Jude

I feel like it's been FOREVER since I actually did an update about Jude. Several months ago, we had Jude tested for food sensitivities. I expected gluten or dairy as he had a few symptoms. I never thought he'd have both plus eggs, soy, and peanuts. Since eliminating those 5 categories in January, Jude has made huge progress developmentally. He is far less irritable, more willing to try things I ask him to do and talking a ton. He is more focused and more responsive. His therapists are amazed! He is still having some major food "issues" and will be having another test this week (if he complies) to try to get to the root of it. His cheeks get red after he eats almost any grain (non-gluten) as well as random other things. He'll be getting the actual bacteria in his gut tested as well as a few other things. If he has a lot of the "bad" bacteria, we can do things to get rid of it, and that may make most of his sensitivities go away. That's what I'm hoping for anyway! So, if you think of it, please pray that he complies with the test and that the results are helpful.

 Overall, Jude is a pretty easy going guy. He takes a lot of "abuse" from Hazel (she dumps buckets of water over his head in the tub, she decides who gets what toys, etc.) and can usually handle those things quite gracefully. Only recently has he become a persistent limit tester and tantrum thrower, both of which things we're learning how to handle.

 Jude often likes to help. For awhile, he even helped me empty the dishwasher by putting away the things he could reach. He'd probably still do it if I asked him to, but he's usually too busy riding his car or reading. He likes to put his clothes in the hamper, will help pick up toys, and is ALWAYS willing to open and close a door for us.

He is even willing to give his sister rides on this tractor!

Hazel thinks Jude is totally hilarious. They fight like crazy but they also laugh together like crazy. They truly are friends.

I think Jude's favorite word is oatmeal. Anytime he cooks in his kitchen, he makes oatmeal. If I ask him what's in his oatmeal, he usually says, "wice bean" (rice and beans). He wakes up saying "oatMEal, oatMEal". He and Hazel randomly start saying, "oatmeal boom" too and think it's HILARIOUS. I have no idea what they're talking about.

Overall, Jude is doing really great. He's still "behind" physically and in speech, but is coming along well. We continue to pray that he will continue to thrive and be fully healed.