Raising Eli with Gutz

Raising Eli with Gutz Welcome to our family's journey with Eli. Eli is a sweet, loving little boy navigating life on the autism spectrum.

This page documents his growth, our family's experiences, and the small wins that mean the world to us.

21/08/2026

Eli and his grasshopper friend ☺️

20/08/2026

Let's learn alphabet words Eli version 🤣

17/08/2026

It's been more than 2 months since Eli's last haircut, so we weren't sure how he'd do this time.

But Kuya Eli surprised us again.

No whining.
No crying.
Even without a nap, he stayed calm and cooperated until the haircut was done.

Considering how difficult haircuts used to be for him, moments like this mean so much to us.

Another haircut.
Another little victory.

Good job, Kuya Eli!

Small steps. Big Gutz. 💙

15/08/2026

Daddy's work time is Eli's play time 🩵

12/08/2026

This day gave us another one of those simple moments that somehow feels so big.

Out of nowhere, Eli came over to his little brother, held his hand, and intentionally played with him.

No prompting. No asking him to. He simply chose to be with Isaiah.

As time goes by, we're noticing Eli recognizing his brother more, seeking him out, and slowly building that bond between them.

And honestly, watching their relationship grow right in front of us is something we can't help but get emotional about. 🥹

They may still have a long way to go, but these little moments give us so much hope for the brothers they will become.

Small steps. Big Gutz. 💙

09/08/2026

Another OT session, another opportunity for Eli to learn through play. 💙

This time, Teacher Janah was working with him not only on participation and following activities, but also on his sitting position.

Eli has a tendency to W-sit, so they're gently encouraging him to sit in a more appropriate position while keeping him engaged in play.

And honestly, we love seeing how cooperative he's been lately.

He's learning, playing, following instructions—and slowly building the strength and skills he needs along the way.

Small steps. Big Gutz.

05/08/2026

One of the things we're happiest to see lately is how much Eli has been enjoying his OT sessions. 💙

This time, Teacher Janah introduced a pretend play activity where they 'cooked' food together, and Eli even pretended to feed his teacher.

It may seem like a simple game. But for us, it was a big moment.

At home, we've tried playing with his kitchen set many times. Most of the time, Eli prefers to play on his own and doesn't really join Mommy in pretend play.

But this time, he participated.
He followed along.
He played with someone.

Progress isn't always loud.

Sometimes, it's found in a tiny plastic meal shared with someone else.

Small steps. Big Gutz. 💙

30/07/2026

One of the things we've learned in therapy is that not all crying is the same.

Sometimes, children cry because they're overwhelmed, tired, scared, or unable to communicate their needs. Those moments call for comfort and support.

Other times, the crying is goal-driven, because they want something and are hoping crying will change the outcome.

This was one of those moments.

Eli was asking for his old Alaska drink. Since his pediatrician recommended switching him to Pediasure, we've been consistently offering him milk instead.

He cried. He stopped. He cried again.
Then tried once more.

Following our OT's advice, we stayed with him, made sure he was safe, but didn't give in to the crying.

A few minutes later, he accepted the Pediasure and happily drank it.

Consistency isn't always easy, especially when your child is upset.

But sometimes, one of the best ways we can help them is by teaching that feelings are okay, while still keeping healthy boundaries.

Small steps. Big Gutz. 💙

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Catmon
Santa Maria
3022

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