Happy Is As Happy Does

Yes, Happy is as Happy does...he's just a Happy Happy boy. :)


My lil man has two favorite things and that is toy cars and guitars, especially the guitars. If he get's into one of his "guitar playing" modes and there isn't one around, he will grab anything that he feels will do, lol. He will use broom's, combs, his toy golf sticks, straws, spoons, brushes...seriously, anything that will help him mimic playing the guitar. Sometimes we have to hide them from him and I truly believe he goes into "guitar withdrawals". 


If he's listening to a television theme song or a song on the radio and hear's a guitar he gets so so excited and rocks to the beat. After a few times of hearing a song, he can't actually play it but he can sure mimic the movements on his guitar and go into rock star mode, as if he were really playing. One example is the theme song from CSI - Miami, he has that down, lol.


So this leads me to, why it amazed me so much Christmas morning when he noticed the new guitar under the tree. It was as if he got something he never had but always wanted. He went into his "happy dance" then immediately grabbed it to start stringing his own music, lol. The look of excitement on his face was priceless. I wish I had the video camera going to capture the moment. The whole family was excited because he was excited.


He was so excited about the new guitar he wasn't really interested in the other gifts he received, at least not until later on. He played it and played it, then made me and his dad play it while he acted like he was singing in a microphone (btw...he will also use anything as a pretend microphone if he can't locate his). We are definitely looking forward to getting him guitar lessons...real soon and hopefully one day we will be able to hear him sing along as he plays. :)


Now I wonder which one will be his favorite guitar. Hmmm...


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He's Getting There

We take so many things for granted in life. Like some of life's lessons that should be known and learned by a certain age. Since DeAndre has come into this world and my life he's taught me patience. Such as with potty training.

Potty training was so much easier with my older kids. My oldest son had the potty mastered before he reached 2 years and my girls both took a little longer but had it down before 2 1/2 years. Of course they weren't living with an ASD and were able to communicate their needs clearly. DeAndre is another story. He's 5 years old now and we are still working with him and the potty training. I will admit I do have my moments of frustration, as does the rest of the family, but I know he's getting there. Patience with him is important.

In the mornings he knows to head straight to the toilet, he lifts and uses it, then flushes and goes straight to the face bowl to wash his hands. I'm thankful he knows to do that much. When he's at school they have their bathroom breaks and his teacher has reported that he does good and goes with no problems then other times he doesn't (thank goodness for Pullups). It's the same when he's at home. I have to watch for his signals and if I don't catch him in time he goes, Pullup on or not. He has the morning pee thing down to a science but it's getting him to realize he has to do this throughout the day when he has to go.

The other potty issue is the bowel movement. When he was a bit younger he would go in his sister's (my now 11 year old) closet (why he chose her closet we could never figured out) and close the door. If none of us were around to catch this he'd do his do and have it spread all over her closet walls and OMG not to mention if he got to close to her clothes. No it wasn't a pretty sight and I always insisted to be the one to clean it up (mommy will do it), so an added chore or chores for me it was. In time he learned that that was not a good thing to do. No he hasn't mastered sitting on the toilet to do his do yet so we also have to watch for his signal when he's ready to go for this to. For some reason he has to go in any room in the house as long as the door closes. When I hear a door close I know instantly that its time. I guess the close door thing when he has to have a bowel movement is his way of saying he wants some privacy. Of course if we don't catch him in time he goes right in his underwear or Pullups but thank God he doesn't spread it all over the place anymore.

We've tried doing the reward thing and scheduled bathroom times. When he goes he always gets praises for going or even making the effort. I'm investing in a new e-Tablet since he seems to enjoy his InnoTab (touch pad for stories and games). Then I can down load the communication apps I've heard about and maybe this will help be able to communicate his need to go before hand. He'll like the idea of being able to press the buttons anyway, lol. I'm also taking any and all suggestions that may help with this. He doesn't talk but uses certain gestures to tell us what he wants or needs. Please don't hesitate to share what worked for you or may work for me by commenting.

No my baby doesn't have it down but he's getting there slowly but surely.
All I have is patience and love :)

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The Upside Down Trick

My son can go in hyper mode at any given time. It seems at times the moment his feet touches the ground from the bed he's in overdrive. It makes me tired just watching all the energy he gives out, ooo wee. He's at his best usually on the weekends when he's off his weekday routine. While discussing this with his occupational therapist, she suggested turning him upside down...of course in a playful manner. It seems some kids on the spectrum respond well to this type of play as it gives a calming effect.

So of course we were willing to try anything within reason and now we make it a part of his daily playtime routine at home. His father, while standing puts him up on his shoulder and dips him in front of him while holding his back and head, DeAndre holds on with his legs on dad's shoulder. Dad calls out 1...2...3 GO and dips him then back up about 4 or 5 times. DeAndre loves this. Because I'm smaller then his dad, I have to do this with him while sitting down. He faces me with his legs around my waist and I secure him with my hands behind his head and DIP, upside down he goes. I think he really likes and prefers the way dad does it, lol, but responds well to both ways. He has even come to us with gestures that this is what he wants to play. Maybe it's the blood flow going to the head. I don't know but it really does work for us. After a dip or two he's ready to sit still for a moment.

Now if I could only find a way to make the calming effect last a little longer :)

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