boom, flash, boom....calm, calm SJ

SJ used to be very sensitive to loud sounds.  He wouldn't cry, but he would run and shout that it was "too loud".  He still is occasionally sensitive to loud sounds.  I think echoing sounds are more bothersome to him now.  He has the most trouble during school assemblies, since the auditorium has a lot of echo.  I always tell him to just cover his ears and then the sound will be muffled.  When it came time to shoot off our fireworks, I was concerned that the noise would be too much for him.  He surprised me once again.  He was laughing when the first few went off.  He was running through the smoke that the fireworks emitted.  When a particularly loud one was shot off, he did cover his ears.  He didn't run in the house.  He stayed outside with our guests and enjoyed the show.  I am so proud that he has learned how to adapt to the noises that so many typical people ignore.  At one point, he was even saying that the small ground fireworks weren't "impressive".  Who is this kid?  I don't think that I could have imagined 6 years ago he would be acting in this manner during a firework celebration.  He has matured so much.  It is a great feeling to see that through therapy and practice SJ is able to enjoy the fireworks as much as any other typical kid (or adult for that matter).  Happy fourth all!