Last week I started participating in an autism support group that is being held in a nearby town. The group is called Essential Pieces and has existed for a few years now. They hold support group meetings in 8 week sessions. I first found out about this group some time last year but this is the first session that I have been able to participate in. As a preview to attending this group, I attended a conference they held last October about Sensory Stories. I found it to be a very professionally run conference and thought the topic was terrific. I'll talk more about Sensory Stories later..
During the parent meetings, some interns from a local university conduct a social group for children with autism and their siblings. I decided to take along Samuel and his younger brother to participate in this. The first meeting Samuel was not able to go because he had an eye infection. Then, this past week his younger brother was ill, so I took Samuel alone.
I was so impressed by Samuel's behavior the entire evening! We had to park in a parking garage and walk about a block to the meeting location. He stayed with me nicely, no having to worry about him running away! He also left his videos that he had brought along in the car without a problem, even after he had asked if he could bring them and I said, "I think it will be better to keep them in the car, then you won't lose them." I had told him ahead of time in the car where he would be and where I would be, and about how long I would be at my meeting. He seemed excited and interested and did not have any problem saying goodbye. Even though he is a bit older than the other social group participants (most of them look to be somewhere between 4-6 years old), he seemed happy to be there.
Our walk back to the car went great. He asked for a treat on the way, which was fine because we had to stop at a pharmacy to pick up some Pedialyte for his younger brother. Samuel was even well behaved at the pharmacy! He likes to look around stores and I had been worried about him getting into the DVD display. He found it and was able to look at it as I paid for my purchases and accepted the time limit I gave him very nicely! I let him listen to the "Cars" soundtrack on the way home.
Later that evening I thought about how nice it can be to take Samuel out now, after all the years of practising and using visual aids. We had been in a part of town that night where, about 7 years ago (when Samuel was 3 and I was pregnant with his little brother), he ran away from me and out into a road. What a scary event that was. Even though we can have tough moments out in public, it is nice to have more and more successes with him!
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
"History of the Years"
Samuel has a funny new way of showing his interest in history. He keeps asking us what happened in a particular year. My husband was watching a show on the History Channel last night about World War II. Samuel came in the room and asked, "What year is this?" My oldest son left a book he is reading about the War of 1812 in their bedrom; Samuel asked me, "What happened in 1812?" He also keeps asking me, "What happened in 1944?" and while he was getting a bath the other night he asked me, "What happened in the year 1?" 
I'm sure if I asked him, he could tell me what year every video game was introduced. That seems to be where this interest in years came to the forefront for him. He has been watching a YouTube video that covers the history of video games and has been scripting it for the past few weeks. One time he told me, "I'm going to watch, 'The History of the Years.'" I asked him what that was about and he explained it was about the video games. Not long after this is when he started to ask all the questions about years.
I need to capitalize on this interest Samuel has for teaching him some history! Does anyone know about any good books or other resources for timelines?
I'm sure if I asked him, he could tell me what year every video game was introduced. That seems to be where this interest in years came to the forefront for him. He has been watching a YouTube video that covers the history of video games and has been scripting it for the past few weeks. One time he told me, "I'm going to watch, 'The History of the Years.'" I asked him what that was about and he explained it was about the video games. Not long after this is when he started to ask all the questions about years.
I need to capitalize on this interest Samuel has for teaching him some history! Does anyone know about any good books or other resources for timelines?
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Wii love it!
A Wii game system from Nintendo was one of our family's most popular Christmas gifts this year. Right after gifts had been opened Christmas morning my oldest son set out to create characters for the entire family. They are called "Mii"s (pronounced like "me"). Then he, his father and youngest brother played some of the sports games: tennis and bowling. When it was Samuel's turn he got a bit upset. This wasn't the Wii playing that he was used to. After a few minutes I figured it out; to Samuel "Wii" means "Wii Fit" because that is what he plays while he is at Occupational Therapy. We took out the Wii Sports disc and put in Wii Fit, he was fine after that.
I have been very surprised at Samuel's lack of balance and control while he does some of the exercises on Wii Fit. While exercising, a visual reference showing your center of balance appears on the screen. Samuel's moves all over the place! Players earn points for doing the exercises the correct way, and Samuel's scores are usually very low. Just last week I watched his occupational therapist guide him in these exercises and now Samuel's helpers and I will assist Samuel at home when we can. I think Wii will be a very helpful tool for improving Samuel's coordination and awareness.
As for the rest of the family, we are all enjoying it in different ways. My other two sons have an intense competition going for the top scores in the games and exercises. They really like the video games. My youngest son can beat everyone in the family in Wii bowling! He does this crazy twirling motion with his arm when he releases the ball! I don't ever recommend standing behind him in a real bowling alley if he tries that move there! My 3 year old daughter has fun on the balancing games in Wii Fit. Her 6 year old brother "helps" her, so she has some of the high scores on those games. I am the yoga champion for right now, but some of that is because I am the only one doing those exercises! I think I still hold the record score in the hula hoop games as well. The step aerobic exercises are the funniest to watch the kids do. All of them but Samuel will line up in the family room and follow along with whoever is actually using the Wii board at the time. The boys have the record scores in that.
We're all enjoying our new Wii game system very much!
I have been very surprised at Samuel's lack of balance and control while he does some of the exercises on Wii Fit. While exercising, a visual reference showing your center of balance appears on the screen. Samuel's moves all over the place! Players earn points for doing the exercises the correct way, and Samuel's scores are usually very low. Just last week I watched his occupational therapist guide him in these exercises and now Samuel's helpers and I will assist Samuel at home when we can. I think Wii will be a very helpful tool for improving Samuel's coordination and awareness.
As for the rest of the family, we are all enjoying it in different ways. My other two sons have an intense competition going for the top scores in the games and exercises. They really like the video games. My youngest son can beat everyone in the family in Wii bowling! He does this crazy twirling motion with his arm when he releases the ball! I don't ever recommend standing behind him in a real bowling alley if he tries that move there! My 3 year old daughter has fun on the balancing games in Wii Fit. Her 6 year old brother "helps" her, so she has some of the high scores on those games. I am the yoga champion for right now, but some of that is because I am the only one doing those exercises! I think I still hold the record score in the hula hoop games as well. The step aerobic exercises are the funniest to watch the kids do. All of them but Samuel will line up in the family room and follow along with whoever is actually using the Wii board at the time. The boys have the record scores in that.
We're all enjoying our new Wii game system very much!
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Life is a Precious Gift
We live in a fantastic country. The inauguration of Barack Obama yesterday is a testament to the greatness that one can achieve when a country follows through on its promise of freedom and opportunity. That is the ONLY promise that I want from my government; the preservation of our freedom.
The March for Life is in Washington, D.C., tomorrow. My prayers go with those participating in the march and they also go out to everyone in our country: that we will all learn to value and respect life in all of its stages.
Sorry, the video downloaded with some pauses.. I'll try to re-load it later. It is from CatholicVote.com and I heard that this is a commercial that aired in the Chicago area yesterday.
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The March for Life is in Washington, D.C., tomorrow. My prayers go with those participating in the march and they also go out to everyone in our country: that we will all learn to value and respect life in all of its stages.
Sorry, the video downloaded with some pauses.. I'll try to re-load it later. It is from CatholicVote.com and I heard that this is a commercial that aired in the Chicago area yesterday.
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Friday, January 16, 2009
Rare Date Night
My husband and I enjoyed an evening out together for the first time in a LONG LONG TIME. The last time we had needed a babysitter was a year ago last November, when we celebrated a friend's 50th birthday with other friends. I honestly do not remember the last time my husband and I went out for dinner alone! It could have been almost two years ago, on an occasion when my sister in law was visiting.
Anyways, we went to an Indian Restaurant. My husband, who works for an British-owned company, was introduced to this restaurant by some of his co-workers who are from England. Neither of us has much familiarity with Indian food so this was a bit of an adventure for us.
When we left we had two babysitters and one of Samuel's helpers at our house. His helper went home within a half hour after that. Our babysitters have known us for 6 years and it is such a relief to be able to leave our children with them without a worry. Even though we don't need a babysitter very often, they are over at our house regularly to help me in other ways so our children know them and are very comfortable with them. They are wonderful with Samuel, without my having to go into all kinds of explanations of how to do things with him or for him.
Anyways, we went to an Indian Restaurant. My husband, who works for an British-owned company, was introduced to this restaurant by some of his co-workers who are from England. Neither of us has much familiarity with Indian food so this was a bit of an adventure for us.
When we left we had two babysitters and one of Samuel's helpers at our house. His helper went home within a half hour after that. Our babysitters have known us for 6 years and it is such a relief to be able to leave our children with them without a worry. Even though we don't need a babysitter very often, they are over at our house regularly to help me in other ways so our children know them and are very comfortable with them. They are wonderful with Samuel, without my having to go into all kinds of explanations of how to do things with him or for him.
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Happy 2009!!!
Well, Christmas is over and another new year begins! We returned to school work this week. I was without one of Samuel's helpers while she was on vacation with her family. In spite of that we got by okay. Samuel had much fewer outbursts, even with the demands of school work being put upon him. We'll see how next week goes, when I try to get more work in.
I think Samuel may have FINALLY learned how to zip his jacket! We have been working on that for so long. I realized that the kind of jacket we had him wear was too difficult for him to work with. We usually get Land's End jackets, which are wonderful, but the way the zippers are covered makes it way too difficult for Samuel to maneuver it. He has a very hard time getting the separate parts of the zipper together. I bought a cheap jacket at a local discount store that doesn't have a covered zipper and it's much easier for him to work with that.
I have started using Saxon Math with Samuel. His younger brother has been working in it. I was reminded that Samuel's teacher had used it with him when he was younger. So, we're repeating first grade math again, but I am much more confident he will be successful in this. I was having to make too many alterations to the other workbook curriculum I was using for him.
Seton Home Study curriculum is what I am using for my youngest and oldest sons. While we are provided with a daily schedule for each subject, I did find this statement in the curriculum materials, which I take great comfort in given that we deviated from the schedule after about Day 2 of the school year:
I think Samuel may have FINALLY learned how to zip his jacket! We have been working on that for so long. I realized that the kind of jacket we had him wear was too difficult for him to work with. We usually get Land's End jackets, which are wonderful, but the way the zippers are covered makes it way too difficult for Samuel to maneuver it. He has a very hard time getting the separate parts of the zipper together. I bought a cheap jacket at a local discount store that doesn't have a covered zipper and it's much easier for him to work with that.
I have started using Saxon Math with Samuel. His younger brother has been working in it. I was reminded that Samuel's teacher had used it with him when he was younger. So, we're repeating first grade math again, but I am much more confident he will be successful in this. I was having to make too many alterations to the other workbook curriculum I was using for him.
Seton Home Study curriculum is what I am using for my youngest and oldest sons. While we are provided with a daily schedule for each subject, I did find this statement in the curriculum materials, which I take great comfort in given that we deviated from the schedule after about Day 2 of the school year:
There is no "getting behind" in homeschooling; the pace should be according to
the needs of the student.
Granted, I could be a little more organized, but I don't think I'm doing too bad given all the preparation that has to go into getting Samuel's lessons together and all the chaos our days sometimes holds because of his behavior.
Saturday, January 3, 2009
Good News
One of Samuel's helpers has been waiting for the arrival of his baby, whose due date was Christmas day. I got a call from him this morning with the good news that his wife gave birth this morning to a healthy baby boy! Congratulations! Another of Samuel's helpers is a good friend of theirs and generously made herself available during the week of Christmas, and much of last week, to assist them, but the baby had other plans I guess! She wasn't able to help them after all because she is now on vacation, visiting her family.
Our family has been fortunate to have help from both of these individuals with Samuel for almost a year and a half now. We have help from two other people as well, but they do not work as regularly. They all have their own ways of interacting with Samuel and I am glad that he is able to have a variety of people helping him (and me!).
I stand corrected, I found out that the friend was present at the baby's delivery after all! His baptism is next weekend. I cannot wait to see him! I saw his picture and he is soooo darling. I miss having a baby! My 40 pound 3 year old is still my baby, but I miss the little newborn kind!
Our family has been fortunate to have help from both of these individuals with Samuel for almost a year and a half now. We have help from two other people as well, but they do not work as regularly. They all have their own ways of interacting with Samuel and I am glad that he is able to have a variety of people helping him (and me!).
I stand corrected, I found out that the friend was present at the baby's delivery after all! His baptism is next weekend. I cannot wait to see him! I saw his picture and he is soooo darling. I miss having a baby! My 40 pound 3 year old is still my baby, but I miss the little newborn kind!
Friday, January 2, 2009
Holiday Mode
We're finishing our second week of taking a break from school work. In spite of that I am still trying to maintain somewhat of a routine to help Samuel have a sense of normalcy. My children have had the luxury of sleeping in LATE, and I have had the luxury of a little more quiet time in the morning before they are up and running (more like they are up and I am running!)
The schedule has been something along the lines of : WAKE UP- BRUSH (Wilbarger Protocol Brushing) - TOILET- WASH HANDS-CHOOSE CLOTHES-GET DRESSED-DIRTY CLOTHES TO THE HAMPER-COMB HAIR-MAKE BED-CLEAN UP TOYS-BREAKFAST-BRUSH TEETH-RACING(My oldest son leads all four children in some relay races outside, with the assistance of one of Samuel's helpers on the days they are scheduled to work here in the morning-ACTIVITY AT THE TABLE (During the school break this has been checking his calendar, writing in his journal, and filling in his "All About Me" book) - YOUR CHOICE. This schedule varies a little bit on the days I have Samuel's helpers here.
I had visions of having all kinds of free time for myself during our break from school, but that hasn't happened yet! I'm still working on Christmas cards, which I still do the old-fashioned way, for the most part. I write out addresses on the envelopes, sign our cards, type out a letter, print a few family photos on it, and then get everything together. I cannot bring myself to abbreviate the process to one of those photo greeting cards, but it sure is tempting when it often takes me until mid-January to get my cards out! I consider Christmas to be until January 6, the feast of the Epiphany, so as far as I'm concerned my cards aren't late yet! Still, I'd rather have them arrive at the beginning of Christmas rather than at the end, or later.
Our vacation from school finishes up at the end of this weekend. Then we hit the books! Samuel's 10th birthday will be here not long after that!
The schedule has been something along the lines of : WAKE UP- BRUSH (Wilbarger Protocol Brushing) - TOILET- WASH HANDS-CHOOSE CLOTHES-GET DRESSED-DIRTY CLOTHES TO THE HAMPER-COMB HAIR-MAKE BED-CLEAN UP TOYS-BREAKFAST-BRUSH TEETH-RACING(My oldest son leads all four children in some relay races outside, with the assistance of one of Samuel's helpers on the days they are scheduled to work here in the morning-ACTIVITY AT THE TABLE (During the school break this has been checking his calendar, writing in his journal, and filling in his "All About Me" book) - YOUR CHOICE. This schedule varies a little bit on the days I have Samuel's helpers here.
I had visions of having all kinds of free time for myself during our break from school, but that hasn't happened yet! I'm still working on Christmas cards, which I still do the old-fashioned way, for the most part. I write out addresses on the envelopes, sign our cards, type out a letter, print a few family photos on it, and then get everything together. I cannot bring myself to abbreviate the process to one of those photo greeting cards, but it sure is tempting when it often takes me until mid-January to get my cards out! I consider Christmas to be until January 6, the feast of the Epiphany, so as far as I'm concerned my cards aren't late yet! Still, I'd rather have them arrive at the beginning of Christmas rather than at the end, or later.
Our vacation from school finishes up at the end of this weekend. Then we hit the books! Samuel's 10th birthday will be here not long after that!
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