Toilet training

The joy that most parents face in the first 5 years of their little ones life. It can be the source of the greatest frustrations for some. For both child and parent. Especially with a special needs child.

We are now going through this for the 3rd time (yes that is right we have tried twice before!). It started off ok. But now we are getting to the defient stage again. Which is where it gets frustrating. There is a new trick that started yesterday. If I keep wetting/soiling mummy will stick me in the bath and I get water play! This will be short lived if mummy has her way.

But it seems that it is 1 step forward and 3 back at the moment. After a week though I am sure he will master it eventually. We have gone on outings now with no issue. They just seem to be at home. Sigh. I am sure over time it will get better. But for now the washing machine and dryer are getting a full work out!

All Partied out

Thankfully all the birthday festivities are over with. But what a great idea it was to outsource the birthday party. The children had a ball. Even if pass the parcel was a hilarious event, which it seems to be at 3 year olds parties.

The birthday boy was so happy that all of his best girls were there. Yes he had boys at his party, but honestly the girls that came really made his day.

Will we out source again? Yes maybe every other year. Would I choose the same venue. Let me get back to you on that one!

But the main thing is they all had fun!

The Birthday Boy.

Yesterday was Thomas's 3rd Birthday. It was a very exciting day action packed and full of surprises and treats around every corner. He got very spoilt by everyone.

The day started at Nan and Pops as we had stayed over night. It took some convincing that it was actually finally his Birthday. It was not until Daddy told him that he finally believed it. There were presents and cake, before getting in the car and heading home.

Once home and nap time was done, the toys were played with and part 2 of the day started by going on an afternoon tea play date at my sisters house. The boys had a fantastic afternoon chasing each other and playing. And yep there was MORE cake.

Part 3. Dinner. This was just with the 3 of us. It was divine. Once again our favourite restaurant did not disappoint, they were warm welcoming and made the night special for Thomas and us. Including yet another birthday cake. So he truly got the most out of his day.

More amusing conversations

J: Thomas can you hop down from the chair.
T: I don't Like too (insert whiny voice.).
J: Little Princess hop down off the chair now!
T: I am not a Little Princess.
(For those who are not familiar with Little Princess, it is a show on ABC 4 Kids on channel 22. She is a whiny little princess who is spoilt rotten and I swear she is totally on the spectrum!)

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J: What day is it tomorrow Thomas?
T: School day.
J: Well done Thomas.
T: Mummy it is a your time day too.
M: yes Thomas who are right.

(On certain Thursday's there is a program for parents at the Early intervention unit called My Time. The parents go off to another room/building and have an education session whilst extra carers take care of the children. It also means we can have a hot coffee and a break too.)

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Every day Thomas astounds me with the information he knows and the conversations we have. He is so adamant as well about the things he knows. This week we had a new respite carer, who obviously had not been exposed to a child with Aspergers before. I could see she was constantly comparing her son and Thomas. But was amazed at how well he could hold a conversation with me and how much he could tell her about the animals we were looking at. Gosh I love having a little professor some days.

Sound

It can be such a wonderful thing. We like it in our lives becuase mostly it is pleasant. We can communicate more effectively, show emotion, relax to music, and even dance to our heart content.

But in the world of Aspergers sound can be a double edged sword. Sound can make an Aspie, cringe and go into full scale meltdown one minuet and then calm and relax them the next. Just depending on the type of sound.

For Thomas, the sound of church is too much. He can be happy and content before the service starts. But as soon and the organ starts and the parish starts to sign, it makes him hyper and anxious. He can't sit still or be held securely. He wiggles fidgets and even gets aggressive.

But put baby Mozart on his CD player and he is calm and content.

The other interesting thing, is these Aspies often hate loud startling noises, but they are the worst offenders for making loud and obnoxious noises. Take this morning for example. It started with noise. Banging on bedroom walls and banging the bedroom door closed over and over again.

Then singing none stop in a medley fashion of all the songs he knows, VERY loudly. Currently even though I am sitting at the same table as him having breakfast. I am getting HELLO HELLO non stop and all other types of loud ramblings. It is very loud in this house this morning. But if I got up and put the radio or iPod on Full scale war would eventuate, because it is my noise, not his.

OMG what happened???

This is what I have been facing every where I go lately. Because currently I am the bionic mum. I have a special brace from my arm pit to wrist.


This is all becuase I am raising Thomas. Yes, being the mum to Thomas comes with loads of joy, but occasionally pain. A month or two ago when Thomas was allowed to be in our bed he jumped on my wrist hyper extending my elbow over the edge of the bed. OUCH is not the word. I have damaged the ligaments.

So yes. What happened. Thomas happened. Raising a child with an ASD is like training for the Marathon of your life. It is exhilarating, but it has it's painful moments. You push through them and never give up. Because you simply can't. You don't get to rest. So instead you modify and recover slowly.

OT and Aspie moments.

Today was his second session of OT today. It went really well. He flitted from one activity to the next, but his therapist was great at keeping him on track. He even got to play with scissors.
The funniest moment came when she asked Thomas to crack open the theraputty to find the animals inside. The first one was a tiny baby (rubber) crocodile. Well that scared him and he almost refused to look at it, let alone touch it. Funny as. Even now he will tell you he was scared of the crocodile.

The Aspie moment of the day way the best. Being a direct Aspie child can really work in ones favour. I asked the neighbour (builder) what he was going to do to repair the back yard. He told me he would get around to it soon. Hm-mm. Like this mummy believes that.

Next thing Thomas goes over to the fence to ask him when is he going to fix his grass back up. Because he wants to play. I love my son.