so i just share this cute pic from last winter
Sunday, June 8, 2014
small victories
My son's most excellent preschool was getting prepared for the upcoming summer camp session. staffing ratios go way down in the summer. They were concerned that with G's wandering, and his occasional not-so-nice-hands social interactions, that there was no way they could keep him safe, as well as keep the other kids safe. They offered the suggestion of us getting him an aide for the summer.
I consulted some of G's most excellent healthcare providers. His psychologist is one of the very best in the United States, Dr. Bass. I figured there might be some grad students interested in some one on one ABA experience for the summer. However, my budget is already stretched, and no way could G's dad pay for an aide AND school tuition. (We agreed that in lieu of me getting traditional child support when I filed - yes this time I filed, that P would just pay tuition and what the county recommended beyond that -which wasn't much.)
I consulted some of G's most excellent healthcare providers. His psychologist is one of the very best in the United States, Dr. Bass. I figured there might be some grad students interested in some one on one ABA experience for the summer. However, my budget is already stretched, and no way could G's dad pay for an aide AND school tuition. (We agreed that in lieu of me getting traditional child support when I filed - yes this time I filed, that P would just pay tuition and what the county recommended beyond that -which wasn't much.)
June came, and we had to withdraw G from school. Luckily for us, P has really nice parents and they've never really got a chance to spend the kind of time with G that G's cousins have had. P's parents own his condo so they are staying there for a while as they visit from Florida. They have kindly offered to stay with G during the day while P and I work. It is such a blessing!
I love that G gets to know his paternal grandma and grandpa, AND Oma, his grandma's mom. She is tiny and speaks Dutch, as she is from Indonesia (she's a dutch indonesian) and G thinks this is awesome. G tries to imitate what his Grandma and Oma say to each other. So cute. I like that he's being exposed to dutch. I am a huge fan of exposing your children to multiple languages if you can. I wonder how the autistic brain processes this because of how much trouble we had just getting G to speak english!
Way before P and I were married or even thought of having kids, I knew that if I ever had a child, I was going to speak some Welsh to him or her. Wales has a great program called TWF that I ordered some materials from. I think they are in P's garage somewhere hopefully. I don't speak much welsh to G because of the focus of spanish in school, but I do sing in French to him. Savez-vous planter des choux? A la mode, a la mode?
Way before P and I were married or even thought of having kids, I knew that if I ever had a child, I was going to speak some Welsh to him or her. Wales has a great program called TWF that I ordered some materials from. I think they are in P's garage somewhere hopefully. I don't speak much welsh to G because of the focus of spanish in school, but I do sing in French to him. Savez-vous planter des choux? A la mode, a la mode?
Well, work is pretty flexible thank heavens, and I do get to work from home in a few weeks, so I am really excited. The timing could not be better...G starts his special autism scholarship program in July which will focus on behavior mostly and I am a-ok with that. I have to be able to take him to and from during the day though.
Academically, he is very advanced. He reads, he types, and he spells. He is right next to me at the moment watching you tube videos ( I have to supervise - he types 'surprise eggs' but that isn't always the only thing that comes up - omg parenting in the 2010's!)
He's had so much progress in speech lately that I wonder what his speech therapist is going to say when she sees him this summer. He also has some lower extremity weakness and core instability per his PT eval, so I know that I will get him re-evaluated this summer to make sure we have made some progress. They told me yoga is helpful, and G does like his simple yoga poses! (so does mommy!) OT victories include no-struggle teeth brushing and flossing, dipping foods, and trying some new foods, too! He also has had two no-cry haircuts!!!
Academically, he is very advanced. He reads, he types, and he spells. He is right next to me at the moment watching you tube videos ( I have to supervise - he types 'surprise eggs' but that isn't always the only thing that comes up - omg parenting in the 2010's!)
He's had so much progress in speech lately that I wonder what his speech therapist is going to say when she sees him this summer. He also has some lower extremity weakness and core instability per his PT eval, so I know that I will get him re-evaluated this summer to make sure we have made some progress. They told me yoga is helpful, and G does like his simple yoga poses! (so does mommy!) OT victories include no-struggle teeth brushing and flossing, dipping foods, and trying some new foods, too! He also has had two no-cry haircuts!!!
Now that I will be getting regular child support in July, I can be more adventurous with groceries and try even more foods with G. I sold my acoustic bass (omg - that was hard for me) and I bought a kitchen-aid mixer so I can make him more baked goods at home. I made his birthday cake. Fondant is not as easy to use as they make it look on TV!!! My next project tonight will be vanilla muffins.
On Thursday this week, on my way home from work to pick him up from his dad's and give Grandma a break, I was in a car accident. One that was my fault I suppose, because I knew the folks in front of me were dealing with some idiot in front of them repeatedly brake slamming, People were coming up behind me fast and getting too close. I got nervous and I wanted to get over. I saw a chance, and I took it, but again, the fellow in front of me had to slam his brakes again because of the people in front of him. Boom. I hit his bumper with my right headlights. Ironically, traffic starting moving. We were able to get over and he was fine, his bumper was loose, and my car was smashed in the front right side so badly, that I knew if didn't get home soon, I'd have to call a tow truck. It drove, but I probably should not have driven it. The thing that I think about the most is, I am so glad G was not with me. It was on 71, during rush hour. If he had climbed out of his seat and got out of the car, OMG. I don't even like to think about it. Feeling so grateful he was safe. I hope to get my car back soon. It's waiting for the adjuster at the shop. I've been driving for 20 years, I've driven in Canada, USA, from Boston to Florida, from Cleveland to Chicago, from Cleveland to Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Wash DC. I survived Atlanta traffic every day for 2 years, and Cincinnati is the city that finally gets me. Ugh.
I will not complain. I am alive. My son is safe.
I just need some boring for a while.
Last week I was still battling my bronchitis (i still have a cough), I got divorced, and in my first auto accident.
Ready for boring!!!!
So, yesterday G and I went to the pool. We had a very nice time. When we got home, I saw that he needed to pee. We ran to the potty. I sat him on the potty. He wasn't sure if he could do it. I told him that Tony Stark (Iron Man) can pee on the potty, too! He took the cue, finally, and HURRAH! Victory.
I made a huge fuss. He acted like it was nothing. I gave him a small prize and a cupcake.
This morning he told me that he already peed on the potty (so we had a full pull up). I keep telling him that he has to do it all of the time now. We will keep trying.
On Thursday this week, on my way home from work to pick him up from his dad's and give Grandma a break, I was in a car accident. One that was my fault I suppose, because I knew the folks in front of me were dealing with some idiot in front of them repeatedly brake slamming, People were coming up behind me fast and getting too close. I got nervous and I wanted to get over. I saw a chance, and I took it, but again, the fellow in front of me had to slam his brakes again because of the people in front of him. Boom. I hit his bumper with my right headlights. Ironically, traffic starting moving. We were able to get over and he was fine, his bumper was loose, and my car was smashed in the front right side so badly, that I knew if didn't get home soon, I'd have to call a tow truck. It drove, but I probably should not have driven it. The thing that I think about the most is, I am so glad G was not with me. It was on 71, during rush hour. If he had climbed out of his seat and got out of the car, OMG. I don't even like to think about it. Feeling so grateful he was safe. I hope to get my car back soon. It's waiting for the adjuster at the shop. I've been driving for 20 years, I've driven in Canada, USA, from Boston to Florida, from Cleveland to Chicago, from Cleveland to Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Wash DC. I survived Atlanta traffic every day for 2 years, and Cincinnati is the city that finally gets me. Ugh.
I will not complain. I am alive. My son is safe.
I just need some boring for a while.
Last week I was still battling my bronchitis (i still have a cough), I got divorced, and in my first auto accident.
Ready for boring!!!!
So, yesterday G and I went to the pool. We had a very nice time. When we got home, I saw that he needed to pee. We ran to the potty. I sat him on the potty. He wasn't sure if he could do it. I told him that Tony Stark (Iron Man) can pee on the potty, too! He took the cue, finally, and HURRAH! Victory.
I made a huge fuss. He acted like it was nothing. I gave him a small prize and a cupcake.
This morning he told me that he already peed on the potty (so we had a full pull up). I keep telling him that he has to do it all of the time now. We will keep trying.
Until next time...
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