Thursday, April 20

Noah was so cute today; he really wanted to drive the car.  Different times throughout the day, we would come out to the car and he would be in the driver's seat, playing with the steering wheel.  So... cute, but safety wise, we need t o keep the car locked.  Especially if we were to get both of the boys in the car alone togther... that might be bad!

Anyway, he sang "Pop, Goes the Weasel" in unison with me today.  He put up a fight for me today to drink.  He took a few sips of Diet Coke and a few of Pediasure at first.  Then he ended up drinking 6 oz. of Pediasure throughout the day, so that was great.  He was really enjoying his swing immensely. 

Andy has been so creative and adorable.  He has a little dragon that he married.  Her name is Fancy Peterson. She gave him a little black rubber wedding ring and he takes care of her.  He swings her and carries her around.  We put a little polka dot ribbon on her neck... it is such a cute thing.  She gets blamed for a lot of "accidents" though.  It is just like Mr. Nobody in Family Circus.  He made some really cute art where he just wrote all of these D's out with paint.  Very, very cute.

Pascha Weekend

This was ANOTHER extremely busy weekend.  When will the business end?  All we want to do is to be able to lie in the hammock, play with the kids, read books, walk, maybe make a little hummus or salsa and CHILL.

However, the weekend, although busy was nice.  We really enjoyed the family time and the beautiful weather.

Monday, April 24

First of all, Noah has learned to stim with his books... which is really hard, because we all are avid book lovers, collectors, readers, etc.  I mean we have books everywhere.  So, I am just trying to stay on him to use them appropriately.  He enjoyed reading Wocket and asked for me to read it to him.  He has been talking quite a bit and our new goal is for him to verbalize six times a day for three weeks on a row.  4 out of  7 days that is.  He drank about 3 oz of Pediasure, which is great.  He did all kinds of talking today.  I am so proud of him.

Tuesday, April 25

Today was another good day.  He was actually requesting to lick different food items, like sour sugar candy and Pediasure.  He would say, "Luh, Luh, Luh."  And he also would request to have me pull the straw out so he could lick it.  "I want it out."  From now on, I probably will not journal everything that he says, simply because I chart it somewhere else.  If I am able, I might scan those records in, so I have them all in one place... but we'll see if that happens!

Biggest achievement of the day????? Noah went potty FIVE times today.  We have moved to an every hour schedule and today it paid of bigtime!  I mean talk about having a successful day.  I don't think I ever would have imagined that he would be able to do that, and yet... HE DID!!!!!!  I can't tell you how happy that makes me.  Today the team worked... Well.

He went potty for Scott when Scott got him up.  Plus, he woke up dry.

He went potty for me.

He went potty for Terrin.

He went potty for Jen.

Then he went potty for Scott when Scott got home from work.

That just goes to show what a well oiled machine-like team can do when we all work together.

I am working on -What's your name? Noah.- trying to get him to say Noah-- even if it is in a intraverbal, rote way.  That's how you start, right?

Wednesday, April 26

What a weird day, after Tuesday's successes.  We had to spend the morning at Walmart, because I hit the curb IN OUR OWN DRIVEWAY! and got a flat tire.  So, Noah and Andy got new toys, we ate at Subway in Walmart, and Deanna and I entertained the kids all morning.  GRRRR... ohwellitcouldhavebeenmuchworse.

At night, however, Noah was trying to say the names of the animals in DEAR ZOO all by himself.  He would lift the flap and say the appropriate animal.  To the untrained ear it might have sounded like gibberish, but if you can understand him, doggone it, he was saying the right animal with the right picture.  Scott said that he said, Camel and Monkey.  Cool!

Thursday, March 30

Today Noah drank 5.5 oz of Pediasure and 1 oz of juice.  Noah had therapy all morning so that freed me up to be able to work with him on feeding.  Today he said, "Unbuckle," "Read,"  and "Bubbles."

Weekend

Noah said so many things this weekend.

"I don't know."

"I want the sword."

"Open the door."

"Push the stroller."

"I want a drink of water."  This was unprompted!!!

"I want the book."

"Read the book."

"Monkeys drum."

Noah also drank several swallows of Sprite.

Monday, April 3

Today was simply a fantastic day for talking.  He said:

"Read the book."

"Good night rabbits."

"Oh rabbits sleep."

"A" at least six times when we were working with our tactile A.

"d is for dog."

"neigh."

"ABC book."

"I want coffee."  I wasn't sure what he reall wanted but I think it was the glucometer.

"up, down, ovo." when we were working on writing A.

"I'm all done."  two times!

"Peek a Moo."

Talk about an amazing day of talking!!!  This is so incredibly encouraging to see his effort and ability expanding so much.  We read Night Rabbits, and the ABC book by Allison Jay.  We worked on the tactile letters adn also hand over hand writing the letter A.  Where I would say -Give me_____.  I got so excited today that I started looking up some curricula for the future.  Possibly the National Academy of Child Development might be helpful or Ball/Stick/Bird.  I have also been wondering if I need to do some "What is it" picture cards.

Tuesday, April 4

Today we had speech with Kim,  he was calm and happy and enjoyed licking a sour sucker.  He said, "Read the book," "Read the book please," "Down," "I want the book," "I want??????"-- he was directing my hand towards something on his own and was trying to ask for something, possibly pegboard, and "pegboard." I always feel so frustrated for him when he asks for something but he can't say it the right way, but we just keep on trying.  We worked on drinking Pediasure, and he drank 2 oz. as well as a few sips of juice.  He gagged twice and I didn't want to push it, but I was afraid he was swallowing air and becoming uncomfortable.  he correctly gave me the tactile ABCs twice.  I set them up in a mixed up order and each time he gives me one, there is one less choice.  So the C is usually the only one left.  Still I don't think it is a complete coincidence that he got thme right two times.  We also had fun playing the drum while I read "Hand, Hand, Fingers, Thumb."

Wednesday, April 5

And here is where the nice weather took over.  We went to the park and played and then went to Target and bought the boys some toys.  Noah did drink a little juice today.

Thursday, April 6

Today Noah said, "Pick me up." (unprompted) and then "Read the book."  He also drank 4 oz. of Pediasure.

Friday, April 7

Today we really didn't have any therapy and Scott had to work today.  So that meant that for today to be productive, happy, and fun I had to pull out my creativity, patience, and to toss out my desire to keep the house uncluttered.  SOOOOO.. we did... horsey rides, and hide and seek.  I would have the boys take turns with horsey rides and Andy would bring Noah in for his turn by holding his hand.  It was very sweet and they successfully did it on their own four times.  Then on five and six, Noah pulled Andy's hair.  Then on seven, I helped them again to end on a positive note.  Andy and I then played hide and seek forever which was really fun for both of us.  Next time, though, we need to include Noah on Hide and seek even if it is challenging for him.  So today Noah said, "Foot stuck," "I want bubbles," "I want the turkey," "Pick me up,"  and "I want a horsey ride."

So whenever we don't have much therapy, I start to get this bad feeling like I am responsible for all of Noah's development... and then I began to freak out.  I mean, maybe I should put him in school, maybe this isn't working.  Maybe they could teach him more at school.  I could go to school and get my PhD in psychology or become an interior designer or own my own business... as I am writing this, i am freaking myself out again.  I mean, what if what i am doing isn't doing any good at all.  How would I know?  In school, Noah regressed plain and simple.  I don't even know why he did.  I know everyone tried really really really really hard.  I sometimes wonder if it had something to do with him having a seizure that we dodn't know about or possibly an injury to his head we didn't catch.  I just don't know.  All I know is that i have video of him talking more, with pretend play, and he could touch various parts of his body on request.  He would ask to go downstairs or outside.  And once school started, his skills gradually shrunk.  I mean, talk about depressing...  So I called my Dad to talk.  I asked him, how do I become a psychologist, and then came away from the conversation filled with goals, ideas, and possibilities of things to do with Noah and absolutely no desire to have a career at this time.  Funny how that works.

I think what I really want is to ensure, one way or another that Noah and Andy make progress.  Maintenance is better than regression.  Progress is infinitely better than Maintenance.  And best of all would be to have a happy life with progress.  So I came away with my goals reaffirmed.

1.  Floortime--- work on closing circles.  I am going to buy a clicker to use for closing circles of communication. So I need to take a baseline, and then Scott and i were thinking that we can have Caroline run a half hour probe every week to see if he is closing any more circles.  I can also use the Vineland and ABLLS to assess and drive new goals.

2.  I want to officially have an alphabet goal... I will use the ABLLS on this.

3.  I want to graph some of my goals periodically to see progress.

4.  I want a toileting goal.

5.  Social skills goal-- possibly with Andy, church, restaurants, mall, park???

6.  Feeding goals.

7.  Speech goals... continue, defend, persist

8.  A fine arts goal.  hmm... what to do.  I know that this is valuable, how to implement.

Possible ABLLS led tasks might be to match one object to one object, one picture to one picture.  From golf tees move on to a sorter, and possibly a new puzzle.  I might implement timing to see if puzzles improve.  I need to work on him coming or looking when he is called.  And to see how he does following directions on an enjoyable activity.  Select objects or pictures of common objects, follow instructions with a reinforcing item, touch own body parts, motor imitation with an object.  Imitate sounds.

So I need to get organized, I need a lap counter, I need to have someway to keep track of my goals.  This is the kind of stuff that I could really use help with.  I need to have all those little goal charts that they use at school! Oh and I need a new potty chart. 

So, I am going to keep on working.  I believe in it.  I know others believe in it.  What people do NOT understand is that even small progress is something.  On my deathbed... If I ever have one... I want to say, "I tried."  I don't want to say, "I wish I would have tried harder." or "If only I would have done this or that."  I just want to put my heart and soul into this effort of raising my kids... all the while keeping a balance and keeping my soul refreshed and alive. 

This is my aim:  To have a house full of vibrant life and love and growth and peace.

Monday, April 10

Noah went potty!  Today we read all kinds of books and Noah drank Diet Cherry Coke and lots of water at Palmer's.  He wanted to play with bubbles a lot.  I could get him to say all kinds of things out of context today... which is great because he was really tuning in to what I said.  There has been a couple of times lately when he sees a cup sitting there with a straw and completely on his own he will drink out of it.

Tuesday, April 11

Today Kim stayed and talked awhile.  She is trying to get a grasp of what Noah's history is like.

Today he said so many things I won't write them out, but he also said, "I want it on." unprompted.  He drank probably less than 1 oz.

Wednesday, April 12

We worked on the alphabet and the alphabet song.  He said "I'm all done," three different times.  On his own he said, "I want day."  I corrected him to help him say what he really wanted, "I want flashlight."  When I said, "What do you want?" He said, "I want ANNNNN." for I Love Animals.  He was making all sorts of animal sounds, like "cuh, cuh, cuh," for cluck cluck cluck.  And "Hip" for Hee haw.  "Yaaaeeee" for moo, and "EG" for pig.  He is so adorable how much he loves some of his books and how he will carry them around and look at them right side up.  I have to get on him for stimming with them though sometimes.

I have been seeing if I can get him to do things without any physical prompts... only verbal and gestural.  I worked on assessing him with the ABBLS.  He drank one ounce and broke his glasses so we had to run them in!!! Stinker.

Friday, April 14

"Giddyup," "I want carried," UNPROMPTED!, and "I want a book, UNPROMPTED!, and "Bye.

Over the weekend, we had all kinds of family around.  Noah was very lovable and hugged Nana probably ten times.  He hugged Tara  a lot too and was very happy at Marie's recital.  The boys did well at the Lutheran Church of Hope Easter service, and at lunchtime, Noah licked a hush puppy multiple times.  He is so a part of things now and really seems to enjoy that.

Monday, April 17

Today he said, "Bye Tara, " and "I want the light" twice.  I took him to Target to get Easter things on sale.  He really enjoys going to the store.

Tuesday, April 18

Today when Kim said," What do you want to do?"  Noah said emphatically, "I want to read this.  Read this.  Read this."  Noah has now met his speech goal and it is time to write a new one.  I think we need to have 8 prompted verbalizations a day and two unprompted a week. Noah drank a little over an ounce today and said, "Read the book," and when I was reading a book to him at the end I said THE and he said "END."  VERY CUTE, 

On an ANDY note:  today was Andy's first day of soccer.  He loved it.  The kids were like little lion cubs falling all over each other and having fun.  Andy likes to line the ball up and then get a running start so he can kick it as hard as he possibly can.  It is very cute.  It is a little boring for them cause they are just working on skills so they have to wait in line a lot!!!! BORING!  After one more time of that, they finally get to start playing a game.  I can't wait until they get to start doing that, because he will like it so much better.

Wednesday, April 19

All kinds of talking today and we were doing all kinds of imaginative play (after he didn't want to work at all and only wanted to take a walk in his stroller).  He actually imitated me having Mr. Potato head jump.  He enjoyed playing with Mr. Potate Head. 

He had OT today and Deanna took him.

In the evening we had a healing service at church.  Noah sat through a lot of it.  It was REALLY REALLY long. He kept pulling me down to sit by him. 

When we got home he said, "I LUB YOU." several times.

Andy's dragon is now married to him.  He had a little black rubber ring he wore on his index finger.  His dragon is a girl.  Her name is Fancy Peterson and he takes very good care of her.  He is soooooo creative.

Wednesday, March 15

Noah said, "Dum, dum, dum," when we were reading Hand, Hand, Fingers, Thumb.  He was also saying it to himself.  "I want to read this one." (Sally Goes to the Beach).  He did a great job of following directions today.  He repeated "Read the book, Mommy" and "Over in the Meadow."  I was really looking for unprompted speech today.  He tried Pediasure and promptly blew about 3 oz. all over me.  "I want whistle."  He liked the rainstick today.  He said "outside" for Deborah UNPROMPTED. 

Thursday, March 16

It was a little harder to get him in the workroom today. He said "Read the book Mommy."  He enjoyed the Dr. Seuss lift the flap book and playing with the garage.  He was not very enthusiastic, but when we were playing with the garage and cars he said, "woooo!" and "Yay!"  Leslie Dahm visited today.

Weekend

Over the weekend, we went to the mall to play, we went shopping, ate at Godfather's, he drank Diet Coke and water, sat through a lot of church very nicely, and told Scott that he wanted to ride on his back.

Monday, March 20

Today he went potty on the toilet, he did a lot of monotone talking that undecipherable.  He said, "Night Rabbits."  He had many attempts and finally succeeded in saying, "Read the book, please."  He said it three times.  We played instruments and did lots of siniging and talking.  He did a nice job pointing at Sally in his book and following directions. 

Tuesday, March 21

He said, "It's a Small World."  Noah had speech this morning.  Andy and I chased him around singing "It's a Small World," which, of course, they both loved.  He seemed more interested in us today.  There is snowy weather today, and I am trying to get up the nerve to brave the elements to take the kids outside.  Remember:  I like being a mom, we're home because we want to be, life is good, life is fun, quit worrying about things that don't matter,  and I am my kids advocate.  They had a great time playing outside in the snow.  Noah asked for water in the bathtub.  He drank 2.5 oz of Pediasure.  Andy was so excited today he couldn't sleep at naptime. 

Wednesday, March 22

Two times Noah requested a book to be read to him UNPROMPTED.  Kim came for speech therapy today.  He later said, "I want you to read the book," "wow," "zoo," and upanddownupanddownupanddown" when we sang the "Wheels on the Bus."  We read books, I tried to cut his hair (1 whole snip).  He sat and worked wonderfully and drank 4 oz. of Pediasure!!!!  He sat with Andy and I at lunchtime and had some interaction with Andy.  I feel bad for Andy because he wants my attention so badly when I am working with Noah. 

Thursday, March 23

Today Noah had a failed EEG and an EKG.  It was traumatic for all of us.  He really wanted Scott to read him "Spider on the Floor" at the hospital.  I don't like it when I am reminded about all of the medical issues that Noah has.  It makes me sad, but it also makes me realize that we are strong and have accomplished a lot for Noah.  It makes me realize how grateful I am to have such a great team of people and such a great family.

Weekend

Noah did a LOT of talking (even some unprompted) and a LOT of drinking Pedisure (4 oz, 3 oz, and 1 oz). Things Noah said this weekend:

Go Dog Go

A dog party

I want a book

I want the scabbard

Go Dog Go

I want to leave

Pick me up

Go Dog Go

I love you

Down By the Bay

Yay Noah!!!!!!!

Monday, March 27  Today Noah met his three week speech goal of talking twice a day 4/7 days, three weeks in a row!  Yay Noah!!!

Noah slept in past 8:00 today!  He went potty and seemed a little crabby.  We worked hard to get him to talk and eat today.  He did seem to enjoy the relaxing jazz CD today.  He listening and following directions went great.  I tried to be deliberately confusing in getting him to talk to me to test whether or not he would say things if they weren't directly echolalic.  For example, I would say, "you need to use your words to tell me what you want and then say a bunch of choices that would work.  He seemed to understand and throughout the morning said, "Shout in the Zoo," "Chicka Chicka Boom Boom," "Boom," Read the Book," and "I want to Get up Now."  He loved making rhythms with me on the drum.  He was singing to his rhythms. 

I am really excited with how Noah is doing.  He is improving in many areas.  And darn it, I want him taking one feeding by mouth a day by the end of 2006!  At least he is drinking more easily now... that is much better.

I am feeling bad with how mad I got at the hospital about the EEG, but Noah works so hard, and he does not need people to be messing with his progress.

Andy adds "roo" to the end of people's names, as a term of endearment.  He learned this from Winnie the Pooh movies with Kanga and Roo.  He often says," I love you Mommyroo."  Anyway, we were driving in the car, and he said, "Mommy, I just love Godroo." 

Andy also likes to play wedding.  He puts on a cowboy had, holds my hands, and gets a little half lidded look in his eyes, and then he kisses me.  He then takes his cowboy hat off with a bow and throws his arm out behind him with a little flourish.

Noah has been really proud of himself when he talks.  He has also learned to be a little naughty... like not letting me take off his backpack and then laughing about it.

It is really fun right now being mom to the boys.

Tuesday, March 28

Went potty in the morning, read books and talked a lot.  I need to refresh our toys.

Wednesday, March 29

Noah said five when Kim was counting today.  We worked on the cardboard vehicle puzzles, played with cars, and sang.  He had a great time at therapy and he did a lot of talking.  He also went potty in the afternoon.

My work areas for March are:

drinking Pediasure

art projects with new art supplies

bubbles

swing set

trike

moonshoes

roller skates

tracing lines and circles

marbleworks

big cardboard blocks

aquadoodle

cars/ramps/trains

Thursday March, 9

We have returned (almost) to the new old schedule, which we like a lot better than the new schedule.  Today we worked on Marbleworks, while drinking Pediasure.  he drank 2 oz!  We sang "It's a Small World," and "Here we go Loopty Loo."  He repeated "down" while Marbleworks.  We worked on painting and hole punching.  He said, "outside."  He wanted to sit in the stroller.  We went up to the attic to look around  He wants to stim a lot, showing some of his own wishes... Maybe I need to approach school from a Floortime approach.  He loved Marbleworks today.  I encouraged him to rock on his horse and rock in the floor rocker.  He liked whistles.  He made the sign for book (I Love Animals and Sally Goes to the Beach.)

Weekend

Over the weekend he did a lot of talking.  He brought I Love Animals over to me and said, "Up and Down" and "donkey, hee-haw."  He said, "I want outside," "outside," "Read the book Grandpa."  He got a bite of chip and gagged.  He sat well at church and at dinner time.  He has been tolerating Andy better.  They played on the playground and had a great time however Noah did pull Andy's hair several times.  Overall, a good weekend.  Andy just loves playing at the playground at Hubbell Elementary School.  He played with two little boys just running and chasing for probably a half an hour. 

On Sunday, we had the Sunday of Orthdoxy.  The kids carry icons around the church in a little procession.  Well, Noah was not interested.  He wanted to sit with me, but Andy was going to carry his icon of St. Andrew around the church.  Well, the kids had to wait a long time before they could do it, and by the time they were ready to go up, Andy was beside himself with antsy-ness.  So he getes up to the front and here's what happens (I heard about this later).  He helped himself to the communion bread, spit it on some kids, licked them and then hid under the icon stand.  I was mortified and couldn't sleep until 4:00 in the morning.  Deep down I think it is humorous, but it is still embarrassing.  I actually am the mother of one of those kids that does things like nailing little girls braids to their desks, or carries frogs in their pockets.  I always wanted a little boy like that, but little ornery boys should also come with an invisible set of armor for the parents to wear to deflect the social disaproval of others!

Monday, March 13

Noah almost always goes to sit at the table when asked.  He sat on the potty although he did not go.  We read the rhymes book, which he absolutely loves.  It takes traditional rhymes and rewrites them into modern situations.  He worked on the latching puzzle.  We worked on "What does the horse say" neigh, and repeated it eventually he said, "neigh."  He said, "Read the book."  When we were reading Night Rabbits, he said, "Oh rabbits, sleep."  Not interested in magnets.

Tuesday, March 14

He woke up in the morning and went potty.  He said "instead" in unison with Gerald McBoing-Boing.  He worked on drawing and tracing lines with a thick pencil.  We sang songs while tapping blocks together.  We sang, "Amazing Grace," "Jingle Bells," "I'm a Little Teapot," "Dixie" (I was running out of ideas), and "The Star Spangled Banner."  He has great rhythm; he can find the rhythm even if I alter it our add half notes and triplets.  He went potty in the afternoon. 

Okay... now I am back and I am ready to go. 

I need to

1.  Faithfully work with Noah and Andy.

2.  Roughly sketch out what I am going to do.

3.  Roughly journal what I did.

4.  Be thankful for the grace to work with my little sweeties.

5.  Be honest and strong.

6.  Love my kids.

Today Noah said, "I want you to read it again."  He also went potty for me.  I think he also got frustrated later in the day because he needed to go potty and wasn't able to tell me.

Andy used "originally" in a sentence last week.  He also makes up little stories that make sense but aren't accurate based on little snippets he hears.  He told Caroline that Daddy was mad that Mommy wanted to move so he RIPPED up a notebook and threw it in the trash. 

So here's the true story.  No one was mad.  We both might want to move.  And Scott accidentally ripped a notebook apart to use it for something else.  He filled in the missing pieces to create a story.  I hope he didn't really think that was true, because that would probably make him sad.  Little sweetie.

Today Noah just wanted me to read and read.  We all went to Starbucks and had a nice time together.  Noah drank some chocolate milk and water.  At therapy he licked cheese sticks a lot and very thoroughly, I might add.

yikes.  be careful what you say in front of three year olds.

Wednesday, February 8

Today Andy and Noah did shaving cream together.  They did well together for a few minutes.  Noah said, "I want Rowre." for I want magnet.  He was trying to say I want chips.  I want whoa. I want Whowo.  I want woo.  It is hard for him to form that last word.  I asked him, "Do you want to do some art?"  He said, "I want art," while trying to open the box of dot markers.  We worked on the give mes today, but he didn't do as well.  It was correctable though.  We worked on cutting with scissors.  We worked on making valentines-- cutting and gluing.  He got a little angry so I calmed him down with a song and playing a bell.  I met with Ann Krogan and the list of new things to work on we cam up with is:  magnetic letters, differential reinforcement, ABLLS for curriculum, wait time, puzzle matching, sight words w/ objects.  He said, "I want bells." 

Weekend

Over the weekend, he was really happy and he licked chips.  He seems to enjoy having a little plate of chips or food when the rest of us do. 

Monday, February 13

Today we worked on tons of valentines.  We used drawing, cutting and scissors.

I really crashed recently with my homeschooling based on some inadvertant comments from people.  Really my kids are a very sensitive area, and if I feel like I am not enough for them, or if I feel like I am doing a bad job... I just completely shut down.  It's like I can't even get up any momentum to do any work with them at all.  And it is so ridiculous to feel that way.  I KNOW that I know best for my kids.  I have seen so many new programs try and fail.  I have seen so many people crash and burn.  I need to tell myself to be confident.  I am in this for the long haul.  And darn it, I have seen a lot of progress, and my kids are wonderful little ones. 

Tuesday, February 14

Today was such a fun day.  Noah went potty.  We played at the park.  He pulled up his pants.  We did painting.  At lunch he licked french fries and drank some diet coke.  He also licked fries and an apple for Deborah.

So I had to take a break for awhile from formalized school.  We had a great time, and the kids were really happy.  We had wonderful, busy weekends.  The kids did great away from home too.  I had to get my confidence back.  It is so imperative.  I feel sometimes like the steady stream of people in and out of our house ALL DAY LONG every week for years and years is just too much.  I feel as though we are being watched, judged, evaluated, assessed, and then just sitting here waiting for advice and input, when really I just need people to step in for me once in a while when I need a break.  I know that sounds like I think I know everything... I DON"T think that.  The thing is... I do know myself... I know my kids... and I have been around the block a few times.  I know that a system works for us.  I know that we need to have very high expectations, but that the expectations need to have a methodology and philosophy behind them.  I need encouragement and building up, because progress is slow.  I need people to recognize the beautiful things in our lives not just the things that need to be " fixed."  And most of all... I need a backbone.  I strong backbone of confidence.  And I am getting it.

So that brings me to our new schedule. 

I came up with a tentative list of possible things I can do with both Andy and Noah.  Expand distance with the "give mes" and other requests.

Go to the Science Center

Throwing and Catching

Drink Pediasure

Floortime-- 1.  start tickiling, squeezing, roughhousing.  2.  Bring out farm, garage, play house, playground, people, cars, trains, ball, etc.  3.  Play and use his motivation as the direction.  4.  When I lose him bring him back with tickling squeezing and rough play.

Echoing

What's your name?

Hungry Hippo

Story at the Table

organ

Take him to different places in the house (attic) to look around

Alphabet song

tickle him having him request different body parts

build a fort in the dining room

hide and seek with Andy

chase with Andy

moonshoes

Freeplay trying to encourage discovery both inside and outside

maybe a bag or envelope with mysterious things in it

try not to say "no" so much

yes/no questions

vacuum

possibly use fan as a reinforcer

Look for new toys!!!!!!!

Wednesday, January 25

Today Noah had a sedation for a dental cleaning and an eye exam.  We were able to get started working at around 10:30.  We read Sally Goes to the Farm.  We colored a purple picture and a brown picture and put stickers on them.  We listened to the Something's Gotta Give soundtrack which was a really nice background music.  We workd on animal sounds.  He said "moo" for the cow.  I did some echoing of his noise which I think precipitated the "moo."  I am trying a new technique where I say, "What does the cow say?  moo.  What does the cow say?  moo.  What does the cow say?_____"  I learned this at the Carbone clinic and we will see if it helps. 

Thursday, January 26

I placed an order on Thursday, January 26 with Abilitations catalog.  I ordered a whistle kit, lots of whistle sipper straws, magic microphones, a tiny personal communication book, dot markers, plastic nuts and bolts, magnetic wands and metal chips, tactile letters, and self opening scissors.  My future wishlist for Noah's materials are a scooter board, a bike/trike, adaptive training wheels, boomwhackers, and all kinds of bubble paraphanalia.  I would like to get all of this stuff before the summer so that I can do "Mommy Day Camp" with the kids.  I have been thinking that I would like to meet another mom and her kids one to two days a week this summer at a park.  Hopefully this will work out so that we can get some interaction with other kids!

Today he started off with speech therapy with Kim Delahunt.  He enjoyed it.  Later he demonstrated mastery over the give mes.  I am scared to change his program because he is so good at it, however..... I have to!!!! He needs to learn some new things... so maybe I should limit myself to only running the "give mes" one day a week.  Maybe Monday or Thursday or just make sure I get it in one day a week on the day that seems to be the best day.  He got pumpkin, icon, goat, cookie cutter, pencil, and bug.  I also had him do various activities with the items such as put the _____ on the ____, etc.  He did the shape puzzle upside down, we did tracing and coloring circles, we did the animal puzzle.  We worked on kicking the ball outside.  I would like to use play in this way to incorporate interactions that are authentic, motivating, and meaningful.  He has mastered many of the flashcards, so perhaps I should run the mastered ones on the day I run the mastered "give mes" and bring in some new flash cards.  The flash cards are for me to read to ask him to do certain activities.  I am hoping to use the things I ordered to strengthen his lips, tongue, and swallow to cut down on the drooling.  We also worked on rolling a ball back and forth.

This weekend we went to the science center and it was really fun, he also had a wonderful day at church on Sunday.  Both of the boys did.  We were able to stay for church and the coffee time!!!! It was so worth all of the hard work to have ten minutes of "normal."  If that sounds weird be comforted that Scott knows exactly what I mean.  We sat there for ten minutes and felt like a normal family.  It brought tears to my eyes... literally.

Andy:  when asked what letter something was at church, he promptly responded, "LMNOP."  I remember when I was a kid and I thought that that was one letter too. :)

Monday, January 30

Today we worked on the "give mes." He is doing really good, but he is definitely getting bored with that so I definitely have to figure out some new stuff to motivate him!!!  Think!  Think!!!  We worked on tracing lines and imitating dots and circles on his own.  He tasted pediasure and we worked on imitating each others noises with mostly farm animal sounds.  He was feeling itchy from the antibiotic.  He did enjoy reading Find the Duck.

Tuesday, January 31

Today we did farm animal sounds, block tower, and tracing.  He said "horse" and "ahhhh" for gorilla.  He said that the sheep said "neigh"  :).  We went to the library and he transitioned really well.

Wednesday, February 1

He started out today with speech therapy, and he said several words, but then he had a bad transition.  I worked on calming him for a while.  He really wanted to read A Great Day for Up today.  We played with cars, crashing them and making car noises.  He really enjoyed that but was stilll grouchy every time I left the room.  He said, "Bumpy" about the green lego board.  He really like playing with the cars.  I would like to focus on more age apropriate "boy" stuff like that.  Maybe draw picture of cars, car tracks, etc.  Trike/bike/car riding.  Carw ramps maybe where we have to stand up.  Race cars, maybe the raceway?  and playing with the dancing car. 

Thursday, February 2

Today we worked on the ABC song.  He really likes that song.  We did all kinds of animal sounds and made an animal sticker picture. We read the ABC art book and made zebra stripes after looking at the Andy Warhol zebra picture.  We traced lines and circles.  He pulled his pants all the way up today, tried to snap, and succeeded in zipping!

The Weekend.

He had a nice weekend.  Kim, his new SLP came on Friday and that went really well.  Then he threw up!!!! for Tara!!!! I felt horrible for everyone, but that was it, he really didn't do it the rest of the day.  He spent all kinds of time with the family and went shopping a lot.  We were able to go on a long walk on Saturday and to eat at La Mie.  We also played at a playground.  We didn't have any church on Sunday, and he might have been getting a little bored.  He has been pulling hair and getting angry, throwing toys, biting himself, etc. a little more, so we have to nip that in the bud.  I was a little worried that he has been getting fed up with his programs and maybe getting a little bored at home, so I need to brainstorm how to make spending time with people more reinforcing.  I still have sending him to school in the back of my mind.  He drank water and pop, he licked some tortilla chips and a pizza crust.  He also sipped Pediasure a few times. 

Monday, February 6

Today we were slow getting started.  Noah did work with me for a long time on different things then we normally do.  He started out really wanting to roller skate, so I put the skates on him and he rolled around the wood floors downstairs.  Then I had him try playing a Finding Nemo computer game.  He is really fascinated with the computer.  He knows how to click the mouse and inevitably he can get something to come up that we didn't know would come up.  He was able to give the card with the lion on it when I asked for it.  He wanted to read Sally goes to the Beach and My Blue Boat and blow on a whistle.  He sat on the potty today at least four times and finally the LAST time of the day went!  We worked on tracing lines.  He is really getting a lot better at that.  I notice an improvement every day.  We also did some drawing, folding, and cutting with his new spring loaded scissors.  He said, "I want scissors," "cut more," and he made the sign for "book."  Today Noah found a light bulb in the trash and crunched it up!!!! Gasp!!!! That was stressful.  He also got fed up with the animal sound blocks and kept throwing them on the floor.  Sooooo..... hmm..... does this mean he needs more or less of me telling him what to do.  My feelings say less, my gut says I don't know because sometimes, he likes to be told what to do and it seems to ground him.  However, I would like for him to think for himself... What to do?

Tuesday, February 7

Today the new speech therapist came and she said that Noah had said at least two or three things clearly.  They have been working on making monster noises in front of the mirror.  He is really letting her in and around his mouth so that is great.  He has been more open to food and drink lately so that is great.

Tuesday, January 24

Today we had a new speech therapist come and meet Noah.  Her name is Kim Delahunt.  She is going to come probably twice a week for awhile. 

Today Noah and I worked on picking up cotton balls with tweezers and putting them in a cup.  Of course, this was all a ploy to get him to talk (he loves his yellow tweezers).  He asked several times for the tweezers specifically.  Then I was taking the tweezers and "getting" different parts of his body with it, and he was anticipating the moves and bringing each part of his body to me as I asked for it.  I was really encouraged that he knows his foot, his finger, his hand, his hair, his ear, his cheek, his chin, and his teeth.  Then I had him get my hair and my shoe with the tweezers.  the information is in there, it is just a matter of getting it out.  He kept wanting the tweezers so I kept hiding them or moving them so he would have to ask for them.  We also did two pages out of his preschool workbook.  We covered the colors black and green.  He colored the pictures, traced the letters (hand over hand) and glued items on the sheet of paper that were the right color.

We did a nice twenty minutes or so of music with his instruments.  He even sat with Andy and I as we all played instruments together with the music.  This coupled with how well he does at mealtime motivates me to expand his group activities some.  So I need to brainstorm on that one for awhile.

Everyone has commented on how much he is talking.  He really is talking a lot.  It is such a big encouragement.  He also was able to give me many objects that I asked for specifically and is doing well on my packet of cards with various requests that I ask of him.  I was impressed.  He is able to wipe his nose with a kleenex, and put things "on" and "in".  He has "give me" completely mastered.  We also did a teensy bit of Floortime with his farm set.  I would like to expand this to a longer and more interactive time.  However, I see many more "circles" that we close on a daily basis now more than we used to-- so that is great.

I would like to see him move faster, yet I am so happy that he has met many of the goals that I had set for him this year.  I wanted him to be able to work a half an hour at a time.  I wanted him to be interested in books again and listen to them from start to finish instead of getting up and walking around.  I wanted him to find people enjoyable.  I wanted him to sit with us at mealtime.  I wanted him to get better at calming himself down.  I wanted him to tolerate Andy better.  I wanted him to be able to make one meaningful request a day.  I wanted him to go potty on the toilet more.  (oh and today he had a BM on the toilet so woohoo!). I wanted him to reduce his stimming.  I wanted him to be able to go on family walks without being in a stroller.  He has learned all of these things. 

I am ready to set some higher goals for him.  I would like to see him drinking more Pediasure.  I would like to see him draw things other than big circles.  I would like to see him expand his repertoire of books.  I would like to see him expand his repertoire of favorite toys.  I, of course, want to see even better toileting skills.  I would like to see him learn his colors and maybe even the letters of his name.  I would even like him to have a few sight words, so that maybe he could read a tiny bit of his books to himself.  I would like to see two or three meaningful requests a day.  I would like to see some labelling/conversational skills emerge.  I would like him to be able to repeat after me after I say "Say______."  I would like him to be able to count to ten.  I would like him to learn the entire alphabet song.  I would then like to get the number correlation with objects.  I would like greetings and farewells.  I would love for him to be able to tell me his name.  I would love for him to call for us by name.  I would love to see his dressing skills improve.  I want him to stop hurting Andy completely.  I would like to expand his world beyond our four walls.  I would like to develop a "Noah Camp" with more activities.  Let's get to work!

On an Andy note, Andy and I played mailman today.  We made all kinds of mail with stationary, stamps, stickers, crayons, etc. and then "mailed" them around the house.  He had so much fun.  We played it for several hours.  I showed him a picture of the mountains in Colorado, and he said, "Colorado is pointy!"  Yesterday he told me that Abraham was mad at Jesus and then was very skeptical when I said that ther were actually friends.  He eventually believed me.

Wednesday, January 18

Today Noah enjoyed playing with his magnadoodle and singing songs.  When I finished a song he said, "sing more."  Then we played Hungry Hippo.  He actually beat me three times.  When I asked, "Shall we put it in the box or should we play more?" he said, "Let's play more."  Then as I was counting his marbles, he was counting along with me on a few numbers.  He was also saying, "Ready, set, go" as well as completing different variations of the phrase.  When his hippo was stuck he said, "Won't go."  In addition to all of this wonderful talking, he also made the sign for book (with a prompt) for The Foot Book.  He enjoyed walking on his moonshoes today and was playing along with a Mozart CD with various musical instruments.  We did lacing and we did an art picture with glitter glue, crayons, and stickers.  He was mostly very happy today, but he did get upset because he wanted to get in Grandma Deanna's van and so I had to use Bob Dylan to calm him down... which of course worked like a charm.  He went potty!!! yea!!! He also enjoyed horsey rides and playing briefly with the puffing train and tracks.

Thursday, January 19

Today Noah was very pleasant, but I had so many many phone calls to make that I wasn't able to get all of the one on one time in.  Most of the calls are taken care of, but I still have some to do on Monday.  Most of the calls are just making appointments, cancelling appointments, and taking care of business.

The Weekend.

Overall this weekend was pretty rough.  Andy was hyper and that stressed Noah out.  Noah and Andy did do well at Noah's doctor appointment so that was an encouragement.  I have about had it with trying to get the kids to be good at church.  I want to pursue an active faith life, but I feel like the kids are dead set against any sort of spiritual development on my part.  We will keep on pursuing a pleasant and meaningful church life, but I am just hoping we don't bug other people when we are there.

Monday, January 23

Again I had a lot of business to take care of and Noah had to blow out diapers that took a really long time to clean up.  I was feeling a little overwhelmed today even with all of the progress that the kids have been making.  I think Andy's hyper behavior coupled with feeling tired  and also not getting the one one time I need with both of them make for a bad situation home school wise.  It would behoove us all to get back on schedule and to stick with our systems that are already in place.  That means simplicity, prayer, organization, meal plans, bedtime, planning, evaluating, lots of rest, physical activity, nourishing meals, and basically spending lots of family time together.

Noah did do a puzzle, and did work on following some directions, but basically I need to do some drastic simplification somewhere and I am honestly not sure where that needs to happen.  I wonder if the filling up of Friday and Saturday are making me feel inadequately rested.  It seems sometimes that we almost have to do nothing to be ready for Monday...  I need to think about this more, but it is a definite possibility.  Maybe too, watching a little more TV keeps us from having the quiet time that we desperately need.  Not sure.  Plus this week we have been watching our money more which I think makes daily life a little harder because we can't just grab a meal here or there and we are more limited on activities that we need to do.  Perhaps the number one thing.... I just realized what it was!!!!!!!!  We didn't have our date night last week!!!! That is it, I just know it is.  Scott and I didn't get that time away to talk and reflect.  I suppose we had it on Monday before he went with me to CAMEO, but we didn't have our normal Tuesday night time.  I am becoming so addicted to my schedule, I hope it is not unhealthy...

Tuesday, January 17

Scott and I had a great trip to Quebec last week and now I am back and ready to go.  Noah had a great day today.  He wanted to interact a lot.  In fact, he almost wants to interact all of the time now.  He loves to listen to stories and today he really like Hand, Hand, Fingers Thumb and that sort of led into more music.  So today I worked on teaching him American patriotic songs.  We sang "America the Beautiful" and "The Star Spangled Banner."  We also worked on the alphabet song and "Over in the Meadow."  We "accompanied" the songs with a tone block and stick as well as a tambourine, bells, and a train whistle. 

He focused on a lacing activity and laced the entire thing with me helping to guide and flipping the card so he could grab the tip of the string to pull through.  He wanted to finger paint and made a picture.  Then we did a collage with crayons, stickers, glue and yarn.  He worked on it for a long time.  Of course when I am doing art I "test" him to give him all sorts of directions or requests like "Squeeze the glue."  "Hold the glue."  "Don't eat the glue."  Etc.  He followed all of the directions I gave him I think.  He has that down pat.  I mean the child is listening and understanding.  His receptive language skills are spot on.  Today he followed directions to put his coat away, to come upstairs, to sit to scoot back, to go into the bathroom, to give me a kiss goodnight, to come into his art closet, and many many many many more.  Now I would like to make a new baseline with the understanding that he has mastered many simple receptive skills and now begin to incorporate more difficult skills.  Already he can do some two step skills.  "Go inside and put your coat away."  "Go into the art closet and sit down."  "Go into the bathroom and put your clothes in the basket."  Now we need to get the skills at a higher level and possibly get the skills to be unrelated to each other.   All the time keeping it fun of course!  We have a new Radio Disney cd from the library so we had a lot of fun listening to it when we did art and during breaks.  This week I want to see him improve his accuracy and response time with pointing to his nose, patting his head and tummy and clapping his hands.  It is driving me crazy not to have these skills mastered and I know he can do it. 

He went potty today on the toilet and I was really happy about that.  We went to the library this evening and he acted completely appropriately.  Of course he also sat with us at the dinner table through the entire meal.  He was not interested in drinking any water for me today and has passed on the formula so I am getting antsy to improve that again.

Today I set up an appointment for someone to come and alarm our doors and gate-- or at least to give us an estimate.  I also need to contact Ann Bender and set up a visit with her out in the community somewhere.  I called the therapeutic horseback riding and we are sort of up in the air right now with when we will be able to start that back up again.  I hope it works out because the boys love it.

The boys each have a new bed and dresser and I think they really like them.  Noah's is blue and Andy's set is red.  They are so cute snuggled in their new big boy beds.

December turned out to be a really great month.  We had a lot of fun and started some new things.  Noah was a lot more social and had a great time.  The beginning of December brought with it some chaos as we were getting back on schedule after Thanksgiving.  Sometimes all of the hubbub of the holidays is so detrimental to learning and rest and our overall quality of life!

The highlights of December were taking Noah Christmas shopping and going to Chicago for the weekend.  Noah did great with all of the walking.  We ran around in Millenium Park and walked all over North Michigan Avenue.  We had a great time with our family there.  Noah ate dinner with us at a restaurant and we were so impressed at how good he is when we travel.  

One significant occurence was when I told Noah to "Come here" and he walked up a flight of stairs to me as easy as pie.  It was great!  He sat at all of the Christmas dinners and gift exchanges-- participating and being social.  He wanted to play ping pong and unwrap presents so it was really fun.  He colored a "thank you" drawing.  He went potty on average once a day sometimes as many as three times a day!  Sometimes he even woke up dry!  He did however get out a little more so we are looking into some alarms to wear and ones to put on our doors and gate. 

At therapy he is riding a trike/bike great.  He had a great time at Christmas and New Year's playing with his new moon shoes.  He is really tolerant of other children now.

January 3, 2006 Tuesday

This was our first day back at homeschooling after the New Year and we had a good time.  Noah wasn't interested in ABA however I did eke some art projects out of him, some puzzle work, and some stories.  He brought me to the paint and said "I want paint."  His puzzle abilities are getting much better.  He was cheerful and somewhat compliant.  He went potty for Aunt Marie and we went to the library and Backcountry Outfitters in the evening.  He likes to go places, but we can't always get him to leave.  We have to give him a transition object and that doesn't always work. 

January 4, Wednesday

He really liked Giddyup, Let's Ride! and Gerald McBoingBoing.  He likes the Radio Disney CD and jumping on the trampoline.  He wanted to play with the fishing puzzle.  He rode his trike and was excited to go to OT.  He colored with markers and remembered how to follow some commands for me.  He also went potty AGAIN!  I am soooooooo excited about his toileting skills.  I am just hoping that they continue to consistently improve.  He is liking working at the table and today I eked 45 minutes of interaction with him (all at one time)  so that is a big improvement.  His usual time was 30 minutes.    So I am getting ready for Scott's and my trip to Quebec and my mom will be taking over Noah's homeschool for the week.  I have a tentative outline for her, and it should be fun for them both.

As for Andy, his development is moving by leaps and bounds.  He knows many letters now and can count to ten.  He is getting the ordination of numbers down.  He can play many computer games on his own, he can sort by purpose and color.  He is playing with "writing."  He can sing many songs and is extremely social and talkative.  His imagination knows no bounds.

Monday, November 28

Today, Noah didn't want to do much work.  I got maybe one half hour out of him and that's it.  He didn't want to do ABA, he cried a lot and it was a TOUGH day! 

Tuesday, November 29

Noah again did not want to work, so Andy and I kept trying to get Noah acclimated to Andy again (they had been apart quite a bit lately).  So we kept chasing and tickling him which both boys enjoyed immensely.  We did get both boys to cut snowflakes out of paper which was exciting.  That was really fun. 

Wednesday, November 30

Noah worked for me about a half an hour today.  He finally seems to be getting a mindset of school again.  I had considered taking next week off, however, because we got such little work done this week, I have decided to work all next week... possibly taking the next week off.  I have mixed feelings about vacation days for Noah.  I try to avoid burnout, but I am beginning to see the "autistic" adhesion to a set schedule and expectation of the days activities.  I think I may actually take very few days off because quite frankly our family runs more smoothly when we don't.  That being said... Andy needs his mommy.  He cannot always be asked to leave the room or to be quiet or to wait until the afternoon until I can spend time with him.  I try to give him a good hour at least every afternoon, which I really enjoy too. Unfortunately, Andy is often tired by this time and needs to sleep.  We do have fun eating lunch together, reading books, and making little art creations.  We do always have to do these things within Noah's happiness level.  This seems unfair to Andy, but I keep thinking... if you have a brother with disabilities there are just some tough things you need to get accustomed too.  Andy has a strong spirit, though; I hope that I am enough for both boys... I hope I am hands on enough and hands off enough.

Thursday, December 1

This was by far the best day this week.  It is so cozy with a white, sparkling layer of snow all around our house.  Andy and I shoveled the driveway (well, he bulldozed it with a Tonka), Noah worked with me for over an hour.  Noah did a good job of focusing on an art project, reading a counting book, singing Christmas carols, and generally was happy today.  His ABA is not where it needs to be, but I have positive hopes for next week, once he feels firmly rooted in our family schedule.  Scott and I have bought tickets for January.  We are going to Quebec-- Montreal and Quebec City, so I am in the midst of planning the daily itinerary for the boys.  I am usually pretty detailed because that seems to help it run more smoothly.

Today Noah sang, "Jingle Bells" and "Frosty the Snowman."  I am very happy.  Andy is so cute too.  He made all kinds of little paper creations that he cut, colored, glued, crinkled... you get the idea.  Hooray for the Peterson System!  I am a believer in order!

Thursday, November 17

Noah enjoyed playing with the train today.  He followed directions on blowing the train whistle and putting the track together.  We sang some Christmas songs to boost our intraverbal work.  He is doing well ringing the bells in rhythm with "Jingle Bells."  He even started singing with me.  He is really getting better at paying attention to matching up the animal blocks to make a souond.  He enjoyed the Disney Dance CD and was clapping along with it.  He sat on the potty but didn't go.  He has been liking some new activities which I think is exciting... i.e. watching "Maisy" and having Grandma read The Nose Book.  He's dooing great at listening and consistently putting his glasses on when asked.  Worked on "Give me" _____ (alligator, police car, airplane).  He said "Mambo Number Five" (Disney Version... a little bit of Pluto, Mickey, etc.)  Played with the pop up car... requested, "I want pop."  and "I want car please."  Played with the playground pushing the little girl in the swing.  I was afraid that he would get himself stuck on playing with the car, but he gave it to me cheerfully three times when I asked!  He knows how to spin his tiny pumpkin around when I ask him to, and he likes playing with the little toy girl in the wheelchair.

Weekend

We had a great weekend with Noah walking a mile and a half on one of our walks.  He is getting so good at walking long distances with us, and walking seems to be able to calm him when other things don't.  I think this is such an exciting, normal, healthy development... AND it gives us something that we can do together as a family where every one of is involved.  Noah and Scott usually pair off while Andy and I hang out.  We usually take Noah's stroller with us and Andy rides in it pretending that it is a pirate ship with Scott and Noah as trailing pirates behind us.  It's so wonderful to look at the moon (we almost always go after dark) and to just talk to each other.  Andy is so sweet during walks.  He is a trooper too.

Monday, November 21

Noah did not feel extremely cooperative today.  Maybe he sensed that we were going away on vacation.  I know that I had a lot of preperation that I needed to do and perhaps he felt my excitement/trepidation.  He did enjoy watching a Baby Einstein video from the library.  He played with his playground set and a few books.  Cari and I took the boys to the library, but Noah was really disappointed when we had to leave and he was really into listening to music.  I sensed that he was about to lose it, and so I quick had him run out to the car.  Of course he was pretty mad, but he recovered well.

Tuesday, November 22

Today we took the day off from formal school work and went to the store.  I took him to Target which was cute.  He really enjoys going to the store.  Basically, my goal for the day was to keep both of the boys happy and busy at something while attempting to get ready for Thanksgiving.

Wednesday, November 23

We drove down to Branson.  Grandma Sandy and Grandpa Richard took Nana and Andy while Noah, Scott, Aunt Marie, and I rode down in our car.  The boys handled the trip well.

Thanksgiving Day

Today worked out well.  I think the boys enjoyed all of the activity.  They got to play outside quite a bit.

Weekend

This weekend was tough.  Noah was having a really hard time. He was doing a lot of self-injury.  He actually asked a couple of times to go home.  "I want to go home."  He said this both at Dawn's and at Grandma Deanna's and Grandpa Allen's.  However, when we were travelling home, we stopped at a Subway.  Noah licked every single Cheeto out of a bag and drank some Diet Coke.  We were so excited because he was really enjoying it.  We feel like all of the emphasis on deliberate mealtimes is really helping.

Tuesday, November 15th

Noah is starting to get a little bored, I can tell.  I have made a list of backup activities to do when he seems to be dragging, so we'll see how they go.  I have noticed that when he does well with ABA he interacts less and vice versa.  He seems to need more of the floor time approach so I will be using that more in the coming days.  I believe that part of the issue is that we have trained him to come to us for things in order to foster communication and bonding-- I guess to stave off the bad old autistic behaviors.  So as a result, he seems to be wanting us to spend a lot of time with him and tries to get us to do things for him.  He needs us and yet I don't want to be crippling him further with any learned helplessness.  So this is a fine line that I will be working with.

He was able to correctly give me the dog and drum cards today when given two pictures.  He filled in some blanks in Miss Spider.  I would like to see this intraverbal skill building more and more.  He drew a little.  Today he seemed distant at first and then seemed to become more engaged as the morning wore on.  He wanted to listen to music and read Count With Maisy.  He is really doing well at following directions. 

Today Ann Krogan came to troubleshoot some problem areas.  She gave me a checklist from last year and this helped me to think of new ways to keep records and to record progress.

Wednesday, November 16

We strung beads, played with the duplos, did some new ABA tasks-- actually refreshing his memory from last year.  He passed clap your hands, string beads, give me five, give me the pencils (picture), and give me the drum (picture).  He really enjoyed these new bugs we bought as well as his train.  We had a train theme today.  We read a book about trains, listened to the "Love Train," played with the trains on the track and blew the train whistle.  He seems to really enjoy vehicles almost more than his other toys.  He used to really enjoy matchbox cars, so I think I will gather up vehicles for our floor time sessions.  He is incredibly verbal today.  He asked for me to sing "Rocka My Soul" by saying, "Ahmyy" and then by actually singing, "Rocka My Soul in the Bosom of Abraham" which I think goes to show that he can learn new verbal skills in a relatively short amount of time as long as the skills are set to good music and we are pretty enthusiastic.  He put his fingers together for "Itsy Bitsy Spider."  He enjoyed jumping for a long time to a Disney CD which had "We Are Family" and "YMCA."  Mozart still really calms him. He had a great day at therapy although we had a sub.  He seemed to like her.  He enjoyed the swing.  She noticed that his balance had really improved since last summer when she saw him.  In addition, he enjoyed playing with a magnetic pick up stick, shaving cream, and he licked a cheeto three different times on his own!! 

For his afternoon session with Nicole he said, "I want robot," "I want paint please," "I'm Noah," "Hi Nicole," "Where's the Panda?" and  "I know."  And this was all in about twenty minutes!!!  I think our year long goal of one meaningful communication a day will be met.  He is doing so well with talking!  I am so proud of him, and so greatful for our schedule this year as well as our team!  They are a great group of people.  We are so incredibly blessed.

Tuesday, November 8th.

 Today Noah handed me a book and said, "I want read it."  We were reading My Blue Boat and he repeated "whale" and "My blue boat."  He wanted to read a lot of books today.  He can point to all the pictures in Brown Bear and I want to expand this into a different skill perhaps one where he takes the image and matches it to the book-- maybe I could make color copies of the pictures and laminate them.  he could begin to find the animals out of the entire set eventually I hope.  Followed "sit by me."  Read Put Me in the Zoo.  He helped pick up toys and books.  In the Can you song he slapped his knee 2-3 times.  I cut Andy's hair and it was fun for Noah to get some Grandma time.  I absolutely need to check on the inward pointing of Noah's feet, the tripping, and the awkward gait.  Noah went potty when he woke up and again at 11:00.  Yay!  Andy's went 3 times before lunchtime!  Today I told Noah to "Come here" when he was playing the piano 5 times and then he finally stood up and said, "Awwwright" and came over to me.  He was fascinated with the puppet theater and said. "I want puppet theater" when prompted.  He would only say "I" again later in the day for it but did say it 2 times.  Tried more pretend play and he did have the horse hop a little.  Liked  Mozart when taking a break in his rocker.  Read the Allison Jay alphabet book and the I spy books with moderate interest.  I am trying to expand his repertoire of books that he likes while still keeping his love alive for the old favorites. 

Wednesday, November 9th

Fussy in early morning.  Completely on his own he brought me his book and said, "Go Dog Go."  I noticed jerky movements today.  He wanted me to read it to him again but instead of asking for it, he walked repeatedly into his closet and brought me five blocks.  Was he confusing "block" with "book"? Calm and relaxed while listening to Mozart.  He watched a little of the Heffalump movie and got really excited.  He had a great day at occupational therapy.  His dressing skills have improved since the last time she tested them.  He painted with vanillla pudding.  He walked about 1/2 mile with Scott and Andy in the evening.

Thursday, November 10th

Coffee shop, grocery store-- I feel that the skills that comprise these routines are mastered so I may not even mention them anymore.  We worked on picture cards again.  I think that over all he has been exposed to them all and I need to focus on choosing them now. 

Do this:

arms over head:  passed

clap: no

tap table: in progress

Mastered Miss Lucy patting game but getting bored with it.

Mastered Give me 5.

Mastered High 5.

Mastered Put in here with Marbleworks game.

Followed "Give me the pumpkin" and "Spin the Pumpkin."

Refer to notes on picture cards in the notebook.  So far no pictures are mastered, but he has passed a few one time.

I taught him a new game today which he loved.

Noah Blow the Fire

"Noah blow the fire."

blow gently

"Puff puff puff."

make three puffs

"First you blow it gently."

blow gently

"Then you blow it rough."

Blow loud and strong.

When we were playing this game he started anticipating the parts of the rhyme and imitating my facial movements.

Totally bored with "Baa baa Black Sheep"

Loved "I'm gonna get you... and get your...."

Made Rolling sound with tongue. He was really wanting to stim, but I kept nipping it in the bud. He did the shape puzzle with two prompts per slot.

The Weekend

He walked 1/2 mile or so.  He played on the playground equipment and rode his trike for at least one hour.  Sat in church nicely and went shopping without a stroller for 3 hours!!!  It felt like he was carrying on a converstion with me for awhile with him saying, "Uh huh" and "hmmm."  It was too appropriate to be a coincidence, but it was so unexpected that I was still not sure.  He listened to Raffi's Bananaphone CD for awhile with headphones.  I would like to build up this skill again for going places in the car.

Monday, November 14th

We worked on picture cards, but he was not very interested.  We played with his police car for awhile.  I could not get him to ask for it with words.  He did say, "I want to paint" while reaching towards the paints.  I had noticed he was reaching and gave voice to his request which he said appropriately changing the pronouns.  He liked My Many Colored Days and Spider on the Floor.  He also like the "Rocka my Soul in the Bosom of Abraham."  I took him to the library where he enjoyed the computer a little and also listening to music with headphones.  Couldn't really sit appropriately in story time although he did want to sit on the storytellers lap.  I guess that makes sense to him rather than sitting in the "audience."  Andy enjoyed story time a lot.

Thursday, November 3rd

Today on the way home from taking Scott to work Noah sang, "Let's go Fly a Kite!"  He had a tiny tantrum in the morning before we left, but he is doing really great having Andy around all the time.  We did some fingerpainting while listening to Luvabyes.  We read Miss Spider's New Car several times and he was filling in the blanks:  When I said, "Chahiss this speedster's charged with... "  he said, "with steam."  he danced to the popcorn song with Andy, only going in the closet a little bit to hide.  He played on both the swings and the hammock.  He played Marbleworks a really long time and said, "I want marble." 2-3 times.  We played Mr. Potato Head but he stimmed mostly.  I am pushing the Floortime Therapy more now.  He enjoyed playing with the garage and playground set.  He played with his play vacuum and made vacuum sounds.  He is learning to put his books on the shelf and he is doing great with following directions.

Today Ann Krogan the autism strategist came over and we had a planning session.  I had completed a smaller version of the ABLLS assessment and it showed some improvement over last year's assessment which I was really pleased with.  Some of the ideas we came up with to build on what I am doing are as follows:

1.  Fill out some cards with my daily activities so that I am making sure to cover the things I want to cover everyday or at least regularly.

2.  Motor imitation with real life activities:  Jumping, twiriling, spinning things, hands up, touch toes, mouth movements, drawing, etc.

3.  Imitation of sounds, then variations high-low, loud-soft.

4.  Vocal play.

5.  Pay close attention to the voice and sounds he is making and tell everyone else in his life to do the same.

6.  Focus on making sure Noah is interacting as much as possible with his world and others.

7.  Match to sample- object to object. (try using some books)

8.  Receptive:  give me the, show me the, point to the, touch the... give him a container, put in_____.  and then differentiate between objects.

9.  Maybe start working on receptive language by function, feature, and class although this is one of Noah's weakest areas.

10.  Start working with letters and/or numbers.  Maybe start with four letters of his name... putting in order.

11.  Possibly use books to work various activities in.

12.  Have letters in all forms to build complexity.

13.  Use music for reinforcer.

The Weekend:  On Friday we went to a wedding reception where we stayed for an hour.  Noah sat in his stroller for at least half the time, but he exhibited mostly appropriate behavior or at least it didn't distract others too much.  On Sunday he did great at church and on Sunday night he walked about 1/2 to 3/4 of a mile on his own!!!

Monday, November 7th

I took him to World Market with me and then to New City Market.  He stayed with me pretty well.  He has been going to the coffee shop with Scott and I in the morning and is sitting nicely at the table with or without a book.  It is getting where we feel like we can take him all over again which is wonderful.  He had great transitions all morning, followed a series of instructions.  He did the three piece farm puzzle with some prompting.  We did the picture cards, but I am having difficulty recording the results.  We worked on two choices with.. give me the_____.  We worked on flower, baby, train, chair, butterfly, and bird.  Seemed to enjoy it.  He puts animals in bucket for animal song.  Picked things and put away.  We worked on pointing in the Maisy book.  Worked on "Give me 5."  "Shake hands."  "Pat your head."  "Do this-- fingers together." Today he said, "Potty" while tugging at his waistband--- sat on toilet for 10 minutes but didn't go.  He did follow the rest of our potty program sucessfully.  He told Deborah, "I want to walk." and went in the stroller.  We took him to the mall where he sat at the table with us through dinner and walked through the entire mall himself.  Transitioned well even off the escalator and willingly passed escalators and the elevator without crying.  Andy played great in the playland so we had a really successful family outing.  Noah had trouble settling down and falling asleep, but it was worth it.

10/20-- Today I realized that all of the systems for our household need to be in place, or I get caught up in doing them when I need to be working with Noah.  This means for me that the household needs to be as simple as possible, the house needs to be picked up because it is too overstimulating if it is really disorderly, the Homestead shifts need to be filled, appts need to be kept to a minimum and kept ideally to certain days like Fridays or around lunchtime.  Systems and Simplicity are imperative.  We have had a hard time getting to occupational therapy this month.  Our therapist has had sick kids and Noah was grumpy one day and I had a migraine the next session.  Next week, I just want to do it!  Also it has been stressful trying to get Noah's blood sugars measured and under control.  I like the fact that I have had him around to check them more often.  It is important for me to be checking them in the middle and at the end of his feedings in addition to before his feedings so that we have some idea of what is going on before his next four day glucose sensor test. 

The autism strategist came today and we talked about the Carbone material.  She left a few worksheets for me to go through to come up with more reinforcers, and to get his new ABLLS verbal behavior score.

Monday, October 24th

We had a great day today.  We did a lot of the skill songs and had a ton of time working together.  Andy has totally learned how to use the computer.  What on earth have I begun???!!!???  He loves the Pooh game, the Dora game, the Franklin game and Freddi Fish and Luther's Water Works.

Tuesday, October 25th

Another great day! 

Wednesday, October 26th

Today was a great day even though Noah broke his CD player.  We went to Walmart and bought another one which was really fun.  Noah stayed with me for most of the time except for one time when he got away and threw his coat and went running.  It was cute but I am glad we weren't in the parking lot!  We also got some new art supplies.  The boys had fun using the new stickers, pompoms, pipe cleaners and beads.  I am reading a book on growing young artists; a lot of it is refreshing what I learned in college about the subject.  It's fun to learn more about it though when the "subjects" are your own kids.  Today Noah said, "Bubblewrap," "Come here" ( and led me by the hand!!!!) 

Thursday, October 27th

We still had family in town today so we took the day off which turned out to be a good thing because I was starting to get sick and my niece got REALLY sick and had to go to the hospital... so it was a really crazy day, but the kids had fun spending a lot of time with daddy.

Weekend--

This is Scott's entry.  Noah sat in church on Sunday for most of the readings.  He then went down in the nursery for a while until he had a tantrum.  I let him cool off for a while before I took him back up (after the sermon).  We ended up leaving again before communion, but Noah did well.

Sunday night was trick or treat night in Des Moines.  Noah was dressed as Superman, false pecs and all.  He had a tough time at first because he always wants to go into people's houses when they open their doors.  Leaving each house was a tough transition.

I let him ride in the stroller for a while until he got into the rhythm.  Then he was able to handle leaving.  He did a good job handling all the kids and spooky noises.  Most of the time he could pick a piece of candy and drop it in his bag.

Monday, October 31st

Another entry from Scott -- I spent the morning with him doing puzzles, stacking blocks, reading books, and listening to his tape.  We went on a walk with him in the stroller.  In the afternoon, Kari from the Homestead came and got him to drink a bit of applesauce.  She also worked on matching and on walking.  He was very upset about leaving the fire hydrant, so she had to come back early.

Tuesday, November 1st

Another entry from Scott -- Noah and I did some grocery shopping at Dahls together.  Then we went to the Toyota dealership to drop off the car.  What a helper!  After we got back we spent a little time with blocks and music.

Nicole from the Homestead came in the afternoon.  She spent a lot of time reading books with Noah.

Wednesday, November 2nd

We had a good day although Noah really wanted to stim.  I still had a migraine so I wasn't as able to work with him as usual.  We started off by swinging outside, we played with glue and pom poms, he did a really good job of following my directions to put the pompoms in the cup.  He picked up all of them-- there were probably twenty.  I think the regular times of following directions and doing little chores is really helping him in big ways.  He rode on his horse for a long time in our downtime.  We tried to read a few books, but he really wanted to stim, so I massaged his arms and hands with lemon lotion and he calmed down a lot.  We tried to draw, but he wanted to stim with the pencil.  I finally, settled for him playing appropriately with toys and listening to music.  I am looking forward to tomorrow when I will be able to have more wonderful times with him!  He is back to saying "I want chewytube when he wants to stim, so I give him the chewytube and then he is frustrated (which I know will happen) so then I tell him the proper word and he repeats it, (syringe).

Monday and Tuesday--10th and 11th-- This was a great time and it was just me and the kids in the morning with no helpers these days.  I was really happy with how well they did together.  It seems like Noah can get acclimated to having Andy around the house while we are working.  Who knows, maybe my dream of being able to just have it be me and the boys every morning will be a go by this January.  For sure Deanna could come over and play with Andy at our house.  She said that that would work starting in a few weeks so maybe we will!

Wednesday, October 12th--We got some good worktime in. 

Thursday, October 13th-- Noah and I had a great day together, in fact the kids had a great week.  They did tons of art projects, Noah and I did our skill songs, we worked on pointing to specific pictures, we did cutting, glitter, jumping, LOTS of reading, self help skills, and some pretend play.  Noah has really been liking working together with me.  It has been really fun. 

Friday, October 14th-- We went to Living History Farms today.  Noah and Andy basically walked the whole thing with minimal complaining so we were happy about that.  Noah was kinda grouchy between sites, but once he would get to the site he was really interested in everything.  He likes the tractor trailer ride the best and would be happy if we did that all day.  Scott spent time with each of the boys.

Saturday and Sunday-- We went on a beautiful fall walk and Andy and I had fun throwing leaves on each other.  It was such a great day.  The sky was really blue. We went to a party and the boys did great.  We did catch Noah on his way to the street so I think that I will work on playing in areas without fences to teach him the boundaries of the sidewalk.  He can handle being around other kids so much better now.  He did have trouble in the car on the way there though.  I need to refresh the toys in the car and keep some of my systems going so that he is not as bothered by Andy for a 45 min car ride.  I  don't want to adjust everything, but I do want him to be able to be comfortable most of the time.

Monday, October 17th--  We did our music again today.  He wanted to read books and I am pretty sure he tugged at his tube and said "I'm hungry" twice today.  We had a tiny bit of table time but he is not wanting to do anything.  He watched some Veggie Tales and Dr. Seuss videos.  I am excited that he is beginning to like normal kid stuff again instead of wanting to constantly stim.  He is hardly stimming at all!  I think this is very exciting.  He appears calmer overall.  Scott took the boys to the park and they both did great.  In addition, Noah did well with both Andy and our friend Jonathan playing around Noah.  One thing that I want to work on is getting Noah to like swinging again on his swingset.  It is challenging but doable to keep his interests somewhat varied.  If he has multiple interests, he stims less and seems to be more confident and happy.

Tuesday, October 18th--  Today started out with Noah being pretty cheerful.  We started off the day with our morning coffee run and then got started.  We looked at a puzzle and he did a few pieces half heartedly and then wanted to do something else.  I let him try to play the flying game on the computer with the hopes that we might be able to get him to do some other activities on the computer later.  We did lots of rough-ish play like horsey rides and dancing.  We did a lot of interactive music activities today.  For example we did our little hand game where Noah taps out the rhythm on my hands while we listen to music.  We covered all kinds of music today but mostly this fun Indian dance music-- a soundtrack from Bend It Like Beckham, Aaron Copeland-- Hoedown, and Mozart, along with a little Van Morrisson.  Noah and I did some fun country dancing to the Copeland and he was enjoying bouncing and dancing to the rest of the music.  We played with the parachute a little.  We did some art while listening to Mozart and we did some living skills like taking out the garbage.  He is not as interested in doing table time activities right now other than coloring and playdough, but I don't plan on letting him get away with that.  However, my most important goal is that Noah and I are living in the same world and that he is not stimming in his separate world and today, although sometimes painful for him later in the day, I think we achieved that goal.  his blood sugar has been a complete mess lately and we have been getting studies done.  Finally we got a test that "took" and we found out that he has been going really high between feedings.  So add that with the days where I was pushing feeding by mouth strongly and the test days where we were checking blood sugar a lot and havinig doctor's appointments and I realize how much Noah really has blocking him from getting a proper education that is appropriate for his abilities.

Self injurious behaviors have been up a few days in a row, and I am hoping that they go away tomorrow!  Overall, though, he seems happy.  He has developed a new mild stim of buckling his stroller buckle, so we need to watch that and be willing to face temper tantrums when it is time to get out of the stroller.  He is not liking getting out of the car either. 

I have started reading Mrs. Piggle Wiggle to Andy at naptime-- he loves it!  I made little pirate swords and treasure and hats for Andy to play with and then he had fish sticks for lunch which I had "caught" on the pirate boat.

Wednesday, August 30th

Today we worked on doing household chores.  We took out the garbage.  He carried a sack for me and put it in the garbage can outside.  We sang and listened to "Brown Bear" and worked on the sign for "Book" some more.  His stimming is really down.  It is such a huge encouragement.  We worked on cutting with scissors and he cut some pink paper.  I decided to use little bumpy scissors so it had a really fun edge.

Thursday, August 31

ART, GLITTER, GLUE!!! He loves squeezing the glue bottle so hard.  He gets into it so much that his whole body shakes.  We danced to "Popcorn" and "Brown Bear."  We painted with a paint brush.  He makes little swipes on the paper.  Stimming is still down.  We worked on signing, "Book," saying "book"--he said "read the book" and "outside."  He pointed around 10 times to Sally the dog in Sally Goes to the Beach!  We worked on pointing to body parts.

Labor Day Weekend

He sang "It's a Small World" a lot this weekend.  He sat through an entire rehearsal dinner, wedding, and reception.  He sat in his stroller and then enjoyed rolling some pool balls and watching football.  He went swimming in the hotel pool and did a front flip under water while holding his breath!  He pinched and scratched Andy on the way to Chicago and we were really discouraged.  Andy tried out all different ways to protect his arm and figured out that if he put the MagnaDoodle against his arm and held it tightly Noah couldn't get him.  Poor guy. 

Tuesday, September 6th

I took Noah to the library, Target, and Iowa Bakery Cafe.  He helped put the books into the return bin.  He colored a cute picture.  Kalene had given us a CD called Kiddo that was used with a disabled girl in Madison so we listened to it.  It was a hip hop CD.  The song I like the best and that we listened to the most was, "This song is for the kiddos we believe in."  He wanted to read Marvin K. Mooney.  He had a dentist appointment in Iowa City.  The whole trip took five hours, 25$ of gas, Noah hit himself and learned to take off his seatbelt AND they couldn't even clean his teeth!  I was soooo discouraged.  I felt so bad too that I couldn't even spend any time with Andy and no real quality time with Noah.  The two sort of positives is that the next time we are going to use valium and I figured out a way to keep Noah from undoing his seatbelt with a little bell I made out of a cup.

Wednesday, September 7th

I took Noah to the coffee shop today.  He really wanted to go in and cried when we left.  He did art for 20 minutes and glued and glued and glued.  We played with a drum and bells and sang "Lollipop" and "It's a Small World."  We read Chicka Chicka and he was NOT interested in helping with the laundry. 

Here are some quotes that really inspired me the last two weeks.

Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.

-Ralph Waldo Emerson

Be not a slave of your own past-- plunge into the sublime seas, dive deep, and swim far, so you shall come back with self respect, with new power, with an advanced experience, that shall explain and overlook the old.

-Ralph Waldo Emerson

Thursday, September 8th

Today Noah scratched Andy twice when we were driving Scott into work.  I believe that it is good for them to be together in theory, but in actuality, I am having difficulty getting them to get along without problems.  I felt that today I was not making it fun enough.  He really wanted to stim, we went on a walk with him in his stroller, I prompted him three times to say "I want whistle" and "Push me" two times in his swing.  He got very angry the third time and had a tantrum.  I noticed that if I prompt a sentence I get better results than with one word.  I know that ideally he would be able to say the isolated word, but the goal is for him to talk any way possible.  I was so mad at myself for pushing him, but I was feeling like I wasn't trying hard enough and he told me in his way... "Slow down, Mommy, take my gains as they come and don't push me too far."  He did some self injury to the point of bleeding.  It is times like this that I really get frustrated with Noah's limitations.  I tried loving and hugging him for a while and tried ice.  Finally Bob Dylan worked and I left him alone for awhile.  I vacillate between letting him decide how much is enough and not reinforcing bad behavior.On a positive note we colored a lot and he made lots of sounds when drawing.  I was imitating the sounds and we had a "conversation."  My note to myself this day was, "Why am I pushing him and being so impatient?  Remember to engage the child!  How much do you push?  At what point do you say Noah doesn't do _______ and leave it at that?"  He then wanted to cuddle a lot and did some gentler talking and playing with my hair. 

Weekend

On Friday he licked the salty playdough a lot and had a horseback riding lesson.  We went to Jester Park and  played on playground equipment.  The pelicans were at Jester Park.  We also went to Picket Fence Creamery, the library, and the hardware store.  On Sunday, Noah sat through church almost the entire service and through coffee hour.

Monday, September 12th

We listened to the Rusted Root drum trip and played drums and bells.  I decided to make some edible playdough since he was interested in licking the regular playdough last week.  I used a recipe from Aunt Marie which I tweaked a little:

Edible Playdough

3.5 cups creamy peanut butter

4 cups powdered sugar

3.5 cups light corn syrup

4 cups powdered milk

Mix until smooth. Knead by hand.

I cut this recipe in about a third.  Subbed honey for corn syrup and used more powdered sugar and no powdered milk.

Unfortunately although he sat with me while I made it, I think the smell was too much for him.

It was so cute though because he was really interested in riding the rocking horse and the rolling horse.  He usually is not interested in those and I think it is because he really liked his horseback riding lesson.  He wanted to read Count With Maisy, Gerald McBoing Boing, If you give a pig a pancake, and Never, ever shout in a zoo.  He pulled me by the hand to his little workroom which had been left in a MESS!  So I got sidetracked cleaning it.  Leslie Dahm, our supervising teacher came for a visit.  She wants me to make three goals for the year so I am really thinking about what I want those goals to be. 

Tuesday, September 13

Stimming.  Stimming.  Stimming. 

Tried a movie.

Tried a book.

Drove in the car..... AGGGHHH!  I could not get him to stop!

Wednesday, September 14th

Stimming.  Went on a walk.  He did say, "I want Dwinda." (syringe).  We did go to the library and OT.  He did great at OT.  He carried his bag to the table.  He sat on the potty today, threw his diaper away.  He also hit himself a lot.

Thursday, September 15th

Dr. appointment with Menzies and Cook.  The appointment lasted, get this, from 8:45 until 3:00!!!!!  They changed his tube size and gave us a prescription for Resperidone.  I probably won't give it to him in the hopes that his self injury will get better.  We tried to get the glucose sensor test but it malfunctioned on Friday.  It was heartbreaking to realize that we are going to have to place it again!!  Poor guy!  They also prescribed a more natural formula but it has been discontinued.

Weekend

Noah's birthday party.  We had a drum circle.  Noah and Andy both loved it.  They were so cute.  Several people said Noah was calmer and quieter as well as being more social.  So that really encouraged me.

Monday, September 19th

Noah turns 7!!!  We had an extremely low key day where we relaxed a lot!  We visited a family to discuss one of their children being a mother's helper for a bit and Noah did great just hanging out with their kids and playing their piano.  He played an octave quite a bit.  That was cool.

Tuesday, September 20th

Noah loves singing Happy Birthday.  He is really doing well with intraverbals.  He is filling in the blanks in songs, singing songs in unison with me, and generally singing songs more.  Today we switched kids.  I took Andy and Deanna took Noah.  They both needed different attention than they usually get.

Wednesday, September 21st

Noah did great walking to and from the parking lot to OT.  That is fantastic!  He had a nice therapy time too.  Noah colored some and read books.

Thursday, September 22nd

I took Noah to the supermarket and had him help put food in the cart, push the cart, load the conveyor belt and carry a sack into the house.  He did really well!  He wanted to take it easy and watch Veggie Tales for awhile which I was really happy about.  I figure at least he is hearing a lot of language and he is also developing a normal way to relax and hang out other than stimming.  He is liking sitting in the hammock and looking at books. 

Friday, September 23rd

Today the boys had a riding lesson.  Andy didn't really want to ride so I took him to the park.  Noah rode and really enjoyed it.  He was playing a lot of bells this morning.  He pinched Andy twice in a three hour period which although horrible is down from last week.  Andy needs some love and attention and I plan to give him plenty this weekend.  Little sweetie.  They are both such great kids.  I hope that I am doing the right thing for both of them.

Wednesday

Today we didn't get started until almost ten o'clock, but we had a realy good time together.  As soon as Noah and I were alone he wanted to sit by me on the hammock.  He just peacefully sat there and snuggled.  Next he wanted to swing so we did.  Next we went inside and it was time to start his feeding so I fed him some pediasure by mouth and he drank two ounces.  Not only that but he brought his tongue out of his mouth and licked the bottle multiple times (I knew Angela his OT would be proud).  He wanted to just read and read and read so I just kept reading to him.  I began to work on the sign for book.  I wanted him to ask for it.  He wanted to jump on the trampoline a lot.  Overall, it was a warm and calm morning.  I feel like I am rebuilding trust that his days will be calm and loving with little to dread and a lot to look forward to.

We met Cari from the Homestead and Deborah had a session with him in the afternoon.  We are going to be able to have our meetings now again once every other week.

Thursday-- We turn a corner-- authentic interaction!!!!

Today was amazing.  First Noah loved snuggling in the hammock again and swinging on his swingset.  Then we played with his tent.  He patted it so I pattd it and said, "This tent feels nice; it is so smooth."  That was the way our interactions went.  He would perform an action and I would try to make it into a game or a conversation.  We played peek a boo in the tent.  We played chase in the garage  (I did the chasing and stomping-- he did the running and giggling)

Next we went inside and started by jumping on the trampoline.  Noah had grabbed some toys and was playing with the see and say.  I was again in awe of how his playing with toys appropriately has started to improve and his stimming has been gradually decreasing. 

I didn't want to totally introduce my own idea but I wanted to see if I could get him to participate.  So I grabbed a Where the Wild Things Are monster and a lion and started to talk to Noah in a monster voice.  He loved it.  So I started putting the monster down the slide.  Noah was wiggling the lion and laughing.  The wiggling seemed more purposeful and I was really getting excited now.  I marched my monster over to his lion and growled, "Hey You!  Go down the slide!"  The monster was hyper and playful and Noah seemed to really like it.  I was still feeling too much in control, but I also felt like Noah needed to see some purposeful play.  As I was putting the monster down the slide and the lion, Noah put the monster down the slide on his own.  I was ecstatic.  It was so cute!  He seemed to tire of it and wanted to hear the "Wheels on the Bus" book over and over again.  I read  it to him for "free" at first and then insisted that he make the sign for book every time after that.  I tried to switch to a different version fo "Wheels on the Bus"  this time to a pop up book, but he really wanted the board book.  I began to tire after who know how many times, but I knew that he was really craving some music.  So I began to sing "Miss Lucy had a Baby."  He liked it so I tried again to teach him some sort of interactive game that he can play with someone else-- A hand rhyme!  So I took his palms and spread his fingers out.  I began clapping my hands and slapping his palms to the rhythm while singing.  He smiled and kept his hands there.  Next I wanted to see if I could get him to slap my palms in a rhythm so I hand over handed the motion and then turned him loose and sure enough he tapped my hands to the beat.  We were playing a two person game!!!!!  He kept doing it and the rest of the day whenever I would start singing the song, he was actually SINGING IT WITH ME -- in unison.  I was pumped because it had been several years since I had been able to get this kind of musical interaction with him.  I know it is in there, and homeschooling is going to provide the medium and time for this to occur more.  He also was singing "If You're Happy and You Know It, Clap Your Hands." 

Maybe one attempted bite today and one temper tantrum beginning, but other than that a peaceful day.  (Well, he has had a stomach bug this week so I cancelled Homestead).

Friday-- We register for homeschool

Today Scott was off work so we registered for homeschool down at Mann elementary.  We me Leslie Dahm and another really nice woman whose name I can't remember.  We also met the wife and family of a man Scott used to work with.  I love how the homeschool community is both big and small.

We took the kids to the coffee shop.  Noah likes to hear them make coffee on the espresso machine and to steam the milk.  Andy sat right up at the counter too eating a cookie.  I realized how sweet my boys are and how much I love being with my family.

Next we went to the mall to eat lunch.  Noah sat with us while we were eating and then we did some window shopping at Pottery Barn Kids.  Noah and Andy love PBK.  They have a bunkbed there that the kids would love-- a double on the bottom for Noah since he likes company and a single top bunk for Andy since he likes being high up.  They also have a solar system mobile we might buy Noah for his birthday. 

I did some shopping  later and Andy napped while Scott read to Noah.