Therapy Thursday

Lot's of good feelings going on. 

N-Zilla in the waiting room doing pretend play.  It's kinda a big deal and it's happening more and more!   

...good things too...

 

As stressful as this whole ARD/IEP business has been, their have been lots of good things too.

Like this morning...N-Zilla stayed home from school today and while I checked my email he got a wire (from I don't know where) and pretended to go fishing.  He came up to me with his imaginary catch and asked me if I was hungry.  This is kinda of a amazing thing.  Spontaneous imagination isn't something that N-Zilla does much.  I cried the first time he pretend to take a picture with a plastic container.  Everything before that was trains, trains, train. 

AND...

Last week we missed the bus.  Meaning N-Zilla and I stayed up way to late and I hit the snooze button one to many times.   Before getting myself to work, I took Talulah to daycare, dropped off Crazy Horse at school, and was on my way to take N-Zilla to school  4 exits away.  We saw a stray dog when N-Zilla said, " Oh Mommy a puppy. He he he sad. He he he mom sad.  Puppy need look for him mommy and him daddy. He he he need 'em".   He was having a conversation with me about something.  And it was WONDERFUL!   Before that it has been very rare that he has any conversations with me about anything other then his likes.  This was the first time at 4 1/2 years old that N-Zilla talked to me about something that was happening.   It was unexpected.  I played it cool not wanting to embarrass him.  I just carried on with the conversation but inside I felt as if I was watching him walk across a stage getting an award or graduating.  That  was how much pride I felt for my little boy.  

AND...

A few weekends ago, I was folding laundry (again) and in the corner of my eye I saw N-Zlla walk into the restroom lift the toilet seat and go to the restroom.  By himself.  I heard the faucet turn off.  N-Zilla walked to me and this is how our conversation went:

N-Zilla: I boy

Me:     Yes, yes you are a boy  

N-Zilla: I bust da Gems

Me: You bust the jams?    

N-Zilla: NO! da gems da gems I bust da gems.

Me: Do you mean you washed your hands?

N-Zilla: Yes I bust da gems! (lifts hands )

Me: You washed your hand and washed off the germs?

N-Zilla: Yes!

Me: Oh! well, good job then.

This was huge!  He went to the bathroom by himself.  I usually have alarms on my phone to remind me that he needs to sit on the toilet.  He washed his hands by himself AND told me about it.  Another proud moment. 

So yeah...ARDS are stressful, having strict routines to follow stresses me out but lots of good things are happening too. 

  

New and Big Things are happening in the world of N-Zilla

N-Zilla is turning 3 this weekend!  Lots of things are changing and big things are happening.  This is a exciting and scarey time.  Obviously because new things and events are coming our way...it's exciting.  However, with new things come new routines, first times, and mini break downs. From either me or N-Zilla :D   Since I've started this blog and tried to educate myself as much as I can about Autism and SPD, I don't feel as unsure and blind when dealing with new things (related to N-Zilla or SPD).


             NEW THINGS

1. Huge thing...no more ECI.  I am bummed about that.  I will diffidently miss our visits.  I know N-Zilla will miss Flora the most (if your reading this... it's the one with the blond hair).  I got a little teary eyed durning the very last visit with Flora.  N-Zilla seems the most attached and affectionate with her.  It hurt because he has no idea he will never see her again.  I am thankful that she was a part of his life.  I will take the 10 months that ECI was in our lives.

2. N-Zilla is turning 3 this weekend.  We've decided to take him to Morgans Wonderland.  You should really look it up...It's awesome.  All four of my kids love this place.  Contemplating inviting the IL's to join us, so they can see N-Zilla in his element. Still undecided about that one.  I can't believe that N-Zilla my Loveable and Destructive boy is going to be 3!

3.  Real play.  Real play is number 3 on the New Things list.  I got this phrase from Toy Story 3.  It's also on a shirt that N-Zilla has.  I know what your thinking...big whoop, the boy plays with toys, but it is a BIG WHOOP.  A couple months ago I posted that N-Zilla did pretend play for the first time.  Something I didn't pay much attention to with my older children...because they just did.  N-Zilla however had been stuck in this loop of trains and Thomas for months.  He had repeated the same scene for over 6 months. "Stop Thomas". "Oh no it's stuck".  "No". "Oh no."  "Help me". "Help me Thomas". Followed by a crashing sound.  He set up all his toys to match this exact scene. If you have NetFlix look up Thomas and Misty Island, when you see the scene where one of the trains drops the Jobi wood you'll see our ground hogs day moment.  Every now and again he would shout, "Thomas and Friends".  Now I see him playing pretend with leggo's.  He plays with stuffed animals and pretend they are babies.  N-Zilla also pretends to cook and feed me.  Of course he just wouldn't be N-Zilla if he didn't play with trains, but now he say's, "All fired up and ready to go".  Things are changing and it's good.

4.  In August N-Zilla will go to Pre-K! This is very new and big news.  I'm not sure if I went over the A.R.D Meeting that decided this?  Our little N-Zilla will be going to school on a bus.  I'm apprehensive about the bus.  N-Zilla loves car rides, but I don't trust any one. How will I know he will be safe with the driver.  It scares me because N-Zilla does not have the verbal skills (yet) to tell me if something is wrong.  I just kinda pick up the clues at home when it comes N-Zilla.  I know when he is hungry, tired, or  in a bad mood.  I can also pick up on his anxiety when we are in public.  What if someone hurts him and he can't tell me.  I know...helicopter mother right?  Not really.  Remember this is new to me too.  For the (very) most part.  Pre-K is a good thing.  He will split his time with a special ed and general ed class room.  In addition to that he will go to speech therapy four times a week for 30min.  I'm sure at first N-Zilla will be overwhelmed, but this time he will be at a school that won't give up on him. 

Things that might always stay the same:

1. N-Zilla's rrrrrrreeeeeepppppeeeeetttttiiiiiiiittttttiiiiiiiivvvvvvvveeeeeeennnnnneeeeesssssssss. 
2. His ability to be Loveable and Destructive.
3. His obsession with trains.
4. The dislike for touching paint.


So...within the next two months I will have a 3 year old in Pre K and a 11year old in middle school.  Our world is changing and I am excited.

.....And on the fifth day there was Play!

THURSDAY...THE BABY'S 1ST BIRTHDAY

N-Zilla was awesome.  I remember when my oldest daughter (Crazy Horse) turned one, I had cupcakes for her and Son #1 wanted all the attention.  N-Zilla was happy playing by himself but he also played great with the other toddlers at the house.  No tantrums when the other kids touched his trains.  And he politely as much as a 2 year old loveable and destructive boy can, asked for a non-frosted cupcake.  (Side note: I think for N-Zilla's 3rd birthday I am going to make non-frosted cupcakes.)  After the candle were blown out, and all the hub-bub was around the table watching The Baby eat her cupcake, The N-Zilla grabbed his Thomas the Train blanket and sat on the couch.

FRIDAY....SEA WORLD

N-Zilla's first trip to Sea World San Antonio.  First stop...feed the dolphins.  We didn't feed the dolphins.  The line was to long but that didn't stop us from getting as close as we could do the dolphins.  I was a little embarrassed of my parental skills because my loveable and destructive two year old was yelling, " Ooooo, Fish"!  But given that he was only saying mom and dad  little less then a year ago...calling a mammal a fish seems acceptable.

   It got sticky twice during the day.  At the Bay of Play...we were sitting waiting to watch the show.  Ernie, Bert, Cookie Monster, and Zoe were gonna sing for the tots.  Mr. S and I let the big kids go off and do their own thing while we waited for live action Sesame Street.  Mr. S had The Baby, and I had N-Zilla.  Less then a few minutes into waiting and N-Zilla had had enough.  I looked around and saw all the other toddlers sitting..fidgeting a little, but N-Zilla was going into full blown destructive mode. I could see Mr. S trying to keep his patience.  So, once again I was the mom in the crowd of people; holding her son rocking back and forth, While Mr. S squeezed his arms and legs (that calms him down). The show started and commenced the N-Zilla dance-a-thon.

  Second sticky situation...Rosita's all you can eat buffet.  Usually N-Zilla carries his Thomas bag where ever he goes.  At restaurants, I usually sit him at a table by him self..he sets up his track and trains..then eats.  We didn't bring his bag to Sea World...First we had found a booth big enough for all the gang...but N-Zilla was gonna get destructive.  I didn't want to ruin lunch for everyone.  I sat N-Zilla at a table near everyone else.  Mr. S and I sat at the table with N-Zilla and The Baby.   I felt good that Mr. S chose to sit alienated with me.  He doesn't usually get to see this side of N-Zilla our very loveable and destructive son.  Once again N-Zilla was getting antsy...this time he grabbed my hand put them on his arm and made the motion for me to pinch his arm.  It wasn't too bad, their was a few kids who I'm sure didn't have sensory issues jumping over the booths.  Which made N-Zilla look loveable and docile.  

  I took the two younger ones to see the Shamu show (it's not called that but you know that I meant killer whale).  All in all it was a great first Trip to Sea World San Antonio.. Hopefully next time I will have a camera. 

not just the cell phone.

Picture taken by B.A Martin.  N-Zilla looking at the roller coaster.  

SATURDAY .....BIRTHDAY PARTY

This day not so good.  The older kids were invited to a birthday part of our close friends son.  We all went..cause..what the heck, it's good to get out of the house.  We went to ZTD's.  I don't know what that stands for but it's like a Scandia (in southern California).  Two steps into the door and I could tell that my boy was over whelmed.  Their was this sound that was driving him crazy...every time it went off N-Zilla covered his ears..

We left early...the big kids stayed with the guest of honor.






SUNDAY....EASTER

With out going to every detail...we went to the river for Easter...and N-Zilla was perfectly happy playing with his trains in the middle of the crowd.

Playing with his trains.  Picture taken by my crappy Black Berry

Sometime while making myself  a sandwich, N-Zilla decided to be a ninja and disappear. I looked up and he was gone  My biggest fear when at the river is that one of my kids will drown or a pedophile will kidnap them.  I started yelling out his name...turns out the boy was at the park...I wanted to cry...but instead I spanked him...(ya..I..know).

MONDAY....JUST ANOTHER DAY

Monday was just another day.  Except, today was the first time that I saw N-Zilla do pretend play! Even when he is playing with his moon sand, he some how makes it about trains.  However, today I was taking pictures of  The Baby....then N-Zilla picked up a container and started pretending to take pictures.  He made the sound of the flash and turned the container around to "look" at the picture.  I know that this doesn't sound like a big idea...but N-Zilla hasn't done pretend play outside of trains and cars for the past 2 1/2 years, so today was a milestone!  It just reminded me of how I took for granted these types of things when Crazy Horse and Son # 1 were babies.

N-Zilla pretending to take pictures

Of course he had to take pictures of his Thomas Trains.