So I am a pessimist at heart I think. I always look at the negative. not something I am proud of...just the truth.
You ask me how I am and regardless of how good or bad the day was I will say, "eh. ok" I could have won the farking lottery and will still probably be like that. just how I am.
As a mom this is a daily struggle/battle for me. Daily. It is a battle I lose often. Too often. I try to remind myself to point out the positive things that Josey does. To not just reprimand her. Some days I do great. Other days I fall short.
With everything going on with Brady I am once again challenged to be positive. The case worker, L, was over yesterday. She was going over the goals for Brady, talking about strategy. One of the things we are to do is to encourage any and all vocalization. I get why. I understand that he needs to be encouraged to talk because his communication is so poor that he could get easily frustrated if we are always correcting him. I do understand the logic behind it. That part is actually fairly easy for me. I can just go with him. I feel a little silly sometimes making it sound like "uh" is whatever item he is choosing but I can do it.
Where I am stubbing my toes right now is on the idea that any attempt at a word should be counted. Again...I want him to succeed. I want him to communicate and will do whatever I have to do to help him out. I just want to make sure that "uh" does not always count for "duck".
Logically I know that will not be the case. They are not going to cut him free from EI with him still grunting and such. I guess I am impatient and pessimistic at heart and need to quit being that way. Trust the process Gretchen...trust the flipping process. :)
On an another note...we have made it almost one week with the kids 100% gluten free now. Brad and I have still had some things because there are still some gluten foods in the house, obviously, but the kids have had none since Sunday. not too bad. not too bad at all.
Having lived with AJ as he struggled to form words I understand some of what you must feel. The beginning, as usual, is the hardest part. He says UH, you get the duck and talk to him about the duck. Next week see if you can get him to say duck at least once before you give it to him. I am in no way suggesting you taunt him to speak. But a small pause, giving him time to form the word and he will learn to understand that words mean things.
ReplyDeleteTalking with him is a happy time. I bet he enjoys it more than you know. And UH really does mean duck, he just needs to pronounce it better. Hugs to you my friend.
There are upsides to being a pessimist, you know. :) Did you want me to try to dig out Jesse's speech assessment from last summer? There were a few things there that I can see "maybe" being helpful. I might also be able to throw some tips your way once we get a senior therapist assigned to Jesse.
ReplyDeleteLMG 3 spoke very few words at 2. Having two older boys with Asperger's/PDD-NOS,I was really worried about him having full-blown autism. But at age 3 he has caught up and seems (so far) to be fine.
ReplyDeleteI found it was actually a relief when we finally got a diagnosis for the older boys, as it confirmed what I'd always felt which was that life was frakking difficult.
To get a speedy/accurate diagnosis you actually need to see someone who specialises in ASD - preferably in Asperger's as they will be familiar with the more subtle expressions of autism less-experienced practiitoners may miss.
It might also be worth googling Sue Dengate's book "Fed Up". She believes that a lot of the additives we put in our food may cause autistic-like syptoms.
Hang in there, life will get better soon - regardless of the diagnosis.