Friends, I'm closing shop on this blog and moving over to Cecily. Mostly.
You'll find all the entries and new ones in a blog called Autism. Mostly. on the site.
Thanks for following the adventures of Bright Eyes. He starts school tomorrow (aaggh!), so I'll be keeping interested readers posted on the new site.
Ciao!
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Thursday, June 11, 2009
The new place
We are settled into our new place, and Bright Eyes loves it. In fact, he has had a remarkable transition. He was so well prepared for moving here that it hardly even registered as a blip. He hasn't asked to go home once. Even sharing a room (albeit with a partition) with his brother has been nothing like the trauma I thought it might be. I am extremely thankful.
I have had the privilege of spending the last two days with him alone while the other kids went to school and preschool and we did a whole lot of RDI - probably the best we've ever done. It was great to have nothing else to do, and plenty of time to wait for him to participate.
The next BIG thing is school next week. He's going three days, for two hours each day. I'm nervous. My daughter is also nervous of how he'll be received. I'm hopeful it will be a positive experience for him. I'd appreciate any prayers you want to offer up for him...
I have had the privilege of spending the last two days with him alone while the other kids went to school and preschool and we did a whole lot of RDI - probably the best we've ever done. It was great to have nothing else to do, and plenty of time to wait for him to participate.
The next BIG thing is school next week. He's going three days, for two hours each day. I'm nervous. My daughter is also nervous of how he'll be received. I'm hopeful it will be a positive experience for him. I'd appreciate any prayers you want to offer up for him...
Monday, May 11, 2009
Love it love it love it
I wrote in this post about how I thought brain gym was really helping Bright Eyes.
I still think it is, but I got into 'trouble' (not really) from my consultant who said I am selling myself short and really I got him to the place where he was able to even cope with going into the brain gym room.
Yeah, alright, I'll take some credit. Hubby and I have both worked really hard with him for two years. But it wouldn't have been possible without the wonderful RDI program, and without our wonderful consultant. This truly is an amazing program and our consultant has become more than a professional - she's a friend now.
So yeah, if you're wondering if RDI will 'work', it will. What did that old ad say? "It won't heppen overnight but it will heppen."
I still think it is, but I got into 'trouble' (not really) from my consultant who said I am selling myself short and really I got him to the place where he was able to even cope with going into the brain gym room.
Yeah, alright, I'll take some credit. Hubby and I have both worked really hard with him for two years. But it wouldn't have been possible without the wonderful RDI program, and without our wonderful consultant. This truly is an amazing program and our consultant has become more than a professional - she's a friend now.
So yeah, if you're wondering if RDI will 'work', it will. What did that old ad say? "It won't heppen overnight but it will heppen."
Stage 5 here we come
I haven't written here for about a month. So much has happened.
Firstly, our funding appears to be secure until he is seven, thanks to our consultant and her clever reading of the appropriate documents. Yay and thanks.
Secondly, he has completed Stage 4 of RDI. Probably that means the most to me - I like ticking things off lists, and getting to a whole new stage makes me feel happy. We had a look at the 20 'Foundations' of Stage 5 today and we're confident he has those except for two, so that's good too. Once we've moved and settled in, we'll start working on the next objectives.
Thirdly... he's going to start school in Kangaroo Valley when we get there. I had a great meeting with the principal, kindergarten teacher and our lovely preschool teacher who drove all the way down for it, and everything went as well as it could possibly go. The principal listened, asked good questions and then asked me, "so, what do you want him to do?"
My answer was: "go to school part time three days a week please." And the answer was "Yes."
Bright Eyes was funny at the school. We bought the uniform and he wanted to put it on straight away. Then he wanted to go out and start that day. He was really disappointed when I said he was starting on another day!
How do I feel? Pleased, and terrified at the same time. My beautiful daughter came to me in tears and said, "Mum, what if there's a bully at the school and they pick on him?" I assured her that if anything of the sort happened, I would be in there like a flash and would do everything possible to protect him. In the end, her fear is my fear too.
Anecdote: These days whenever we go out shopping, Bright Eyes has no qualms about talking to the checkout ladies like this. "Hello, it's Bright Eyes here. I am number 5. I go to big school in Kangaroo Vaaaa-lley." (I'm trying to teach him to say "I'm 5 years old.")
Resource: There's a new book out about RDI entitled (appropriately enough) The RDI Book by Dr S Gutstein. I have two copies. If you're desperate to read one, let me know!
Firstly, our funding appears to be secure until he is seven, thanks to our consultant and her clever reading of the appropriate documents. Yay and thanks.
Secondly, he has completed Stage 4 of RDI. Probably that means the most to me - I like ticking things off lists, and getting to a whole new stage makes me feel happy. We had a look at the 20 'Foundations' of Stage 5 today and we're confident he has those except for two, so that's good too. Once we've moved and settled in, we'll start working on the next objectives.
Thirdly... he's going to start school in Kangaroo Valley when we get there. I had a great meeting with the principal, kindergarten teacher and our lovely preschool teacher who drove all the way down for it, and everything went as well as it could possibly go. The principal listened, asked good questions and then asked me, "so, what do you want him to do?"
My answer was: "go to school part time three days a week please." And the answer was "Yes."
Bright Eyes was funny at the school. We bought the uniform and he wanted to put it on straight away. Then he wanted to go out and start that day. He was really disappointed when I said he was starting on another day!
How do I feel? Pleased, and terrified at the same time. My beautiful daughter came to me in tears and said, "Mum, what if there's a bully at the school and they pick on him?" I assured her that if anything of the sort happened, I would be in there like a flash and would do everything possible to protect him. In the end, her fear is my fear too.
Anecdote: These days whenever we go out shopping, Bright Eyes has no qualms about talking to the checkout ladies like this. "Hello, it's Bright Eyes here. I am number 5. I go to big school in Kangaroo Vaaaa-lley." (I'm trying to teach him to say "I'm 5 years old.")
Resource: There's a new book out about RDI entitled (appropriately enough) The RDI Book by Dr S Gutstein. I have two copies. If you're desperate to read one, let me know!
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
New gloves and other things
Right now Bright Eyes is wearing a pair of fingerless gloves that he has had on the last three days - ever since I brought them home for him. It seems that clothes hold no more fears for him. What a blessing.
Unfortunately, crowds and large playgrounds and exhibits still hold many fears for him. Or rather not fears, but over stimulation and build up of aggression. We spent the day in Darling Harbour and it got pretty hairy trying to get him out of the playground. He was bossy, aggro, stiff and tense, and generally hard to handle. I was glad to have my mum there to supervise the other children while I focused on him. I'm glad to be moving to a small village where there is not much to do or look at!
Big news is that he will be starting school probably part time when we move. I am finally at the point where I think he will cope with a bit of school and I don't shudder to send him. He's fairly excited about it and tells anyone who'll listen, "I go to big school in Kangaroo Vaaaalley". Of course, he hasn't actually started to go yet... there's a big difference between anticipation and reality.
If you are of the praying persuasion, I'd appreciate some prayer about his government funding for RDI once he turns 6 in August. I need to apply for special consideration for it to continue an extra year. Otherwise we'll be back to paying it out of our own pockets.
Unfortunately, crowds and large playgrounds and exhibits still hold many fears for him. Or rather not fears, but over stimulation and build up of aggression. We spent the day in Darling Harbour and it got pretty hairy trying to get him out of the playground. He was bossy, aggro, stiff and tense, and generally hard to handle. I was glad to have my mum there to supervise the other children while I focused on him. I'm glad to be moving to a small village where there is not much to do or look at!
Big news is that he will be starting school probably part time when we move. I am finally at the point where I think he will cope with a bit of school and I don't shudder to send him. He's fairly excited about it and tells anyone who'll listen, "I go to big school in Kangaroo Vaaaalley". Of course, he hasn't actually started to go yet... there's a big difference between anticipation and reality.
If you are of the praying persuasion, I'd appreciate some prayer about his government funding for RDI once he turns 6 in August. I need to apply for special consideration for it to continue an extra year. Otherwise we'll be back to paying it out of our own pockets.
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Brand new boy
"Campbell has new shoes. Campbell is a brand new boy. James is a brand new boy too. James has new shoes too. Campbell goes really faster. James goes faster too. Campbell has a new big striped shirt."
This is what Bright Eyes is telling me to write as he stands here looking over my shoulder, reading everything I am putting down.
He really is a 'brand new boy' this week. He is wearing new jeans and new shirts and I managed to convince him that he would go faster if he had fast shoes. After two and a half years wearing crocs, day in and day out, he is finally in joggers! This is a red letter day!
Why all the improvement? I really think brain gym has had a lot to do with it. A lot of gains have been made in the six weeks since we started doing such simple things as hand rubs and muscle stretches. The body is really complex.
I'm feeling so optimistic right now that I'm even going to negotiate with the principal of the school in the new town we're moving to in five weeks time to see if he can attend part time, maybe a couple of mornings a week. This is the FIRST time ever I have felt that he might be able to cope.
Yesterday was beautiful too. We dropped into our daughter's youth group for a parents' evening. A 5 year old boy Bright Eyes knew slightly was also there. They spent an hour actually playing - simple stuff like 'tip' and pulling and pushing a heavy box but... they were really relating. I am a happy mummy.
Challenges will come as we move, however, so I'll keep you posted.
This is what Bright Eyes is telling me to write as he stands here looking over my shoulder, reading everything I am putting down.
He really is a 'brand new boy' this week. He is wearing new jeans and new shirts and I managed to convince him that he would go faster if he had fast shoes. After two and a half years wearing crocs, day in and day out, he is finally in joggers! This is a red letter day!
Why all the improvement? I really think brain gym has had a lot to do with it. A lot of gains have been made in the six weeks since we started doing such simple things as hand rubs and muscle stretches. The body is really complex.
I'm feeling so optimistic right now that I'm even going to negotiate with the principal of the school in the new town we're moving to in five weeks time to see if he can attend part time, maybe a couple of mornings a week. This is the FIRST time ever I have felt that he might be able to cope.
Yesterday was beautiful too. We dropped into our daughter's youth group for a parents' evening. A 5 year old boy Bright Eyes knew slightly was also there. They spent an hour actually playing - simple stuff like 'tip' and pulling and pushing a heavy box but... they were really relating. I am a happy mummy.
Challenges will come as we move, however, so I'll keep you posted.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Brain gym and empathy
Bright Eyes has begun a thing called Brain Gym which is kinesiology or something like this. Personally, I'm not completely up on how it works - only that the muscles of your body connect to your brain, and somehow by working specific muscles in particular exercises you can help your brain make connections which will help you.
That's all fine and dandy, but the thing I really want to share with you is that Bright Eyes has progressed in 3 sessions from not wanting to go in, not talking to the lady, not doing anything she asks, and not even letting her come near him, to being able to hop up on the table, let her touch him and follow her instructions such as 'push your feet', 'pull your toes', 'breathe in and bring your head up', 'no, not so much, just a little bit' etc.
It was amazing to watch him cooperate with her and even enjoy her company this week. I'm delighted.
His little friendship at preschool has continued. This morning when I arrived his buddy said, "Oh, you brought your Thomas again. I asked my mum for a Thomas and she said No no no. That's not fair." Bright Eyes agreed. "No, that's not fair."
That's all fine and dandy, but the thing I really want to share with you is that Bright Eyes has progressed in 3 sessions from not wanting to go in, not talking to the lady, not doing anything she asks, and not even letting her come near him, to being able to hop up on the table, let her touch him and follow her instructions such as 'push your feet', 'pull your toes', 'breathe in and bring your head up', 'no, not so much, just a little bit' etc.
It was amazing to watch him cooperate with her and even enjoy her company this week. I'm delighted.
His little friendship at preschool has continued. This morning when I arrived his buddy said, "Oh, you brought your Thomas again. I asked my mum for a Thomas and she said No no no. That's not fair." Bright Eyes agreed. "No, that's not fair."
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