I decided it was about time again for me to update Melody's page and progress!
We have seen a new development- POINTING! That probably doesn't seem like much for some people but when your child can point to what they want instead of screaming and thrashing around, it's like a miracle! She is now in speech as well as occupational therapy and we've seen great progress already! We are trying to get her more visits though as she currently only goes once a week. We have decided to hold off on using the Proloquo2go for now but it will be part of things soon :)
Thursday, February 21, 2013
Friday, January 4, 2013
New Year, New Goals
December was a good month for us, and an okay month for Melody. I only say okay because she got sick and that's always rough with any kid, but for Melody it makes her sensory issues worse. Also, holidays are never easy. She doesn't react the same as other kids to things like presents, Santa, parties, etc, so we are reminded every year of that. I'm not going to lie- that part really stinks. I see a lot of families with their traditions and I just don't feel that motivation because it just seems like she could care less. The last couple of weeks without school were hard, too. School is so good for her- and as much as I love having her home, I love knowing she is somewhere learning and developing in a way she can't by my side.
For Christmas though, we were able to purchase Proloquo2go and install it on the Ipod. Every day when she is in a good moment I will bring it out and we will use it a little. I imagine it will be a long while before she starts using it independently, but at least it's a step in the right direction.
We are going to meet with a new OT on Wednesday. She wants to do a full assessment on Melody. Can I just vent about how much I hate having to get her assessed so often? It's stressful for her, and seems so redundant. Apparently the millions of papers and reports aren't enough- but sure, you can see her throw a fit for you. Enjoy it.
If you can't tell, my spirits are a bit dampened today. The holidays while nice are difficult for me as a mother. I find myself hurting that she can't enjoy them like everyone else. I hope someday she shows more interest, but then I have to remember that is MY want- she doesn't care about them. For now anyway.
Hope is the only thing I have sometimes, when things seem so out of reach. I know it could be a lot worse and I am grateful I have a beautiful, healthy daughter. But sometimes I still hurt for her and for us.
Anyway, so we are meeting with a new OT and then hopefully soon to follow, an ST as well that can help me with this proloquo stuff.
Fingers crossed...
For Christmas though, we were able to purchase Proloquo2go and install it on the Ipod. Every day when she is in a good moment I will bring it out and we will use it a little. I imagine it will be a long while before she starts using it independently, but at least it's a step in the right direction.
We are going to meet with a new OT on Wednesday. She wants to do a full assessment on Melody. Can I just vent about how much I hate having to get her assessed so often? It's stressful for her, and seems so redundant. Apparently the millions of papers and reports aren't enough- but sure, you can see her throw a fit for you. Enjoy it.
If you can't tell, my spirits are a bit dampened today. The holidays while nice are difficult for me as a mother. I find myself hurting that she can't enjoy them like everyone else. I hope someday she shows more interest, but then I have to remember that is MY want- she doesn't care about them. For now anyway.
Hope is the only thing I have sometimes, when things seem so out of reach. I know it could be a lot worse and I am grateful I have a beautiful, healthy daughter. But sometimes I still hurt for her and for us.
Anyway, so we are meeting with a new OT and then hopefully soon to follow, an ST as well that can help me with this proloquo stuff.
Fingers crossed...
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
"Hoorah" Moment
Melody was coming home on the bus and according to the bus attendants- saw her daddy and started saying "Hi Dad, Hi dad". :) She also started clapping (lost skill emerging) and waving (another lost skill emerging). One more cool moment- she now will kiss you if you ask for a kiss again!! (lost skill emerging).
GREAT WEEK!
GREAT WEEK!
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
December Goals
No longer considering her non-verbal but pre-verbal thanks to the explosion of early speak mimmicking this month!!!
Some of the new accomplishments this month brought were:
- Showing affection (without prompt) to her baby sister (HUGE one for me)
- Re-surfacing of complex babbling. She can say "Buh", "Wah Wah", "Nuh nuh (like no no)", "Ohh", "Nana", "Yeah yeah", "Ine Ine", "Hi", "Siiissy, ", etc, and carries on like she is speaking but really is just babbling :)
- She can growl when you growl :) Loves it!
- Nodding her head 'yes' to questions, sometimes accurately, sometimes not. Accompanied by a strange affirming sound- can't really explain lol
- Sings loud, high notes when she is happy and while music is playing
- She will climb up the little tikes slide and sit at the top. She can slide down as well.
- She ventured beyond just the bark of the playground and started playing functionally just this past week!
- She sat at circle time without the help of an aide! :) All by herself! Yay!
Here are some goals I am going to work on with Melody in this next month:
- Visits to the library- without the use of the smart phone
- More work with PECS
- Use of a multivitamin
- Trial use of essential oils
- Touring the Idaho Center for Autism
- Touring Kaleidoscope therapy center- wanting OT 2x/wk, PT 1x/wk, ST 1x/wk
Hello everyone!!
I have decided to create a blog in honor of my sweet little girl, Melody Rose. She was diagnosed this past August with severe classic autism. This blog is to keep our friends and family updated on her progress and how life goes in a home with our sweet girls.
I have created 'Melody's story' on here for any of you unfamiliar to read about her and how we got to where we are. I want this blog to be a place of, well, HOPE. Hope for Melody- hope that she can be happy, healthy, and that she can have everything she wants in life and more. Hope also for the millions of parents, children, adults, and families coping with autism spectrum disorder.
In many ways, Melody is just a typical 3 year old girl. She loves pretty shoes, hair bows, dresses, and Elmo. She loves her mommy, daddy, and sometimes her sister ;). But then sometimes happens that shakes her routine, or you talk to her, even just to ask her name, and it becomes clear. The sensory overload of your very presence might be enough to send her in to a meltdown. Don't take it personally- it might just be what you're wearing, the colors of your shirt- your posture. It might be your voice. My beautiful, happy girl, becomes so overwhelmed with things we hardly notice. But to her, it's painful- the feeling of the ground beneath her feet- the bright light of the sun- the uncertainty of a stranger. Let me repeat, It's nothing you're doing! It's no one's fault. Something about the way her brain is wired makes her nerves sensitive. She needs hugs- lots of them, and sometimes the intensity of having her head squeezed. She seeks that affection because it's not only good to feel loved but to feel balanced. She has auditory processing disorder. Your words may not make sense to her if there are external forces. She usually needs a visual prompt to understand. She thinks in pictures. She sometimes listens better when she isn't looking at you. She won't always look in your eyes. That's okay with her- as long as it's okay with you. When sensory signals fire off, Melody is in fight or flight mode. Autism isn't an excuse for poor behavior or throwing a fit- but sometimes it's not a fit- sometimes she really is just so overwhelmed. That's what we need our friends and family to see and to understand. Sometimes we get flustered. Please be patient with us and with our little girl. I know your children might feel offended if she doesn't play with them- but she just doesn't understand how to play nor desires it most of the time. Please help your child not feel offended by explaining that it's no one's fault and that her brain just thinks differently. Sometimes her brain can't process other people like we can.
I myself have some type of social anxiety. I literally feel exhausted and overwhelmed when I am in the company of too many people for too long. I really thought something was just wrong with me until I started learning more about the social difficulties with autism and it helped me see that this is more common than we think. A lot of people have sensory issues- they just are not as extreme as those with ASD.
So, with all that being said, this page will serve as updates on her progress, and some of my own musings :) Happy holidays everyone!
I have decided to create a blog in honor of my sweet little girl, Melody Rose. She was diagnosed this past August with severe classic autism. This blog is to keep our friends and family updated on her progress and how life goes in a home with our sweet girls.
I have created 'Melody's story' on here for any of you unfamiliar to read about her and how we got to where we are. I want this blog to be a place of, well, HOPE. Hope for Melody- hope that she can be happy, healthy, and that she can have everything she wants in life and more. Hope also for the millions of parents, children, adults, and families coping with autism spectrum disorder.
In many ways, Melody is just a typical 3 year old girl. She loves pretty shoes, hair bows, dresses, and Elmo. She loves her mommy, daddy, and sometimes her sister ;). But then sometimes happens that shakes her routine, or you talk to her, even just to ask her name, and it becomes clear. The sensory overload of your very presence might be enough to send her in to a meltdown. Don't take it personally- it might just be what you're wearing, the colors of your shirt- your posture. It might be your voice. My beautiful, happy girl, becomes so overwhelmed with things we hardly notice. But to her, it's painful- the feeling of the ground beneath her feet- the bright light of the sun- the uncertainty of a stranger. Let me repeat, It's nothing you're doing! It's no one's fault. Something about the way her brain is wired makes her nerves sensitive. She needs hugs- lots of them, and sometimes the intensity of having her head squeezed. She seeks that affection because it's not only good to feel loved but to feel balanced. She has auditory processing disorder. Your words may not make sense to her if there are external forces. She usually needs a visual prompt to understand. She thinks in pictures. She sometimes listens better when she isn't looking at you. She won't always look in your eyes. That's okay with her- as long as it's okay with you. When sensory signals fire off, Melody is in fight or flight mode. Autism isn't an excuse for poor behavior or throwing a fit- but sometimes it's not a fit- sometimes she really is just so overwhelmed. That's what we need our friends and family to see and to understand. Sometimes we get flustered. Please be patient with us and with our little girl. I know your children might feel offended if she doesn't play with them- but she just doesn't understand how to play nor desires it most of the time. Please help your child not feel offended by explaining that it's no one's fault and that her brain just thinks differently. Sometimes her brain can't process other people like we can.
I myself have some type of social anxiety. I literally feel exhausted and overwhelmed when I am in the company of too many people for too long. I really thought something was just wrong with me until I started learning more about the social difficulties with autism and it helped me see that this is more common than we think. A lot of people have sensory issues- they just are not as extreme as those with ASD.
So, with all that being said, this page will serve as updates on her progress, and some of my own musings :) Happy holidays everyone!
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