The same ammo as every Monday.
Pressure vest? Check
Stroller? Check
Toys, books, wax candy? Check, check and check
Get there by the 11 o'clock appointment time? Why the hell bother but, check.
OT 15 minutes late for the appointment and send someone up to say she had a kid in a meltdown? Uh huh, what is she doing to this kid?
My kid in meltdown mode because his therapist has exhausted his patience? Yep, and he has hit his foot and is escalating to flight mode.
I have my suspicions about OT's being of the late persuasion. His last OT was always late and now this one is. I should just expect it by now but it still irritates me. When he sees her he has already started to recover and grabs her hand. He was delighted that she didn't take him to the same old room but instead to the gym. On the way she apologizes and tells me all the things I should not be hearing about the patient before us.
I get right down to business, I am to report how he did the past week after the listening therapy. "Monday he did a couple of good things and then Wednesday and Thursday were pure hell. I was at a point that he was never going to listen to music again if I had any say over it."
"What happened Wednesday and Thursday?"
"Any type of redirection or reprimand was met with whatever was handy thrown at my head, or things within reach knocked off of cabinets. He would stand there looking straight at me and doing whatever came in to his mind that might make me upset!" I am almost in tears thinking about it.
"So what happened the rest of the week?"
"The rest of the week was filled with REALLY good stuff. More words, more sentences, and he was able to hum to tunes better, where as before he was so offbeat. He told his sister Turn light on. He asked me What are you doing? He has been having some small steps toward potty training. Most importantly at bedtime when he is patting my face and nose, he isn't pinching them off. It's like he is realizing his strength." Once again I am close to tears.
"So do you want to try the therapy again this week? I'll try a different CD this time and maybe that won't cause the problems he had last time." She waits looking at me for an answer while nightmares of Wednesday and Thursday come flashing back in my mind. Then I think of all the good things he accomplished and a wise statement from Mcewen at Whitterer on Autism, there is no such thing as a free lunch.
Showing posts with label progress. Show all posts
Showing posts with label progress. Show all posts
Monday, October 1, 2007
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Just say it, please!
For awhile I thought he had problems with the muscles in his mouth (Apraxia), because sometimes when he opened his mouth to say something his tongue would just dart around everywhere and words would fail to come. Now I believe he can say anything. Sure some of the consonants could use refinement and his grammar isn't the best. He always pronounces cookie as tookie, lion as wion, water as wader, but I look at these as 3 yr old kid pronunciations.
He has short sentences, most scripted but we all have to start somewhere. His conversations have few exchanges but we are seeing more and more back and forth.
He shows his teasing sense of humor at the dinner table while we eat. Putting his knees in his chair he puts the weight of his upper body on his elbows, leans sideways, looks at his Dad and says "I gonna fall!" in the cutest sing-song southern drawl.
"You're not gonna fall if you straighten up in your seat." Dad responds.
"I gonna fall!"
"No you're not, sit down right and eat."
"I gonna fall Daddy!" He screams and laughs. Daddy just can't help but smile because it is too darn cute and he said "Daddy."
I had swore that if he ever said "Mommy" I would probably faint from shock. I used to spend so much time teaching him that word, just to have him stare blankly back at me or say something totally different. He started talking never saying it and then when he did, he was only making noises. He wasn't talking about or to me at all. I was sick of all the evaluators and his OT calling me "Poor thing." when they found out.
One night at dinner we were playing a game of "who is that?". We would point to another person at the table and ask "Connor, who is that?" Finally one night I was blessed and he said "Mommy" and was talking about me! I didn't faint or fall out of my chair but sat there and cried a little, hoping that it wouldn't discourage him from saying it again.
It hadn't discouraged him and we are hearing it more and more. One night last week when it was Daddy's night to tuck him in, he sat up real fast looked around his room and asked "Where Mommy?" I was in the bathroom and heard him. Between you and me, that felt really really good.
He has short sentences, most scripted but we all have to start somewhere. His conversations have few exchanges but we are seeing more and more back and forth.
He shows his teasing sense of humor at the dinner table while we eat. Putting his knees in his chair he puts the weight of his upper body on his elbows, leans sideways, looks at his Dad and says "I gonna fall!" in the cutest sing-song southern drawl.
"You're not gonna fall if you straighten up in your seat." Dad responds.
"I gonna fall!"
"No you're not, sit down right and eat."
"I gonna fall Daddy!" He screams and laughs. Daddy just can't help but smile because it is too darn cute and he said "Daddy."
I had swore that if he ever said "Mommy" I would probably faint from shock. I used to spend so much time teaching him that word, just to have him stare blankly back at me or say something totally different. He started talking never saying it and then when he did, he was only making noises. He wasn't talking about or to me at all. I was sick of all the evaluators and his OT calling me "Poor thing." when they found out.
One night at dinner we were playing a game of "who is that?". We would point to another person at the table and ask "Connor, who is that?" Finally one night I was blessed and he said "Mommy" and was talking about me! I didn't faint or fall out of my chair but sat there and cried a little, hoping that it wouldn't discourage him from saying it again.
It hadn't discouraged him and we are hearing it more and more. One night last week when it was Daddy's night to tuck him in, he sat up real fast looked around his room and asked "Where Mommy?" I was in the bathroom and heard him. Between you and me, that felt really really good.
Monday, September 24, 2007
Occupational Monday
A trip to the Goodwill to drop of a trunk full of old unwanted stuff didn't take as long as planned, so we showed up 10 minutes early for our 11 o'clock appointment. She was 15 late when another OT came out to tell us she was dealing with a meltdown and would be out as soon as she possibly could. "OK, no problem." I say with a smile.
With the same techniques as last week, using the stroller and superman vest, I added a few picture books and wax candy. We were good to wait for awhile yet with no tantrums. She arrived a few minutes later and when Connor sees her he starts to unbuckle himself and I take off his vest. He follows her through the halls bouncing and humming.
I have no idea what she was planning to do with us today, but I told her I would like for her to model joint compressions for me again. Connor had been adversive to it the last week when I get to his hands. I also let her know we were interested in trying the listening program. She had told me that they didn't move forward to the listening program until a good sensory diet is in place.
So when she runs off to get the CD player and headphones, it occurs to my that she must be under the mistaken idea that I have a clue of what I am doing. For those who wonder what listening therapy is, well I have a hard time explaining it but the link is here.
He was hesitant to wear the earphones at first but soon he was zooming around wearing them with no problems. She told me to watch him to see if there were any positive or negative effects. Apparently sometimes good things happen immediately and sometimes it takes a few tries.
When we get home he ate a peanut butter sandwich. He didn't tear it apart and play in it as usual, he ate it. When we went to my niece's volleyball game tonight he stayed in his stroller watching contently for the most part. The loud noises and lights did eventually get to him, but it was much better than usual.
No he didn't walk up to me and say "I need to go potty." or get himself dressed, or sit with me on the bleachers at the game like other children his age. Nor am I sure that it was the listening therapy that caused the good eating and temporary calmness. He could have been starving. He could have been just tired or very interested in the game.
At the end of the day however, progress is progress, and I will take whatever progress that comes our way as a huge blessing.
With the same techniques as last week, using the stroller and superman vest, I added a few picture books and wax candy. We were good to wait for awhile yet with no tantrums. She arrived a few minutes later and when Connor sees her he starts to unbuckle himself and I take off his vest. He follows her through the halls bouncing and humming.
I have no idea what she was planning to do with us today, but I told her I would like for her to model joint compressions for me again. Connor had been adversive to it the last week when I get to his hands. I also let her know we were interested in trying the listening program. She had told me that they didn't move forward to the listening program until a good sensory diet is in place.
So when she runs off to get the CD player and headphones, it occurs to my that she must be under the mistaken idea that I have a clue of what I am doing. For those who wonder what listening therapy is, well I have a hard time explaining it but the link is here.
He was hesitant to wear the earphones at first but soon he was zooming around wearing them with no problems. She told me to watch him to see if there were any positive or negative effects. Apparently sometimes good things happen immediately and sometimes it takes a few tries.
When we get home he ate a peanut butter sandwich. He didn't tear it apart and play in it as usual, he ate it. When we went to my niece's volleyball game tonight he stayed in his stroller watching contently for the most part. The loud noises and lights did eventually get to him, but it was much better than usual.
No he didn't walk up to me and say "I need to go potty." or get himself dressed, or sit with me on the bleachers at the game like other children his age. Nor am I sure that it was the listening therapy that caused the good eating and temporary calmness. He could have been starving. He could have been just tired or very interested in the game.
At the end of the day however, progress is progress, and I will take whatever progress that comes our way as a huge blessing.
Thursday, August 2, 2007
To Be or Not to Be, and Other Questions
Little man has been without "Official" treatment from a therapist most of the summer months. Having turned 3 in May, he was ceremoniously release from the early development program of the state and we had been on waiting list for a couple of different centers or therapist that our insurance will pay for while I do floor time, speech, and occupational therapies on my own.
Hubby has been trying to keep up to date on everything going on but has a more than full time job. It is there for that sometimes he can blow things out of the water without even a second thought. He is has had to take off early so that we can take Connor to evaluations for OT (we finally came to the top of the list) since I wrecked my van in Jun, and everyone in the known world is on turtle mode so I have yet to get another form of transportation. He decides he can take him to the eval and first treatment himself so I can get a break. My break is there for filled with telephone calls from hubby to get more information that is requested from him.
As early as last December Connor had very few words, very nonexistent eye contact, and rarely responded to his name. He didn't pretend play or even parallel play with other children. All of this was true in Jan when he was diagnosed. He has made remarkable progress since then and is very chatty, responds 75% of the time to his name, seeks attention, has a few 3 or more word sentences, sings songs, and the list goes on and on. He isn't anywhere near up to par with his NT peers of the same age but still it's gives us alot of hope that communication at least will improve to a point that we can have a back and forth conversation with more than 2 exchanges.
So when hubby came home from the first appointment with OT he had loads to tell me as most of the treatment session was another Q and A with the new therapist. First was that Connor remembered which rooms had the toys and wanted to go there so was a tad fussy at the beginning. Cool!
Second was the therapist said he was not as profoundly autistic as the rest of the patients. Great, but seems like a weird comment. Maybe it's just me.
Third, she says that if he continues to progress he could lose the diagnosis of autism in lieu of ADHD in a few years time. WTF?!
I instantly had visions in my head of the woman in the garage being told she needs a new engine when she came in for an oil change, or the Mother who pays loads of cash to the coach that insists her kid could be in the Olympics, or peddlers of snake oil to cure any and everything. I am fuming at this point, how dare she tell this gullible man, who only wants the best possible for his son, that in a few years time he may not be autistic!
I want to call her and talk to her about this. I want her to tell me her qualifications and motivations to make such a statement. How long has she been a therapist? How many autistic children has she treated and how many children has she actually seen this happen too?
Then the thought occurs to me that I know nothing at all about ADHD or how serious it can be. It just seems that short of life threatening diseases and more cognitively depriving conditions, almost anything is better than autism.
Hubby has been trying to keep up to date on everything going on but has a more than full time job. It is there for that sometimes he can blow things out of the water without even a second thought. He is has had to take off early so that we can take Connor to evaluations for OT (we finally came to the top of the list) since I wrecked my van in Jun, and everyone in the known world is on turtle mode so I have yet to get another form of transportation. He decides he can take him to the eval and first treatment himself so I can get a break. My break is there for filled with telephone calls from hubby to get more information that is requested from him.
As early as last December Connor had very few words, very nonexistent eye contact, and rarely responded to his name. He didn't pretend play or even parallel play with other children. All of this was true in Jan when he was diagnosed. He has made remarkable progress since then and is very chatty, responds 75% of the time to his name, seeks attention, has a few 3 or more word sentences, sings songs, and the list goes on and on. He isn't anywhere near up to par with his NT peers of the same age but still it's gives us alot of hope that communication at least will improve to a point that we can have a back and forth conversation with more than 2 exchanges.
So when hubby came home from the first appointment with OT he had loads to tell me as most of the treatment session was another Q and A with the new therapist. First was that Connor remembered which rooms had the toys and wanted to go there so was a tad fussy at the beginning. Cool!
Second was the therapist said he was not as profoundly autistic as the rest of the patients. Great, but seems like a weird comment. Maybe it's just me.
Third, she says that if he continues to progress he could lose the diagnosis of autism in lieu of ADHD in a few years time. WTF?!
I instantly had visions in my head of the woman in the garage being told she needs a new engine when she came in for an oil change, or the Mother who pays loads of cash to the coach that insists her kid could be in the Olympics, or peddlers of snake oil to cure any and everything. I am fuming at this point, how dare she tell this gullible man, who only wants the best possible for his son, that in a few years time he may not be autistic!
I want to call her and talk to her about this. I want her to tell me her qualifications and motivations to make such a statement. How long has she been a therapist? How many autistic children has she treated and how many children has she actually seen this happen too?
Then the thought occurs to me that I know nothing at all about ADHD or how serious it can be. It just seems that short of life threatening diseases and more cognitively depriving conditions, almost anything is better than autism.
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Just a short 15 years ago to the day I was in a terrible state. Frantically running this way and that making sure everything and everyone were in place and looking perfect, and then it started to rain and not just any rain but a downpour complete with thunder and lightning. Stupid weather men/women had been telling me for a week that this would not happen!
I thought is was aweful luck at the time, but my outdoor wedding was moved last minute to the hotel that my Aunt owned a florist in. Everything else went off without a hitch except for the fact that I forgot my shoes and jewelry in the move from one venue to the other, and my groom was 15 mins late for his own wedding. My Aunt let me borrow her shoes before going down the aisle to save me from the dreaded barefoot and pregnant aisle march (Yes pregnant).
Today while we should have plans to go out together and celebrate, we are instead just exchanging gifts and having a quiet (fingers crossed) dinner at home. Allergies and sinus infections doesn't allow much else for me.
I have spent the last 2 days with medicine head from the sudafed and trying to stop the deluge of produce and crackers my little guy keeps trying to take from the kitchen to my room. I think maybe we should buy each other a super wear free sheet set for the bed that can stand to be washed once or twice a day everyday.
While I haven't done a lot of floortime in the last couple of days because of feeling crummy I did take the opportunity to test him on his favorite new word ("No" with head shake) when asked for a popsicle from the freezer.
He asked for "Yewo posicle"
"Yellow, popsicle?"
He stares at me and smiles.
I show him a red one, "Red, popsicle?"
"NO"
I show him a green one, "Green popsicle?"
"NO"
"Blue popsicle?"
"NO"
He withstood 3 more colors and responded "NO" without any meltdowns and when I showed him the yellow popsicle he shook his head "Yes" !! So even tho I am not on my "A" game of administering treatments he is still showing me progress. He never stops amazing me.
Now if we could just get his older sister to say "No" when he gives her the puppy dog eyes, rubs his chest (sign language) and says "Pwease".
I thought is was aweful luck at the time, but my outdoor wedding was moved last minute to the hotel that my Aunt owned a florist in. Everything else went off without a hitch except for the fact that I forgot my shoes and jewelry in the move from one venue to the other, and my groom was 15 mins late for his own wedding. My Aunt let me borrow her shoes before going down the aisle to save me from the dreaded barefoot and pregnant aisle march (Yes pregnant).
Today while we should have plans to go out together and celebrate, we are instead just exchanging gifts and having a quiet (fingers crossed) dinner at home. Allergies and sinus infections doesn't allow much else for me.
I have spent the last 2 days with medicine head from the sudafed and trying to stop the deluge of produce and crackers my little guy keeps trying to take from the kitchen to my room. I think maybe we should buy each other a super wear free sheet set for the bed that can stand to be washed once or twice a day everyday.
While I haven't done a lot of floortime in the last couple of days because of feeling crummy I did take the opportunity to test him on his favorite new word ("No" with head shake) when asked for a popsicle from the freezer.
He asked for "Yewo posicle"
"Yellow, popsicle?"
He stares at me and smiles.
I show him a red one, "Red, popsicle?"
"NO"
I show him a green one, "Green popsicle?"
"NO"
"Blue popsicle?"
"NO"
He withstood 3 more colors and responded "NO" without any meltdowns and when I showed him the yellow popsicle he shook his head "Yes" !! So even tho I am not on my "A" game of administering treatments he is still showing me progress. He never stops amazing me.
Now if we could just get his older sister to say "No" when he gives her the puppy dog eyes, rubs his chest (sign language) and says "Pwease".
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