Kiki has hit a point where some days his progress is overwhelming, and other days I feel like we've taken several steps back. It's been this way for a long time really, just that on days when I'm already stressed and have a lot on my plate - I notice it more. And I especially notice the stares (and glares) from other people in the stores I take him into, on the days when nothing seems to be going right. I celebrate because he *only* threw himself down three times in one shopping trip, and yet most of the audience to his little display doesn't "get it". A few do. You can tell by their merciful glances, like they somehow understand. Like those two seconds of empathy are meant to tell you that you're not alone.
In looking for a way to somehow explain Kiki to everyone else without going through the apology phase, I started looking for alternatives. Because, well, honestly, I'm not sorry that you've encountered a Kiki. I'm sorry he's having a bad day, and I'm sorry that's your first exposure to his little world. But I'm not sorry that he's pulled you out of your comfort zone. And I'm not sorry if he's making you rethink your own definitions of "normal" or "misbehaved". Enough rambling. The point is that I needed another option. A plan B, if you will. So in looking for "autism awareness cards" online, I found several examples of what other people give out to those who find themselves accidentally being audience to a child's meltdown or tantrum or whatever cute (or not so cute) label you want to give it.
One of these cards had a blank line to enter a web address, presumably for one of the many autism awareness websites. But then I realized that such a card could serve a second purpose. It could give me a chance to share my baby's world with the rest of the world (or at least our little corner of it here in SW MO). And thus this blog was borne. I'm writing this introductory message with today's date left intact and unaltered. Then I plan on adding more entries to give an idea of some of his progress up to this point. The dates on those entries will be altered to show their real place in his little timeline, despite this blog not having existed yet.
My goal is to have a place to share his world and give it a chance to merge with yours. Peace.
Tuesday, March 29, 2016
Friday, March 25, 2016
Perler Beads
KiKi finished his first Perler bead design...
See that goo next to the duck's tail? He's watched his sister make aquabead designs. He tried using pump hand soap, to make the duck stick together. Bonus points for proving he CAN use pump hand soap independently. Just not for washing his hands.
I pulled up a youtube video and showed him that you use an iron to get the beads to stick together. We got to walmart and he asked for beads (on his AAC device) then pointed to walmart. We went in and I found an iron, which he happily put in the cart. Got home and he unboxed the iron and was trying to use it before it was even plugged in!
See that goo next to the duck's tail? He's watched his sister make aquabead designs. He tried using pump hand soap, to make the duck stick together. Bonus points for proving he CAN use pump hand soap independently. Just not for washing his hands.
I pulled up a youtube video and showed him that you use an iron to get the beads to stick together. We got to walmart and he asked for beads (on his AAC device) then pointed to walmart. We went in and I found an iron, which he happily put in the cart. Got home and he unboxed the iron and was trying to use it before it was even plugged in!
Aldi Fits
I'm really not sure whether to call this a good day or a bad day, so let's go with it being both.
The bad?... He threw himself to the ground fussing and semi-screaming three times in one trip through Aldi.
The good?... He threw himself to the ground fussing and semi-screaming three times in one trip through Adli.
Yep. It all depends on perspective. He had zero complete meltdowns. No kicking and clawing and head-banging. No trying to slam his head into the floor and having to be fully restrained to keep from hurting himself... He threw himself down three times, which is a record because it's usually at least five or six times in that store. And the throwing himself down was self-controlled to the point of just fussing, semi-screaming and light hitting. He tried so hard to contain himself, and that was honestly the best trip he's had through Aldi since he learned how to walk at 3 years old.
He's been having fewer public outbursts overall, although the bad days are still just as bad as they've been for a long while. Hopefully they continue to become more scarce, if only to lessen the stress and pain he inflicts upon himself.
The bad?... He threw himself to the ground fussing and semi-screaming three times in one trip through Aldi.
The good?... He threw himself to the ground fussing and semi-screaming three times in one trip through Adli.
Yep. It all depends on perspective. He had zero complete meltdowns. No kicking and clawing and head-banging. No trying to slam his head into the floor and having to be fully restrained to keep from hurting himself... He threw himself down three times, which is a record because it's usually at least five or six times in that store. And the throwing himself down was self-controlled to the point of just fussing, semi-screaming and light hitting. He tried so hard to contain himself, and that was honestly the best trip he's had through Aldi since he learned how to walk at 3 years old.
He's been having fewer public outbursts overall, although the bad days are still just as bad as they've been for a long while. Hopefully they continue to become more scarce, if only to lessen the stress and pain he inflicts upon himself.
Wednesday, March 23, 2016
Sorting Beads
This is KiKi hard at work. Sorting 22,000 perler beads. By color. He's been using the pincer grasp with both hands, and crossing the midline on both sides. This is his fine motor therapy for today.
This is after about 3 hours of him sorting. :)
Discharge From Feeding Therapy
Today, KiKi was officially discharged from feeding therapy. His therapist ran out of things to work with him on, because of the improvements he's made in the last year. His final feeding therapy celebratory meal? Three oatmeal muffins.
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