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!

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!

It has been too long

So the idea of keeping everyone up to date was a great one but boy does time fly. We are going in to month three of Logan's full time therapy and the changes are amazing. I can't believe a few months ago I was excited about Logan wanting chocolate milk. The other day he was sitting in the living room with me I mentioned it was time for dinner and Logan yelled to Ruby (she was upstairs) come down now it is time for dinner.

Ruby is still having some difficulties adjusting and I am just trying to be patient and understand it is so much for a five year old to absorb. We have a psychologist that is spending sometime with her to help her understand everything. She was over the other day and she asked Ruby "how is Logan different from you" Ruby said he is a boy, he is smaller/younger than me, and he is stronger than me. In my mind I was thinking it is so refreshing that to her Autism does not have a label. Don't get me wrong there are down sides at times. I have dealt with her asking if Logan will be autistic for the rest of his life, she has asked for a different brother, and she has warned her friends that want to come over for a playdate that her brother is autistic and they have to be nice even if he is not. But in all she is so wonderful with him. She must say to me "that was so cute" at least once a day.

Logan is learning new tasks everyday. He can now put on his jacket. He can use his daily scheduler so he knows what is going on day to day. He has mastered Cariboo, Pop up Pirate, and Memory. So at this time family game night is almost Typical. I used typical because what is "normal". He is currently learning how to play Go Fish I can't get over how fast he has learned it. These games provide Logan with joint attention skills and turn taking. While he is playing he is making eye contact, taking turns and waiting patiently.

He has mastered many clothing labels and all most all body parts. It is so int resting to see him learn these labels and watching how his brain works. When going through all the body parts if you are to switch and pull on you pant leg and say what is this he says knee because his brain is still focused on body parts. After working on body parts then moving and playing something else if you were to pull on your pant leg and say what is this he says pants! The brain is a funny thing. It would work the same way if we were working on shapes and then pointed at the door he would say rectangle. Every thing is so literal.

If Autism has never touch your life and you just don't get is you need to see Temple Grandin the movie. It was recently on HBO. I watched it and was speech let.

I will post more often.

Clinic Day

We went to Logans first clinic. This is where our team all gets together to talk about Logans progress and brainstorm ideas to solve challenges and come up with new goals. It gives us all an opportunity to get on the same page. As parents it shows us how to work with Logan and allows us to ask questions.
His clinic went really well the General Comments/Observations were as follows:
Logan has been doing very well; he is progressing nicely through his programs. However staff have seen an increase in number of tantrums over the past couple of weeks. The antecedent for tantrums are normally based on transitions (moving from something highly preferred to something else.) On average there are 1.25 tantrums a day that range in length from 2minutes up to 30 minutes. Logan's hoarding behaviour is almost non-existent in sessions and his flapping has also decreased, on average Logan flaps nine times per session. Logan's flapping behaviour is only occurring when he is very excited. All in all Logan has been showing great progress!
It is also noted that Logan will sit at his desk during non preferred tasks 9 out of ten times, after a short period of time on something preferred Logan remains calm when asked to clean it up without a warning, he is responding to clean up, come here, sit down, give it to me. Logan also is answering yes/no, and asking to do it again, asking help please, and saying I don't know. They are working on Turn taking and Logan will wait for the other person to complete their turn before taking his turn. 77% of the time. As he currently waits his turn playing with two people they will now add another person. When it is Logans turn he will only take one piece at a time instead of hoarding all the pieces. Logan is also playing memory when he is presented with 3 cards he will only flip over two to see if it is a match. If they match he will put one on top of the other and place them in the container. If there is no match then he will flip both cards back over and leave them in place then choose 2 new cards till he finds a match. They will now go to four cards. Logan will complete 3 simple close-ended activities that take up to 5 minutes to complete. They will now up the time to 10 minutes. When playing Cariboo Logan will match a colour card to its appropriate match 40% of the time they will now move on to letter cards. When handing something to anther person Logan will make eye contact 43% of the time next they will work on when receiving an item from another person Logan will make eye contact. When working on haircutting desensitization 83% of the time Logan will remain calm when running fingers through hair as if getting it ready to cut with the scissors open, and when opening and closing the scissors. He will also remain calm when running a comb through is hair dry and wet. They have also introduced getting Logan to put on and take off his boots and are working on show Logan which is right and which is left for his boots. They have also shown Logan grabbing his jacket off a hook by the hood and finding the tag inside. Logan is also working very hard on his pincer grasp using clothes pins (clipping it to paper) and tweezers (to pick stuff up). Last but not least they have been working on Ruby time to show both kids how to play by simple turn taking and for Logan to ask Ruby for help and asking her to give him items he needs.
In all Daddy and I are so proud of the progress Logan has made and we enjoyed watching him on Clinic day. He was so proud of himself and when working on everything Logan had a huge smile on his face that tells me we are on the right road.

Happy Valentines Day!!

Logan's therapy is progressing well. He is now starting to realize that it is not all play and there are expectations for him in sessions. At times he does not like these expectations and has a tantrum. He has met another milestone as he has learned to put on and take off his shoe. He is so proud when he does this. Who knew I would be so happy about him putting on/taking off his shoes but it is wonderful to see him become a bit more independant. He is also doing well with teeth brushing. He actually tolerates it without me pinning him down. My next challenge is the dentist....Tuesday we go to the dentist I am expecting the worst hoping for the best. I will keep you posted on what transpires.

Chocolate Milk Please!

It has been too long since my last post. My intent is not to have such a long time between posts but life happens. We are away for a bit. We are in to BC to watch Nana (my mom) participate in the 2010 Olympic Torch Relay. What a wonderful experiance for the kids. Although Logan could have done without the crowds they are enjoying themselves.
We flew her and I was very nervous that Logan would not like the flight. He did so GREAT. We talk to him about it being loud and told him we were going to drive a bit, then blast off and go in the clouds he really liked that. When it was time to land we told him we were leaving the clouds, then bump, drive really fast and stop. I think he thought it was a great ride.
I am such a proud mom and Ruby is a proud sister. The other day Logan looked a us and said "want chocolate milk please...I firsty!" Ruby said to me "mom I don't think Logan is Autistic anymore!". I asked her why and she said "because he can talk better now". To be a child and things be so easy. Sometime I think we take life to seriously. My kids are both so innocent sometimes it is nice to look at things the way they do...it is refreshing.