We Tried To Visit The Dentist

As you can probably tell from the blog title, our visit did not go as planned. First, let's start from the beginning.  

Target Is Awesome. That is all.

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links.

Seriously. Target is awesome!

A few days ago, I shared my huge ordering mistake. I admit it was my fault.

Second visit to new apartment

Yesterday, we decided to take Kyle over to our new apartment for the second time.  This was his second visit there and this time, he saw more of our stuff there.  He saw his blankets there and we showed him where mommy and daddy's room is and where his room is.  We also showed him where his bed will go and he grabbed a blanket to lay down.  It was cute. 

He loved visiting the apartment.  He ran around into every room and saw our things in various places.  Hopefully he understands we are moving.  I think he's used to us moving every so often. 

On our way home, we asked him if he wanted french fries.  He quickly responded verbally with "french fries" and he also started moving his hand and arm over and over again every time we asked.  We wondered if he was signing "french fries."  So, when we got home, I looked up how to sign "french fries" and lo and behold, he was signing it!  You can see how it is signed here. 

Please and Thank you

Whenever Kyle asks for something, I always make him say "Please" and "Thank you."  I even remind his daddy to ask Kyle to say both when he asks him for things. 

Kyle can sign "please" and he says the word too.  His "please" comes out "pea."  Kyle can also sign "Thank you" and he says the words too.  His "thank you" comes out "bee boo." 

First loose tooth!

As we were getting ready to head out the door to pick up food at the food pantry, I noticed one of Kyle's teeth look croocked, it was sticking out a bit. I gently wiggled it and realized it was loose! I said to Kyle, "Oh, your tooth is loose, we have to tell Daddy!" After that, Kyle signed "daddy" which was really cute.

Kyle knows at least 20 signs and we go through them with him to practice and help us remember them!

Yes and No

Yesterday afternoon, I discovered that Kyle can now sign "yes" and "no." I've signed it for him in the past and he would just look at me, but I could tell he was absorbing the information.

We are pretty sure that his teachers and speech therapist are working with to teach him to say and sign "yes" and "no." 

We also realized that Kyle has learned so much this past year at his current school than he did when he was attending his former school for two years of preschool. 

Candy

This weekend, we learned how to sign "candy" and taught it to Kyle. He learned that word really fast. We also noticed Kyle is now knodding "yes" and "no" and knows when to use them. He seems to use either one when we ask him questions! He has also pointed at things he wants, but we're not sure if he can use it all the time.

Recent bus issues

Kyle rides the bus to and from school.  When we signed up for him to be a bus rider, we were told that he would have to ride the "regular" bus with all of the other kids.  We were given a harness for him to wear in the morning, that would "hold" him down on the bus seat.  The afternoon bus is a different bus, but they added a special booster seat with seat belts. 

Last week, there was a substitute bus driver and the bus she was driving did not have the hooks to strap his harness to, so I couldn't let him ride the bus.  The bus driver didn't even have it noted that there would be a child with special needs on her route either.  We ended up driving him to school that morning and let his teacher know and one of the assistant teacher's already knew what happened since she talked to the bus driver.  I asked his teacher if I should let the assistant principal know what happened and she agreed that I should.  That morning, I emailed the Assistant Principal (he's in charge of the buses) letting him know what happened.  He emailed me the next day (apologizing for the delay) and let me know that he had no idea this happened. 

Just this afternoon, our next door neighbor unbuckled Kyle from his seat which was odd since I usually do it.  When she got off the bus, she told me what happened.  She said just as they were pulling out of the school, Kyle unbuckled his seat belts (yes plural, he has one that goes around his chest and one that goes in his lap).  He then got up from his seat and stood up to turn around to look at her and give her a big smile!  The bus driver then had pull over and they both made sure he was buckled up again and I guess she had to sit next to him to make sure he stayed buckled up. 

Unfortunately, I don't think all of these issues are being brought to the Assistant Principal's attention.  I wish that the bus drivers would say something.  The school won't provide a bus for his special needs, nor have they offered to have someone ride with him.  For now, his "care and safety" is in the hands of a 9 year old and the bus driver.  Does that sound safe enough to you?  

Lately, Kyle's been misbehaving and testing the limits.  We think he's going through the terrible 2's or a little version of it.  He's purposely doing things we told him not to do.  If/when we try to discipline him or tell him no, he will laugh at us.  I don't think he quite understands, but he does understand when we yell, point our finger at him and get a serious look on our face. 

Talking More

We have noticed that Kyle is really trying to talk more.  He likes to use signs and say the word.  Just this week, we heard him say "dog" as in hot dog.  He wanted hot dogs so it comes out, "daw."

Overall, he's talking more.  He also understands our words because he does what we ask of him.  When I tell him to put on his jacket, he'll run to find it and put it on.  He also understands "shower" because his daddy started taking showers with him.

He likes to dance.

Changed his shoes

Awhile back, when it was time to buy Kyle new shoes, I ended up buying 2 pairs of shoes.  He only ended up wanting to wear one pair, the blue ones.  He wore them until they literally ripped at the soles!  Earlier this week, I brought out his other pair of shoes (white ones) and he reluctantly put them on and as soon as I walked away, he took them off and tried to put them back.  I ended up helping him put them back on his feet and I quickly changed the situation (this usually helps when he's about to have a tantrum). 

Kyle does not like change.  He does not like new clothes either.  It is very difficult to bring in new clothes for him to wear.  He thrives on routine.  I would love to dress him up in cute boy clothes but I have to stick to his school clothes. 

All this week, he's been having tantrums, morning and night.  It is very out of the ordinary for him.  We don't know what triggers it either.  There are times when he bangs his head against the wall.  The other morning, he was a happy boy and smiling with me.  The next minute he starts having a tantrum!  It has been frustrating. 

Shannon has said he does NOT want to put Kyle on medication, even though I am open to the idea.  Then I thought about the possibility of trying an alternative herbal remedy that would be all natural and safe to use with no side effects.  I found a product for tantrums but it's almost $40.  If you buy 2, you get one free and that's about $70! 

When Kyle got home from school, he was much better from the rest of this week.  He cried and got upset at the usual issues that triggers him but that quickly passed.   We're thinking he's used to his new shoes by now.  It usually takes him a few days to get used to something new.  After that, it's part of his routine. 

Autism Perspective 10/16

As I peered out of our front window, I watched mother and daughter walking about 5 feet away from each other.  Mom walking in the parking lot and daughter walking alongside on the sidewalk.  Daughter holding an umbrella over her head as the rain fell.  Mom wearing a black hat. 

What's different with this picture?  For me, it's the freedom of not having to hold your child's hand as you walk.  It may sound so simple, but for me, I am envious. 

Whenever we are walking with our son, we must hold his hand.  While our son is about the same age as the girl I saw walking alongside her mother, we must hold our son's hand at all times.  For one thing, our son has Autism.  He can and will try to run away and he can easily run into the street without looking out for cars.  Second, there are times he prefers to hold our hand because it's part of a routine.  He loves routine and gets upset if we break routine.