No pressure, Mom

I took Eric to the doctor this past week.  It was just a regular 6 month check up.  This was the first time we were visiting the office in their new location.  So in usual Eric style, he had to run through the whole place and peek in every single room.   This is also the office that we brought a storage cube filled with lots of his favorite toys — and so he has something familiar and interesting to play with when we are there.  Funny enough, he doesn’t usual play with the toys -but instead plays with the trains (which he never plays with at home -even though we have so many Thomas trains).

Anyway, after I checked in and filled out the standard paperwork, Eric had his weight and height measured and we were led into the consultation room.   He happily played with the trains and then with some prompting said hello to the Nurse as she came in to talk to us.

During past appointments, Eric has asked “all done?” every 10 seconds until we were actually done. Additionally, he would usually continually interrupt our conversation and just be kinda annoying trying to get my attention in any way that he could to make it sure that I knew he was ready to leave.

But during this visit he hadn’t asked once about leaving, and didn’t try to talk over us.  He happily paced around the room, and watched some videos on his phone and also probably was texting Daddy or Pop Pop.  The Nurse kept saying to me “he is being so good.  this is the best I’ve ever seen him”…and I agreed.

After about 15 minutes, Eric did finally interrupt us and said “No pressure mom”….and I said “Ok buddy no pressure.”   He continued to walk around the room and then a few minutes later he said “Mom, no pressure” – and I said “ok buddy I get it —you don’t want pressure.”  (Sometimes when he is feeling extra sensory or needing some regulation he will ask for “pressure” – which usually means he wants us to squeeze his head, arms, legs – or bury him with blankets and pillows etc.).  When he said it again the 3rd time, I asked “buddy what are you trying to tell me? where do you want pressure?”  And he replied immediately “No pressure on arm” and pointed to his arm….and then it clicked for me.    

He remembered that every time we have come to this office, after we usually get into the consultation room, he would have his blood pressure taken.   I smiled so big and told the Nurse — “He is reminding us that you didn’t take his blood pressure yet!”….and she was so cute and sweet and said “Oh Eric thank you for reminding me that I forgot to do that.”

I thought it was so completely adorable.

And amazing.

And smart.

And Eric was definitely proud of himself.

I was super proud too!!

Once again, it’s easy to forget the amount of progress that he is making every day.  It’s hard to acknowledge that despite the super hard and exhausting days — progress, growth and maturity is happening every single day.   And over longer periods of time you get to look back and think about where you came from – and where you are now.

And well, my boy was happily sitting in a chair wearing a blood pressure cuff that HE reminded the Nurse to use………Tiny Victories!