Its only 7:30am and already another little milestone! (Actually, its quite a big one) I had explained to Kaylia that we would be going to the library and she repeated her version as usual .... then paused and repeated it several times, each time a bit clearer till she pronounced it correctly! This is the first time I can recall the she has shown awareness that the word was not correct ... then practiced till correct!
Today is a Kym day ..... which means an opportunity to spend her $2 earned by good sleeping!
Two days ago, I expressed doubt that the increased dose of Lovan was having any effect .... I think I may revise that opinion. Although it hasn't been a major change, I think her anxiety has decreased a little ... she seemed calmer yesterday. The change has not been in proportion to the increase in the dose so the idea (that the drug effect is levelling out) is probably still true.
One of our concerns (when we started down the medication path) was that the medication would alter her personality ..... thankfully, this has not happened and she has stayed the same delightful character.
- Posted by the Kaylee Blogger
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
#77 Tuesday 5th October 2010
The sleeping regime change is working! Our little girl is a real shopping fiend and the prospect of a shopping trip is obviously very motivating! Last night she slept right through without stirring. Way to go!
Yesterday she had most of the day with Kym .... and loved it! It's so good for her to have places/activities (other than home) that she loves.
Today she has "Mummy Time" .... Naomi is having a Kaylee-break from work and they will be doing girl-stuff together.
Yesterday she had most of the day with Kym .... and loved it! It's so good for her to have places/activities (other than home) that she loves.
Today she has "Mummy Time" .... Naomi is having a Kaylee-break from work and they will be doing girl-stuff together.
Sunday, October 3, 2010
#76 Sunday 3rd October 2010
Anxiety has been an underlying theme lately .... today Kaylia has just been able to cope ... but it has been difficult for us to manage and there's not much relaxing time ... we need to be on guard to implement management strategies at the first sign that things are going haywire.
At present her anxiety produces repetitive, nagging behaviours .... these get very wearing and we handle them by a clear warning followed by a count down for continued nagging ... and a "time out" period in her room at number 3. This is working ... but the anxiety is still there and it makes it very hard for Kaylia to self-regulate.
I have been experimenting with an increased Lovan dose to try to reduce the anxiety ... but it isn't working and I think the Lovan has reached the limit of its effect.
The "new regime" for sleep has gone well - Kaylia is excited by being able to earn money that she can spend at the "Two Buck" shop (she loves this).
The search for aupair # 9 continues .... nothing to report yet!
At present her anxiety produces repetitive, nagging behaviours .... these get very wearing and we handle them by a clear warning followed by a count down for continued nagging ... and a "time out" period in her room at number 3. This is working ... but the anxiety is still there and it makes it very hard for Kaylia to self-regulate.
I have been experimenting with an increased Lovan dose to try to reduce the anxiety ... but it isn't working and I think the Lovan has reached the limit of its effect.
The "new regime" for sleep has gone well - Kaylia is excited by being able to earn money that she can spend at the "Two Buck" shop (she loves this).
The search for aupair # 9 continues .... nothing to report yet!
Saturday, October 2, 2010
#75 2nd Oct #2
We've just had another "Ah hah!" moment ....
For ages, Kaylia has been saying "..... doh ta! ...." ... which we have thought meant "doctor" (because she likes going to the doctor .... for the jelly beans!)
But we were driving through Midland a short time ago and while going past the "Play Centre Midland", we heard a little voice say ".... doh ta! ...."
The mystery was solved!
The mystery remains of why she has created that word ... she can very clearly say "Play Centre" and she knows what it means .... so why does she have a different word?
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
For ages, Kaylia has been saying "..... doh ta! ...." ... which we have thought meant "doctor" (because she likes going to the doctor .... for the jelly beans!)
But we were driving through Midland a short time ago and while going past the "Play Centre Midland", we heard a little voice say ".... doh ta! ...."
The mystery was solved!
The mystery remains of why she has created that word ... she can very clearly say "Play Centre" and she knows what it means .... so why does she have a different word?
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
#74 Saturday 2nd October 2010
Forgive me ... I'm going to have a rant!! I've been to the local swimming pool with Kaylia this morning .... for some time now, we have been eligible (on presentation of her Centrelink Health Care card) for a concessional entry - Kaylia pays but her carer is free.
This morning I was told that to get the free carer entry, I must have a "Companion Card"! I thought ... "This is odd! Why do I have to have a card to prove I'm a carer for Kaylia?" .... so I downloaded the application for the Companion Card ..... and it is not about the carer at all .... to get the card, you have to prove that Kaylia is disabled!!
This has got me angry! Why must we go through the trauma of proving that she is disabled for a second time? She already has a card from Centrelink saying that a government department accepts that she is disabled .... why do we now have a different government department saying that we must prove her disability again!! Surely the Centrelink card should be sufficient to allow the issue of the Companion Card?
I have written an email to this Companion Card department and I will take this to Julia if I must. It is unjust!
On the home front, the poor sleep continues ... I think it is safe to say that increasing the Lovan dose is not increasing the effect on anxiety. We need to find a different solution.
For the immediate future, we have decided to change Kaylia's routine so she only sleeps in her own room. This will mean that we take turns to sleep in her room till she has accepted this. But it will mean that we have a good night's sleep every second night at least.
It will be a noisy few nights till she accepts the new routine ... C'est la vie!
This morning I was told that to get the free carer entry, I must have a "Companion Card"! I thought ... "This is odd! Why do I have to have a card to prove I'm a carer for Kaylia?" .... so I downloaded the application for the Companion Card ..... and it is not about the carer at all .... to get the card, you have to prove that Kaylia is disabled!!
This has got me angry! Why must we go through the trauma of proving that she is disabled for a second time? She already has a card from Centrelink saying that a government department accepts that she is disabled .... why do we now have a different government department saying that we must prove her disability again!! Surely the Centrelink card should be sufficient to allow the issue of the Companion Card?
I have written an email to this Companion Card department and I will take this to Julia if I must. It is unjust!
On the home front, the poor sleep continues ... I think it is safe to say that increasing the Lovan dose is not increasing the effect on anxiety. We need to find a different solution.
For the immediate future, we have decided to change Kaylia's routine so she only sleeps in her own room. This will mean that we take turns to sleep in her room till she has accepted this. But it will mean that we have a good night's sleep every second night at least.
It will be a noisy few nights till she accepts the new routine ... C'est la vie!
Thursday, September 30, 2010
#73 Thursday 30 September 2010
Today Kaylia went to a party! She was invited to a friend's "Not A Birthday" party with a few others from her school class .... and it was good! She worked hard to overcome her fear of a new situation. She was interested in the others .... it was all positive. She was quite disturbed by the trampoline but by the end of the party she had gathered her courage and climbed aboard.
Here she is helping to ice some cookies.
The past few nights have all been nights where Kaylia has been up for a few hours in the middle of the night .... last night she at least was a little more quiet! The nights are bad when she makes so much noise that she keeps us awake.
I'm still in favour of my theory that it is anxiety that is the enemy here ... decreasing effectiveness of medication equals increasing anxiety ... when she wakes, she can't go back to sleep.
Here she is helping to ice some cookies.The past few nights have all been nights where Kaylia has been up for a few hours in the middle of the night .... last night she at least was a little more quiet! The nights are bad when she makes so much noise that she keeps us awake.
I'm still in favour of my theory that it is anxiety that is the enemy here ... decreasing effectiveness of medication equals increasing anxiety ... when she wakes, she can't go back to sleep.
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
#72 Tuesday 28 September 2010
That was a bad one! Up at 3am and no sleep since. By morning we were RS and I cancelled going to work. Instead I took Kaylia to the pool and she had a good (tiring) time. After lunch it was sleep time .... all afternoon!
What will the night bring?
I had some D&Ms to share with you ..... but I can't remember what they were!
What will the night bring?
I had some D&Ms to share with you ..... but I can't remember what they were!
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