halloween celebrating at school

Bob and SJ's school had their Halloween celebration on Friday.  I was a party parent for SJ's room with another student's mom.  We had small pumpkins for them to decorate and Ghost Bowling for them to play.  She had arrived a little earlier than I and gratefully had most of them in their costumes.  We passed out the pumpkins for them to begin decorating.  A few minutes later, other classrooms began parading through SJ's room (including Bob's).  Bob was dressed up a "classic ghost", which is just a white sheet with holes for his eyes thrown over his head.  SJ was dressed up as Waluigi (from the Mario Bros. series).  SJ's class tagged on to another 4th grade class and joined the parade. 

While the kids were parading, the other mother and I busied ourselves with passing out their Halloween treats.  They arrived back in the room a few minutes later.  Some kids were eating, some were decorating the pumpkins, some were just socializing and some were playing the Ghost Bowling. 

What was so amazing to me was that SJ proceeded to introduce me to each and every classmate.  He also told them what my Halloween costume was going to be (Velma Dinkley).  SJ has made such strides socially in the last year.  I am not sure if it is from the extra speech therapy or that he is simply maturing.  Whatever it is, I will take it!  I thoroughly enjoyed seeing all the kids in their costumes and having fun, but I really enjoyed seeing SJ blend in with the rest of his typical classmates!

after school speech part 7

On Thursday, my husband took SJ to his after school speech.  His therapist was focusing on answering What, Where, Who and When questions.  She would have SJ read a very short news report.  Then, she would have him answer the question.

For example:  New Coffee Shop Opens
                  The Coffee Pot is now open on Main Street.  They have great coffee.
                  "Just don't ask for food," says owner Lola Mibbs.  "If you want food, don't come here.  We only sell coffee.  I'm not kidding!"
                  WHAT is not for sale at The Coffee Pot?

After SJ answered the question, he was able to add a touch to his jack-o-lantern cutout (huge reward for him since he loves Halloween!).  She told my husband that he did okay with this activity.  This is an area of struggle for him, so that was to be expected.  I liked that the news reports were short (long reading tasks are very stressful for SJ) and that he got to complete a part of the jack-o-lantern with each answer.  His therapist is doing such a nice job with him.  My husband told her how grateful we are that she is making such progress with SJ. 

After speech, SJ had his McDonald's and went out costume shopping with my husband.  SJ was set, but Daddy needed some help.  They came home with some Halloween treats, a Shaggy costume for my husband and a very happy SJ!

day at the pumpkin farm

Bob had a soccer game today.  We don't always take SJ to the away games.  They are kind of far away and the coach needs them to be there 45 minutes early.  There isn't much for SJ to do, so my husband and I have been taking turns staying home with SJ.  It was my turn to stay home with SJ, so I took him to Renshaw Farms.  This is a local farm that is about 15 miles from our house. 

We needed to get a bunch of mini pumpkins for SJ's Halloween party at school.  I am one of the party moms for his class.  We are going to have the kids decorate the mini pumpkins as a craft.  SJ had to select 19 mini pumpkins.  They had a nice selection and they were very reasonably priced (3 for $1).  After we paid for the mini pumpkins, we walked them to our car. 

We walked back and SJ posed in most of the photo cutout displays.  He said some of them were for "little" kids, so he skipped them.  Then, he discovered the hay bale climbing area.  He climbed all the way to top and yelled "I am king of the world!"  Sometimes, he is so funny!   There was a pond that had a bridge walkway.  He went out on it several times.  He really seemed to enjoy that, but he was making me a little nervous.  I was afraid he was going to fall into the pond.

After he was done with the pond and play area, we bought a wristband that got us a hayride, admittance into the hay maze and petting zoo.  We did the hay maze first.  He LOVED it!  He kept running down the paths saying "I hope this is not a trap!"  We finally made it out of the maze after a few minutes.  We went to look at the animals in the petting zoo.  They had pigs, mules, mini horses, cows and rabbits.  Every once in a while, SJ would say that something smelled bad.  I looked at him and said, "Of course it smells, we are on a farm." 

When we finished looking at the animals, we got on the hayride.  The tractor took us out to the pumpkin field.  They still had plenty of pumpkins.  I had SJ pick out a pumpkin for himself and Bob.  While we were waiting for the tractor to take us back, SJ was posing for more pictures.  He would stop and put one foot up on the pumpkin.  It was as if he discovered something amazing.  The pumpkins he picked were fairly heavy, but I was able to tote them back to pay for them.  I thought the farm staff would weigh them, but they eyeballed them for size.  SJ had selected two $6 pumpkins (another bargain!).

Finally, we went into the building to play a few games.  They had a duck pond game and spin art.  SJ did both.  He got some cute Halloween toys and made a beautiful spin art picture.  As we were walking back to our car, I was a little sad that Bob couldn't be there.  It was a lovely way to spend an autumn day!

after school speech part 6

On Thursday, SJ was back at speech again.  His therapist told me she was going to be setting new goals for SJ.  She wanted to know if I had anything specific that he needed to work on.  I asked her if I could think about it and let her know next week.  She said that was fine and took SJ back.  While SJ was at his appointment, I ran to get his McDonald's.  As I was sitting in the drive through line, I realized I should have told her to work on his reading comprehension.  I know she is not a reading specialist, but I thought she could have him read a paragraph or two.  After he reads them to her, she could ask him a few questions about the content.  Plus, I thought she could work on his "mumbling" while he reads.  He does that when he doesn't want to read.  He also sometimes sounds robotic when he reads.  I thought she could maybe work that into his goals.  When I returned to pick him up, I told her about those suggestions.  She said she would try to work them in.  She then told me about the work he had done in his appointment.  They worked on Sequencing.  She said he did fairly well, but he had some difficulty with some of the situations.  He would know how they would begin and end, but may forget some middle steps.  For example:  Tell me how you make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.  He knew there was peanut butter and jelly on the bread, but he neglected to say you need to use a knife to spread it.  She showed him a paper that had sequencing cue words.  They were First, Then, Next and Last.  After she told him to use the cue words, he did a little better.  She complimented him on his conversation skills, which is always nice to hear.  Overall, it was a good session. 

a conversation with a typical kid

Yesterday morning, SJ approached a six grader.  He has known this boy for many years, but he doesn't generally talk to him.  He walked up to him and started this conversation.

SJ:  Hey, Brian.  How is Mr. Black? (Brian's teacher)
Brian:  He is good.  How is Mr. Gold? (SJ's teacher)
SJ:  He is good.  This is what we are going to do today, Brian.  I have Book Fair, Language Arts, Lunch, Math, Recess and Special.  What is going on in Mr. Black's class today?
Brian:  I don't know, SJ. 
SJ:  Are you playing basketball again Brian?
Brian:  Yes, I am.  Are you playing basketball SJ?
SJ:  No.  (Then, he looked at me.) Sorry, sorry, sorry.  I meant to say yes.  I am playing basketball.  (This is still up for discussion, but he thinks he is playing.)
Brian:  Do you like basketball?
SJ:  Yes, Brian.  I do.  I do like basketball.

I asked Brian to tell SJ how he feels when he does well at basketball and how he feels when his team loses.  (Brian did and their conversation continued for another minute or so.)  This is a big problem for SJ.  The last time he played basketball he would get infuriated when the other team scored.  He would cry and yell.  That is why we are still discussing whether he will play basketball or not. Whether SJ plays basketball or not, I am glad that he is still trying to fit into the typical world.  It is nice to know there are typical kids out there who are patient and accepting of kids with PDD.  Thanks Brian!  You made my day!

it's time to bowl!

Last year, SJ joined a bowling league at Funfest.  It is great!  For $8, you get 3 games of bowling and rental shoes.  They pair you up with other kids.  Sometimes SJ bowls with the same kids and sometimes he bowls by himself.  Every time you get a strike or spare, you get a token.  The tokens are for the arcade that is in the same building.  SJ has a great time bowling.  The league runs several times a year, but SJ skips the summer session (it would take away from his swimming time!).  He started bowling again a few weeks ago.  He is partnered with a second grade kid.  SJ still uses the bumpers, but he tends to score anywhere from 85-105.  (That is better than me!)  SJ prefers to go with my husband.  I tried to offer to take him the last two weeks.  He said, "No thanks, Mom.  I will go with Dad."  After he bowls his games, they head over to the arcade and play some games.  Then, they usually go to the "Circle Store" (Target) and go to McDonald's for lunch.  This has become a Saturday routine for SJ.  Even though I am slightly jealous that he doesn't want me to go, it is sweet that my husband and SJ get to spend this special time together.  As a bonus, I get to spend some time with Bob or get some stuff done around the house.  I am glad that SJ has found something that is somewhat like a sport that gives him routine, a little exercise and a lot of socialization!

say cheese!

SJ and Bob had school pictures today.  I knew this was going to be a trying morning, so I gave the boys the option of choosing their shirts the night before.  The rule in our house is that the boys have to wear a collared shirt for pictures.  (It is really my husband's rule.  I think kids should like they look on a regular day.  This is where we differ.  He feels they look sloppy in t-shirts and he wants them to look nice.  It is very important to my husband, so I support his decision on the type of shirt they wear for pictures.)  Bob had picked out his Shawn White button down collared shirt.  SJ was very resistant to select his shirt.  I pulled out four "golf" or Polo shirts out of his closet.  When they woke up, SJ was very crabby and didn't want to wear any of the shirts I had pulled out.  My husband went into his room and was calmly helping SJ decide which one to wear.  Bob was also crabby about wearing the shirt he had selected.  He wanted to shove it in his backpack and only put it on for his picture.  I told him, "Daddy will have a fit if he sees you put that shirt in your backpack."  He shrugged me off and as I predicted my husband was not happy that Bob wasn't wearing the shirt.  I told him Bob's plan and he firmly told Bob to put on the collared shirt.  SJ came downstairs a few minutes later with his yellow Polo shirt on.  When I picked them up at school at the end of the day, I asked the boys how the pictures went.  Bob said the photographer made him smile big (which he hates he added).  SJ said, "It was great, Mom."  We will see how great these photos are when I get them in a few weeks.  I am just hoping for some kind of smile on both boys and that Bob's hair (very Justin Bieberish) isn't in his eyes.  Here's hoping!

after school speech part 5

On Thursday, SJ had his speech session.  It was a fairly warm day, so SJ wasn't so thrilled to be going to speech.  We went home for a few minutes and then dropped off Bob's at a neighbor's house.  After about five minutes of complaining, SJ settled down and just started talking to me.  This is my favorite part of the after school speech.  Since the DS's are broken and no one has an IPod (yet!), they are more inclined to talk to me.  If Bob is in the car, SJ tends to talk to him.  I have come to treasure our alone time in the car.  He doesn't talk about anything significant, but the fact that he is conversing (instead of repeating dialogue from something he has watched) is mind-blowing to me.  He tells me about his special (art, gym, etc.).  He tells me about his teacher or classmates.  He tells me about recess.
Now if you are the parent of a typical child, you probably think "What is the big deal?"   But to the mother of child with PDD (or Asperger's or Autism), this is something that isn't a natural occurrence in your child's development.  I would have killed for this simple act a few years ago.  To get him to say anything was such a chore and now it is coming out of him so easily.  We had to practice, practice, practice!  If you are a parent of a child on the spectrum, keep at it.  Keep chipping away at the bubble that holds them in the Autism world.  Hopefully, you will be having one of these moments with your child.
When we got to the therapy place, there was a young child there.  SJ asked his mom what his name was.  She told him and then he replied, "I'm SJ."  The boy was much younger than SJ, so they both independently played.  Then, a sibling came in who is Bob's age.  SJ walked right up to him and said, "Sorry, Bob is not here today."  The kid replied, "That is okay."  Then SJ started to ask him some questions about the DS game that he was playing.  The kid kindly replied.  This went on until his therapist came out for him.  It made me so proud to see SJ trying to interact with both of these children.  Sure, he talked slowly and the words didn't naturally seem to fall from his lips.  It was still nice to see that he keeps trying to be social.
SJ had a good session with his therapist.  They again worked on making and explaining inferences.  She had him look at a picture of a situation.  There were some questions under the picture.  SJ did well with the "What" questions, but again had some trouble with the "How" questions.  His therapist had to prompt him a few times, but eventually he was able to answer the questions.  "How" questions are hard for SJ, since they are much more abstract.  He tends to do better when the solution would be more concrete.  Even though he had some difficulty, she felt he did well.  We will keep practicing the "How" questions at home and hopefully he will require less prompts. 

captain SJpants

SJ always has had trouble with comprehension.  We received his PSSA results from last year.  It was not surprising to us, but we are trying to find ways to help SJ comprehend more easily.  My husband had the idea of taking turns reading books with him each night.  The problem is we need to find books that he is interested in.  SJ loves the Sunday comics and comic books, so my husband asked Bob if we some books like that in our library.  Bob brought out a superhero book and a Captain Underpants book.  SJ said he would like to read the Captain Underpants book.  So for the last week, my husband and SJ have been taking turns reading from this book. 
When SJ got home from his bowling league yesterday, he ran upstairs.  I thought he was going to get his plushies or put on his Halloween costume.  To my surprise, he came downstairs in only a Superman cape and his underwear.  He was so proud of himself.  It was funny, but since he is 9 I told him he needed to put on clothes.  He looked so sad as he walked up the stairs.  I said, "Well, you can show Daddy before you get dressed."  He immediately smiled and ran into the living room.  "Nice Captain Underpants," said my husband.  "Now, go get dressed," he told SJ.  SJ happily ran upstairs to get dressed. 
I walked into the living room and told my husband that I felt bad that I couldn't let him stay in that outfit.  He is 9, however, and he needs to act appropriately.  It was nice to see him get something out of the reading practice.  Hopefully, he will continue to read and stay clothed!

the autism monster is sighted!

Yesterday, I decided to put away SJ's tank tops.  He loves them, but considering it is October it is time for them to be put away.  I made sure that I did this while SJ was at his bowling league.  When it was time to get dressed this morning, I heard the toe curling screaming coming from upstairs.  I wasn't 100% sure it was due to the disappearance of the tank tops, but I had a pretty good idea.  "Where are my tank tops?" yelled SJ.  "I have no tops to wear!" he added.  Now, I left about 15 short sleeve t-shirts in his drawer.  Plus, there is numerous short sleeve and long sleeve shirts in his closet.  After 10 minutes of crying and screaming, my husband went upstairs to try to talk to him.  He tried to pretend to wrestle with him.  He tried to get him to laugh, but there was nothing at that moment that was going to get SJ to be happy (except maybe a tank top).  He told him he had 5 minutes to get dressed in some kind of shirt or he was taking 5 plushies.  SJ didn't care.  He continued to yell about the disappearance of his tank tops.  "Why did you give them away, Mom?" he sobbed.  "I didn't give them away.  I put them away for next year," I told him.  After his 5 minute chance was over, my husband told him to go stand in the corner.  SJ did, but he continued to cry.  When his time out was over, I heard my husband ask him what season it is.  SJ answered correctly, so my husband told him that we only wear tank tops in spring and summer.  Eventually, he calmed down and put on a short sleeve soccer shirt.  (He did have to change his shorts to monochromatically match his shirt selection.)  The Autism Monster went back under the bed or in his closet.  Hopefully, he will stay there for a long time.  My guess though is he will reappear when the shorts have to be put away!

after school speech part 4

On Thursday, SJ again had speech therapy.  My friend wasn't able to watch Bob, so I had decided to go straight there from school.  I thought we would have plenty of time to stop for dinner before his therapy session started.  The boys had other plans apparently.  We were a few minutes into our drive when SJ and Bob started complaining about how thirsty they were.  They were moaning and complaining as if they were in the middle of a desert.  I turned down a road that leads to our house.  I told them when we got home they had 2 minutes to get a drink.  (Selfishly, I had to use the restroom, so it was a necessary detour for me too.)  After their drinks and my bathroom break, we were back in the car en route to speech therapy. 

Due to the detour, I was rushing to get there on time.  Fortunately, we made it with about 10 minutes to spare.  I decided to get SJ his Happy Meal.  He is a very quick eater (like me), so I knew he would be done before his session started.  When I pulled up to the window to order, SJ asked if he could place his order.  I pulled up so that the order window was close to his passenger window.  "Hamburger Happy Meal, no pickle, with a Hi-C Orange.  And, a large fry for my brudder."  Too funny! 

When his speech therapy session was done, she said he had done very well.  They worked on Cause and Effect.  She said he completed the worksheet easily.  She also said he was able to hold a conversation up to six turns.  That is huge progress for him!  I had tried to work on some of the "How" scenarios (his speech homework) with him this week.  She said he had showed some improvement with that task too.  Besides the small detour, it was another successful speech day!