Behavior. What set's it off? Sometimes something as little as shutting off the kitchen sink. Dane will have to turn the water on then off or he will have a meltdown. He has been getting better with his intensive 3 hour therapy sessions two days a week.
Over the weekend we had a cookout at my parents. We were looking at how bad my dads shingles are on his roof over his house. 45 years old those shingles are and now dad is considering putting a steel roof on. The shingles on the garage that my brother and I helped roof less then 8 years ago look like crap. Most of them are curling up already? Everything is made so cheap. Those shingles had a 30 year warranty I thought? Dad says shingles these days your lucky to get 15 years use.
The neighbor down the road stopped in on his 4 wheeler. He told dad about his steel roof that he put on and wanted to show him. He wanted dad to jump on the wheeler and take him down the road. Dad didn't want to go but my brother and I told him to go.
Dane didn't see that Grandpa left on the 4 wheeler and then seen him down the road. He got really upset. He stood on the edge of the driveway crying until Grandpa got back. After he came back, in the neighbors truck, Dane stormed off because the 4 wheeler didn't come back. He wanted to go for a ride. He stormed off down the road and I had to run to catch him. He stayed on side because I have really been pushing him to stay on the side of the road. I never let him close to the road unless I am with him. I don't know if he'd just walk out into traffic. Eventually I got him turned around to walk back to the house with me.
Later that evening then neighbor came back on his 4 wheeler and I got to give Dane a ride. I took him down the road to their farm. We looked at the cows and turned around. I knew the whole while he was thinking about riding it. I think that made him happy for the rest of the night.
This is my online diary about my son diagnosed with autism at age 2. His progress and regressions. His behavior and his sensory overloads. Therapy and picture schedules. Drama and humor to figure out how his mind works.
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Saturday, September 10, 2011
Air Show
My wife wanted to go see the EAA Air Show 3 hours away. We decided this could be good family bonding experience. My family doesn't get to do much together because we work opposite shifts. It doesn't help that the kids are as little as they are also. I hope to change our life styles soon to help my marriage.
I was surprised and happy how well the children took the long car ride. There was a park near by with a splash pad. We wanted the kids to go to the bathroom before we got to the airport. We had a couple hours to spare and luckily my wife packed their bathing suits. They got to play and run through the water with all the other kids.
Dane didn't want to leave but we told him he didn't want to miss the airplanes and big jets. He likes Big Jet from Disney's Little Einsteins.
When we got there we needed to find a place to park. 8 dollars. Then we had to get into the airport and get 2 adult wrist bands and 2 bands for the kids. 75 dollars. Whoa. I hope I had enough money to get through the day with the 90 degree heat.
Now what? We walked around not knowing how to get to the air show. We went outside and there was a line of people waiting for buses. That is how we get there?
Dane was hungry so we got 3 hot dogs and a bottle of water. He wanted catsup but I didn't want him to get messy. I told him that catsup was cooked into it and he didn't need to put any on. A little white lie on my part.
On the bus a nice guy let my kids sit in his spot. Allyson was excited about her first bus ride.
When the bus stopped and we were on the airfield I figured the kids would be okay to walk. I wanted to get Danes picture next to a Bomber jet but he knelt down and didn't want his picture taken. He was already pre exhausted from the heat. We went back and got the last 2 seater wagon for 15 bucks deposit. They needed to hold on to my drivers license.
We looked at a lot of big cargo planes and helicopters. Dane got to sit in a helicopter but didn't seem to excited. He looked like he was going to have a heat stroke.
I thought that sonic booms were going off because of the planes taking off but they actually were dropping bombs. That was cool.
My wife went to get us some more water and a veteran pilot gave Dane and Ally stickers while the next planes were flying in formation.
After the final bomb which was a wall of fire that the announcer said, "Changed the war," a big, black cloud was rolling in. I was expecting a torrential downpour so we wanted to get out of there.
We were walking faster and faster trying to get back to the buses and I looked to the right. A big mess of dust and gravel was coming at us. We tried to make it inside a tent but it was already there. That wind must have been 60 mph. People were scattering everywhere looking for shelter. We got to the side of the tent and knelt down on top of the kids. I put the kids hats over their faces to protect their eyes from flying debree. Another boy asked his father if that was a tornado. Dane was so frightened and couldn't tell us how scared he was.
We got back to the wagon rental station and their tent was blown over. I needed to get my license back and people kept budding in front of me. Finally a nice old man asked if those were my kids. I was the only one in the line with kids. Everyone was returning motorized karts. He let me get in front of him. All the licenses were messed up because the wind knocked over their file cabinet. People were getting distressed because they wanted their cards back. I thanked the man and we finally go my license back.
Dane fell asleep on the ride back home. When we got home he was still shaking. My wife said she'd take him for a quick drive to calm him down. I'm like, "We just drove 3 hours." It worked. She got back and Dane settled down a lot. She took him around the park and he told her a bit about the ducks there. A little one on one bonding seems to help even if it's for a short drive.
I was surprised and happy how well the children took the long car ride. There was a park near by with a splash pad. We wanted the kids to go to the bathroom before we got to the airport. We had a couple hours to spare and luckily my wife packed their bathing suits. They got to play and run through the water with all the other kids.
Dane didn't want to leave but we told him he didn't want to miss the airplanes and big jets. He likes Big Jet from Disney's Little Einsteins.
When we got there we needed to find a place to park. 8 dollars. Then we had to get into the airport and get 2 adult wrist bands and 2 bands for the kids. 75 dollars. Whoa. I hope I had enough money to get through the day with the 90 degree heat.
Now what? We walked around not knowing how to get to the air show. We went outside and there was a line of people waiting for buses. That is how we get there?
Dane was hungry so we got 3 hot dogs and a bottle of water. He wanted catsup but I didn't want him to get messy. I told him that catsup was cooked into it and he didn't need to put any on. A little white lie on my part.
On the bus a nice guy let my kids sit in his spot. Allyson was excited about her first bus ride.
When the bus stopped and we were on the airfield I figured the kids would be okay to walk. I wanted to get Danes picture next to a Bomber jet but he knelt down and didn't want his picture taken. He was already pre exhausted from the heat. We went back and got the last 2 seater wagon for 15 bucks deposit. They needed to hold on to my drivers license.
We looked at a lot of big cargo planes and helicopters. Dane got to sit in a helicopter but didn't seem to excited. He looked like he was going to have a heat stroke.
I thought that sonic booms were going off because of the planes taking off but they actually were dropping bombs. That was cool.
My wife went to get us some more water and a veteran pilot gave Dane and Ally stickers while the next planes were flying in formation.
After the final bomb which was a wall of fire that the announcer said, "Changed the war," a big, black cloud was rolling in. I was expecting a torrential downpour so we wanted to get out of there.
We were walking faster and faster trying to get back to the buses and I looked to the right. A big mess of dust and gravel was coming at us. We tried to make it inside a tent but it was already there. That wind must have been 60 mph. People were scattering everywhere looking for shelter. We got to the side of the tent and knelt down on top of the kids. I put the kids hats over their faces to protect their eyes from flying debree. Another boy asked his father if that was a tornado. Dane was so frightened and couldn't tell us how scared he was.
We got back to the wagon rental station and their tent was blown over. I needed to get my license back and people kept budding in front of me. Finally a nice old man asked if those were my kids. I was the only one in the line with kids. Everyone was returning motorized karts. He let me get in front of him. All the licenses were messed up because the wind knocked over their file cabinet. People were getting distressed because they wanted their cards back. I thanked the man and we finally go my license back.
Dane fell asleep on the ride back home. When we got home he was still shaking. My wife said she'd take him for a quick drive to calm him down. I'm like, "We just drove 3 hours." It worked. She got back and Dane settled down a lot. She took him around the park and he told her a bit about the ducks there. A little one on one bonding seems to help even if it's for a short drive.
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Imaginative Play
What a wonderful thing to come home from work to. Silence. Both kids taking their naps at the same time on the couch with Maisey on the television. Food on the stove and a hot bath run. Wonderful. I like it. I like it a lot!
I'd like the kids to start playing video games. These new systems are so complicated with all the buttons and action going on. I brought out from storage the old 8 bit Nintendo Entertainment System from my childhood. What junk. None of the games would stay on. I kept getting the blue flashing screen. The only game I actually got to work was the original Mario Brothers and Duck Hunt combo game. I wanted to play Duck Hunt and the kids wanted to shoot the ducks. I think this would help Dane with his hand, eye coordination and fine motor skills.
There must be something with the new flat screen TV's. BANG BANG BANG! Then that laughing piece of shit dog comes up. "Let me see that." I say. Same thing. 3 misses and the laughing dog. Even with the zapper up to the screen would miss the ducks. There I go. Getting the kids hopes up for something cool and turns out to be a let down.
The wife is off to bed and the kids are wound up. Dane wants to go to Grandpas, go figure. He gets upset and takes it out on Ally. He starts to slam doors in her face and slap her arm. He even started to scratch her. When he gets in that attitude frame of mind I have to keep Allyson distant from him or he tries to hurt her. Sometimes I think she brings it on and irritates him by taking his toys from him.
Looks like rain so I have to bring the kids inside and get some laundry done. First thing they do in run around the basement with those loud dump trucks. Dawn wakes up and tells me to take their trucks away. I'm trying to do laundry. After I get a load in I'll take them back upstairs and "try" to keep them quiet.
I thought I'd bring out Ally's doll house and try some imaginative play with the kids. Dane showed no interest at all. Not because of the doll house. Because he lacks imaginative play. That really sucks that all Dane see's is reality and can't use his imagination. He did laugh when I used the small dog to pretend play drinking out of the toilet and then lick at Ally and his faces.
I'd like the kids to start playing video games. These new systems are so complicated with all the buttons and action going on. I brought out from storage the old 8 bit Nintendo Entertainment System from my childhood. What junk. None of the games would stay on. I kept getting the blue flashing screen. The only game I actually got to work was the original Mario Brothers and Duck Hunt combo game. I wanted to play Duck Hunt and the kids wanted to shoot the ducks. I think this would help Dane with his hand, eye coordination and fine motor skills.
There must be something with the new flat screen TV's. BANG BANG BANG! Then that laughing piece of shit dog comes up. "Let me see that." I say. Same thing. 3 misses and the laughing dog. Even with the zapper up to the screen would miss the ducks. There I go. Getting the kids hopes up for something cool and turns out to be a let down.
The wife is off to bed and the kids are wound up. Dane wants to go to Grandpas, go figure. He gets upset and takes it out on Ally. He starts to slam doors in her face and slap her arm. He even started to scratch her. When he gets in that attitude frame of mind I have to keep Allyson distant from him or he tries to hurt her. Sometimes I think she brings it on and irritates him by taking his toys from him.
Looks like rain so I have to bring the kids inside and get some laundry done. First thing they do in run around the basement with those loud dump trucks. Dawn wakes up and tells me to take their trucks away. I'm trying to do laundry. After I get a load in I'll take them back upstairs and "try" to keep them quiet.
I thought I'd bring out Ally's doll house and try some imaginative play with the kids. Dane showed no interest at all. Not because of the doll house. Because he lacks imaginative play. That really sucks that all Dane see's is reality and can't use his imagination. He did laugh when I used the small dog to pretend play drinking out of the toilet and then lick at Ally and his faces.
Friday, September 2, 2011
Kindergarten
Dane was excited to go back to school. He still talks about his teacher from last year. It's sad for him knowing that she is not his teacher this year. He is in a new classroom with all new students. Only a couple familiar faces are in his class this year. I don't understand why they didn't put him in a class with more students he got to know from last year. That really stinks. I told him that he will make lots of new friends this year. Most of the kids are latino.
There was a young hispanic girl starting kindergarten this year. She was crying and scared. She couldn't speak any english. Her parents dropped her off and left her on her own. The teachers had to find an interpreter to speak to her and calm her down. The girl was new to the area and didn't know anybody.
The school wants the kids entering the school to go strait to the cafeteria. This is for breakfast and for those who will eat before their first class. I understand if someones kid has to get up early and ride the bus to school who don't have time to eat to have this option. I live about 5 blocks from the school and Dane has time to eat breakfast at home. I told his teacher that he will not be getting to school early to wait in the lunch room with all the loud kids eating their breakfast. He will arrive right before class starts between 8:15 and 8:25. I am not paying for 2 or 3 meals a day when he can eat at home before school starts.
It sounds from Danes teacher that he had a good day and I am happy about that. Hopefully she is telling me the truth for me not to be concerned. I need to set up a M-Team meeting to get the personnel involved with Dane to let the staff know about his condition. A lot of the teachers and people working close with him don't know he has autism. I could have knocked the librarian over with a feather when I told her last year. I couldn't believe she didn't know. I thought that the school would have brought this to their faculty's attention. I guess that is up for me to let them know. What if something sets off a meltdown and the teacher thinks he is misbehaving? Anyone involved around Dane must know his condition. That is the importance of the M-Team meeting. Like an IEP but with all who is involved with Dane to bring it to their attention.
There was a young hispanic girl starting kindergarten this year. She was crying and scared. She couldn't speak any english. Her parents dropped her off and left her on her own. The teachers had to find an interpreter to speak to her and calm her down. The girl was new to the area and didn't know anybody.
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| Danes first day of Kindergarten before class |
It sounds from Danes teacher that he had a good day and I am happy about that. Hopefully she is telling me the truth for me not to be concerned. I need to set up a M-Team meeting to get the personnel involved with Dane to let the staff know about his condition. A lot of the teachers and people working close with him don't know he has autism. I could have knocked the librarian over with a feather when I told her last year. I couldn't believe she didn't know. I thought that the school would have brought this to their faculty's attention. I guess that is up for me to let them know. What if something sets off a meltdown and the teacher thinks he is misbehaving? Anyone involved around Dane must know his condition. That is the importance of the M-Team meeting. Like an IEP but with all who is involved with Dane to bring it to their attention.
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