Life continues to get busier .... 2011 was bad but this year will be remembered as the year of stress.... Naomi's study means that she is working too hard. Our goal is to survive the year .... next year will be better.
I've been able to escape into the world of gadjets .... it's incredible how many cool things can be found on EBay .... it becomes an addiction!
Kaylia is sheltered by her autism .... as long as we continue to fit her expected routine she's content. ..... and the current excellent results from the medication shield her too.
Thursday, May 24, 2012
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
#595 Wednesday 23 May
Yesterday Kaylia had her first session with her new psychologist. She is changing both her psychologist and her therapist ..... 'the changing of the guards'! The review sessions are always thought provoking as we consider the recent progress. This process automatically prompts me to think about how far she has progressed since she began therapy.
One of the goals I have for her .... a distant goal (for which I must put on my 'rosy tinted glasses') is for her to develop imagination. At present she has a basic form of imagination ... that allows her to be able to follow instructions involving distant things and places ..... this is big progress ... but it doesn't allow her to play. She cannot pick up a doll and imagine that it is a person. So for Kaylia to be able to play is a big aim. .... one day .....
Driving to school is always a treat .... Kaylia picks the music that she wants to listen to .... and sings along. She has her own version of the lyrics but she sings in tune.
One of the goals I have for her .... a distant goal (for which I must put on my 'rosy tinted glasses') is for her to develop imagination. At present she has a basic form of imagination ... that allows her to be able to follow instructions involving distant things and places ..... this is big progress ... but it doesn't allow her to play. She cannot pick up a doll and imagine that it is a person. So for Kaylia to be able to play is a big aim. .... one day .....
Driving to school is always a treat .... Kaylia picks the music that she wants to listen to .... and sings along. She has her own version of the lyrics but she sings in tune.
Monday, May 21, 2012
#594 Monday 21 May
Tired. It was hard work staying awake today. I had a bad night last night and suffered today.
Kaylia is very tired tonight too. She continues to lose weight on the "diet". She likes it .... and our weekly food spending has dropped by 20%!
Kaylia received an award at school today. She always seems puzzled by the awards but I think she's pleased.
One of the really good things about our business office is the happy atmosphere.....
It helps to have such wonderful staff!
Kaylia is very tired tonight too. She continues to lose weight on the "diet". She likes it .... and our weekly food spending has dropped by 20%!
Kaylia received an award at school today. She always seems puzzled by the awards but I think she's pleased.
One of the really good things about our business office is the happy atmosphere.....
It helps to have such wonderful staff!
Sunday, May 20, 2012
#593 Sunday 20 May
Sunday has become "movie day" in Kaylia's routine. Today Naomi and Kaylia went off to the movies ..... Bambi ...... she didn't like it much. Movies have changed a lot .... current kids movies can keep her attention but the old ones? They just don't cut it.
Movies are something that "Team" members can do to have time with Kaylia. Walks too.
In the afternoon we went to Mt Helena for a walk with Mim and Steve. She liked it ..... we'll do it again another day.
Later:
Kaylia is learning to clean up! She was in her room ..... making lots of fun noises ..... then she starts bringing out the boxes that all her toys have been stored in.
..... Bye! Bye! She wanted them in the bin.
Movies are something that "Team" members can do to have time with Kaylia. Walks too.
In the afternoon we went to Mt Helena for a walk with Mim and Steve. She liked it ..... we'll do it again another day.
Later:
Kaylia is learning to clean up! She was in her room ..... making lots of fun noises ..... then she starts bringing out the boxes that all her toys have been stored in.
..... Bye! Bye! She wanted them in the bin.
Saturday, May 19, 2012
#592 Saturday 19 May
Three weeks to go!
Yesterday Kaylia had a "walk to school" .... her class (5 kids) began with a shopping excursion and then walked to school. The following is how Kaylia wrote up her story ... on the computer without help!
"On Friday I walked from the shop to scool. I fell hungry. I had tost ,." (her spelling!)
This morning was a social skills group class at the office .... the parents of the children attending the class all stayed and talked while their children were occupied. It was a good time of sharing experiences ....
It's probably a moot point ..... but in December/January, there were two big changes for Kaylia ..... the medication and the rapid improvement in knowledge accumulation. I have assumed that the two were separate events .... but maybe the two were linked! Maybe the big reduction in anxiety levels (which came with the medication change) was a factor in allowing Kaylia to begin self-accumulating.
It's worth thinking about.
This morning Kaylia was strongly saying that she wanted to go and see Kym and the boys ...... Kym was Kaylia's aide at school and for a long time Kaylia spent weekend time there. So ..... This afternoon we toddled off to Kym's place. Kaylia had a great time .... It was really good to see Kym again.
Yesterday Kaylia had a "walk to school" .... her class (5 kids) began with a shopping excursion and then walked to school. The following is how Kaylia wrote up her story ... on the computer without help!
"On Friday I walked from the shop to scool. I fell hungry. I had tost ,." (her spelling!)
This morning was a social skills group class at the office .... the parents of the children attending the class all stayed and talked while their children were occupied. It was a good time of sharing experiences ....
It's probably a moot point ..... but in December/January, there were two big changes for Kaylia ..... the medication and the rapid improvement in knowledge accumulation. I have assumed that the two were separate events .... but maybe the two were linked! Maybe the big reduction in anxiety levels (which came with the medication change) was a factor in allowing Kaylia to begin self-accumulating.
It's worth thinking about.
This morning Kaylia was strongly saying that she wanted to go and see Kym and the boys ...... Kym was Kaylia's aide at school and for a long time Kaylia spent weekend time there. So ..... This afternoon we toddled off to Kym's place. Kaylia had a great time .... It was really good to see Kym again.
Friday, May 18, 2012
#591 Friday 18 May
As I write, I have music by Sarah Brightman playing in the background .... the current song is "Time to say goodbye" ..... this was the closing music at the night of Sanggar's graduation and the music evokes strong memories. That was an important event.
I've just been researching how to add a sound file to the blog .... it's too much for right now but it's certainly do-able later.
Kaylia is doing the "Walk to School" this morning. She still loves going to school. When we walk along she likes to put her head against my side and use my arm to cover her other ear .... the sensitivity to sound can still be an issue for her. I've noticed that other kids in her class do the same.
Blogging .... It occurs to me that the length of each day's post on the blog can be an indicator of the stress we're currently experiencing. In the early days .... high stress = long post. Now? Things are good .... low stress = brief post.
I've been drawing plans for some alterations I'd like to do at the villa in Bali. I do the drawings in Excel and I have been instructed to show it on the blog ..... so here it is.
I've just been researching how to add a sound file to the blog .... it's too much for right now but it's certainly do-able later.
Kaylia is doing the "Walk to School" this morning. She still loves going to school. When we walk along she likes to put her head against my side and use my arm to cover her other ear .... the sensitivity to sound can still be an issue for her. I've noticed that other kids in her class do the same.
Blogging .... It occurs to me that the length of each day's post on the blog can be an indicator of the stress we're currently experiencing. In the early days .... high stress = long post. Now? Things are good .... low stress = brief post.
I've been drawing plans for some alterations I'd like to do at the villa in Bali. I do the drawings in Excel and I have been instructed to show it on the blog ..... so here it is.
Thursday, May 17, 2012
#590 Thursday 17 May
Kaylia is very good at managing the iphone/ipod/ipad .... she's able to select any songs or video's that she wants and then play them. The trouble is that she has her favourites .... and when she has a favourite, it's REALLY a favourite!
Currently (still) the favourite is ABBA singing "Rock Me" ..... over and over and over! This was her favourite song in April in Bali.
It's time to teach her about ear-phones!
Currently (still) the favourite is ABBA singing "Rock Me" ..... over and over and over! This was her favourite song in April in Bali.
It's time to teach her about ear-phones!
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