What a revelation!

Whether you have a special need child or not, parents tend to do more than they should for their children. We fail to realise that our children have been observing us and can actually do many things if we just let them and not intervening so often because we are afraid of the mess they make. 

Because of the fear of cleaning up mess, it would be easier and quicker to just do it for them. Hence, children learn early in life that .... "Hey, why bother when you have someone doing it for you?" and the "I can't" comes into the equation when you ask them to do it themselves.

Alex can do many things for different people and he won't show his cards all at once. He led me to believe that he can't do many things when he can do them with his therapist or his teachers at school.

We had breakfast this morning and I asked Alex to pour milk into his cereal. Without thinking twice, he grab the carton and then unscrew the cap .... a **PINK** in his brain suddenly remind him that mummy is watching and he said "I can't ..." with a whinny voice. If I had turned my back and not watching, he would have poured the milk and replace the cap. I told him, "you can do it, just try" he then confidently pour the milk into the bowl beautifully.

I am so proud of him.

Alex needs constant reassurance (not in a bad way) when an adult is present. Even though he knows he is allowed to do it because he has done so many times, he still need approval. Is this part of autism? 

I am very lucky with Alex because he has no tantrums compared to my friends' Autistic children. And when I take him out, many people commented on how well behaved Alex was. 

Could it be because he is my only child and I can afford to pour all my attention on him and meet his every needs that he is so contented and see no reason to seek attention?

What a change!

Alex has been progressing so much that I find it hard to catch up and update my blog.

He is coming on so fast that even his teachers in Rainbow loves writing about him in their daily report. I can't wait to read them everyday and if he does not bring his report home, I get a bit disappointed. 

Here's what they say:

On a post-it note on top of his daily report 11.05.09 " Alex made the letter H all by himself saying 'big line' and 'little line' we were really pleased with him!" 

and on another note of the same day "He also said 'when the timer's finished it's carpet time' He's coming on so fast!"

Here's what's written in his daily report from 11.05.09 till 22.05.09

Monday 11.05.09 ~ Alex joined in well in PE. Needed support to curl up in a ball. We played birthday party role play - Alex was really good at picking the 'birthday girl or boy' and singing with them.

Tuesday 12.05.09 ~ Alex did cooking today. We made lemon cakes and Alex enjoyed eating his. Unfortunately, he squashed his ones to take home! We went shopping for ingredients first and there was lots of language again.

Wednesday 13.05.09 ~ We made L, E, F and H in handwriting without tears and Alex used the magnetic boards and the wooden lines. He played with 3 children from nursery. (I have no idea why they said 'without tear'. Was Alex ever unhappy doing things at school?)

Thursday 14.05.09 ~ Alex was introduced to the letter 'T' using the lines and magnetic boards. Alex practiced his handwriting. He chose to use the Doctor Set. Alex has done lots of talking.

 

Friday 15.05.09 ~ Alex has done lots of talking. He shared a picture ORT story - he retold the story and showed lots of humour. Alex printed 2 colour repeating pattern. Alex is almost secure with the early ORT words.

(ORT is Oxford Reading Tree. These books have no words but a few familiar characters in different scenarios. It is up to the children to make a story from what they see in the book)

Monday 18.05.09 ~ Alex is recognising lots of letters. Today, we looked at I, T, E, F, H and L. We made playdoh letters. Alex had PE with nursery and played in the nursery garden.

Tuesday 19.05.09 ~ Alex recognised again the letters I, T, E, F, H and L. We made collage letter for a display board. He played in the water with Celestine and Kyle. Done some singing in a small group with positional language. Played on bike and had a turn taking game. Alex is pedalling his trike very well.

Wednesday 20.05.09 ~ Alex drew a house using shapes, he had a go at a writing pattern but found it difficult. Alex has been pedalling the trike again today and commenting on everything.

Thursday 21.05.09 ~ Alex has had a chatty morning. He joined in social skills with good listening. Alex drew round his hands using the focus words up and down. Alex said a 5 word sentence! A good morning.

Friday 22.05.09 ~ Alex went to watch the main school assembly and sat beautifully. We went to The Oaks cooking, we made fruit salad. Then had a picnic in the garden. Alex ate lots! He shared an ORT reading book. Enjoy the half-term.

Alex is talking using 5 word sentence and that is wonderful. I never thought this day would come so soon. It's such a positive report and I am so glad that his teachers adore him but I am also sad that he will soon leave them and start at a new school. I hope his teacher at the new school will also love him as much as his teachers here.

Here's another report from his IEP (Individual Education Program) dated 19.05.09

1. Target: To pick out his name card from a choice of 4

    Success: Alex can pick out his name from a choice of 4 with no adult help.

2. Target: Alex can make the initial sound /f/.

     Success: Alex will make the sound /f/.

3. Target: To make a contrasting group of '1' and 'lots'

    Success: Alex can put 1 or 'lots' into a hoop

4. Target: To count 3 objects reliably

    Success: Alex can count up to 3 objects correctly.

Wow! I am really happy with what my little monkey can do. I know he is still way behind if he is compared to his neuro typical peers but he is getting there slowly. I am happy as long as he is happy and will not force him to do what he cannot. I will concentrate on what he can do and not criticize what he cannot.

I am not sure if all these talking and progress has anything to do with his OD (overdose) on fish oil capsules 3 weeks ago.

We normally give Alex 2 Haliborange Omega 3 fish oil capsules daily and he loves them. One morning, we found Alex smelt of orange and a nearly empty bottle. There were only 2 left and I was sure there was more. Since then, he hasn't stopped talking and singing. I don't know how many he took but I suspect more than 5 or even 10.

I don't know what to think but I am not complaining!

Addington School, here we come!

After months of waiting, the news finally came.

Alex has been offered a place at Addington School in Berkshire for September 09. The school specialise in Music and ICT. We are still waiting for the official papers but I thought I'll share this news with everyone.

We decided to go for Addington instead of Meath because circumstances changed. Alex's SALT, Becca made enquiries on our behalf and is satisfied with the support they can provide Alex. 

We had a good feeling about the school when we first visited them last year but decided it was our second choice when we were told that the Speech Therapist will only see Alex once every week for 30 minutes. 

After our meeting on Tuesday with Nancy and Becca at Rainbow, we decided to make Addington our first choice school ... provided that they can meet his needs. We all agreed that it's the best place for Alex because of his love for music.

I am glad that the wait is over and we can all move on with our lives. I can't wait for September to come and my baby could start school for real.

Thank you for all the support from my family and friends. I love you all :-) xxx

"Bee Go Away"

It was a long wait, it came and still a long way to go.

"A bee, a bee ..... Bee Go Away" 

Alex, our chatterbox cannot stop talking. I am not complaining, trust me ..... His speech is coming along, and for what seemed like eternity, I can finally have a decent conversation with my son. Far from perfect I know, but he is trying his best. It's still not very clear but I try to understand and repeat what he meant to say - he tries his best to correct them when possible. 

I am so proud of him and no word can describe how I feel. I have never doubted this day will come and by believing .... when it finally came, it sounded better than I imagined.

All these started when he turned five, a little at a time and then nothing much happened. Suddenly, everything came along just over a month ago. His vocabulary grew, he comment on everything he sees. He is more confident and most of all, he is so proud of himself.

To all the parents with children diagnosed with Apraxia of Speech, don't give up, believe that this day will come. No one can tell you when but when it does happen, it's the best feeling in the world.

It's not hayfever after all!

Three weeks ago, Alex started sniffling loudly in the early hours of the morning. He had nose block and unable to breathe through his nose. No temperature and it only happens when the temperature changes in the morning.

I was sure it was hay fever as I recalled the same thing happened around the same time last year and a few dose of Piriton worked for him. This time, it didn't work.

We went to the GP for advise and she thinks it's hay fever as well and prescribed Cetirizine Hydrochloride. The first night was fine and he slept through. The following three nights, the sniffling came back and there's nothing I can do for him. It stinks when I cannot do anything to help make things better. By now, I needed some good nights of uninterrupted sleep.

I made another appointment for Alex to see a different GP this time and asked for a different anti-histamine as Cetirizine doesn't work for me either. I tried everything and only Desloratadine works for me. I asked the same for Alex and perhaps he would respond to this. The GP thought the same. I also asked my friend Tammy, a GP in another county for advise and she told me to try the anti-histamine for a week before I change again. For the next 7 nights, the same happened. I tried going to bed earlier to get some sleep but it's worst as I kept waking to look at the clock. And then, the sniffling begins and it's time to wake up. I was totally knackered by now.

I rang the GP the next morning to ask for a different anti-histamine and after looking at Alex's record, he prescribed Levocetirizine dihydrochloride. According to Tammy, Desloratadine and Levocetirizine are the most expensive anti-histamine and are not prescribe lightly by GP.

We tried this new drug for two days and it didn't work and I called Tammy again and she asked me to give him Calpol (paracetamol) and levocetirizine only at night to see if it works better. True enough, the sniffling went and two days later, Alex had his cough and fever. 

He is now all better minus the sniffling at night. I had a few good night sleep and am happy again.

It's hard to help him when he is in his stubborn mode, he refused to blow his nose and kept saying "I can't blow". All he wanted was a hug and me, by his side. And when he started to cough, I asked him to cover his mouth when he coughs and again he said "I can't cowber". 

Lack of sleep (mother) + a stubborn child = a stern warning voice and he got the message.

Alex covers his mouth every time he coughs and I believe that the stern warning voice made him realised that nicey nicey mummy meant business when she is lack of sleep.