Sorry it took me so long to post. I couldn't figure out how to use this PC...I am so use to a Mac!! Once a Mac...never go back!! LOL!
Anyway, Anderson woke up today and again initiated the computer program. He pointed to the icon on the computer and wanted to do it. I thought I would not make him wear the earphone he is suppose to wear bc I only wanted 1 battle. Well, he pointed to that too...as if to say "Mom, don't forget ;)" So, he wore it and did the program wonderfully the 1st time. But, when we needed to do the 2nd and 3rd time....tears and sadness!! ;( I think he thought he was done (it is 3 sessions of a 1 minute exercise). Again, pushed thru the add'l 2 sessions, but tears.
At the learning center, he cried thru the computer program again. But, he did better in the 1:1 therapy with *K*. She took him alone in the room without me.....and he had less tears. I would say 60% happy, 40% tears.
During our lunch break....he peed on the potty AGAIN!!! Ok, I think we are on to something here! He took a one hour nap and had lunch. We did not go back to our afternoon session until 2. This was better b/c it helped Anderson stay on a typical routine at home....sadly, my Mom had to go back to South Carolina bc she has to work tmr ;( We will miss the company and her help!
Back at the learning center in the afternoon, Anderson cried during his computer program. He had a hard time again. *K* took him back to the room...more tears but happier...more like 70% happy and 30% tears. At breaktime, he peed on the potty...again!!! After break, I suggested I leave the center all together to see if it helps the tears....after that last hour...*K* came outside to get me (where I was hiding) and she told me he had the "best day ever!" She and another therapist were able to mimic the computer program that he was not cooperating doing and the therapists did it with him using flashcards instead. SUCCESS!
After therapy today, we came back to the hotel to swim. What a fun break for Anderson...he loves to swim! And....more pee pee....he did it like 4 more times tonight!! He even initiated himself by attempting to take off his swim trunks! We took showers, had dinner and went to bed.
Tonight on 2 occassions he said "mor" for "more". How exciting!!! He also said "mom" again for me!! Music to my ears!!
Today was a much better day!! Hopeful and excited that tmr will be even better!!
Now that I figured out the PC, I hope to post something tmr...or have Kristen do it for me. (excuse any typo/errors tonight...it is midnight....for me right now ;) I need sleep!!
Sorry for taking so long!! Thanks for all your notes of love and support. I love getting them!
XOXOXO
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Tuesday
OHHH, it was a tough, tough day!! Lots of tears today during our session. He did not want to do the program!! BUMMER!!! IT was hard coming off such an amazing Monday to start Tuesday like this!
Despite the tears, he said "A, E, X". He also said eyes, energy, bye, and "ahhh" for water!
Anderson was signing "start", "day", "mine", and "anything".
AT lunch, Anderson took 1.5 hour nap, he ate and headed back for more therapy.
Sadly, we had more tears after lunch and nap time!! He would not do the eye movement exercises (the theory is....rapid eye movement increases brain functionality according to research...that is what we are doing!)
In the afternoon, he said "ready, J, and mommy".
After our "work" today, we went to a safari!!! LOL!!! We had giraffes eating out of our hands, and bulls, and deer, elk, etc. IT was a blast!! So glad Mima was here to enjoy the fun!!! WOO HOO!! I will have to post pics later. Go to my facebook pg to see the video and fun until I get the pics on here later!!!
BAck at the hotel, Anderson did not want to go to sleep. He just layed in bed with his eyes WIDE open until 9:30....he finally fell asleep. I had tried for 2 hours to get him down! I think the time change is still affecting him!
He did not want to do the computer program back at the hotel tonight either. But, we pushed thru it! He cried...I kept doing it ;( broke my heart.
However, later in the evening (7ish), he went to the computer and pointed to the icon wanting to do it. I didn't b/c it was too close to bed time and the therapists told me not to do it too close to bed time it would keep him awake (little did I know he would be up so long after that ;)
Tonight, he pooped and peed again for me on the potty. WOO HOO!! And, he was throwing a ball and catching a ball from a bounce!!
Hoping for a better Wednesday!
Despite the tears, he said "A, E, X". He also said eyes, energy, bye, and "ahhh" for water!
Anderson was signing "start", "day", "mine", and "anything".
AT lunch, Anderson took 1.5 hour nap, he ate and headed back for more therapy.
Sadly, we had more tears after lunch and nap time!! He would not do the eye movement exercises (the theory is....rapid eye movement increases brain functionality according to research...that is what we are doing!)
In the afternoon, he said "ready, J, and mommy".
After our "work" today, we went to a safari!!! LOL!!! We had giraffes eating out of our hands, and bulls, and deer, elk, etc. IT was a blast!! So glad Mima was here to enjoy the fun!!! WOO HOO!! I will have to post pics later. Go to my facebook pg to see the video and fun until I get the pics on here later!!!
BAck at the hotel, Anderson did not want to go to sleep. He just layed in bed with his eyes WIDE open until 9:30....he finally fell asleep. I had tried for 2 hours to get him down! I think the time change is still affecting him!
He did not want to do the computer program back at the hotel tonight either. But, we pushed thru it! He cried...I kept doing it ;( broke my heart.
However, later in the evening (7ish), he went to the computer and pointed to the icon wanting to do it. I didn't b/c it was too close to bed time and the therapists told me not to do it too close to bed time it would keep him awake (little did I know he would be up so long after that ;)
Tonight, he pooped and peed again for me on the potty. WOO HOO!! And, he was throwing a ball and catching a ball from a bounce!!
Hoping for a better Wednesday!
Monday, June 28, 2010
Afternoon
Kristen....you rock!! Thanks for helping me and typing updates while I am out with Anderson!
I have the sweet angel to bed tonight. He is sleeping soundly. Anderson was tired after his exciting day.
In the therapy session this afternoon....he said "Hi" clear as day to someone at the center. A therapist 3 rooms away in the center (which looks like an beautiful older red brick home) heard him say it! She yells "I HEARD THAT" from the other room! It was crystal clear! AMAZING!
Also, as Anderson was doing his program today....it sounded to me and his 2 therapists in the room that he repeated 4 letters of the alphabet after the therapist said them. Example, she said, "I"...he said "I", etc! It happened 4 times today!
Tonight, when we got back to the hotel...he started jumping around. He had 2 feet off the ground. He could not do this prior to today....the proof....his current IEP has a physical therapy goal to jump by June 2011!! No kidding!
They taught him a song and the motions to the song this afternoon. He came back to the hotel and was doing the motions with me and ANTICIPATING the motions of what was coming next in the song!! This is HUGE for him too! He does not typically imitate gross motor movements...much less anticipate and recall them!!
My Mom drove down today to see us and help me. It is so nice to have her to witness all of this and help me!! She was reading a book with Anderson and there was a turtle! My Mom made a "chomping" motion with her hands (as like an easier way to snap...hard to explain)...anyway, Anderson copied it right away...and is still recalling it hours later! NO kidding!
I am not sure what to say. If I left today, I was would be elated with his progress in the 5.5 hours of therapy he has rcvd thus far! One of the therapists said this afternoon, "This is the best Monday I have ever seen a student have!" I told her I did not believe her :) LOL!! She said, "no, really!" I was so excited to hear this!
Anderson has sat on the potty 4-5 times today. No more "successes", but he is trying. This is more trying than he has done in the past month in total!! It is amazing that he's had the attention, and patience to even be trying it! IT amazed me! I prayed to my Grandma this morning....to give me a sign...and I believe this was my sign! ;) Anderson behavioral therapist (who would be the one to help Anderson with us)...sent me a text and said, she was SHOCKED at his success today....if that is proof...she is our witness for this ;)
I feel so at peace! I feel like we are moving in such a postive direction for our little man. He is so so happy!
MORE INFO ON HOW I HEARD ABOUT THE PROGRAM!! So, a soroity sister, sweet friend from college and I reconnected via facebook about 9 months ago. She knew a tiny bit about Anderson. She sent me an email and told me to call her RIGHT AWAY! Considering I have not spoken to her in 12 years (we lost touch after school)....I SAID TWELVE YEARS!!! I could not imagine what was going on...so, I call her! She asks me about Anderson. I explain everything about him to her! (It was so nice to hear Allie's voice!) Anyway, she was BUSTING with joy and told me about a program that came into her life and she thought of me! Allie was at her uncle's funeral and met a long distance relative that had a business that helped children with learning disabilities and more recently helping children with autism. Allie thought of me and called me. This is where we are....Charlie and I felt that this literally FELL out of the sky into our lives and we needed to RUN with it!
Here I am in Georgia......
(BTW, people move very slow here!!! LOL! The therapists are all little spit fires...full of energy and kind, loving and move fast. However, the people at starbucks, walmart, subway, etc...move SLOOOWWWW! VERy different from our neck of the woods!!)
Thanks for the continued prayers.....we appreciate them!!!
XOXOXO
I have the sweet angel to bed tonight. He is sleeping soundly. Anderson was tired after his exciting day.
In the therapy session this afternoon....he said "Hi" clear as day to someone at the center. A therapist 3 rooms away in the center (which looks like an beautiful older red brick home) heard him say it! She yells "I HEARD THAT" from the other room! It was crystal clear! AMAZING!
Also, as Anderson was doing his program today....it sounded to me and his 2 therapists in the room that he repeated 4 letters of the alphabet after the therapist said them. Example, she said, "I"...he said "I", etc! It happened 4 times today!
Tonight, when we got back to the hotel...he started jumping around. He had 2 feet off the ground. He could not do this prior to today....the proof....his current IEP has a physical therapy goal to jump by June 2011!! No kidding!
They taught him a song and the motions to the song this afternoon. He came back to the hotel and was doing the motions with me and ANTICIPATING the motions of what was coming next in the song!! This is HUGE for him too! He does not typically imitate gross motor movements...much less anticipate and recall them!!
My Mom drove down today to see us and help me. It is so nice to have her to witness all of this and help me!! She was reading a book with Anderson and there was a turtle! My Mom made a "chomping" motion with her hands (as like an easier way to snap...hard to explain)...anyway, Anderson copied it right away...and is still recalling it hours later! NO kidding!
I am not sure what to say. If I left today, I was would be elated with his progress in the 5.5 hours of therapy he has rcvd thus far! One of the therapists said this afternoon, "This is the best Monday I have ever seen a student have!" I told her I did not believe her :) LOL!! She said, "no, really!" I was so excited to hear this!
Anderson has sat on the potty 4-5 times today. No more "successes", but he is trying. This is more trying than he has done in the past month in total!! It is amazing that he's had the attention, and patience to even be trying it! IT amazed me! I prayed to my Grandma this morning....to give me a sign...and I believe this was my sign! ;) Anderson behavioral therapist (who would be the one to help Anderson with us)...sent me a text and said, she was SHOCKED at his success today....if that is proof...she is our witness for this ;)
I feel so at peace! I feel like we are moving in such a postive direction for our little man. He is so so happy!
MORE INFO ON HOW I HEARD ABOUT THE PROGRAM!! So, a soroity sister, sweet friend from college and I reconnected via facebook about 9 months ago. She knew a tiny bit about Anderson. She sent me an email and told me to call her RIGHT AWAY! Considering I have not spoken to her in 12 years (we lost touch after school)....I SAID TWELVE YEARS!!! I could not imagine what was going on...so, I call her! She asks me about Anderson. I explain everything about him to her! (It was so nice to hear Allie's voice!) Anyway, she was BUSTING with joy and told me about a program that came into her life and she thought of me! Allie was at her uncle's funeral and met a long distance relative that had a business that helped children with learning disabilities and more recently helping children with autism. Allie thought of me and called me. This is where we are....Charlie and I felt that this literally FELL out of the sky into our lives and we needed to RUN with it!
Here I am in Georgia......
(BTW, people move very slow here!!! LOL! The therapists are all little spit fires...full of energy and kind, loving and move fast. However, the people at starbucks, walmart, subway, etc...move SLOOOWWWW! VERy different from our neck of the woods!!)
Thanks for the continued prayers.....we appreciate them!!!
XOXOXO
Potty Break!!
Kristen here again with an update.....
After a morning session of therapy, Liz & Anderson head off to lunch.....where Anderson proceeds to drag Liz into the bathroom and then goes #1 AND #2 on the potty!!!!! A FIRST!!!
The morning session was amazing (see picture for details ;)) as Anderson spent his time on a computer-based software program that exercises portions of his brain and "wakes up" other parts. The idea behind the program is to get the neurons of the brain to work faster and more efficiently and to cause them to "fire" where there is no activity at all.
It appears we have some real progress for 1 morning of work!
Road Trip!
This is Liz's friend Kristen here......
Liz and Anderson have traveled across the country to Georgia for a week long therapy program for Anderson. Let me back up a second. Liz recently reconnected with an old friend, Allie, through Facebook (isn't that how it always happens? ;))
Allie mentioned a program to her that is offered in Georgia and deals with all different types of learning disabilites. She began researching it, talking with parents and finally enrolling Anderson and booking flights!
They landed yesterday and are on their way to the first session right now. Please pray that this program is a breakthrough for Anderson!
Stay tuned. More updates will follow during the week.
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