My Autism Insights

  image by Designed to a T

I usually like to reflect on how our lives have developed over the past year.  Gus has had a very up and down year, but I think has come out ahead for it all.  Some of 2008’s highlights:

• Tried several dietary adjustments with no significant or sustained difference in Gus’s ability to focus or self-regulate in school.  But he is healthy which is always a plus.
• Tried medication, which in my opinion was a disaster.  It took my lively and brilliant little boy and crossed the roboticness of a Dr. Who Cyberman with the grumpiness of a Dalek.  I don’t see another medication trial in the near future unless there is some extenuating circumstance.
• Gus learned some new self-care skills this year: he can now put on shoes (with Velcro), dress with minimal prompting in the morning, and can put on fingered gloves independently.
• Gus learned to ride a two-wheeler AND within a month of learning completed a six-mile bike tour - a huge accomplishment for any seven year old.
• He joined a soccer team and really enjoys the game.

Those are just a few of the more momentous events of this past year.  Gus has expressed a desire to “behave better in school” in the coming year.  In addition, we plan to try to get him some more opportunities to socialize, possibly in a singing class or a special-needs bowling league.  In the spring, we should be able to start doing some bike riding together and we’re going to join a cycling club as a family.  That will open some opportunities for more of those long, scenic rides that are so calming for him, and may also allow him the chance to make a friend if that’s his wish.

One of the reasons I’m becoming attuned as a Kundalini Reiki practitioner is so that I can start using Reiki energy to help Gus to stay calm and focused.  If it has the benefit I’m confident it will, I’ll eventually teach him to channel Reiki energy himself.

In terms of the autism community at large, I’ll continue to share my lessons and experiences through this blog for as long as I am given a platform.  In the near future, a fellow blogger and author, Adonya Wong , will be guesting here on her virtual book tour.  She’s written a wonderful picture book entitled In My Mind and will discuss the book and her experiences with her son’s autism.  Adonya’s visit promises to spark some great discussion, and there will be a sweet giveaway as well.  Stay tuned!

So those are a few of our intentions for the coming year.  What progress have you seen this past year, and what are your plans for the days ahead?

To all my readers, new and old: Have a happy and safe New Year!

To answer Gus’s question, he does apparently.

It wasn’t pouring, but it was that gross, misty, cold rain coming down when we got to the soccer field yesterday morning.  I was expecting for the coach to say they were canceling, but no such luck.  Shortened practice/game schedule.  Fortunately, the rain stopped, but it remained cold and damp.  Gus wasn’t fazed; for me it was just shy of torture.  A few degrees colder and I would have been huddled up somewhere trying not to cry.  Cold is bad.  Wet is bad.  Together…ugh.

The game was a little different.  Instead of splitting the more experienced players from the younger, less experienced ones, everyone played a game together.  Gus got a new mentor, a girl this week named C.  He had a great time following the ball from one end of the field to the other.  He wasn’t aggressive enough to get anywhere near handling the ball, though, except for one time toward the end of the game.  Then he sort of ran it in the wrong direction.  I think all the players on the field threw him for a loop; he often ran to the sidelines to get away from the crowd. No matter, it was a good time for him and that’s what counts.

Today we went for an early morning bike ride.  There probably won’t be many more of those in near future.  We may attempt some pumpkin carving this afternoon.

On the sleep front, I’ve added something new to the bedtime routine.  First, we have these mats, not exactly exercise mats because they’re thicker (just over an inch thick) and not slip resistant.  I came by these mats because my ex-boss was giving them back to the hospital after the yoga studio closed down and she knew that Gus liked sandwiching himself between them.  So she gave me a couple for him.    At night, after therapeutic brushing and joint compressions, I let him curl up in a ball, and then I roll him up in the mat like a big burrito, and roll him back & forth on the floor.  He loves it!  Deep pressure sensory input before bed seems to be working better than the brushing, which he is resisting, at this point.

So that’s our weekend.  Hope you are having a great one too!

Manic Monday by: It’s a Blog Eat Blog World

So last night was different - slightly.  Instead of waking at 4, Gus woke up around 12:30.  Instead of coming into our room, he went to the bathroom, got a drink of water, and went peacefully back to bed (with a bit of guidance of course).  So what was the formula that allowed us to get a little more sleep?

Two parts of the equation changed last night.   First, he got lots of exercise late in the day.  He rode his bike and played out back with (near, around) a bunch of other children.  The other variable was that I did his therapeutic (Wilbarger)  brushing last night before bed.  Now to find out which one was the magic ingredient to our sleep formula.

We’ll have to do some testing, trying one without the other for a couple of nights.  Personally, I think that the brushing might be the key.  At least I’m hoping that’s it.  With winter fast approaching, getting Gus out in the evening will be tough.  So, here’s to a simple solution to our sleep problem!

And the irony?  He finally slept and this morning I had to be up at 4:45 for work.  The universe has a great sense of humor.

  view from about a mile and a half into our bike ride

Occasionally I come up with a good idea.  The six mile family bike marathon today was one of them!  After some nasty storms yesterday and last night, we were treated to an absolutely magnificent day - warm but not so hot as to be draining.  We set out at eight and drove over an hour to the meeting point for the ride.  Once all the families (thankfully only about 4 or 5) were assembled, we formed a caravan and drove to the actual starting point of the ride.

We ended up bringing up the rear of the group, which I expected.  MM’s got little legs and Gus still struggles with a little weakness.  But it really didn’t matter - if there was a day for taking time and meandering along the breathtaking path, today was it!  MM wanted to speed ahead, so I rode with her for the first half of the ride.  Every know and then I peeked over my shoulder and could see Gus and my husband far behind us, but still rolling along.  One of the staff was nice enough to bring up the rear with them, and one of the organizers doubled back to check on us a few times.

MM actually stopped just short of the turning point, but Gus wanted to go all the way.  What he lacked in speed, he made up for in stamina.  He did the full six miles!  Go Gus!  MM did about 5.5 miles - still excellent for a five year old!  Then we headed back.

I rode with Gus on the way back because he was tired and was starting to lose focus.  He also was fascinated by the water and kept going way too close to the guard rail.  He tried to climb over a couple of times.  The staffer, S., was very helpful and supportive - nice to know there are some understanding and just basically kind people in the world.  It was slower going, but he kept plugging along.

MM was a little cranky because she was hungry and tired (I’M NOT TIRED!!) so we switched off again, and I rode with her almost to the finish, using the promise of any snacks she wanted as motivation.  By then the organizer had finished and come back for us again - the assistance and support were very welcome.  What nice people we met today, I tell ya!

So now, my kids can both say they completed their first (and for MM probably her last) kids’ marathon.  I’m really proud of them both, especially considering they haven’t been riding very long or very much.  I could not have bought a better day.

I’m late with this today, not because I can’t find anything to be thankful about, but because the hustle and bustle that is summertime has kept me running until now.  But I should be thankful that I have the ability to be so active.  So we’ll start there.

1. I’m thankful that I have the energy to keep up with my kids and their busy summer schedule.  Between supervising MM’s social schedule, Gus’s school, swim classes, teaching them to ride two-wheelers…It’s exhausting, but at least I’m in good enough health to do it (knock on wood).

2. I’m thankful that my freelancing and blogging has necessitated that I spend a lot of time reading so many different blogs.  So I come across things like Free Homeschooling online conferences.  Who knew?  I don’t homeschool now, but I often consider that I might have/want to when Gus gets older.

3. I am thankful that Gus had an “excellent” day at school today!  I can’t hear that enough!  And I think he passed a test today - always a nice way to wind down a week.

What’s got you feeling grateful today?

After dinner we decided to take the kids out for a while.  We almost never go out after dinner because it’s shower/bath/clean-up/bed time.  But they were a little wired, so we figured a little exercise wouldn’t hurt.  I had the idea to see if Gus wanted to try riding his sister’s two-wheeler – I had taken the training wheels off her old 12 inch to let her try riding without them, but she’s not quite ready.  He got on, and I’ll be damned if he wasn’t riding around our little parking lot on his own by the third try!!  Gus is made of awesome!

Once we did some riding (and much celebrating) down the street, we went and got his bike, took off his training wheels, and we were off!  Wow, can that kid fly!  He’s a little shaky getting himself started, but another day will solve that!  He’s a natural!

I’m so proud of him, not just for being able to do it, but for even trying.  And to see the grin on his face because he succeeded at something – absolutely priceless.  Gus, for the win!!

I learned of some great tips for teaching kids to ride from a discussion at AutismVox.  The site with the instructions is Asperger Support in the UK.