Posting our story has been so beneficial in many
ways seeing how far our little man has come
The struggles we faced and overcome and still
have to come.
Our different stories shows how while we face
issues relating to ASD, we are still just another family facing the normal
struggles and highlights the same as all families do.
Another milestone has also been achieved these
past months-
After 10 ½ years trying to help with his
non-existent ‘need’ for food, trying to supplement his very minimal very non-sufficient
daily dietary intake, our little man has suddenly (with a little medical
assistance- but still it has happened)- A.J. has found his appetite!
Still learning to understand the different food
tastes and textures, he is slowly trying new things (with lots of
encouragement) he really loves Pasta, Chicken, and even sausages and steak;
He loves fruit, will eat most vegetables especially
greens and potato, carrots -if they are raw, He won’t eat pumpkin, and definitely doesn’t
like beetroot or tomatoes, and the only
way he will eat eggs, onion, mushrooms if it’s used as a ‘flavouring’ for other
foods never as a ‘solid food’
And now we are even gaining progress with eating
at school, which was even more difficult, and his favourite food is ‘a sandwich
with Vegemite and lettuce’
Although he is gaining a love of many foods, he still
restricts the differing brands due to the differing tastes, as with
‘chip’ snacks for school, with A.J. preferring a particular brand, this day I
had purchased another brand for a change and his response was-
A.J.-“nan you
know I don’t like these chips I only have …..(brand)”
Me-“sorry
hunn the shop didn’t have them so I got the other ones instead, how about you
come with me next time and help me pick out the snacks you like”
A.J.-“yes
ok but on one condition, that we only buy my items; you can then take another
trip for your purchases……..And I believe I’ll be getting a contract for that………
………and
before you ask ‘yes’ I am serious. You have NO idea”
Me-………………….?
I am so
proud he is trying new things and although he still hesitates at times, he has
still come a long way from only eating chicken nuggets and pasta.
We are now
heading off to the Dr’s for his 12/13yr old Immunisations, he states to me-
‘I have
powerful strength, so I don’t think I need a needle, and I am too strong to get
a disease”
Waiting for
the nurse and then when she called his name he states again that he really
doesn’t think he needs it
After
assuring him again he’ll be fine and it will help keep him strong to fight the
diseases off properly, he agrees as long as I held his hand
On the way
home he looks at me and says,
“It’s ok Nan;
I feel the strength flowing through my veins now”
Explaining
we now had to go for tea and get ready to go back to the school,
He couldn’t
believe he would need to go to school at ‘night time’
When I
explained that we would be going to a BYOD parent’s workshop,
He said “does
the student need to go? If it’s for parents only, then you can go by yourself”
I replied I
wasn’t sure although the note said ‘parent and student’
A.J.-Well I
give you permission to go alone, it’s ok you’ll be fine…
I think
it’s time for the ‘Little Seal’ to leave the ‘Alpha Male’
Me-Huh? The
little seal should be ‘you’ and I think you should talk to Poppy about being an
‘alpha male’!
A.J.-oh
it’s alright…..Pop understands…..
I am so happy
seeing him laughing and joking
–A little
bit cheeky- but calm and content in his new environment-
After attending
the workshop and arranging the best set-up options for A.J.’s safety on-line,
we hand over his new iPad to him, with a list of must’s and must-not’s for
using it.
He then
begins his first day at school with his device. With the help of the tech-savvy
teachers they have setup his school email and other in-school programs and
email me the links.
At the end
of the day his support teacher helps him to send me his first email……
Receiving it,
reading as follows………
Title – DEMANDS…
Nan, you know why I can
give demands?
‘cos I’m awesome!!!!!
That’s right, I said it…..
lol
-------
The next day I receive another message…
Title – CAN YOU HEAR
ME!!!
Plz return message if you
get this message.
I can’t get to you
through my normal mail, I had to use the school portal, I think due to the
school internet weakness.
This may be my last hope……
My reply…
Hello A.J. yes I got it
A.J. replies…
Yes, now I can communicate
to you
Oh excellent I won’t lose
my head, I found your address in Contacts,
So I guess “check mate”,
you were right, it is handy to have other info in my contacts
Luv you and I’m homesick
------
And now it
has become a daily ritual to send me some type of message during his lesson
after lunch, I think I will include this in his IEP to assure he gains that
area of learning and structured letter writing format.
So proud!!
The daily
regular routine begins - Breakfast…get dressed…clean teeth…wash face+hands…he
hands me his hairbrush to do his hair, just right…rushing to gather everything
together collecting his books and lunch and taking his packed bag to the
door…he then hurries back to his room for just a few more minutes on his Sony
game before we leave for school……
……After
discussions with his teacher, I have realised it is all part of the preparation
process and it’s evident that it ‘has to occur’ to maintain calm to get through
the day.
The state
election was on this weekend and preparing to vote; A.J. had asked to take a
break from medication and although I know it never ends well with his anxiety
etc, especially if we have to venture outside the safety realm of the home, sometimes
it’s best to allow this,
…for three
reasons…
1-to give
him the ability of choice
2-to allow
him the understanding of why he needs it
3-because
he can
Within an
hour of being out of bed he was bouncing off the walls, well not literally,
although to others looking on it does seem like it.
The pacing
and fidgeting begins and the rambling about anything and everything in his own
form of gibberish…….ohhh yes it IS going to be a long day!!!!!
Preparing to
leave to vote, it is a long drawn out struggle to get the right clothes and put
his shoes on, as he had already set his sights on “Lazy A.J. day” which entails
PJ’s, Dressing Gown and lots of movies. Finally he comes out in warm long-sleeve
jumper and a pair of shorts……
…..”I don’t
think so”…… “Back in and get your trackpants”.
We are now heading towards the Easter school
holidays coming upon us, and with it will also come the end of …Daylight
Savings… and the preparations for Changing Routine due to waking and sleep-time
in regards to our body-clock.
These can be so simple to most, although
dramatic to our little ones.
A.J. has in the past
really struggled with this concept, having his body-clock taking longer than
most to adjust to the changes, so with this year falling at the start of
holidays we are definitely pleased to have that time to help him adjust.
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