Parent Teacher Conference

I was really scared for Parent Teacher Conference--scared of bad news, no hope for his future, and him not improving.  But boy was I wrong!  Even though his improvements weren't huge--I am just so so grateful he is making progress.  He was able to recognize more alphabet letters & at least trace his name among some of his new skills learned at preschool.
He has a hard time sharing and playing with the other boys--but I hope over time that only gets better.  I need to try harder doing play dates for my kids...
It was SO nice talking to his speech therapist, as she told me her girl is on the spectrum and is in her 20's & has a job and a life.  It gives me hope, she said her daughter needs more support compared to the rest of her kids--but I am SO okay with that.  I am OK with things taking longer.  I know I need to learn patience & be happy with the little progress he makes & be grateful he makes progress.  Because some kids don't & his trial could be a lot worse.  I am so glad he can run, jump, and climb!
And me being worried about sending him to school--because he can't tell me what happens about his day is not a problem with his preschool.  He is in good hands.  I felt the love his teacher has for him & that made my day.  Thanks to those who work with our little ones & love them for who they are.

I wanted to share a little bit about our Christmas.  Every year since he was 2--I would think, "this is the year he will know who Santa is & what Santa brings & what Christmas Eve means." (As in Christmas Eve means gifts will come the next morning!)  But no he didn't.  He has improved on that he know's wrapped gifts means there is something special underneath and he is excited to open it.  I don't even have to say, "This gift is from Santa, or mark gifts a certain way, and this year I didn't even do stockings (I know that's the BEST part) but I didn't because it wasn't needed. 

So lets all cross our fingers that Eli will understand Christmas a little better this next time around.  Be a little excited Christmas Eve & can't sleep because he knows he gets gifts in the morning!! It'd be nice for him to tell me what he wants for Christmas & what his thoughts are on Santa..  But I wanted to share this- to help you understand where his understanding is & hope that as years go on he keeps progressing.  I will be letting you know :) 

I hope you are enjoying your Wednesday.  Parent Teacher Conference made my day & I wanted to share his little successes & the fact that improvement is better than no improvement. 

Kate

Little Things

Today I had to share something that made me so proud.  Eli has brought tons of artwork home from school & what usually happens is I get the artwork out of his book bag & will say, "wow, this looks awesome bud" & then ask him something about the picture.  But he will have no comment, he may smile and acknowledge his work but for the most part no reaction.  Actually the only thing I get out of him about school is, "bus."  Everyday I ask him how was school and he says, "bus."  I can ask about the boys at school or the teacher but the only thing I know about his day at school is he rode the bus.  Which is kind of scary & sad to put your trust into this system & hope that he is treated fairly because I will never know if he isn't, unless he comes home with bumps & bruises.  Anyhow, that is not even my point right now.  Wow--off subject.

So today he brings home this picture from church:

And I say something like- "awesome job Eli, can you tell me about your picture?"  And I know for a fact I didn't say anything about the plan of happiness or anything about happy-- and he says, "Happy!!" With a huge smile on his face.  It brought tears to my eyes, I was so happy!!  And yes this is something a 2 year old could reply to--which a mother could understand why I was so thrilled that finally my 4 year old replied to a question about one of his pictures.  And it's small things like this that give me hope.  Because in all honesty, sometimes in the very back of my heart I wonder if my boy is mentally handicap--not to say that he isn't or won't ever be diagnosed this.  But if we keep making progress, then I can hope for a better tomorrow.

So I have been hesitant on sharing my experience on craniosacral therapy--just because it is not a "doctor" prescribed activity.  And I still haven't done a lot of research on it.  But a relative of mine told me that she see's someone who does craniosacral  therapy on her & this therapist works with kids who have autism.  So I looked it up a little and thought what the heck!  Her therapist is in Logan & it took awhile to get in once I called because she was booked, which I consider a good sign.  So while my Grandma watched Charlotte, Eli & I drove up to Logan.  This was the day of the 3pm huge winter storm we just had & our appointment was at 2.  (I won't be driving during a storm again.)  The main reason I didn't do a lot of research, is because I wanted to experience it--trust my gut instincts & just go by what I felt.  And I have to admit, I loved it.  I was in the room with Eli & it's a soft touch massage (if I can even call it a massage) & she explained that kids with autism have more pressure than the typical kid in their brain and she worked on other areas as well.  But what she was doing, supposedly released the pressure.  All I know is that Eli let this lady touch him for an hour.  And I believe he felt his body doing something different & new it was a good thing to keep letting her touch him.  Let me stress--touch him for an hour.  But the best part, even though I already was feeling like this was a good thing for him during the appointment, was when she finished, he said, "thanks."  It was amazing.  I have no idea how he knew she was done but still just the fact that he said, "thanks," gives me enough reason to keep going for awhile longer.  And I asked him at least twice on the way home, "did you like what she did? or did it feel good?" and he said, "yes."  For a kid that you don't get a lot of answers from and a random thanks--I liked craniosacral therapy & am looking forward to our next appointment.  Will he remember?  Will he be excited?  Or will he still be a little hesitant?  I will let you know how it goes.

I wanted to show proof that he jumps!

And his little sister loves to jump as well!

Need a better camera-someday!!  

Hope you guys have a great week!! And I fixed it so anybody can comment, you don't have to be a subscriber.  I really am blog-handicap, so if there's anything else I need to do to make something better--please share.

Thanks for reading.

Night,

Kate

Today I took Eli to his Occupational Therapy Evaluation.  I admit I don't completely understand what occupational therapy does, although today I learned more.  But going through the questions and talking with the therapist I felt this will be a great start to the new year & helping him on his way.

The first paper I filled out--I just wanted to cry with all the questions I answered no to, but was wishing I could say yes.  I wanted to let you know a little more about how Eli is developmentally behind by what I said answered no to.

By three years old did your child:
-speak clearly so that others understand him
-follow two-step directions
-engage in imaginative play
-achieve toilet training

By four years old did your child:
-tell a story, mixing real and unreal.
-use language for fantasy, jokes, & teasing.
-engage in role play pretending to be others (spiderman)
-dress self  ****he almost can now****
-button clothing
-hop on one foot

These were all the ones I answered no to, I was able to answer yes to some of the "By three years old...", but answered no to all the "four years old."  Eli turned four in late August.  And oh how I long to hear my boy make up a story, tell a joke, or tease his mother.  And I sure hope someday he will.

 I shouldn't say he doesn't tease me--because he sure does by running around the house with something I need or throwing clean clothes behind the bed.  But I can't wait for him to use language while teasing!

We are keeping up with the diet & it's ok.  The biggest notice is him not waking up in the middle of the night, saying "stomach" while holding it in pain crying.  So our sleep is getting SO much better & if that's the only major difference in the diet--then that's good enough for me.  I love my sleep--just like any ordinary mother does & Eli isn't in pain (thank goodness).

Enjoy the New Year!! I hope the holidays were fun for everyone.  Eli got accepted into a program that I will find out more information about soon & am SO excited about it.  I will give more details as I find them out though.

Kate

A sentence here & there..

I love when Eli says a random sentence--hardly ever happens.  I really can't think of the last time it did. But tonight it happened, so I had to post quickly.  Chad was 'pretend' wrestling me--Eli always comes and saves his mom--SO CUTE.  But as he came to save me from dad, we could clearly hear him say, "Don't touch mom!"
Loved it & I love him.  Progress little by little.  Oh and he jumped again!  So he knows what he is doing--but he doesn't do it for very long.  Maybe he doesn't enjoy it...but at least he is capable, right?

Night,
Kate

He jumped!!

I wish I had a picture. I bought a small trampoline a year and a half ago in hopes that with practice he would learn how to jump. It has a bar for him to hold on--making it easy to learn. Or so I thought. But he hasn't been able to jump until tonight--before he would do one leg at a time like he's running on the trampoline in place.
And it has always helped when kids are around for him to have a desire to get on and jump--and tonight his cousins were over. The girl his age & the other that will be turning 3 soon were jumping high:) & I think Eli was watching. And the next time it was his turn--he jumped! It didn't last long, probably didn't help that chad and I were clapping and so excited. It brought tears to my eyes. (And chad said it did the same for him.) I've been wanting him to jump forever!!
I have no idea why he hasn't been able to jump. He still hasn't learned how to ride a tricycle & I am hoping by the summer he & his little sister can learn. Those are the big two motor skills that I have noticed that he hasn't mastered. Jumping & Tricycle. Hopefully I can get him on the trampoline to keep practicing the new skill.

I eventually want to post how behind he is--so I can keep track of his progress better. But today he jumped!! And the diet is going well--but it isn't easy. He is actually eating a lot more food but its still a lot of the same things. I believe the gluten free diet has helped his stomach a ton. He has always been a bad sleeper & a year ago he'd wake up in pain and I thought it was growing pains. But he wouldn't take medicine so I'd hold him and rub his legs til he went back to bed. But the last 4 months he has woken up in pain saying, "stomach."  And although still wakes up every now and then (need to try a weighted blanket)--he doesn't cry about his stomach! Which means no more pain & it stopped as soon as we did gluten free strictly.

Alright--this is too much to read. I always stop reading someone's blog when it gets too long. I thought I'd post more often & I want to--but end up doing something else.
Thanks for reading!
Night
Kate

I shouldn't say--reverse autism.  What I mean to say is make his situation in life the best I can & hope to find ways that will help him grow & learn. If his autism ended up reversed-great & wonderful! But I don't want Eli to grow up--thinking I'm not good enough & mom just wants to change who I am. How do I go about this? Good question. I think by showing my love for him & being careful what I say around him.  If you have any suggestions--please share?
This new diet has been a challenge--but I feel like its been a good change. We are not eating processed foods & more fruit & vegetables. We are slowly getting a hang of it & I still need to act on getting the school snacks to be gluten & dairy free as well. And I will admit the first week I think we were all starving:) but Eli is actually trying his dinner & most of the time eating it all. Without the many snacks around the house--when it comes to meal time he eats!
I told chad we are going to be on this diet for a long time. I then asked Chad, "how long do you think a long time is?"  He says, "a month."  I just laughed & said, "Nope. A year."  So I will also be sharing recipe favorites as we find them & hopefully inspire other parents to give this diet a try for their child if they feel it just might help.
If any one is thinking about this diet for their child-The Autism Research Institute has some great tips to get started.

http://www.autism.com/index.php/treating_diets

One thing about Eli that I hope will change for the better with this diet is being more alert & aware of his surroundings. For example, our family went to my dads on Saturday night & they had pizza for everyone. Chad & I knew we could get away with eating pizza with Charlie. We brought chicken for him & he ate veggies but I know an average 4 year old would say--"hey that's not fair, I'm eating pizza if you guys are!"  But we didn't get any protest, everyone around him ate pizza. And he LOVES pizza. That might seem funny to some that I want him to protest & it's not like he never does protest BUT I wish he stood up for himself more often--especially by using full sentences. Someday. I know it. 

I have created this blog for the sole purpose of finding out what theories out there work--to help my little boy reach his potential.  Some say you can reverse autism.  And it's worth a shot, so I am using this blog as a documentary to show what works for me.  So I can stick with the good and not worry about the rest.
Eli is 4 years old & his speech development is delayed.  Last year he got diagnosed with PDD-NOS.  But unfortunately, I blew it off.  I felt for sure that Eli was an "average Joe"--who would be spitting out sentences any day.  But after some little events & then having Parent Teacher Conference with his current preschool teacher--she let me know that Eli is autistic.  Not that you should always trust a teacher--but I already had the diagnose from a psychiatrist & this teacher has worked with kids like Eli that her words sunk in deep & they felt right.  (We will still get another diagnose for Eli soon to get more official second opinions/advice, etc.)
Luckily, I already had him in Early Intervention for his speech development since he was 2 1/2 years old.  And all the help from that program has been amazing!  He enjoys going to preschool 4 days a week & meets with a speech therapist once a week at the school.  Right now his speech capability is limited to easy words.  Words that have 2 syllables are harder to say.  Most of his vocabulary includes the things he loves & needs.  Such as cars, books, watch, milk, water, apple, & carrots.  He hardly ever speaks in sentences and definitely never paragraphs.  None of his speech is creative or pretend.  He still does "jar-jar" talk--when he wants to tell you something besides the regular needs/wants.

Right now I am in the transition of a gluten-free & dairy-free diet.  Occupational Therapy to start in January.  Thanks to those who have given me names & advice to help me on this journey.  I love my little boy--and love his sweet spirit.  If anyone has recommendations or knowledge in this area-please drop a comment.

I have more thoughts--But I have been enjoying going to bed early & rising early.  So night world!