Benjamin update

Well its been 2 weeks since I updated so thought I better let ya’ll know what is going on. Benjamin is doing great. His vision is improving more every day. When we go somewhere now he looks at everything, displays, walls, ceilings, the people wandering around. Its like he is seeing it for the first time. He will nearly break his neck to see a tractor while we are going down the road. We were in Taco Bell yesterday and they have a display over the cash register that has a picture of the carmel apple empenada. As we were ordering our food he reached across the counter and tried to take a bit out of it. It was so funny. I know you might think it was strange but we were very excited because that tells us he understood what that was, and he wanted it, he just didnt understand that he couldnt eat it. He knew it was food, he understood or recognized a picture. until the last few weeks he has never been interested in pictures of any type and we werent sure he knew what things were when you showed them to him. That just confirmed he understood what that picture was – food!!!!!

Anyway, update on his 4 wheeler; we got spooked when the last one went out because for 2 days, he didnt want out of the house, he didnt want to do anything, he was lethargic, not very verbal or anything. We took him over to Zack Thompson house (he lives about 4 miles from us) and put him on their gator. It was so funny because he just ‘woke up’. He got excited again, started being verbal (we dont understand everything he says) and started playing again and aggrevating everyone, cats and dogs included. So, we went on the hunt for another 4 wheeler (we are currently waiting for some friends to get a gas powered one they have going). We bought a power wheels this time but it honestly looks cheaper made than the peg pergo ones we bought before. He will ride it until it quits though. Dont expect it to last much longer than a couple of weeks.

Benjamin is getting quicker about doing things you request of him. He is constantly coming up with new words, using more consanants, but our goal is to have his language so everyone can understand him. He is communicating his desires and needs more, if he cant tell us we make him show us by pulling us over to it or dragging us to it. He is learning more and more that we are understanding what he is wanting and that is making him want to communicate even more. He is so smart and we are so excited that it is becoming obvious now.

Many of you were at Bobby Barters race in Waco on Labor Day weekend, it was awesome. Bobby and the Barrel Racers raised enough that we will be able to get some therapies that will help Benjamin organize his Central Nervous System better. We have a long road to travel to recover his abilities but it is a road we can see now.

I was telling Kelly (young woman that helps me with Ben during the week) that when Benjamin starts talking really well and can carry on a conversation with people, the first thing I am going to do is make an appointment with his last neurologist and let him know that he needs to change professions, because he doesnt know what the hell he is doing and he doesnt need to be destroying other families lives. (I wont go off in the subject because you would be reading for days).

Benjamin is doing great and getting better each day. We are very excited. We go next tues to see Dr Stewart for the second time. I am anxious to see if the tests will show the improvement in his ear hair growth. I dont know how much growth has been acheived but some obviously has because Benjamin is capable of things he wasnt capable of 2 months ago. Im sure the viral load in his body has reduced some as well as the Candida, he is mildly elevated in heavy metals and we are in the process of finding where the culprits are coming from; water, food, environment etc. I am switching to cooking ware that is either glass or porcilan (sp?), making sure it is cadmium and lead free. We are going to have to make sure that all vegs (he eats so much fresh) are cleaned really good to remove pesticides and toxins and have our water tested. We may ultimately have to put a filter on all water coming into the house to prevent exposure even during baths to the toxins. I will know more after the water is tested.