After lunch we suited up the crew and braved the fallout from Snowmaggedon. Roughly 20 inches over 22 hours with 5ft. snow banks in some places. The tallest snow bank against the kids was roughly 3ft. The kids' reactions to the massive amounts of snow varied. Nikko immediately started hiking up the drifts and meandered independently. He was content to march in the snow. Ronin tried to tackle the tall snow drifts, tried to push his shovel around, but gave up to make snow angels around the corner of the house. Audrey whined a lot. A LOT. She wasn't thrilled to be outside in snow drifts that came up to her waist. Luckily, our neighbors Brianna and Alex, joined by two other girls, were out to play and ushered our kids into their backyard for a spell. Even Nikko joined them, and when I went to check on the kids I saw Nikko marching in the snow away from the swingset where the kids had congregated. Their dad offered his more powerful snowblower for us to use, and Denis gladly accepted. I didn't mind the physical workout of snow shovelling, but if we didn't take up the offer then I think we would have been outside for five hours instead of two.
We came inside for snack and to thaw. Nikko had fallen asleep for a short moment but I had to wake him up to change his diaper. Ronin fell asleep next to me, too. Audrey was the only kid who didn't succumb to being tired, but unfortunately her sleep tonight seems fitful instead of restful. In hindsight I marvelled that Nikko was very interested in being outside and walking around in the snow. He didn't go in right away, and when I was taking off his snowsuit I was alarmed to find a ball of snow the size of an egg down the front of his boot. The bottoms of his inner pant legs were soaked. I wonder if this had made Nikko uncomfortable the whole time he was outside or if he had a high pain tolerance and didn't notice the snow in his boots. My guess is that he was uncomfortable but not enough to stop playing. After all, toward the end of the outing he and Ronin were climbing up a 5ft mountain and sliding down. Ronin went face first, like Superman, whereas Nikko opted to spin and tumble down the back side. No one had the dexterity to make snowballs and throw them, except for mean attempts by Audrey.
Tomorrow school has been cancelled for a second snow day. That means we'll be homebound. Sarah will come to work with Nikko at 2pm instead of 8:30a, which is fine by me.
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Sorry
2/1/11 - This morning Nikko was eating a cheese sandwich (croissant cut in half and smeared with cheese sauce) when he dripped some cheese onto the placemat. He sat looking at it for a minute then got up and gravitated to my side by the computer. When I looked up and saw the spill I got a napkin and announced, "Oops, what a mess, Nikko!" He wasn't looking at me but said, "Sorry!" I replied, "That's ok, Nikko, let's clean it up!" I wiped it quickly and replaced his napkin. Then it was business as usual. What tickled me about the conversation was that there WAS a conversation and that Nikko spontaneously said SORRY. Very much in context!
School report - Speech: Association puzzles, likes matching them. Labeled, greetings.
This afternoon, after the boys got on the bus, I took Audrey with me to Costco and to WalMart for last-minute provisions and before the blizzard hit. Snowmaggeddon is one of the colloquialisms that this ice/snow storm that's rocking the northern mideast and west is being called. If the temperatures aren't that bad tomorrow, maybe we'll suit up the kids to go in the snow, because school was cancelled for Wednesday. I also cancelled Nikko's speech tomorrow with Lisa, but I think it was a good call because there will be up to two feet of snow on the ground and driving conditions are going to be bad.
Nikko's diaper rash is getting better. He wasn't in as much pain as he was the last two days. We're slated to see Dr. Nelson again on the 14th and I wonder what she will be recommending this time. I pray she won't tell us to do another two enemas. I also wonder if I should try tweaking the miralax dosages before the appointment. His poop has been liquidy at times, and splattery the other times. Very little has been solidly formed for two months. I sure hope it's time for the fiber build-up! I'm not seeing any dark behaviors that I saw in October and November. This is good for school and for therapies. On Friday, Jenna will come over to observe Rebecca so I am hoping that meeting will bring Rebecca more confidence in her relationship with Nikko. Unfortunately, I won't be around at the end of the session because I hope to go to see a school play in which Rory is performing. I will probably take Ronin with me, too. I think he will appreciate seeing something unique. This means that Nikko won't see me after the session; Denis will be here to take care of Nikko and Audrey. I'll have to catch up with Jenna another time, maybe through email.
School report - Speech: Association puzzles, likes matching them. Labeled, greetings.
This afternoon, after the boys got on the bus, I took Audrey with me to Costco and to WalMart for last-minute provisions and before the blizzard hit. Snowmaggeddon is one of the colloquialisms that this ice/snow storm that's rocking the northern mideast and west is being called. If the temperatures aren't that bad tomorrow, maybe we'll suit up the kids to go in the snow, because school was cancelled for Wednesday. I also cancelled Nikko's speech tomorrow with Lisa, but I think it was a good call because there will be up to two feet of snow on the ground and driving conditions are going to be bad.
Nikko's diaper rash is getting better. He wasn't in as much pain as he was the last two days. We're slated to see Dr. Nelson again on the 14th and I wonder what she will be recommending this time. I pray she won't tell us to do another two enemas. I also wonder if I should try tweaking the miralax dosages before the appointment. His poop has been liquidy at times, and splattery the other times. Very little has been solidly formed for two months. I sure hope it's time for the fiber build-up! I'm not seeing any dark behaviors that I saw in October and November. This is good for school and for therapies. On Friday, Jenna will come over to observe Rebecca so I am hoping that meeting will bring Rebecca more confidence in her relationship with Nikko. Unfortunately, I won't be around at the end of the session because I hope to go to see a school play in which Rory is performing. I will probably take Ronin with me, too. I think he will appreciate seeing something unique. This means that Nikko won't see me after the session; Denis will be here to take care of Nikko and Audrey. I'll have to catch up with Jenna another time, maybe through email.
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Potato / Ronin's meltdown
1/28/11 School report - Speech: Better work today. Good naming household items. Said "I don't know" twice when I cued. Then twice on his own! He also said "Hi Winters" when I said "hi".
At lunchtime, I decided to heat up some potatoes in the microwave, split them open, slather with [fake] butter and serve up as a baked potato. Nikko love it, had about three halves. The boys went off to school. When they came home, I saw that they went to a presentation given by a dental hygienist because they both had bags with a toothbrush, toothpaste and an overview. In fact, the overview said that the dentist had a child with ASD that currently goes to Prospect High School. Nikko was content to carry around his toothbrush and say, "Brush your teeth" again and again. Ronin was happy with his wares, and since Audrey didn't go to school I gave her a toothbrush from the cabinet and snagged Nikko's toothpaste to give to her. I think Audrey went to bed with the toothbrush and paste, too. When it came time to go to the in-law's house for dinner, I saw that Nikko was standing on a stool by the kitchen counter, looking for nothing in particular. He was poking at the bag of potatoes so I took a small one out and gave it to him. I don't know why but he quickly adopted the potato and ran happily away. That potato came with us to the in-law's house, by the way. And it went to bed with Nikko, too. I wonder if it will hold the same power tomorrow as well.
Just wanted to note one more thing, that yesterday before the boys left for school, Ronin had the mother of all meltdowns, the worst I've ever seen with him. He wanted to put on his boots before Nikko, but Nikko had come to me first and I wanted to get Nikko ready so that he could stand by the door all set to go. Ronin didn't want to be second. HE WANTED TO BE FIRST. And that's when things got ugly. Ronin demanded Nikko to come back and take off his boots so that Ronin could be first. I kept trying to put socks and boots and coat on Ronin, and he struggled in protest. I've allotted only five minutes for the "coating" process and Ronin was making this all drag. I got really irritated and angry, saying that Ms. Veronica was coming and wasn't going to wait for us, that if we were late then I'd have to drive him to school.
Uh-oh.
Ronin suddenly changed his tune and wanted me to drive him to school. I was pissed because I wanted them on the bus. I got the boys outside with Ronin screaming and crying for the whole block to hear him. When the bus pulled up, Nikko got on but Ronin dragged away. I told Ms. Veronica that I'd be driving Ronin, despite her coaxing Ronin to join the bus. When the bus pulled away I grabbed Ronin's sleeve and dragged him back into the house with grim determination. I had to get Audrey booted and coated, then make sure I had my purse and grocery list ready to go. But Ronin was wailing that he wanted the bus to COME BACK. I was screaming at him by now, saying that the bus was GONE and wasn't coming back so I'd have to drive him. He wouldn't sit quietly or patiently at all. That was driving me batty. I say this all low-key, but at the time I was pretty hoarse, angry, pissed off, you name it. I put Ronin and Audrey into the Pilot and drove to school. When the teacher came to unbuckle Ronin from his seat, I thought he was going to launch into another tirade but just then another student walking by said, "Hi, Ronin!" It was a classmate, and he and Ronin walked hand in hand toward the school. Yeah, cute. I was relieved for that, but having such a horrible time and feeling awful because I was still sick that I was crying all the way to Costco. I think being in the house for two weeks with sick kids, and sick me, has taken its toll.
At lunchtime, I decided to heat up some potatoes in the microwave, split them open, slather with [fake] butter and serve up as a baked potato. Nikko love it, had about three halves. The boys went off to school. When they came home, I saw that they went to a presentation given by a dental hygienist because they both had bags with a toothbrush, toothpaste and an overview. In fact, the overview said that the dentist had a child with ASD that currently goes to Prospect High School. Nikko was content to carry around his toothbrush and say, "Brush your teeth" again and again. Ronin was happy with his wares, and since Audrey didn't go to school I gave her a toothbrush from the cabinet and snagged Nikko's toothpaste to give to her. I think Audrey went to bed with the toothbrush and paste, too. When it came time to go to the in-law's house for dinner, I saw that Nikko was standing on a stool by the kitchen counter, looking for nothing in particular. He was poking at the bag of potatoes so I took a small one out and gave it to him. I don't know why but he quickly adopted the potato and ran happily away. That potato came with us to the in-law's house, by the way. And it went to bed with Nikko, too. I wonder if it will hold the same power tomorrow as well.
Just wanted to note one more thing, that yesterday before the boys left for school, Ronin had the mother of all meltdowns, the worst I've ever seen with him. He wanted to put on his boots before Nikko, but Nikko had come to me first and I wanted to get Nikko ready so that he could stand by the door all set to go. Ronin didn't want to be second. HE WANTED TO BE FIRST. And that's when things got ugly. Ronin demanded Nikko to come back and take off his boots so that Ronin could be first. I kept trying to put socks and boots and coat on Ronin, and he struggled in protest. I've allotted only five minutes for the "coating" process and Ronin was making this all drag. I got really irritated and angry, saying that Ms. Veronica was coming and wasn't going to wait for us, that if we were late then I'd have to drive him to school.
Uh-oh.
Ronin suddenly changed his tune and wanted me to drive him to school. I was pissed because I wanted them on the bus. I got the boys outside with Ronin screaming and crying for the whole block to hear him. When the bus pulled up, Nikko got on but Ronin dragged away. I told Ms. Veronica that I'd be driving Ronin, despite her coaxing Ronin to join the bus. When the bus pulled away I grabbed Ronin's sleeve and dragged him back into the house with grim determination. I had to get Audrey booted and coated, then make sure I had my purse and grocery list ready to go. But Ronin was wailing that he wanted the bus to COME BACK. I was screaming at him by now, saying that the bus was GONE and wasn't coming back so I'd have to drive him. He wouldn't sit quietly or patiently at all. That was driving me batty. I say this all low-key, but at the time I was pretty hoarse, angry, pissed off, you name it. I put Ronin and Audrey into the Pilot and drove to school. When the teacher came to unbuckle Ronin from his seat, I thought he was going to launch into another tirade but just then another student walking by said, "Hi, Ronin!" It was a classmate, and he and Ronin walked hand in hand toward the school. Yeah, cute. I was relieved for that, but having such a horrible time and feeling awful because I was still sick that I was crying all the way to Costco. I think being in the house for two weeks with sick kids, and sick me, has taken its toll.
Friday, January 28, 2011
Musings
1/27/11 School Report - Speech: Tried to work on what ?'s - not too interested. Got a fake cry. Worked on greetings, I see____, & "my turn" taking turns on trampoline w/me.
I also wanted to include an email correspondence I had with Nikko's OT regarding his "singing through verbal instruction" incident yesterday:
Me: Hi J,
Your note: The harder the skill is - the more it seems Nikko sings through my verbal instructions - sounds very on par with Nikko's current attitude to date. Into the new year, he has become more challenging to his ABA therapists such that we are currently in realignment with their team leader so that all the therapists are on the same page in terms of methodologies used to work with Nikko. He has been difficult to come sit at the table and work. He has been really "unfocused" when trying to get his attention, yet is able to complete the required tasks. He is challenging authority, including mine. I observe him when he is watching something on TV that he doesn't particularly like or doesn't suit his tastes at that moment, and he usually starts droning and/or covering his ears to block out the audio (but not the visual). I just found it rather interesting that he is doing this at school, too.
The "unfocus" is the crux of many problems, and also the hardest thing I am dealing with as of late. I don't really have a point to this email except to tell you that I'm not surprised he's doing that at school, but also that it transcends into the home as well. Any thoughts?
The Reply: Yes - I do think he can be "challenging authority" based on activity preferences. My past experiences with children with autism is that the winter months can be especially difficult. With Nikko - the winter break and then the illness probably just compounds this. Its hard at times to determine if he truly is struggling or is "choosing" not to try. Hang in there - we just keep on trying. Know that we appreciate your struggles and are glad you know your child so well.
This is an interesting point about the winter break and the illness. I agree with both, but I am really quite perplexed on the timeline of when things happened. October and November were not great months for Nikko at school, plagued with constipation problems (they're not over, they're just currently being managed under the radar) and Sarah came aboard again. Nikko started improving speech-wise by early December, then at the end of the month Rebecca came along. Nikko had been steadily challenging both Sarah and Kathy during their sessions in the fall and winter. But he has not been great with Rebecca at all. Winter break came and went, and when he returned back to school Nikko seemed to be doing well. We are four weeks back into school and now the issues of being unfocused are coming back.
I'm feeling really pushed by Nikko at times, especially when it comes to wanting something he doesn't necessarily need at the moment. He was demanding "cheese sandwich" a half hour before our regular lunch time, and I went ahead and fed him even though I wanted to wait longer. He saw a random bag on the kitchen counter that had Santa PEZ dispensers in it. He wanted it. Ultimately, I gave it to him including the PEZ candy. Within minutes, Nikko was howling and cackling. I like to think it was due to his latest coup in getting the PEZ dispenser, not because he inhaled all the PEZ candy. Harumph.
I also wanted to include an email correspondence I had with Nikko's OT regarding his "singing through verbal instruction" incident yesterday:
Me: Hi J,
Your note: The harder the skill is - the more it seems Nikko sings through my verbal instructions - sounds very on par with Nikko's current attitude to date. Into the new year, he has become more challenging to his ABA therapists such that we are currently in realignment with their team leader so that all the therapists are on the same page in terms of methodologies used to work with Nikko. He has been difficult to come sit at the table and work. He has been really "unfocused" when trying to get his attention, yet is able to complete the required tasks. He is challenging authority, including mine. I observe him when he is watching something on TV that he doesn't particularly like or doesn't suit his tastes at that moment, and he usually starts droning and/or covering his ears to block out the audio (but not the visual). I just found it rather interesting that he is doing this at school, too.
The "unfocus" is the crux of many problems, and also the hardest thing I am dealing with as of late. I don't really have a point to this email except to tell you that I'm not surprised he's doing that at school, but also that it transcends into the home as well. Any thoughts?
The Reply: Yes - I do think he can be "challenging authority" based on activity preferences. My past experiences with children with autism is that the winter months can be especially difficult. With Nikko - the winter break and then the illness probably just compounds this. Its hard at times to determine if he truly is struggling or is "choosing" not to try. Hang in there - we just keep on trying. Know that we appreciate your struggles and are glad you know your child so well.
This is an interesting point about the winter break and the illness. I agree with both, but I am really quite perplexed on the timeline of when things happened. October and November were not great months for Nikko at school, plagued with constipation problems (they're not over, they're just currently being managed under the radar) and Sarah came aboard again. Nikko started improving speech-wise by early December, then at the end of the month Rebecca came along. Nikko had been steadily challenging both Sarah and Kathy during their sessions in the fall and winter. But he has not been great with Rebecca at all. Winter break came and went, and when he returned back to school Nikko seemed to be doing well. We are four weeks back into school and now the issues of being unfocused are coming back.
I'm feeling really pushed by Nikko at times, especially when it comes to wanting something he doesn't necessarily need at the moment. He was demanding "cheese sandwich" a half hour before our regular lunch time, and I went ahead and fed him even though I wanted to wait longer. He saw a random bag on the kitchen counter that had Santa PEZ dispensers in it. He wanted it. Ultimately, I gave it to him including the PEZ candy. Within minutes, Nikko was howling and cackling. I like to think it was due to his latest coup in getting the PEZ dispenser, not because he inhaled all the PEZ candy. Harumph.
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Unfocus
1/26/11 - School Report - OT: Sensory motor prep activities - trampoline, big ball activities, animal walks. At table - worked on name & cutting. The harder the skill is - the more it seems Nikko sings thru my verbal instructions.
When Nikko doesn't like something on TV, he covers his ears and starts droning in a monotone to block out the audio. But he doesn't necessarily look away from the TV, either. I wonder why.
Nikko had speech today. Lisa said it was a really good session, he was happy and focused and working. She was doing sentence approximations and he was able to complete sentences with her. At one point she said something like, "We are going to see_____" and he replied, "Mom." That surprised me because he never says Mom. I'm Boppy, along with the phrase, "Good Night, Boppy." She thinks she could expand on these approximations, especially since he did two of them in context. Ok, then!
Nikko seemed to have a good day at school, and then he had ABA with Rebecca after school. I didn't hear any arguing, but I did hear Rebecca using very outgoing language. I think he tired her out a bit, actually. But her report of the session was that while he was compliant and completed whatever tasks they could get to, he was extremely unfocused. This unfocus seems to be the crux of our problems. I don't have any suggestions on how to keep him focused except to be engaging and in-your-face, touch his shoulder to get his attention and have exciting stimuli. I guess I'll have to have a discussion with Jenna about this.
When Nikko doesn't like something on TV, he covers his ears and starts droning in a monotone to block out the audio. But he doesn't necessarily look away from the TV, either. I wonder why.
Nikko had speech today. Lisa said it was a really good session, he was happy and focused and working. She was doing sentence approximations and he was able to complete sentences with her. At one point she said something like, "We are going to see_____" and he replied, "Mom." That surprised me because he never says Mom. I'm Boppy, along with the phrase, "Good Night, Boppy." She thinks she could expand on these approximations, especially since he did two of them in context. Ok, then!
Nikko seemed to have a good day at school, and then he had ABA with Rebecca after school. I didn't hear any arguing, but I did hear Rebecca using very outgoing language. I think he tired her out a bit, actually. But her report of the session was that while he was compliant and completed whatever tasks they could get to, he was extremely unfocused. This unfocus seems to be the crux of our problems. I don't have any suggestions on how to keep him focused except to be engaging and in-your-face, touch his shoulder to get his attention and have exciting stimuli. I guess I'll have to have a discussion with Jenna about this.
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Ice Age
1/25/11 School Report: Speech - "I want puzzles please" to association puzzles he saw. Worked on greetings, I see_______.
Today I tried another variant of FIRST/THEN with Nikko. He wanted to watch the movie Ice Age 3, which we don't own but is currently playing on the DVR On Demand via Comcast. But he called it "Dinosaurs." I put it in and it was close to dinnertime. When I was ready for everyone (willing) to eat, I turned off the TV and told Nikko, "First EAT, then Ice Age." I repeated this until Audrey started chanting it. Nikko understood and ran to the kitchen to take one bite of his cheesy mac, then ran back to the living room expectantly. Needless to say, it was a lot of repeating First Eat, then Ice Age. He initially said, "then COOKIE," but I corrected him, saying "First EAT, then Ice Age." I also signed EAT just to reinforce the visual. He made it through most of his food, but Ice Age prevailed in the end.
Ronin, however, was too tired to eat at first. Eventually he ate some bread and [fake] butter while I gave Audrey a bath. He's currently sporting another temperature, consistently at 100.? all day. I really hope it will disappear so he can go to school tomorrow, but the outcome is looking somewhat bleak. I would really love for him to go to school because at home, in this sickly state, he is ultra-crabby and picking fights with Audrey every minute. I have had many parent tantrums today, too much screaming on my part that I regret. And I am battling my own cold now. In fact, I need to get off this computer and get some sleep!
Today I tried another variant of FIRST/THEN with Nikko. He wanted to watch the movie Ice Age 3, which we don't own but is currently playing on the DVR On Demand via Comcast. But he called it "Dinosaurs." I put it in and it was close to dinnertime. When I was ready for everyone (willing) to eat, I turned off the TV and told Nikko, "First EAT, then Ice Age." I repeated this until Audrey started chanting it. Nikko understood and ran to the kitchen to take one bite of his cheesy mac, then ran back to the living room expectantly. Needless to say, it was a lot of repeating First Eat, then Ice Age. He initially said, "then COOKIE," but I corrected him, saying "First EAT, then Ice Age." I also signed EAT just to reinforce the visual. He made it through most of his food, but Ice Age prevailed in the end.
Ronin, however, was too tired to eat at first. Eventually he ate some bread and [fake] butter while I gave Audrey a bath. He's currently sporting another temperature, consistently at 100.? all day. I really hope it will disappear so he can go to school tomorrow, but the outcome is looking somewhat bleak. I would really love for him to go to school because at home, in this sickly state, he is ultra-crabby and picking fights with Audrey every minute. I have had many parent tantrums today, too much screaming on my part that I regret. And I am battling my own cold now. In fact, I need to get off this computer and get some sleep!
Sunday, January 23, 2011
The wry smile
1/21/11 School report: Speech - Nikko seemed happy to be back! We worked on naming pix. If he doesn't know one and I shake my head no he will say "I don't know." So cute! We are working on the hosuehold item pictures now. Tried fishing games, greetings, directions.
I sent Nikko to school on Friday. His fever was gone and he was no longer lethargic. He seemed happy to go back to school as well. I pretty much cancelled all his therapies during the week because I couldn't predict his mood. Friday morning was very perplexing because he woke up and curled himself on the floor in front of the shoe cubbies. He wanted his juice but wouldn't take any steps toward the kid table, no matter how enticing I made it for him. He wanted me to bring his juice to him, but I refused. Perhaps I did that when he was sick in the living room, but if I brought him his juice at other places in the house then I think it would start a precedence of trouble. This has become a familiar pattern as of late, Nikko pushing my boundaries and trying to see how far I will go. It sucks.
We didn't have anywhere to go today. However, Ronin woke up with a fever to match the fever Audrey had yesterday. So now I have two little ones with fevers that fluctuate. Audrey's nose is drippy and she is driving me insane because she wants me to wipe it all the time. She refuses to do it herself. I've tried to get her to wipe her own nose but that will of hers is just as strong as Ronin's. As for my poor Ronin, his fever caused him to be lethargic yet agreeable today. It was much easier to parent the sick kid that could communicate his pain versus the one who could not. :( Ronin ended up sleeping in the afternoon and throwing up juice in the evening. I started him on pedialyte on ice because his appetite has disappeared.
Nikko seems oblivious to his sibling's pains. He jumped on Ronin in the evening, smooshing Ronin against a pillow. It wasn't malicious, although Ronin was screaming for Nikko to get off him. I came by and tried to move Nikko. He wouldn't budge. I tried to pry his arms off the pillow and Nikko stood fast. I looked at Nikko and he looked directly at me with a wry little smile on his face. Through Ronin's screams I understood immediately that Nikko knew EXACTLY what I wanted him to do, but was purposefully doing the opposite. For whatever reason, I don't know. But it showed me that Nikko was completely cognizant that his actions were irritating Ronin.
One more thought before I go. Today I received emailed pictures of Nikko at school. I am so appreciative to receive these pictures because I can see what Nikko does at school. It warms my heart to see him amongst his peers. But today I noticed something in the pictures that has really been around but hard not to see. Nikko looks spacey. He had three pictures playing at the sensory table. It was filled with snow and ice, and for each picture he didn't look directly into the camera. In fact, in one picture he was standing next to a boy (Charlie, maybe?) who stood and grinned really wide at the camera. Nikko was leaning on the edge of the table, looking off to the side. I reviewed all the other pictures and yes, he does this in many instances where he is playing alone, but I noticed more engagement in the pictures prior to this last set. I really hope it's a fluke. Another thing I've been noticing again as of late is the staring-up-at-the-ceiling thing he does when he is off in his own little world. He'll be sitting on Denis' lap at storytime and we'll ask him what song we should sing. Instantly his eyes will go up toward the bookcase against the wall and his eyes will stay on that bookcase. He may or may not be listening to us. Many times we will put a hand on his chin and turn his head toward us while his eyeballs stay glued on to the bookcase. It takes my hand over his eyes to make them shift back to us. Is there a term for this lack of engagement? It pains me to see that this still happens in Nikko.
I sent Nikko to school on Friday. His fever was gone and he was no longer lethargic. He seemed happy to go back to school as well. I pretty much cancelled all his therapies during the week because I couldn't predict his mood. Friday morning was very perplexing because he woke up and curled himself on the floor in front of the shoe cubbies. He wanted his juice but wouldn't take any steps toward the kid table, no matter how enticing I made it for him. He wanted me to bring his juice to him, but I refused. Perhaps I did that when he was sick in the living room, but if I brought him his juice at other places in the house then I think it would start a precedence of trouble. This has become a familiar pattern as of late, Nikko pushing my boundaries and trying to see how far I will go. It sucks.
We didn't have anywhere to go today. However, Ronin woke up with a fever to match the fever Audrey had yesterday. So now I have two little ones with fevers that fluctuate. Audrey's nose is drippy and she is driving me insane because she wants me to wipe it all the time. She refuses to do it herself. I've tried to get her to wipe her own nose but that will of hers is just as strong as Ronin's. As for my poor Ronin, his fever caused him to be lethargic yet agreeable today. It was much easier to parent the sick kid that could communicate his pain versus the one who could not. :( Ronin ended up sleeping in the afternoon and throwing up juice in the evening. I started him on pedialyte on ice because his appetite has disappeared.
Nikko seems oblivious to his sibling's pains. He jumped on Ronin in the evening, smooshing Ronin against a pillow. It wasn't malicious, although Ronin was screaming for Nikko to get off him. I came by and tried to move Nikko. He wouldn't budge. I tried to pry his arms off the pillow and Nikko stood fast. I looked at Nikko and he looked directly at me with a wry little smile on his face. Through Ronin's screams I understood immediately that Nikko knew EXACTLY what I wanted him to do, but was purposefully doing the opposite. For whatever reason, I don't know. But it showed me that Nikko was completely cognizant that his actions were irritating Ronin.
One more thought before I go. Today I received emailed pictures of Nikko at school. I am so appreciative to receive these pictures because I can see what Nikko does at school. It warms my heart to see him amongst his peers. But today I noticed something in the pictures that has really been around but hard not to see. Nikko looks spacey. He had three pictures playing at the sensory table. It was filled with snow and ice, and for each picture he didn't look directly into the camera. In fact, in one picture he was standing next to a boy (Charlie, maybe?) who stood and grinned really wide at the camera. Nikko was leaning on the edge of the table, looking off to the side. I reviewed all the other pictures and yes, he does this in many instances where he is playing alone, but I noticed more engagement in the pictures prior to this last set. I really hope it's a fluke. Another thing I've been noticing again as of late is the staring-up-at-the-ceiling thing he does when he is off in his own little world. He'll be sitting on Denis' lap at storytime and we'll ask him what song we should sing. Instantly his eyes will go up toward the bookcase against the wall and his eyes will stay on that bookcase. He may or may not be listening to us. Many times we will put a hand on his chin and turn his head toward us while his eyeballs stay glued on to the bookcase. It takes my hand over his eyes to make them shift back to us. Is there a term for this lack of engagement? It pains me to see that this still happens in Nikko.
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