Day #196

We got muddy today! When I got back from the college we took the girls for a little walk down by the creek. We were practicing "walk with me" tracking how many times they took our hand and walked willingly or if they tried to fight and pull away. Today there were no occurrences out of any of the opportunities we gave them, yay! I might be able to walk with them without the harnesses soon. These are Josie's feet by the way, she went ankle deep in the creek mud going after her little stuffed bird she threw in. I am a firm believer that kids are supposed to get dirty! :D

Day #195

Shelley you slave driver! Just kidding, we love you! Pam took this picture of Josie after she had fallen asleep right at the table during session today. Doesn't she look so angelic?! Sometimes a girl just needs a power nap.

Day #194

Josie read her name today! So exciting!!! She was working on a program with Shelley when she looked over at the lesson data sheet and started spelling "J-O-S-I-E" then said "Josie"! She spelled and recognized her name!!! I can't express enough to you how big of a deal this is?! There aren't enough exclamation points!!! :D

Day #193

No photograph today, I don't think you would want to see a photograph for what I am about to tell you. We had our first fecal smearing incident this evening, NOT pretty! Maeve decided to take her diaper off and well you can imagine the rest. I hope this does not become a habit but I have to say she seemed quite pleased with herself afterward. I tried to give as little attention as possible for it, granted I had to clean her as well as the table in their bedroom and part of the deck (sounds like she was at it a while, not the case, trust me she is FAST!)  but I still tried to give her as little attention as possible for doing it. I have to admit that it was probably my fault for not being on top of her having a messy diaper though in my own defense I must say I cannot be everywhere all the time! I hear about this a lot from other autism parents and do not think it was an enjoyment or sensory satisfaction she got from doing this. I think she was messy, did not like being that way so was trying to clean herself, ended up with it on her hands and wiped them off on the nearest available surface. Maybe this is an indicator that she is ready to begin potty training, not wanting a dirty diaper on her is a good step. Maybe she was creating poop art...nah! I have to see some sort of humor or light at the end of the tunnel in this, if I didn't I would be totally grossed out.

Day #192

 

Sunday morning pancakes with my girls :D

We were all still in our pajamas with bed head but it is a little tradition of ours to have warm, gluten free, flax seed pancakes with a splash of vanilla in the batter and always lots of butter and syrup on Sunday morning...just feels like a BIG HUG when you eat them. Maeve is actually eating them now, it has taken a while to get her used to them but time does wonders when you are patient. Josie usually eats until the thought of taking another bite makes her gag. I find it is important to create traditions for the girls, to create memories they can smile about when they are older. Who knew pancakes were so powerful?!

Day #191

Love those dimples! After I took this picture I realized just how much Josie's face is maturing, it isn't a little baby face anymore. She is starting to look like such a big girl now...waahhh! My baby is growing up!

I have tried to keep things low key today and even though it has been mellow here I have had to put Maeve on two time outs already for hitting. She is defaulting to hitting whomever and whatever is nearest to her when she gets frustrated. She hit Josie twice and poor Liam kitty once. I don't know if time outs work for her but it gives separation between the girls and a few moments for her to regulate herself. Chew tubes don't always work and sometimes she is just too agitated for joint compression or massage of any kind. I encourage swinging at these times as well which seems to calm her down the best. I wish I knew what was going on inside her at these moments!

Day #190

I wonder if he realizes how much the girls truly need him around? Maeve is sitting there completely content wearing daddy's hat, holding daddy's hand, calm and relaxed. Josie gets very hyper and playful during his visits but he seems to have a calming affect on Maeve. I really do wonder if he knows how much they love him? I have to say that he is a very self centered person who decides to play "daddy" when it suits him but it has to be when he feels going out with his friends is not more important. I have also noticed that the day after a visit like this throws Maeve for a loop and she becomes irritable, easy to strike out and overall more intense. I don't know...I am fed up with his inability to be the father the girls need, his penchant for finding excuses why he can't come see them, and his total lack of concern for their well being. I also recognize how much the girls enjoy having him visit. If I step back from my own feelings and look at it from the girls perspective I can understand their wanting daddy around but I am to the point where I can justify telling him to come every single day or not at all. It is a conundrum!