Well, I have been thinking about sending out a prayer request email, but a major one is already turning into a praise!!!

We are in the midst of toilet training Mason! He will be 9 in March, so it's about time!!!!! Thankfully we've been on a funding program that provides diapers, and now Goodnights, wipes, and bed pads for us. And they get delivered to our door as well!! That's a lot of years of a costly necessity!

Mason's special ed teacher did some in May and June last year, and with the fall being so busy for especially special ed teachers, she started again on the first day back to school after Christmas. And he has been fully cooperating!! I started at home on Tuesday after school. The first four times I literally had to peel him off the floor kicking and screaming and hold him down on the toilet for 5 minutes. (he didn't produce anything either) I was EXHAUSTED!! I have a timer that beeps every half hour. On the fifth time, he heard the beeper, when and got it and went straight to the bathroom without a fuss!! So I knew it would be a BATTLE of the wills!! So those next few times, until bed time, he made a deposit into the toilet!! Of both varieties!!! ( I'm sparing you some of the actual details, but I'm sure you understand...)

So Wednesday he only fought me two times, then became very willing, and actually only made a deposit into his diaper only once all evening!! We were also calling a variety of people to celebrate with Mason over the phone. He really liked that!

Today, Thursday, there has been NO opposition at all!!! In fact, each time he sat down, he produced within the first half minute!!!! WOW AMAZING!!! (this is the most excited mom you will ever encounter regarding toilet training!!! He's a big boy, and eats a lot, and you can imagine the rest...)

This is something I really didn't think would ever happen. So I think this falls into the 'miracle' category.

Here is a prayer request, though. He has an appointment with the allergy specialist on Tuesday, Jan 15 for allergy testing. Daryl will come along, I will need the help. I don't think Mason will be very cooperative.... His blood test results came back with elevated white blood cell count, but he also had a cold that day, he coughed a few times (that's a bad cold for him...) So far we have no clue why he's getting the fevers, other than I think that's as bad as a cold gets for him...

Christmas holidays went well this year, unlike last year. Our funding increased for respite, so that really came into play. Last year I could hardly wait for school to be back on. Other than the average tantrums, this Christmas went really well.

He has an EEG and Neurologist appointment coming up in March. Regular check ups.

He continues to progress like crazy in speech and comprehension. Love it.

So thank you for your continued prayers and interest!

Shirley