Our Christmas 2009 at OneTrueMedia.com

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Bubbles!

Oh does Christopher love bubbles! Bubbles always bring cheer! Loving the new bubble machine mommy bought for him.

Stunt Devil

This little motorcycle isn't even a ride on toy, yet somehow Christopher continues to try and ride it. Tonight he preformed his well practiced ride it down the steps stunt. It happens in slow motion, complete with a fake fall at the end, followed by his favorite phrase "Wanhelp?" and newly added to this stunt is the word "Ow" but as I said before it happens in slow motion so he really isn't hurt.

Gotta have a cow!

Here even with his good friend Martha and a stack of blocks to topple seems that cow has become another important friend that helps him through his day. I remember when I was pregnant for him and redecorating my nieces room, I tried to convince her that this cow would be perfect in the baby's room. She didn't buy it, yet the cow managed to find it's way to our house - this cow among all the stuffed friends we have has become by far his favorite. Thank you Kaleigh!

Welcome Jim

It was reported to me today by more than one person that Jim was a big hit in Christopher's eyes. I can tell from this picture how happy he was today in his company. Welcome to the team Jim. Glad that you could join us.

Racing cars back and forth. I got it!

Last night when I came home I found three different TV's on at once, both boys plugged in. After a bit of food and a slow process of shutting down the extra noise surrounding the room we found great energy in pushing trucks around on the floor. Daniel, Christopher and I all had big trucks and we raced back and forth across the wood floor. This was loud too, but a different loud. Soon my back didn't allow me to continue but the boys did. At one point Christopher was racing towards the step down into the kitchen and just short of falling he stopped his truck half way over the steps edge, at which point Daniel reports that Christopher said "I got it!" I believe I too have heard that phrase this week in proper context.

Getting Dressed "Good Job"

Getting dressed. Christopher has become more helpful and is following simple cues. Rather than changing him like a baby laying down all time I have begun to change his clothes while he stands. I tap the foot I am ready for him to put into the pant leg and say put in, then its the same for the other foot. He likes this. He finds it amazing each time his hand pops out of his shirt sleeves. He's proud of his work. Both Dan and I have a habit of saying "good job" a lot. And I am pretty sure I heard him praise him self this morning with a "good job" when his hands popped out.

Transitions

The ability to transition. I have observed that Christopher does really well with his transitions. For example he gets a verbal warning at night when "Nigh, Nights Time." is approaching and then the physical and visual cues of getting changed for bed, saying good night to Daddy, and Daniel, but then when it comes to going up the stair to his room I have to take a deep breath and go for it. He fights it the whole way, till I lay him in his bed and he smiles and lays there. I say good night and shut off the light. That's it done. Same with getting into his car seat, sometimes I feel as though I am on top off him to get him hooked up properly but then that's it done. I think that I work myself up over these little transitions because I do not want to have to push him till he is ready yet we have places to be, things to do. But stepping back and thinking about these transitions from his point of view, he's doing a great job.

Ever been so busy with more to do than you can get done and then the dog won't come in when you have to leave, you can't find your keys, you can hear your cell phone but you don't know where it is? And then someone asks you to pick up milk on the way home too? You want to shout - are you kidding me! Pick up milk?

It's not that picking up the milk is so difficult by itself but that you already have so much going on. OK well with all that set up here's what I think. I think that Christopher too has a lot going on in his little mind and we continually interrupt him through out the day with our request for eating, sleeping and going outside. All simple tasks, just like picking up milk from the store. So we help him. Much like a grocery list would help you to remember the milk, we help him with the tools, preparation, and skills he needs to make these transitions a bit easier for all involved.

Echolalia

Mom learns a new word today. And so now I share with you. "Echolalia is the repetition of previously heard words or phrases." Rather than pulling from the site what I find interesting I share with you the address so that you may read it for yourself.

http://www.spdsupport.org.uk/echolalia.html

I am exhausted. Change is hard.

I am exhausted. Emotionally I am having a really tough time right now. And so I apologize because all of the previous posts are that of fun and clever little things that Christopher has said and done. But I need to be honest to get through this, and this blog is meant to share our journey through this, and there are days that just really suck. Change is hard. Change of routines, changes in how we think, changes in our expectations, changes in our finances, changes in our family structure, change is hard.

The different boy.

I am struggling with my emotions for how I feel, to be very honest. One side, the prevalent thank goodness, feels like the constant cheerleader of Christopher both for his benefit, those around him and for me. The other side is sad and angry. Because I am beginning to realize that no matter the amount of cheering he has a long road ahead of him in his life to struggle with acceptance and understanding by those who know him and by strangers. I fear he will be that different boy. The one that the other kids don't understand and parents shy away from. I have been raising his bother Daniel to be different, to not be a follower. For Christopher I wish he could be more the same rather than the different boy.