
Cason jumping off the haystack at the pumpkin patch.
Cason jumping with buddy, John.
All the boys climbing on the haystack together.
John and Cason jumping again.
Braden looking sweet in the hay.
John and Cason counting down to the next jump.
Braden playing in all the pumpkins.
Cason posing at the wooden house.
Cason and friend Kailey at the pumpkin house. Such sweet friends. Kailey has that pose down.
