May 13, 2010

Life is Sweet


So we have has some memorable moments around our house lately. The first was for the past week when asked to do something Logan would say Yes Sir! or Yes Master! I am not sure where he heard it but it has made us giggle every time. It has recently subsided which is great because it started to get old after a week. The next phrase that got a giggle was when Logan needed help instead of asking for Help! He was saying Mayday Mayday Mayday we are losing altitude! I finally figured out it is from one of the three Ice Age movies. If you are not too familiar with Logan he tends to memorize a movie after watching it once. He will repeat movie quotes back when he is at a loss of words. It is rather cute.

I had a wonderful Mothers Day. Logan and Ruby let me sleep in...thanks to Dad and Aunt B (as Ruby had a sleep over). When we were driving somewhere with Logan he said I love watching movie, and I Love Mama! There were times I never thought I would hear those words from our son. It brought tears to my eyes and warm my heart. He has come so far.

Logan is continuing to make progress! The other day he took off his own Pajamas and put on his shirt and pants.....yeah Logan. That evening when Logan took his shirt off and put on his Pajama shirt for Ruby she cheered and said I think I am going to cry!! We are all so proud of him. I just went to his clinic yesterday and they are thrilled with the strides he is making!

I have noticed a change in Logan when we play outside with the kids in the complex. Logan now chases them around instead of wanting to play in the puddle or sandbox alone. The other day he had a complete melt down because he wanted the a toy gun the kids were playing laser tag with they let him have it for a bit and he chased them around with it but was not keen on sharing the gun. I carried him in the house kicking and screaming and I had a smile from ear to ear because my boy wanted to continue to play with the other kids. It made me remember that life is sweet and we have come so far!

May 1, 2010

Haircut time

After months of desensitizing and practicing for a haircut it was finally time to book an appointment at our local hairdressers. Logan was going for his first haircut! Well not really first but the first that I did not have to hold him down in the chair and listen to him scream and cry for half an hour. There was one hitch. We woke up to 20cm of snow....What do you do? In hindsight I should have called the salon asked if they were open and maybe postponed it! I had been telling Logan that we were going and he seemed excited so I wanted to seize the opportunity. The aides and OT had been working since January to walk through all the steps of a haircut which included cutting small bit of hair on a daily basis. I was so excited to see Logan with a "normal" haircut. Again in hindsight I should have been patient. The salon was closed due to weather when we showed up. Damn! So instead of going home I found another salon that was open. Our aide and I tried to explain to the non English speaking hairdresser that Logan needed to take baby steps. If he could only sit in the chair today that was fine. So Logan got in the chair. The cape was put around him...I was so proud of these accomplishments alone as they were huge for Logan. The hairdresser pulled out the razor still good we practiced this at home....then the razor nip his skin and that was enough. After a five minute break Logan sat in the chair again. We asked the hairdresser to go slow when cutting a few cuts then stop a few more then stop but she did not speak English she went all Edward Sissorhands on Logan's hair when the hair fell on his lap that was the end of that. He was done for the day. After telling the hairdresser we were all done she insisted she could finish. We said no we are all done. When she was following Logan with the sissors cutting his hair when he was walking his aide just told her NO MORE he is done thank you. So I did not get a "normal" looking haircut on my boy but it did teach me that slow and steady works for Logan. We have an appointment next week at the original Salon that understands Logan's needs. If he can only sit in the chair that will be fine with me.
After our "lesson" with the hairdresser I told Logan he was so brave. I asked what he would like for a treat and because we were close to Costco he said he wanted a cookie. So into Costco and to the bakery so we could get him a free cookie. Then we went to get some lunch in the cafeteria part of Costco. Logan was stimming alot after his haircut and he was not listening. So it should not have been a surprise when he fell off his bench and onto the cement floor head first! This is where I must vent. To any parent or person who knows about Autism it would have been clear that Logan was Autistic he was (spinning, flapping, jumping on his toes..ect). On that day though none of those educated people were in Costco when Logan fell. The people that were there all looked at me and shook their heads. Most likely thinking what a brat. My son is not a brat...he was not ignoring me by choice. In my perfect world everyone will know what Autism "looks like". So today when you see a "bratty" kid in the mall try walking by without judgement you just never know maybe he just made it though his first haircut!