I have to share this great memory with you from a while back.
In the cold of winter, it's tough at times, to creatively do something. It's especially hard when boys like Dawson have a hard time in so many public places. So what to do?
Of all the public places out there, the only one where Dawson doesn't mind a lot of people is the pool. SO LET'S GO!
We packed up, and headed for the nearest indoor facility, and had gobs of fun! The neat thing about the pool, is that everyone can have fun, and that we did!
For a few bucks, you can get your whole family in, and usually stay for a few hours. Water has always been very therapudic for Dawson. As with many kids, they love the pressure that the water puts around their body, and the resistance that it give to their movement. Many therapists encourage water for various forms of therapy.
Anyhow, it's a small little story, but a great memory that we will store away, and surely do again in the future.
Now if only we could build a big poolhouse in the backyard....-t
Monday, February 18, 2008
Friday, February 1, 2008
A Visit to the Opthamologist
Yesterday afternoon's visit was similar to several others we've experienced.
A bit of history here.... Due to Dawson's extreme prematurity at birth, his eyes were not completely developed. This caused him to have laser eye surgery at 3 months old. He now has a condition called ROP (Retinopathy of Prematurity). He is extremely nearsighted - the optometrist office says they couldn't put regular lenses into his glasses frames even if they tried because they would be so thick! (Hence the $450 glasses every year!)
Anyways...we had another trip to the pediatric opthamlogist yesterday at our regional hospital. Despite the less than desirable driving conditions on the way there, the full parking lots, and the very chilly, long walk to the office, we made it!
After waiting for an hour, we discovered that they'd forgotten about us! Oh well, we got in shortly thereafter, and had the miserable drops put into his eyes. I've been told they feel like shampoo. Poor kid - two people hold him down, the assistant in the office rips at his eyelids trying to keep them open as she inserts the dreaded drops. All the while, his head is banging against the neighboring wall as he is trying to evade us. The sticker at the end of the ordeal doesn't provide much consolation.
Thirty minutes later, we return to the office, after purchasing a snack at the nearby vendor and putting more money into the parking meter. We return to a cheerful doctor (which is an unusual occurrence in this setting), only to hold him down tight again - well, as tight as our muscles will let us! After I tried unsuccessfully to hold him still, our stonger-than-me respite worker successfully held him on her lap, his arms wrapped around his head, as I held the rest of his body down. The opthamologist got a little peek at the back of his retina and replies "Yip, it looks like it's still fine. Not detached." And return we will in about 4 months again!
Sure this is a terribly stressful day, but we're so thankful for the technology that we can watch his eyes carefully. You see, due to the ROP, the retina could detach at any time, which becomes a medical emergency. If not corrected immediately with surgery, he could become blind. The problem is that Dawson won't tell us if it gets detached. Hence, an ongoing concern whenever he removes his glasses to rub his eyes or looks at a book closely. Both signs that it may have detached.
For the time being, it's OK, so we're thankful. And we made it home that same night. Was Dawson ever glad to get home...and so were we!
Now on to another day-an early start again at 4:20am! Well, at least it's not 2:15!
Have an awesome day! -s
A bit of history here.... Due to Dawson's extreme prematurity at birth, his eyes were not completely developed. This caused him to have laser eye surgery at 3 months old. He now has a condition called ROP (Retinopathy of Prematurity). He is extremely nearsighted - the optometrist office says they couldn't put regular lenses into his glasses frames even if they tried because they would be so thick! (Hence the $450 glasses every year!)
Anyways...we had another trip to the pediatric opthamlogist yesterday at our regional hospital. Despite the less than desirable driving conditions on the way there, the full parking lots, and the very chilly, long walk to the office, we made it!
After waiting for an hour, we discovered that they'd forgotten about us! Oh well, we got in shortly thereafter, and had the miserable drops put into his eyes. I've been told they feel like shampoo. Poor kid - two people hold him down, the assistant in the office rips at his eyelids trying to keep them open as she inserts the dreaded drops. All the while, his head is banging against the neighboring wall as he is trying to evade us. The sticker at the end of the ordeal doesn't provide much consolation.
Thirty minutes later, we return to the office, after purchasing a snack at the nearby vendor and putting more money into the parking meter. We return to a cheerful doctor (which is an unusual occurrence in this setting), only to hold him down tight again - well, as tight as our muscles will let us! After I tried unsuccessfully to hold him still, our stonger-than-me respite worker successfully held him on her lap, his arms wrapped around his head, as I held the rest of his body down. The opthamologist got a little peek at the back of his retina and replies "Yip, it looks like it's still fine. Not detached." And return we will in about 4 months again!
Sure this is a terribly stressful day, but we're so thankful for the technology that we can watch his eyes carefully. You see, due to the ROP, the retina could detach at any time, which becomes a medical emergency. If not corrected immediately with surgery, he could become blind. The problem is that Dawson won't tell us if it gets detached. Hence, an ongoing concern whenever he removes his glasses to rub his eyes or looks at a book closely. Both signs that it may have detached.
For the time being, it's OK, so we're thankful. And we made it home that same night. Was Dawson ever glad to get home...and so were we!
Now on to another day-an early start again at 4:20am! Well, at least it's not 2:15!
Have an awesome day! -s
Sunday, January 27, 2008
Carbon Monoxide - in our home?
12:04 am, we were woken to our Carbon Monoxide detector squealing the four consistent beeps - which, on the alarm says "move from area". Terry and I had two different first instincts - Terry first pulled the battery out of the smoke alarm (??), then stood by the Carbon Monoxide detector and covered it with his hand. I, on the other hand, had been sleeping a bit longer, and am more used to getting up and thinking immediately (due to Dawson's wacky nights), so I went to the detector and read what it said. Then I went over to Dawson to see if he was breathing.
Trying to get my whits together, I returned to Terry to say "Terry, it says we need to leave the area. Get dressed and lets go to the car." Grabbing Dawson's glasses on the way out, we quickly left the house and went to my sister and brother-in-law's a few blocks away. I have to admit I wasn't the most 'on top of it' either, because when we were almost there, I realized I hadn't buckled Dawson into his carseat.
With help from our local gas company, and a 24 hour health number, we got the situation under control. Yes, we did have a level of 0.25 of carbon monoxide in our house. Enough to make us feel weak, think somewhat cloudy, have a stomache ache, headache and unsteady. After some oxygen at our local ER, we were sent home.
God blessed us through this all - Dawson fell asleep at my sister's house almost immediately, and at the ER, was unusually well behaved and calm. We even got about 10 whifs of oxygen from the mask into him! When we returned home, he went to sleep like nothing had happened (quite a change from the 2:15am wake up-and stay up time at my parents last night!)
The obvious question is - What do we learn from this? First of all, buy a Carbon Monoxide detector if you have natural gas in your house - or even without. Our incident was caused by vehicle exhaust from our attached garage. Secondly, replace your batteries at time change in spring and fall. Third, look at the things we brought with us when we knew we needed to leave immediately - and didn't know if our house might catch fire or something from a leak. We brought the members of our family, our wallets, keys and glasses. This tells me that all things which we consider 'important' are not really as important as we think they are. The memory sticks, the electronics, the jewels, the clothes are not all that important. Sure, we'll use and enjoy the material blessings God provides us with, but when it all comes down to it, our family is the very most important thing to us!
Thanks to everyone who helped us out last night - but thanks be to God who protected us and kept us safe through it all! -s
Trying to get my whits together, I returned to Terry to say "Terry, it says we need to leave the area. Get dressed and lets go to the car." Grabbing Dawson's glasses on the way out, we quickly left the house and went to my sister and brother-in-law's a few blocks away. I have to admit I wasn't the most 'on top of it' either, because when we were almost there, I realized I hadn't buckled Dawson into his carseat.
With help from our local gas company, and a 24 hour health number, we got the situation under control. Yes, we did have a level of 0.25 of carbon monoxide in our house. Enough to make us feel weak, think somewhat cloudy, have a stomache ache, headache and unsteady. After some oxygen at our local ER, we were sent home.
God blessed us through this all - Dawson fell asleep at my sister's house almost immediately, and at the ER, was unusually well behaved and calm. We even got about 10 whifs of oxygen from the mask into him! When we returned home, he went to sleep like nothing had happened (quite a change from the 2:15am wake up-and stay up time at my parents last night!)
The obvious question is - What do we learn from this? First of all, buy a Carbon Monoxide detector if you have natural gas in your house - or even without. Our incident was caused by vehicle exhaust from our attached garage. Secondly, replace your batteries at time change in spring and fall. Third, look at the things we brought with us when we knew we needed to leave immediately - and didn't know if our house might catch fire or something from a leak. We brought the members of our family, our wallets, keys and glasses. This tells me that all things which we consider 'important' are not really as important as we think they are. The memory sticks, the electronics, the jewels, the clothes are not all that important. Sure, we'll use and enjoy the material blessings God provides us with, but when it all comes down to it, our family is the very most important thing to us!
Thanks to everyone who helped us out last night - but thanks be to God who protected us and kept us safe through it all! -s
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
The pleasure of raising Dawson
What a joy it is to raise Dawson. I know, some days we think of what a burden it is, but some days are simply more joyful than others! I think a lot of that comes from the fact that we are blessed with respite and school, so can have a break. Then, when he comes home (and our break has been sufficient), we can be truly happy that he is at home.
Sure, we have his picture food menu prepared for when he comes in the door, takes off his winter clothes and immediately opens the fridge to say "Lets cut it". He then pulls the cheese off the top shelf of the fridge, marches over to the table to drop off the cheese, walks to the drawer and pulls out a steak knife. We quickly remove our own outdoor clothing, and run to his rescue. (Funny how the serrated edge on the knife feels really good for someone with Sensory issues! - Hello child!! I'll get the knife!) After we have a cheese snack, we have a fruit, and then some Rice Krispie cake, and then ...maybe it's time for toys. We march over to the living room and re-live episode after episode of Dora, Junior, Winnie the Pooh, Nemo and then Berenstain Bears. After about 1/2 - 3/4 hour, the adult in the situation usually has snuck away to either get something to read or work on, or is still engrossed in reliving these stories (yeah right!). Well, that's what life is like for someone who thinks in pictures - as most children with autism do. But you know what, he LOVES it when we spend time with him doing exactly this. Our one respite worker put it perfectly when she said something to the effect of "You'd think he had a carnival at his house the way he always wants to go there!" How true. And what a privilege to be the one going to the carnival with him. We even get food here...and when Terry cooks, it tastes almost as good as at a carnival!
Sure, we have his picture food menu prepared for when he comes in the door, takes off his winter clothes and immediately opens the fridge to say "Lets cut it". He then pulls the cheese off the top shelf of the fridge, marches over to the table to drop off the cheese, walks to the drawer and pulls out a steak knife. We quickly remove our own outdoor clothing, and run to his rescue. (Funny how the serrated edge on the knife feels really good for someone with Sensory issues! - Hello child!! I'll get the knife!) After we have a cheese snack, we have a fruit, and then some Rice Krispie cake, and then ...maybe it's time for toys. We march over to the living room and re-live episode after episode of Dora, Junior, Winnie the Pooh, Nemo and then Berenstain Bears. After about 1/2 - 3/4 hour, the adult in the situation usually has snuck away to either get something to read or work on, or is still engrossed in reliving these stories (yeah right!). Well, that's what life is like for someone who thinks in pictures - as most children with autism do. But you know what, he LOVES it when we spend time with him doing exactly this. Our one respite worker put it perfectly when she said something to the effect of "You'd think he had a carnival at his house the way he always wants to go there!" How true. And what a privilege to be the one going to the carnival with him. We even get food here...and when Terry cooks, it tastes almost as good as at a carnival!
Monday, January 21, 2008
It all in the perspective
Sylvia and I were lamenting a bit on the weekend- we tend to do that a lot. It’s easy to do that when Dawson’s obsessions are at a peak, and our patience is at a low. We’re in a situation right now, where it seems as though some people that are put in place to help Dawson, are not getting the concept of what it takes to effectively reach out to him. Such an occurrence happened yesterday, when Dawson’s Opa was taking care of him, and a person in church unexpectedly made a very discouraging and insensitive comment about our family. Opa immediately stood up for us and Dawson, and defended us and our situation. We were so proud of such a great man in our corner.
So often we ask other people to put themselves into our shoes, because we would like them to feel what we feel. That’s fair sometimes. But sometimes it’s not anybody’s job to understand how we feel- it’s our job to stand alone on the fact that Jesus knows how we feel. “He was despised and rejected of men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.” (Isaiah 53:3)
I have lately found myself trying to put myself into other’s situations, trying to imagine what it might be like to feel like a “normal family”. What would it be like? Would there be more freedoms? Would there be more happy times?
My answer has changed from even one year ago. We see many joys and freedoms that a lot of parents never will. The laughter that rings in our walls is a sound that many homes have long been removed of. I’m gaining a lot of perspective here, and it seems to be growing by the day.
When the grass seems greener, it’s often a good idea to step over the fence and look at your own side- from the other side.
It looks pretty good. -t
So often we ask other people to put themselves into our shoes, because we would like them to feel what we feel. That’s fair sometimes. But sometimes it’s not anybody’s job to understand how we feel- it’s our job to stand alone on the fact that Jesus knows how we feel. “He was despised and rejected of men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.” (Isaiah 53:3)
I have lately found myself trying to put myself into other’s situations, trying to imagine what it might be like to feel like a “normal family”. What would it be like? Would there be more freedoms? Would there be more happy times?
My answer has changed from even one year ago. We see many joys and freedoms that a lot of parents never will. The laughter that rings in our walls is a sound that many homes have long been removed of. I’m gaining a lot of perspective here, and it seems to be growing by the day.
When the grass seems greener, it’s often a good idea to step over the fence and look at your own side- from the other side.
It looks pretty good. -t
Sunday, January 20, 2008
It's all in the notes
It's so interesting how we as humans struggle with our memories, and how we differ in this regard. One person will remember the name of their waitress at a restaurant last year, while the next will not remember the guy's name who pumps their gas every week (I tend to fall into the later category). Still for others, they may remember little, but when the words are put to a song, they will keep it word for word.
Dawson's a lot like that. Years ago when he was small, for example, an occupational therapist taught us this concept, and we began using it for when it was time for the toys to be cleaned up. We could tell Dawson ten times over, that it was time to clean up, but as soon as we began the "cleanup song", he jumped into action (Opa still gets a kick out of it). Something triggers in his mind when music is introduced. We use the same method now, for things like his Bible verses. We want him to learn scripture, but normal memory would be very hard. Now, each verse is put into a melody, and he nails it.
It's so neat to see a wonderful thing like music touch so many people around the world every day. This concept becomes even more meaningful, when we see it benefit someone like Dawson in an even deeper way.
God bless you, as you enjoy the music.....-t
Dawson's a lot like that. Years ago when he was small, for example, an occupational therapist taught us this concept, and we began using it for when it was time for the toys to be cleaned up. We could tell Dawson ten times over, that it was time to clean up, but as soon as we began the "cleanup song", he jumped into action (Opa still gets a kick out of it). Something triggers in his mind when music is introduced. We use the same method now, for things like his Bible verses. We want him to learn scripture, but normal memory would be very hard. Now, each verse is put into a melody, and he nails it.
It's so neat to see a wonderful thing like music touch so many people around the world every day. This concept becomes even more meaningful, when we see it benefit someone like Dawson in an even deeper way.
God bless you, as you enjoy the music.....-t
Sunday, January 13, 2008
A great father
I have a wonderful husband. I slept this morning, sub-consciously knowing that he was up with Dawson. In my head, I could hear bits and pieces of "D-d-d-d-dora! D-d-d-d-dora! D-d-d-d-dora the Explorer!" and other theme songs that he was singing with Dawson as they played 'Dora blocks'. I heard "No Rice Krispie Cake. Do you want a carrot?" Little did I know this had been going on since 4am!
I thank God for a husband who is as committed to raising Dawson as I am. Thanks to my mother and father-in-law who have raised a sensitive man!
As I type, I am enjoying the muffin he got for me on their early-morning ride.
Now how can I show him a similar kindness today? .....There is a football game this afternoon!
By the way, if you have ??'s about the picture, Terry was able to travel half-way around the world to another country with his work...and this is part of the chocolatey loot he returned with! -s
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