SIGNIFICANT EVENT! An hour ago, I took Kaylee over to visit Kym and when Kaylia walked in the door, she immediately started talking to Kym ... and it wasn't "I want ... " or a demand ... or a request ..... I couldn't understand what she was saying but it was clearly conversation rather than communication of need. This is significant because I think it is the first time that Kaylia has ever just talked in the normal way! So far all her talking has been to communicate a need or a want.
This is exciting and it will be fascinating to see what happens next!
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Thursday 16th September 2010
Wow ... things must be good! I haven't written an entry since Saturday! Monday and Tuesday nights were bad with Kaylee up at 3am ... and then making lots of noise so we didn't sleep ..... but the other nights have been good.
My earlier theory (about the poor sleep being a sign of high anxiety) is still being tested. I think it may be right. Her anxiety levels are generally up a bit .... but not out of control. The sleep is sort of at an equivalent level.
I didn't mention at the time ... I weighed her on 6th September and the weight gain is still a problem .... 0.3% per day since the last weighing. This is too fast and is due to the Risperdal which keeps her hungry! We tried taking her off the Risperdal a few weeks ago and it was a disaster ... she needs Risperdal (or something equivalent).
All the talk in this blog about the problems ..... life is still very good compared with a year ago ... or 18 months ago ..... we so easily forget the nights when Kaylia screamed for literally hours at a time.
My earlier theory (about the poor sleep being a sign of high anxiety) is still being tested. I think it may be right. Her anxiety levels are generally up a bit .... but not out of control. The sleep is sort of at an equivalent level.
I didn't mention at the time ... I weighed her on 6th September and the weight gain is still a problem .... 0.3% per day since the last weighing. This is too fast and is due to the Risperdal which keeps her hungry! We tried taking her off the Risperdal a few weeks ago and it was a disaster ... she needs Risperdal (or something equivalent).
All the talk in this blog about the problems ..... life is still very good compared with a year ago ... or 18 months ago ..... we so easily forget the nights when Kaylia screamed for literally hours at a time.
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Sunday 12th September 2010
Kaylee is worn out and at 2pm, she's fast asleep! She's had a big morning with mummy at the 'slee-poo-poo' (swimming pool) and after lunch, she collapsed! These days she can be very insistent in her demands. While this is preferable to her being withdrawn & non-communicative, the vocal demands can be wearing. I spose this is not a problem peculiar to Kaylia ... it's a very normal 6 year old child behaviour.
Isn't it good to have a normal problem!
Naomi is working hard on assignments for uni .... on top of her daily work, the study demands can be draining.
We haven't found au-pair number 9 yet (for those of you old enough ....... Beatles White album .... #9, #9, #9 .....)
Isn't it good to have a normal problem!
Naomi is working hard on assignments for uni .... on top of her daily work, the study demands can be draining.
We haven't found au-pair number 9 yet (for those of you old enough ....... Beatles White album .... #9, #9, #9 .....)
Friday, September 10, 2010
Friday 10th September 2010
Today Kaylia received an Honour Certificate at school! It was great to watch her going up to be presented ... she had a classmate help her but she did it! We have a little video of the event ... I will see if I can attach it to this message. (Later: No, it's not PC to blog the video ..... but I can send it to you if you email me to ask! I've included an image of the cerficate instead.)
Her language is becoming much better - she is now talking by choice (rather than using gestures) and although enunciation is still a problem, it is a big improvement.
I have found out (yesterday) that the pain I have in my wrist is from osteoarthritis .... this is very disturbing as it directly affects my ability to engage in my major hobbies (shed, building) ... even to the point of being difficult to drive the car. The pain level varies from nil to totally disabling at times.
We have decided to find another aupair ... on my own, I find it hard to do paid work plus care for Kaylia. The extra pair of hands makes a world of difference.
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Tuesday 7th September 2010
NOISY!! Last night Kaylia woke at 3am and decided it was time for fun .... she was noisy! (Usually, Tina is able to sleep through all her noise ... but not this time!) It was very happy noise .... but we really knew that she was enjoying herself! And she continued till about 6:30am.
The increased Melatonin worked on Sunday night but tonight, I think we will go back to using Painstop again ... or else we won't survive!
I had a funny experience this morning .... Kaylia is used to having about 20 photos on the iPod and she loves scrolling through them .... last night I added 5,200 photos to the iPad (because it has heaps of memory) and this morning, she discovered them! She scrolled and scrolled .... and scrolled! She found photos of herself and Naomi in the 'ball-pit' on the Virgo from our trip in June 2007 ... and she kept coming back to them. I think they will be her favourite ... she looks at them and says "Mummy!".
The increased Melatonin worked on Sunday night but tonight, I think we will go back to using Painstop again ... or else we won't survive!
I had a funny experience this morning .... Kaylia is used to having about 20 photos on the iPod and she loves scrolling through them .... last night I added 5,200 photos to the iPad (because it has heaps of memory) and this morning, she discovered them! She scrolled and scrolled .... and scrolled! She found photos of herself and Naomi in the 'ball-pit' on the Virgo from our trip in June 2007 ... and she kept coming back to them. I think they will be her favourite ... she looks at them and says "Mummy!".
Sunday, September 5, 2010
Sunday 5th Sept 2010
Father's Day! It was a bit different to most ... it started at 2am! We tried not using Painstop and she spent most of the night awake - 2am to 6am. This coincided with a night where I had one of my nightmares ... followed by a bad headache. So I was awake from 1am to 6am too. A good night... not.
Of course this means that the day gets a bit hard to handle too. Fortunately, it was brightened by:
- fun with my iPad Fathers Day pressie
- went for a drive to the Mundaring Weir (Kaylia always likes walking accross the weir ... I hope she gets to see it in full overflow mode one day.) followed by lunch at Kalamunda.
- a catch up sleep in the afternoon! (very important!)
- Turkish pizza for tea - yum!
A good day for Dad.
(Today I delivered my lathe to its new owner. This meant using the bobcat to load it onto the trailer, load the bobcat too ..... then a 1/2 hour drive ..... then use the bobcat to unload the lathe .... then drive home and unload the bobcat.)
Tonight we are doubling the Melatonin from 1mg to 2mg - see what effect that has.
Of course this means that the day gets a bit hard to handle too. Fortunately, it was brightened by:
- fun with my iPad Fathers Day pressie
- went for a drive to the Mundaring Weir (Kaylia always likes walking accross the weir ... I hope she gets to see it in full overflow mode one day.) followed by lunch at Kalamunda.
- a catch up sleep in the afternoon! (very important!)
- Turkish pizza for tea - yum!
A good day for Dad.
(Today I delivered my lathe to its new owner. This meant using the bobcat to load it onto the trailer, load the bobcat too ..... then a 1/2 hour drive ..... then use the bobcat to unload the lathe .... then drive home and unload the bobcat.)
Tonight we are doubling the Melatonin from 1mg to 2mg - see what effect that has.
Saturday, September 4, 2010
Saturday 4th Sept 2010
So far the theory has not been dis-proved! There are too many variables in the equations for me to say that it has been proved just yet .... but after 3 days on the higher dose of Lovan, she slept well again - so maybe.
Today she is on a play-date at her favourite place .... she was so happy to be there when we arrived .... when I went back 2 hours later to collect her, she tried to push me out the door! She wanted to stay! So I rearranged things so she could have more time.
This confirms something I read in a book written by an adult auty .... he said that his "stand-offish", unsociable behaviours were not because he didn't want social contact ... it was just that he didn't know how to behave. Kaylia obviously wants the social contact with her friends ... she just doesn't have the "social language" so that she can communicate in a way that we see as 'normal'.
Today she is on a play-date at her favourite place .... she was so happy to be there when we arrived .... when I went back 2 hours later to collect her, she tried to push me out the door! She wanted to stay! So I rearranged things so she could have more time.
This confirms something I read in a book written by an adult auty .... he said that his "stand-offish", unsociable behaviours were not because he didn't want social contact ... it was just that he didn't know how to behave. Kaylia obviously wants the social contact with her friends ... she just doesn't have the "social language" so that she can communicate in a way that we see as 'normal'.
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