What were doing today?
A.m. -Got coffee at Starbucks wonderfully made Venti Extra shot Peppermint Mocha Then got muffin paper liners. Came home and made triple berry muffins (Joey made them!) Played with cornstarch and water mixture! It was a blast to see Joey really starting to open up to sensory things. The feeling of the cornstarch was even a little hard for me to get used to. So he did a good job! Then the Husband came home from work. We went over Joeys childrens hospital assessments. Nick did dishes. Jessica is packing and moving out today.
Afternoon-Going to look at houses up north. The bothell lynnwood area. I guess I should start looking now.
P.m.- For dinner I'm going to make Pineapple Chicken maybe on the bbq. With some Mac-n-cheese along side, and salad! Sounds weird but yummy!
Happy Friday to everyone!
I am reaching the end of my extern hours finally! I can't believe how long it has taken me, granted I did have a tonsillectomy mid way through, but most of all I'm surprised at how much I have learned. I have been really fortunate to get the opportunity to full fill my hours at not one, not two, but 5 offices. Each office has been unique in its very own way. Every Doctor I have worked alongside has also been special and different. I have learned so much more then I ever imagined. I am especially grateful for the "foot in the door" Kristen has given me. I was more nervous about working with her then anyone or anywhere else. Not to many years ago I was in the teacher position showing her some of what I knew about retail. Boy have the tables turned. I feel like a lost puppy needing guidance in the dental world. Kristen has been respectful, and encouraging. I feel bad that I often let my nervousness get the best of me. I am hoping in the following week that I will be able to spread my wings a little and shine to show the office what I am really capable of.
Nick on the other hand has been doing an amazing job working with Joey doing at home therapies. We have a long road to go and starting now making the progress we have already seen is helping us to stay focused.
Our lease will be ending (yay!!) in December. We couldn't be more excited to be moving. We are looking for a house that fits our needs and wants. Thus far we have found quite a few that we like, the hardest part will be deciding where we want to live, Federal way, Kent, or maybe Renton. I just keep chugging along knowing that Joey will love a back yard. He needs to be a boy. I want a house with a separate family room so that he can have a play room. Nick severely needs a garage and a drive way. I want a kitchen and patio so we can have holidays and parties. It's going to be exciting to get into a house again. Bye bye apartment living!
Lastly, I want to sign off by saying Thank you to those who have been supportive of Joseph. Nick and I have come to a point in our lives where the drama must go, those who "just don't get it" must go, and we have to deeply and passionately focus on bringing Joey back into our world. He deserves the best treatments, and therapies money can buy. I need my family and my friends to be supportive in many ways. I hope we all can work hard to make the holidays easy yet memorable for him.
We've been doing great on the gluten free diet thus far. Its been 2 months and Joey has continued to make progress. I wanted to share our current list of vocabulary;
up down mama dada ball dont stop yes no hi hello dog duck come good tree one two three woooow thank you cookie tickle please open more apple
quack cheep ribit tweet moo meow woof neeeigh
check this out. i did it. i got it.
Amazingness!
Speech therapy is making its way along. We are doing that in home every week.
He was evaluated at Children's hospital this week. He did a hour long evaluation with the occupational therapist. Where he blew through each task she asked him to complete. (Why can't he do that at home?)
Nick and I are continuing our More than words class on Tuesday nights. We have learned so much already. The techniques have helped Joey to better communicate and we all are having more patience with each other.
It's the start of the fall season, the weather is quickly getting cold on us, the trees are losing their leaves, and I'm thinking about soup and sandwiches. I made fried zucchini this week, enjoyed some heirloom brown cherry tomatoes, and had a wonderful brown sugar acorn squash. Nothing better than enjoying the seasonal foods each year. I think I've decided fall is my favorite time of year.
The things to do with a child who has Autism are few and far in between this time of year as the weather keeps us in doors. I had a great idea to try out with him, we painted with poster paints 3 we-be-little pumpkins. I want to give one to my Mom and Dad, one to Nicks grandparents and keep one on our table. I need to pick up a few more of the gourds to make a nice table center piece but I think it is coming along nicely. He did a pretty good job staying on task and focused on the activity. This was the first time Joey has painted anything and to my surprise he loved it!
