Friday, April 13, 2007

Full of surprises!

I took a few days off from the computer. I just needed a bit of a break. I was spending almost every spare moment of my time researching/talking/chatting about autism and therapies. It can really start to run your life after a while. This week was full of surprises though.

Tuesday I met with our new case manager to discuss Nicholas. She asked a few generic questions(ones that we have been asked by everyone who evals him-you can imagine how many times that has been). As far as therapies goes, I was basically told to just look in the phone book and find some that would take our insurance. UGH! So I looked. I could not find anything for behavioral therapy. I have scoured over the internet to find people...I managed to find one Occupational therapist in our area and I plan on calling her on Monday. They have programs for autism-they are just located in places like Seattle,Bremerton, and Spokane has tons of them. Since gas has gone over $3 a gallon, we are not looking to be driving that far. This is where "autism" can take over your life. Finding any therapy that boasts some success.

One of Nick's obsessions that we could live without is opening/closing windows. He will find any way he can to get to one. He is also obsessed with the screen that is on the other side of the window. He was in the playroom on Wed evening playing with the window and screen, and he managed to rip the bottom of the screen out. I pulled into the driveway to find Nick halfway out the window. I yelled "Nick NO!" and he pulled himself up and into the house. He works his way past the locks, and the rubber stopper is no match when he really gets to going.

He ate a Ritz cracker today!!!! I know this is small potatoes to most, but Nick has been on a ban from eating anything solid since the beginning of the year. Not even his beloved goldfish crackers have touched his lips for a couple of months. Today, he ate a handful of Ritz crackers-oh the joy!!

Tonight was a special night for daddy as well. Nick crawled up onto the couch and sat next to daddy. Not only did he sit with him, but he kind of curled himself into daddy's side and watched some TV. Mike was so happy-Nick had also not done this for months, and Mike was more than happy to resume this activity again. He loves it when Nick gets "comfy" on the couch and just for a few minutes seems to be at total peace with himself. He is not twirling,spinning, or doing anything out of the ordinary...he is just a boy relaxing on the couch. Tonight at bathtime, he even managed to put two words together on his very own. They were "Michael No!". He even used them correctly when Michael was trying to put a toy fish where Nick already had one. Nick wanted that fish to be the "only" fish in that spot, so he said "Michael No!" Like I said, this week was full of surprises! I just hope they keep on coming!

Sunday, April 08, 2007

Easter


Viewing the loot from a safe distance.


Slowly inching towards the spread!


Seeing the world from a different view.

Cheeky boy!

Playing with my brother

Autism University

Time for a little fun!! Dealing with autism definitely requires a sense of humor, and I usually find all of Nick's little obsessions and quirks very endearing. After all, his little oddities make him who he is essentially. Some of his quirks I could live without, but some of them I would miss terribly. Here is what his yearbook is like in "Autism University"

President of the twig and straw twirling club yrs 2 & 3

Captain of the Synchronized Spinning club yrs 1,2,&3

Team Captain of the "Happy Feet" dancing team yrs 2&3

elected as the Headbangers Ball King yr 3

President of "Just say NO to tablefood!" yrs 1-3

Team Captain of the OCD Light-switch club(can flick a mean switch in seconds!!)

Honorary Cafeteria chef-can make anything look,taste,and smell like Pink Dora Yogurt!

Record holder of most times repeating a single word: yr 3

Nick's new "hobby"

Happy Easter!!


Hiding!

Nick did fairly well today at the game! He even managed to clap and cheer for Michael after everyone else did! One mom claimed that was the first time she had heard Nick say Michael's name! I told Michael that his brother was cheering for him and he said "I know! I heard him!". AHHHH,a few seconds of normalcy. The rest of the time he was spinning himself,and hiding behind the barriers. Other times he would wave his hand in front of his face,laugh,and blurt out some verbal expression that no one understood. He was a very cuddly bugger today as well. He went up to nearly everyone and "hugged" their legs. He spent a few minutes examining the zipper on one parents jacket,amazed by its long tail hanging from the zipper head. I forget how many times we were asked if we saw Oprah on Thursday. Yes we did. I just wish she had other parents on there rather than the same people who had been on Larry King a couple weeks before. Seeing older kids who still stim like Nick does, just brings it home that Nick might not ever "fit in". It is hard when we go out-he does not vocalize like a normal three year old would. He has his little vocal stims-sometimes he repeats a word over and over again, like "Aya". Sometimes he shouts in jibberish. He ALWAYS takes his shoes off, and he has a new thing now where he places one hand on top of the other and screeches with delight. Mike is getting better at difusing his meltdowns. When Nick starts getting crazy, he offers up a sticker or two. This might be the reason I have found address stickers all over the house lately. Last night though, we were not fast enough, and before we knew it, Nick ran head first into a wall. Nothing like seeing your 3yr old bounce his own head off a wall. It is not something I care to see everyday. Normally, he would gently bang it, now it is all or nothing it seems. And yes, he has bruises now to prove it. I have our new case manager coming out on Tuesday to do another evaluation on him. Hopefully she can offer up some more programs for him. I have a few in mind of my own, such as the Auditory Integration Therapy that I have read about. But,we will see if she has anything she can get us into. I called UW last week, and got an e-mail back from them saying it could be months before Nick gets in. I can't wait months. Anyway, since Nick does not eat any candy(or any other table food for that matter) here is his Easter loot this year:

I am going to give the Fridge phonics a try. And I also bought him some flash cards with animals and textures on them.
Have a great Easter everyone!