Apr. 26, 2009 - Our Saturday.
I believe that family is a gift from God. And everytime we can I love to see my great nephew and neice. This year my great nephew graduated from kindergarten. He is so very cute. But before we went to the graduation we stopped and saw both of my other nephews do their thing. I am so glad for my family. My oldest nephew turn's 30 this year...whew! But, he play's in a christian band and my 2nd nephew (his brother) is a youth pastor. They are great kids. Dagumit they will always be kids.
Well, first we went to the youth rally...(I went to a youth rally) anyway, the music was really loud, and it was about 90 degrees. So ds was melting. Then we had the graduation and there were babies everywhere. (The biggest thing that sets him off is a baby crying...woohoo!) So my father stayed with him in the lobby. Bless dad's heart, I told him he didn't have to.
Now graduation for my great nephew. I will show you the pictures my sister sent me...because it in essence captures my life, if you want to see the rest of the pictures (like the "normal" ones please check out my other blog http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/growingdaily )
Sister, thank you for the candid shots...you really did capture the story of my life. I love my family. I am blessed.
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Apr. 25, 2009 - Today: School/Hike, Grandmothers & Luke 14 to much?
Some days I think we have too much on the agenda. We did a light day of school, then called my dm-i-l and went on a hike. So of course they wanted to go to her house and then we had Luke 14 that night. At which the kids did there preformance again.
Well, I would love to say that ds did great...would love to say it. But he did okay until the end......... oh the end. He was so tired.
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Apr. 24, 2009 - Performance Night at Coop
Well, I would love to tell you that ds with autism did great...I would love to tell you that. But, I can say that he did better. Whew! I know that these situations are stressful for him...I do know. And I also know that people, noises, lights, chaos will always be around him. Those components are a big part of our world. He is going to have to get a grip. I feel for him...
Side note, ds was singing all 4 songs on the way to the church......the pictures will tell you the rest of the story.
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Apr. 17, 2009 - We had a hike today
We had a hike today and my goal was that he walk with me...with out having to hold on to him or worry about him running off. Over all not to bad. Here is some pictures of our hike:
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Apr. 10, 2009 - Working on self help skills
I was told that I baby my ds to much. You know that may be true. So I am working hard to not do that anymore.
My ds has now made his own oatmeal (instant/microwave) and now he is doing more and more toward complete indepence. You know it is so easy to do for your kids...autism or not. You do it faster, more efficient and neater. LOL! But, here is the time and the day that I will deal with the slowness, and the mess.
I am keeping notes in the notebook--to make my self accountable...did I tell you I love the 99 cent notebook.
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Apr. 5, 2009 - On Cloud Nine
I have started using "On Cloud Nine" by Bell (ganderpublishing) as a supplement for math. And I love it. I did go to a local school supply store and buy most of the manipultives--I may wind up buying the number line from them though. There program is based on a ladder approach which is nice. Because you can see each step and you can see the progression.
My ds has been able to look at a number, and then tell me what number it was after I had cover it up. I am thrilled...
Our main math curriculum is Math U See. Which works nice...but with the "On Cloud Nine" I believe that now his math program is more complete than before. On Cloud Nine is more comprehensive and is geared more for autism.
Now, I feel that I have another way to prove that he has obtained mastery before moving on to the next thing. I am so glad to have found this program.
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Mar. 30, 2009 - March where did it go
I am just not sure where this year has went. I have started keeping a note book while I am working with my ds. This way I can see progress and look at the whole to see if I am missing any of our objectives.
His receptive language has always been higher than his expressive language. But by keeping the notebook I have found that he is becoming more expressive.
I love the notebook.
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Mar. 24, 2009 - The Bounce House
My df always get's my ds started on the slide then he is set. We went to our first bounce house about 3 years ago and he cried the whole time and would not touch the slides, or any other thing. Now once you get him started he won't stop.
One day he will do more things than just the slide... (I am very thankful for my df)
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Feb. 28, 2009 - Oh! the flu
We had the flu--ds deals with sickness in a different way. He refuses to eat and he sleeps all the time. Now we always check to see if he is still peeing and if his mouth is wet and it always is. That just amazes me.
He is recovered now and we are finally getting back to our routine. Yeah for routine. I now know how sick is too sick to do school. Let's face it, we have no excuse to not do school...except for the flu.
This is the first time that we have had the flu. I have now stocked the frige with good food packed with vit C and antixoidants. We will not be caught off guard again. Hopefully.
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Feb. 12, 2009 - Handwriting
He has started writing letters with out assistance. Now we still have a long way to go, but for the first time I have not had to hold his elbow. Here is a picture.
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Feb. 6, 2009 - The appointment
We had the appointment and it went well. The Dr said that he has heard our excate story 30 times. I have never run into anyone who understood our story. He also said that he has had success with the children who were like our son with medication.
We see. One thing that I do like about him is that you go slow, and it has appeared that our son struggles less to look at you. Like it hurts less to look you in the eye. And handwriting is improving.
But we were told that we probably would not see a great change because the doseage was so low. My dh is hopefull and I am watchful. I hope it does help, but I will keep you posted.
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Jan. 15, 2009 - School in full swing
Well, school is back in full swing. It took a couple of weeks to get a grip. Coop is good this session.
My DS has Children's Choir which he has started singing with us and not behind us. And he is doing some of the physical motions on his own. I think sometimes the motions get to fast for him to process, but he is really enjoying it.
Second hour we are in a class called "On a Roll". My friend that is teaching it was sad because there are only 3 other students, but every week she brings in a person with a handicap and they talk to the class about what is like to live with cp or blindness. It is a really good class. And she is affecting the lives of 3 children who will inturn be a witness for their friends. I hope she knows what a blessing she is.
3rd and 4th hour I have hired a teenager to work one on one with my son. I believe that 2 more classes would have just been to hard on him. And they are working on chaining communication.
Chaining communication - is where you take were you are at in communication and try to add one more level, no matter how small. It could be a physical movement or a verbal movement, just something to engage the child one more second.
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Jan. 8, 2009 - Starting back to school
Starting back to school has been no real easy task. Sometimes I get depressed because I always hope we would be father along developmental than we are now. But, it is okay, because progress is progress and we are moving toward effective communication every day.
I have been have the great debate in my mind about the SSRI's. I have been talking to my husbands side of the family over Christmas and found out that my dh father takes SSRI's and so does his father.
And from my father-in-law's description they saved his life. I have also talked to some of my friends who are going to a well respected doctor. It is working for one child and not for the other. And the one it was not working for was able to stop and have no side effects.
So, I guess we are going to give this a go. I have called and set up the appointment. I know people have strong feelings about medication. So do I, but I feel like I am at a point where I have to try and see.
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Jan. 3, 2009 - Over Christmas
Over Christmas my husband was home and we thought we would finish up the potty training. For the first time in our therapy history I cancelled all therapies for 2 weeks and we focused on potting.
Well my ds had a different idea. He is urine trained and has been for some time but the other. No luck. During the second week of our potty training he got really sick and sleep for a couple of days.
Now we are back to square one. With our crazy schedule starting back. He will be completely potty trained one day...just not today.
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Dec. 12, 2008 - Some therapies are just not for your child and that's okay
Where we live I was told over the years about this particular therapist who has a great reputation. And, she is good at what she does. But sometimes that just doesn't work with your child and it's okay.
I have been taking my ds to her for about 5 weeks (2 hour sessions) and we were just given her treatment plan: which included that my ds would know his alphabet (met at 3 1/2, he would phonically reconigize the alphabet met at 4 and the list went on of goals that he has already met.) Just to be sure, I took the list to our speech therapist and said what do you think...she was not pleased because we had already met most of these goals.
We were looking for another person to take him and build on the imitation skills and build communication. And that is not what this speech therapist specializes in. And that is okay. She helps a lot of kids...but we are not going back to her.
I would recommend her to someone just starting out. But not to someone who has been in therapy for a while. We are still searching for what is our next step. I wish that there was a treatment guide that would say "if your child has at least 2 of these qualities then do this..." But, there is not.
So instead you swim in the ocean. At first you are alone and afraid, then you build up your team that swims with you and you are not so afraid...but sometimes you guys are just lost.
One thing that I have learned over the years. It's not the end of the world if the therapist is not a fit for my child. Someone will be and it is nothing against the therapist. And it is OKAY. (Boy, it took me a long time to get there)
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Dec. 4, 2008 - The results :-(
Our results...we don't have them "officially" yet. But, we have a great child psychologist who has worked with us for 6 years and we were able to meet to go over what he saw.
The test results went down about 6 months. But, he said that ds expressed more words through imitation and his gross motor imitation skills were great. And so we are going to convene with all of our therapist and make a treatment plan to work on his strengths more.
We are supposed to meet after the 1st of the year. We'll see.
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Nov. 26, 2008 - Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving gets better each year. I enjoy seeing the family... here is our Thanksgiving picture:
Through DTT/ABA we have been working on "happy, sad, and suprised". So now when we say "happy" we get a smile...and you have to be ready with the camera or you will miss it.
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Nov. 15, 2008 - Another evalutation this week
What a hetic week:
Monday we had Speech & OT (both are an hour each).
Tuesday we had an evaluation from a new speech therapist (2 hour) plus an hour drive on either side.
Wednesday we had speech (1 hour)
Thursday we had coop (5 hours from start to finish)
Friday we had an evaluation with our psychologist that has been working with my ds since he was 3 and then OT (1 hour). Whew!!!!!!!!!!!
Friday was different, all these years I have been able to go back and watch the evaluation. Now my son is old enough to go by himself, so I worked with the speech therapist planning our next 5 goals for him.
I have no idea how he did. We are suppose to have a meeting Dec 3 with other therapist to review what happened in the evaluation. Hopefully it's good news....
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Nov. 11, 2008 - Evaluation today
Today, we met with a woman who is a highly recommened speech therapist. And she works with the neurotherapy appoarch (which is what I have been searching for).
She worked with my ds for 2 hours and she was marvelous. I am looking forward to seeing his evaluation results in a couple of weeks.
The reason we went to her is because we have seemed to be stuck and not progressing. My ds can and does repeat any word but moving to conversation has been a stuggle. So hopefully adding her sessions with her experience we can push him over the finish line with him having conversations. Conversation and relationships are our ultimate goals.
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Nov. 10, 2008 - Seminar Review eReadingPro
On Sunday we went to a seminar about eReadingPro this was about teaching reading.
Here is their website http://www.ereadingpro.com/
I took away from our time that phonics is not the best way to teach children with special needs. The whole language approach is the better way with large flash cards and introduce only a few words a day (3 different times) throughout the day.
One very good point that I took away from this session what that the dolch list words should not be introduced first because, they have no meaning. Introduce words that you can put a picture with like mom, dad, ball, bat, etc.
I am not sure personally about the battle between whole language and phonics. What I know is that what ever a person chooses to do, I believe that consistance wins almost everytime.
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