Nate update

Therapy
Nate was reevaluated at Cornerstone (the therapy center) this month, and they recommended an increase in hours--from 5 per week to 10. He'll now be getting 5 hours ABA, 2 hours occupational therapy, 1 hour physical therapy, and 1.5 hours speech therapy (the extra half hour is for the parent meeting). I've been debating about whether to ask his caseworker to place him somewhere else closer to us for at least part of the therapy (maybe he could continue ABA at Cornerstone but get OT, PT, and speech at other places). I spoke to the scheduler at Cornerstone, though, and they are able to keep it so that we still only have to drive up there two days a week; Nate would continue to get in-home ABA on Tuesdays and now also Fridays. If we were to split up his different therapies among various vendors, it would make things more difficult schedule-wise, and it would mean more driving around and more adjustment for Nate (new therapists and locations).

The two days we would have to go to Cornestone in Huntington (Wednesdays and Thursdays) would be extended from an hour and a half each time to something more like three hours each time. This would be a big adjustment for Nate, because 1) that would cross over into nap territory and 2) he's already really ready to go by the end of the hour and a half. However, the more I think about it, the more I'm leaning toward keeping everything at Cornestone. Yes, it's a far drive. Yes, I will basically have to sit there with Lucy for three hours both days (too far and too much gas to drop him off, come back home, and then drive back. Edited to add: I do already do some grocery shopping or other errand running if possible up there in Huntington Beach while Nate is in therapy, so I'll keep doing that of course). But Nate is getting to like some of his therapists there, and it's nice to have everything all at one place (just wish it were closer!).

Enzymes
Things are going well with the enzymes. I haven't seen any breakthrough huge improvement, but in general I think Nate is more agreeable (usually... but he's still 2). He's doing much better at understanding and obeying what I tell him to do. He is still refusing any new/unliked food I try to introduce, and his diapers are still atypical, but I'm still hopeful for improvement in those areas too.

I pray that, in the future, I will look back on these days and say, "Wow, all of that work was really worth it!"