Having a great Christmas Holidays, Santa brought Oatie a Nano Raceway track, so now his nano's can run around and race and sleep in a safe environment. Oatie is so happy that his nano hexbug family can do that!
Monday, December 31, 2012
Monday, December 24, 2012
Xmas Eve Skate
We had a wonderful time on Xmas Eve, we went for a family skate. Including our new family member, so all 6 of us were out on the ice!
We had a brilliant time, it was so lovely all 6 of us (well the baby couldn't hold hands) the 5 of us holding hand together :)
Friday, December 21, 2012
Special people in your life :)
WOW, some people are just amazing! and totally restore your faith in the human race! My Oatie was going to a Christmas Crafts day, the first year that he could go 2 years ago he had the worst croup and only my (now) elder daughter could go, and last year my Oatie went (but with his dad because he was potty trained).
But THIS year, Oatie's last eligible year! And Oatie is potty trained!!! Oatie was all lined up to go. He could go without an adult this year... but then I had thoughts of Oatie being bullied, ending up soiling his pants... or whatever... The said family member was meant to go, but well they were not what we expected at all.... so at 23:30 the night before the Christmas workshop, I sent an sos text to one of my best friends and guess what.... whilst she was a hockey game, she arranged that one of her sons would take Oatie.
I might add that her younger son who took Oatie is 18 years old, just turned, and was on college holidays.... and works as a supervisor at a fast food restaurant so was up late as well the night before till like 1am working. Got out of bed shortly after 9am and spend 3 hours with Oatie. They had a total blast! Yes my friends son is 18, prepared to take Oatie to the washroom etc etc.... and hung out on his holiday with a 5 year old (a pretty cool 5 year old) and didn't want paying..
Like who does that, was just so sweet, he (college student) didn't want paying for it either! My friend has 2 wonderful young men for sons... just wonderful. I am so blessed having them in my life... :)
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
Wonderful Christmas play
Today Oatie did his Christmas Performance and I have to say he was fabulous! Totally fabulous, well his elder siblings were too, but Oatie really did himself proud.
Last May before he got his Walker, he was beginning to get agoraphobic... and because he just can't thrust himself out there... you would wonder how he would be on a stage?
My elder two both figure-skate and are used to competing having the whole ice to themselves and with strangers watching etc etc.... so I wouldn't expect them to be shy... lol!
But Oatie was lifted onto the stage and he stood for a full 5 minutes singing in with the rest of his class and he was so awesome that he had people coming up to him after and commending his performance!
It was a fabulous evening and yes it was in French, I am yet to ask Oatie what he was singing lol! but it did sound really great!
Tuesday, December 11, 2012
No manual ABR yet :((
We had a bit of a turbulent time with a family member recently, and well it was a bit of an eye opener, especially when someone has a mental illness we believe.
Because it's not visual, you don't tend to notice it.
Somehow I have to gather up what I have on Cerebral Palsy and do a mini presentation on what CP is, which funny enough to make it concise for then someone to translate (I might use google translate to help lol!).
How do I explain Oatie, he is what you see and what you see is what you get!
Today he went on a field trip to a heritage centre and we almost didn't let him go as in the past they haven't cared for him properly. Only one other Aide did look after him properly and we still visit him each time we got to Montreal he's a top bloke!
So Oaties dad phoned the school this morning to make sure that they would look after him properly! he was tired as you would expect, but he had a good day and came back in one piece, whether he had an illness relapse we'll find out, but he did love the outing! It was his very first one that I wasn't 3 minutes away or with a sibling... so he was a big brave boy going on the bus and his school best friend wasn't there either so it was a challenge I suppose for him.
He couldn't tell me about his day, he could answer if I asked him direct questions... he said he loved the blue swing and he had fun. That's all I know of his trip. I know he had fun and that's all that matters and his pants came back dry so that was good, meaning he wasn't distressed....
Sometimes when I look into his puppy dog eyes, I get all choked up, as I know there is so much he wants to say but can't express yet... each year his speech gets better and better and more spontaneous... but he obviously had a great day but can't express that in words.... yet. And with that the bit that makes me choked is that at times being him must be lonely.
From my own experience of not being able to talk for 2 weeks after the surgery, I felt lonely... I'm a touch typist a PA for a career... so I type fast, I had a fantastic app on my ipad and iphone the app was called "Speak it" brilliant, so I had a verbal voice even when I went out shopping etc.. and you can pre type sentences or as much as you would like and then press play etc etc...
but even with that I had to be near my ipad or phone or a pad and pen to communicate... and at times it was frustrating and in the end, I only communicated my important thoughts... the nuances of your day, the snippets of news etc... became a hassle to communicate... The only time was when a friend who has the patients of a saint would sit with me and have a conversation and wait for me to type back on my speak it and vice versa.
During this time, The upside was one of the mothers at skating is deaf and so we bonded and gelled on a different level (she liked to read my ipad speak it)and one that I wished I had taken the time to sit with her more as we had really decent conversations, really in-depth and she is a most interesting person.... etc and became good friends. But if i sat there ordinarily with my ipad to speak to her she would be offended... (she has hearing aids and likes to not draw attention to her hearing deficit).
So i look into my Oatie's eyes and at times sees loneliness and sadness.... he's used to his brother or sister starting a train of thought from a field trip and then Oatie would run with the story....
I will try and ask the aide if she could jot down 5 things he does each day, as conversation starters.... so that way I can use those to ask him about his day so he get's that practice/skill to converse in that way.
I find that because in some ways he's 2 years younger than his age... that when kids usually acquire skills, he doesn't naturally acquire, so its almost like you have to teach the skills that the others naturally picked up.
That's why I think the dog would be so good for him as he will have his pal by his side. someone who will just love him, and not bully him..... and someone to be there when I, his dad, or his siblings can't be... so he doesn't face life outside the house alone.
Some people have blanched at the idea of a dog on top of 4 kids and 5 cats... but I say that the dog will be our 5th child... and might be more work for me, but I think the benefits for Oatie will be HUGE!
Well our littlest one had her 2 month jabs today... and they update your adult vaccines too (well i never! would have thought that they did that) well I quite liked the idea of it, my sore arm is thinking differently... but I got my tetanus booster:) something I was thinking of getting around to... and haven't... so that was good:)
Because it's not visual, you don't tend to notice it.
Somehow I have to gather up what I have on Cerebral Palsy and do a mini presentation on what CP is, which funny enough to make it concise for then someone to translate (I might use google translate to help lol!).
How do I explain Oatie, he is what you see and what you see is what you get!
Today he went on a field trip to a heritage centre and we almost didn't let him go as in the past they haven't cared for him properly. Only one other Aide did look after him properly and we still visit him each time we got to Montreal he's a top bloke!
So Oaties dad phoned the school this morning to make sure that they would look after him properly! he was tired as you would expect, but he had a good day and came back in one piece, whether he had an illness relapse we'll find out, but he did love the outing! It was his very first one that I wasn't 3 minutes away or with a sibling... so he was a big brave boy going on the bus and his school best friend wasn't there either so it was a challenge I suppose for him.
He couldn't tell me about his day, he could answer if I asked him direct questions... he said he loved the blue swing and he had fun. That's all I know of his trip. I know he had fun and that's all that matters and his pants came back dry so that was good, meaning he wasn't distressed....
Sometimes when I look into his puppy dog eyes, I get all choked up, as I know there is so much he wants to say but can't express yet... each year his speech gets better and better and more spontaneous... but he obviously had a great day but can't express that in words.... yet. And with that the bit that makes me choked is that at times being him must be lonely.
From my own experience of not being able to talk for 2 weeks after the surgery, I felt lonely... I'm a touch typist a PA for a career... so I type fast, I had a fantastic app on my ipad and iphone the app was called "Speak it" brilliant, so I had a verbal voice even when I went out shopping etc.. and you can pre type sentences or as much as you would like and then press play etc etc...
but even with that I had to be near my ipad or phone or a pad and pen to communicate... and at times it was frustrating and in the end, I only communicated my important thoughts... the nuances of your day, the snippets of news etc... became a hassle to communicate... The only time was when a friend who has the patients of a saint would sit with me and have a conversation and wait for me to type back on my speak it and vice versa.
During this time, The upside was one of the mothers at skating is deaf and so we bonded and gelled on a different level (she liked to read my ipad speak it)and one that I wished I had taken the time to sit with her more as we had really decent conversations, really in-depth and she is a most interesting person.... etc and became good friends. But if i sat there ordinarily with my ipad to speak to her she would be offended... (she has hearing aids and likes to not draw attention to her hearing deficit).
So i look into my Oatie's eyes and at times sees loneliness and sadness.... he's used to his brother or sister starting a train of thought from a field trip and then Oatie would run with the story....
I will try and ask the aide if she could jot down 5 things he does each day, as conversation starters.... so that way I can use those to ask him about his day so he get's that practice/skill to converse in that way.
I find that because in some ways he's 2 years younger than his age... that when kids usually acquire skills, he doesn't naturally acquire, so its almost like you have to teach the skills that the others naturally picked up.
That's why I think the dog would be so good for him as he will have his pal by his side. someone who will just love him, and not bully him..... and someone to be there when I, his dad, or his siblings can't be... so he doesn't face life outside the house alone.
Some people have blanched at the idea of a dog on top of 4 kids and 5 cats... but I say that the dog will be our 5th child... and might be more work for me, but I think the benefits for Oatie will be HUGE!
Well our littlest one had her 2 month jabs today... and they update your adult vaccines too (well i never! would have thought that they did that) well I quite liked the idea of it, my sore arm is thinking differently... but I got my tetanus booster:) something I was thinking of getting around to... and haven't... so that was good:)
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
Oaties self portrait
Here is Oaties drawing of himself:)
I couldn't believe his portfolio it is brilliant, I am so proud of him and his sibs who also got stellar school reports.... Oatie did better that we thought he would which is just brilliant...
Oatie is loving his ice skating and his bi-ski has just been delivered.. his new aide is really nice and getting over his toilet phobia (with a bribe of a magic 8 ball), it's noisy and annoying so naturally kids love this thing!
his baby sister is doing great too:)
This Saturday I am hoping to resume his ABR so keep your fingers crossed....
Thursday, November 29, 2012
Cerebral Palsy Christmas party
We had a brilliant time at our local cerebral palsy Christmas party, it was a really great time.
It was held at a dinner theatre, and it has the most wheelchair accessible venue I've EVER seen, a wheelchair could go at any table or seat... it was lots of ramps all over like a maze it was brilliant.
Santa was there and there was a candy bar... and a crafts table and it was a great party which everyone had lots of fun.
This week is a busy week with skating test days, and baby appointments and piano tuning appointments and parents night at school.... lol!
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
Aide we go again....
Well since September, we have had a few aides for Oatie. The first and 4th on was really nice, but her mother was ill and has now retired from the school year on compassionate leave, poor lady... feel for her with that.
The next was a guy, he was super happy but had a different idea of safety compared to me, like he'd put Oatie on slides etc... and that would be fine, but this was like a 16ft slide and metal and Oatie doesn't have the core stability like other kids his age not to fall back and smack his head.... he also gave Oatie a toilet phobia...
Then we have the temp fill-in from the school, who is the BEST so far, she has filled in on and off since September and Oatie comes back happiest he has a good time (safe) in the playground... and he goes to the washroom on the toilet not the potty with her and she is always smiling, even when she tells kids off apparently...
So Aide we go again... the worrying part is that they put the advert for Oatie's new aide out to parents, which might get another NAFF experience like we had when he was in preschool with a person who just wants some money,... rather than a person who has chosen a career path helping people with challenges which is a totally different thing for me...
The bad experience he had in preschool was a parent... all the nice aides he's had are all along the path of special needs of some sorts...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
