NO, not Toys R Us, but TOY and then RUS (two words) TOY-RUS. That's what my monkey calls the store. He finally connected that if he asks for a toy, he can be driven to a store to buy it. Given that he has never really asked us to buy anything for him and we have missed birthday and Christmas gifts because of autism, we are enjoying this TOY RUS phase. He's been to Toys R Us before but never really paid much attention. Last month during a random visit, his eyes lit up, and he did not even know where to begin. He was very excited to look around and pick out a toy (or two). So what if they are all baby toys and he is eight years old? He gets it. Finally.
During the days that followed after that visit, he kept asking for TOY RUS and LADY BUG TOY over and over. I searched online for a ladybug toy and could not find what he wanted. The following week I took him again. I warned him it would be a quick five minutes (another new concept he now gets). I said in my best Tarzan autism speak "Five minutes, ladybug toy, and then bye bye." He just stared at me. Once inside, he happily walked ran in with me. I took him to all the sections he had previously visited with no success. Finally, I remembered one more area we had not looked in yet. Imagine my surprise when he picked up, not a LADY BUG TOY, but a LEARNING BUG TOY. I didn't understand him correctly. It is, however, shaped like a ladybug. He was so happy to hold it and walked to pay for it with me with no problem. So cool! I was delighted, he was happy, and the world made a lot more sense. A regular outing for us: no tears, no tantrums, no autism woes. Wow! He asked using his limited speech, and he received. Never mind that I didn't initially get the name right. I beamed knowing this exchange happened.
During the next month, he asked for TOY RUS every day after school. Of course, I din't take him every day, can't go bankrupt on this hobby now. But I do drive him once a month or so for a treat, and he always has the best time.
Lately, he's been using movie, online, and TV scripted lines and plugging them in at appropriate situations. When I pulled up he said: "I can't wait to play again!" As I took a little long putting stuff away in the car he said: "C'mon everybody, let's go outside!" As we walked towards the door he pointed and exclaimed "This way!" and "Let's go!" Once we got home, he said: "Here we are!"
At this rate, if TOY RUS keeps getting us such communication results we just might have to go once a week! He loves getting a new toy, obviously, but I can also tell he enjoys knowing that we now understand his requests.
I might be too much of a dreamer, but this just might be a spectacular Christmas: one we have been dreaming of for a long time.
A girl can dream, can't she? Is it December yet?
So where was I all this time? Well, when I last blogged I announced I was pregnant. I had another baby boy, Quinn, in May 2009. That in itself was full of challenges. The past year and a half was mainly about my pregnancy, transitioning into life from 1 to 2 kids and all that it entails.
School started as usual that fall and Kai began 2nd grade. He had a new teacher who I really liked, but I began to get fed up with the administration and the lack of attention to "our" ASD kids. I spent the last three years trying to do things for the kids at the school. I attempted to organize a parent support group, became room mom and helped organize their parties and anything needed. I chaperoned field trips, volunteered more often than not and each time I was welcomed with a slap in the face, attitudes, and red tape. By the time January 2010 came, I was done. We started paperwork to get him out of the public school system and enrolled him in a private school. Did I mention that the last straw was when I encountered resistance to bringing in an air purifier to my son's room? Yet another lifestyle change came our way. We now have payments we did not have before given the school is 30 minutes from our house! It had to be done. He is 8. We refused to let him rot in the public school system and not give him a chance at a better education. I cannot waste time fighting for his rights so that by the time he is 20 and too late I might have made a dent in all their red-tape bullshit. Not happening. Not on my watch.
This last March we switched doctors to one four hours from our house. So far, so good. He also started hippotherapy and has been doing a social skills group once a week as well. We have all been busy making sure the kids' needs are met.
Quinn has been a blessing and a joy to our entire family. He is a very happy, social and laid-back baby. He just turned a year old and does have some motor skill delays (no crawling, pulling up or walking), but no autism. He started to babble at 11 months, said "momma" at 12 months and is beginning to wave bye-bye. Late, but it's there. He has great eye contact too! We have taken every known precaution before and during the pregnancy and this past year. Only time will tell if we beat the autism monster or not. Kai loves to steal Quinn's toys, and Quinn just adores to watch all he does intently.
I recently took a leave of absence from my job to care full-time for Quinn and truly dedicate this next year to catching him up with his therapies and at home care. This should leave more time to blog. I am glad to be back. I have missed it!
Hope everyone has a fantastic summer!
Well, sort of.
I will tell you all that I made a new year's resolution to start blogging again and well, as you can see, it's June! Better late than never?
There is so much to tell that I do not know where to start. A lot of significant changes in our lives including a brand spanking new baby brother for the little monkey! Needless to say, I have been busy.
I plan on reviewing where I left off and just picking it up with our day to day new adventures. I will fit in a review of our lives since December 2008 up to now. Let's see how I can make it a short one! Yikes!
I might also start a new blog to pair up with this one for the newest member of our family. Maybe.
Thanks for reading and for the messages I have received all this time during my hiatus.
