Update on Dylan

We are just a few days from finishing his antifungal treatment and there are some good things to report.  For starters, there is a new "awakening" of sorts.  He is much more aware of the world around him.  He enjoys looking into the mirror and making faces.  He watches me with interest in the kitchen.  There have been more frequent and extended moments of eye contact.  And we have some verbal communication going on!  Nothing huge so far, but he is able to accurately and consistently request for "balloon" (balla-balla), "ball" (bah) and "bubbles" (bu-bu-bu).  He is also getting better at verbalizing requests for "milk" (muh) and "cookies" (cuh).

Teachers and therapists say he is much more interactive and willing to participate in peer-play activities as well.  I've met with the speech therapist several times and she has been successful at role-play activities with him such as feeding or dressing a baby.  She says he is able to correctly place parts-of-the-body and parts-of-the-face with no prompting.

The downside:

We have noticed more autistic behavior during this treatment.  From what I've read this tends to be a symptom of the yeast die-off.  More eye and finger stimming, inappropriate laughter, rocking back and forth when he is bored and obsessively making shapes out of everything.  He is also quite a bit more hyperactive, but since we have added many other supplements, this may not be due to the yeast die-off.

News:
This weekend we are starting potty training.  Without the help of our amazing therapist I would not even attempt this.  So far he is happy to sit on the potty every 15 minutes although there is no indication he understands why he's doing it yet.  We have a special box of new toys he is only allowed to play with when on the potty and when he goes, we blow bubbles - which is his favorite.
I've been peed on a lot - and I have a lot of underwear to throw in the wash.  But no tantrums, so I am perfectly happy with that =)

And now a moment of sappiness...
So often I am consumed with talking about Dylan's treatments...Dylan's behaviors...Dylan's therapy...
That I forget to share what it's like to have him as a son.
And I would be sad to think some people might miss that part. 
. . . . . . . .
Since the first day Dylan was born, he has truly been the joy of our lives.  A few of you know how difficult life was for us during the months just before and after his birth (because of other circumstances not related to Dylan).  We have always felt that Dylan was a gift from God sent down to bring us a much needed ray of light during a dark and difficult time.  He has always been happy, content and snuggly since the day he was born.  Not to mention crazy-adorable.  So you see, it was impossible for us to despair during our difficult season.  Because we would look down and see this ball of cuddly happiness in our arms and it would all wash away in an instant.
To this day, he has the same effect on us.

All I can say is, Thank you God.
I love you, Dylan.