Have I really not updated this in 2 weeks? Wow. The summer is just flying by. We have been so busy! Just got back from camping again this weekend.
Anyway, Mason update.
I've seen some pretty big things lately. Last week, he got on the swing for the first time since he was a baby! He cried, but he didn't fight me getting on it, and I got him smiling a little by tickling him. He wasn't a fan, and he hasn't done it since, but it's a step! All this time, I just thought him not like the swing was a "phase." I didn't realize it was a sensory thing. Anyway, we'll keep trying it.
We went and had a picnic, and then played at the park last monday. There was a little boy, I'd guess 2-1/2ish, who kept following him around. He wasn't about playing w/him at first, but after awhile, he kept looking for him and asking about him. He wanted the little boy to follow him down the slide, but didn't really want to talk to him. It's a start, at least. He did get freaked out when the little boy started waving his arms around. He kept saying "Don't hit me! Don't hit me!" I think this is part of his problem w/other kids his age. They are small, loud, in your face and have unpredictable movements.
The biggest news, is that Friday at therapy, Kate told me he was actively interacting with the other kids!!! This is awesome!!! She also said Hayley (who is participating in the class as a 'peer model') is a little over-protective of him. She watches the other kids around him, and will go sit next to him if he's alone. It's pretty cute, but something we need to watch. We don't want her taking over, or talking for him, which she definately does at home.
We've been working hard on conversation with him, and it's getting better. You still have to repeat the question to him a couple times, but he can usually answer, if only minimally. Still waiting for speech therapy to start. It should be any time now.
I guess that's it. Still trying to stay hopeful that an autism diagnosis is NOT in our future. I'm just so on the fence about it, it really could go either way.
Monday, July 27, 2009
Monday, July 13, 2009
Therapy day 3
I'm late getting this out! We've just been so busy lately.
I actually didn't go to this therapy appointment. Jerime was off, and wanted to take him, so he went, with Hayley and I stayed home with a napping Payton. Afterwards, the kids had dentists appointments, so they left a few minutes early. He's doing well. Wanting to go, asking for the kids in his class, and even asking to go to therapy (or Feraphi) as he says it. Hayley is participating with the group. They like to have 'typical' peer models. As long as she interacts well, and its not hindering him, she will continue to go and participate. We went to the park, hm, 3 times this week, and the first time, he was excited to see kids, although he didn't really play with them, the 2nd time, he completely segregated himself, and the 3rd time, he spent time with some big boys (9 or 10ish) and he picked up "Come here woman!" from them. Nice. So he's saying that to me everytime I turn around. He wanted nothing to do with the kids at my niece's grad party on Sunday. My niece eventually got him out playing a little, but for the most part, he wanted to sit in the house and watch TV. I couldn't get him out there, at all. If Jerime had been there, and if I could have handed off Payton to him, it might have helped. Baby steps, I guess. There where a lot of people there, and he didn't know most of them.
One thing I've learned through spending time with the parents at therapy, is we all blame ourselves. We wonder what we've done to cause this to happen. You would think, with all of the crap you have to deal with while having a special needs to child, that we would at least be able to escape the parental guilt. Really, I'm just trying not to screw these kids up. He's only 3 and there's already a problem. I wonder when the "why him?" stops. Why my child? Why my only son? He deserves so much better. I absolutely hate this. hm. I better stop and go to bed before I turn this into a pity party. Hopefully things are looking better in the morning.
I actually didn't go to this therapy appointment. Jerime was off, and wanted to take him, so he went, with Hayley and I stayed home with a napping Payton. Afterwards, the kids had dentists appointments, so they left a few minutes early. He's doing well. Wanting to go, asking for the kids in his class, and even asking to go to therapy (or Feraphi) as he says it. Hayley is participating with the group. They like to have 'typical' peer models. As long as she interacts well, and its not hindering him, she will continue to go and participate. We went to the park, hm, 3 times this week, and the first time, he was excited to see kids, although he didn't really play with them, the 2nd time, he completely segregated himself, and the 3rd time, he spent time with some big boys (9 or 10ish) and he picked up "Come here woman!" from them. Nice. So he's saying that to me everytime I turn around. He wanted nothing to do with the kids at my niece's grad party on Sunday. My niece eventually got him out playing a little, but for the most part, he wanted to sit in the house and watch TV. I couldn't get him out there, at all. If Jerime had been there, and if I could have handed off Payton to him, it might have helped. Baby steps, I guess. There where a lot of people there, and he didn't know most of them.
One thing I've learned through spending time with the parents at therapy, is we all blame ourselves. We wonder what we've done to cause this to happen. You would think, with all of the crap you have to deal with while having a special needs to child, that we would at least be able to escape the parental guilt. Really, I'm just trying not to screw these kids up. He's only 3 and there's already a problem. I wonder when the "why him?" stops. Why my child? Why my only son? He deserves so much better. I absolutely hate this. hm. I better stop and go to bed before I turn this into a pity party. Hopefully things are looking better in the morning.
Friday, July 3, 2009
Therapy....Day 2
So before I talk about today's therapy session, I have to give an update about our Michigan trip. I've been so busy this week, I just didn't have time to do it.
Mason, for the first time, EVER, last weekend, initiated and engaged in play w/kids other then his sisters!!! He actually participated in playing w/Connor and Madison, and would even ask them to play. Usually, he will completely segregate himself from the other kids, and IF he's playing in the vicinity of them, it's never w/them. It would just be parallel play. But last weekend he played w/kids his age, that where not his siblings. This is HUGE. Really, just an amazing thing for me to watch. He was funny, because he would call them both "ConnorandMadison", LOL, like they where one person. We didn't bring his DHA up to the lake w/us, and by Saturday night/Sunday morning, that was obvious. I am amazed at the difference it makes in him, especially as far as his focus is concerned.
On to today's therapy session....He was excited and happy to go, and as soon as he saw 2 of the girls in his class, he ran up to them and followed them to play!! So wonderful!! He interacted w/them, also, for the few minutes until therapy began. Lara said he did great today, that he was a lot chattier, and was really into participating w/the class. He did get hung up on a toy shark for awhile ( he LOVES sea creatures), and she mentioned that he really seems to need to have something in his hands all the time. I never really thought about that, but he does constantly have a toy in his hand. I never associated it w/a stimulatory behavior, but now that I think about it, it might be. Or it might be a comfort thing too. He doesn't have to have a certain toy, just something there to be touching (and often mouthing), so it's probably sensory (that makes sense as I write it). He was doing a lot of hand flapping while we where there, and since that's something he only does when he's excited/happy, I at least know that he's really enjoying himself, even though it bothers me a bit that he does it. There are train tracks very near the center, and when a train went by, he was torn between hand flapping his excitement, and covering his ear to block out the stimulation. It was simultaneously funny and disturbing at the same time.
I *should* probably be really happy about today's session, but I'm feeling a little down about it. He did well, and that makes me happy, but it also brought to light another sensory thing he has going on. I'm also worried about how this weekend will go. He remembers the fireworks from last year, when he was terrified of them. He told us they "scare my ears", so I'm not sure how that will go. One of the mom's I was talking to at therapy recommended getting ear phones for him, to block out some of noise, and then he may be able to enjoy the fireworks. I think we will try that (not that I mind if he wants to go in the house, since fireworks scare the crap out of me).
We're also marching in the parade tonight, and I'm on the fence as to whether he's going to love the firetrucks and stuff, or hate it because of the noise and activity. It might actually end up like the train at the center today. It bothers me so much that he might miss out on things because of this. It upsets me that he can't enjoy the things that other kids do. I'm definately having a bit of a my-kid-is-different pity party today.
I guess that's it. Everyone have a wonderful and SAFE (did I mention fireworks scare the hell out of me) weekend!
Mason, for the first time, EVER, last weekend, initiated and engaged in play w/kids other then his sisters!!! He actually participated in playing w/Connor and Madison, and would even ask them to play. Usually, he will completely segregate himself from the other kids, and IF he's playing in the vicinity of them, it's never w/them. It would just be parallel play. But last weekend he played w/kids his age, that where not his siblings. This is HUGE. Really, just an amazing thing for me to watch. He was funny, because he would call them both "ConnorandMadison", LOL, like they where one person. We didn't bring his DHA up to the lake w/us, and by Saturday night/Sunday morning, that was obvious. I am amazed at the difference it makes in him, especially as far as his focus is concerned.
On to today's therapy session....He was excited and happy to go, and as soon as he saw 2 of the girls in his class, he ran up to them and followed them to play!! So wonderful!! He interacted w/them, also, for the few minutes until therapy began. Lara said he did great today, that he was a lot chattier, and was really into participating w/the class. He did get hung up on a toy shark for awhile ( he LOVES sea creatures), and she mentioned that he really seems to need to have something in his hands all the time. I never really thought about that, but he does constantly have a toy in his hand. I never associated it w/a stimulatory behavior, but now that I think about it, it might be. Or it might be a comfort thing too. He doesn't have to have a certain toy, just something there to be touching (and often mouthing), so it's probably sensory (that makes sense as I write it). He was doing a lot of hand flapping while we where there, and since that's something he only does when he's excited/happy, I at least know that he's really enjoying himself, even though it bothers me a bit that he does it. There are train tracks very near the center, and when a train went by, he was torn between hand flapping his excitement, and covering his ear to block out the stimulation. It was simultaneously funny and disturbing at the same time.
I *should* probably be really happy about today's session, but I'm feeling a little down about it. He did well, and that makes me happy, but it also brought to light another sensory thing he has going on. I'm also worried about how this weekend will go. He remembers the fireworks from last year, when he was terrified of them. He told us they "scare my ears", so I'm not sure how that will go. One of the mom's I was talking to at therapy recommended getting ear phones for him, to block out some of noise, and then he may be able to enjoy the fireworks. I think we will try that (not that I mind if he wants to go in the house, since fireworks scare the crap out of me).
We're also marching in the parade tonight, and I'm on the fence as to whether he's going to love the firetrucks and stuff, or hate it because of the noise and activity. It might actually end up like the train at the center today. It bothers me so much that he might miss out on things because of this. It upsets me that he can't enjoy the things that other kids do. I'm definately having a bit of a my-kid-is-different pity party today.
I guess that's it. Everyone have a wonderful and SAFE (did I mention fireworks scare the hell out of me) weekend!
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