I don't like to introduce my child, either in person or in conversation, by stating he is autistic. I feel that it is only one part of who he is and does not need to be mentioned any more than his obsession with Legos or trains need to be mentioned. But just like Legos and trains, it does come up sometimes. And when it does I have often been asked if I am sure he is autistic, could he just be bad.
This is where I take a deep breath and remind myself that I am a civilised human being. In my mind the answer goes something like this:
Showing posts with label trains. Show all posts
Showing posts with label trains. Show all posts
Tuesday, April 29, 2014
Monday, November 11, 2013
A Year Later...
*dusts off dust and cobwebs... watches spiders run*
It has been a little over a year since the last post and there are various reasons for that. Mostly, I was convinced my last post was around potty training time and that 'catching up' would be too monuments. Turns out last post was about destruction. So let me start by updating that.
Friday, November 18, 2011
3 Years, 12 Months!
I know, it's been 18 days and no big birthday post. It's just not happening this year, much less than last year. It's just too hard this year, I cannot accept it. From his fitting into 4T pants, to him insisting he is 5, to this sudden expanded vocabulary and expressiveness. It's just too much. I need my baby!!!!!!! Or get knocked up again... but that's a post for some other place.
Anywho, here is the synopsis of the celebrations:
Monday, August 15, 2011
Lessons: Mommy Roles
When I was pregnant everyone would tell me about all the things that motherhood would entail. I would be a full time driver, teacher, on call nurse, etc. But there are a lot of things that no one told me I would have to do. True, they are part of the job, but I was not expecting them until I was doing them.
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Potty Training - Week 3
Days 15-21
Tuesday 7/12
Today was interesting. It started off with Nicholas telling me he needed to go to the potty! This is great in the potty training progress!! I took him and he peed. It wasn't completely smooth as I was uncertain of what he was trying to tell me but it is definitely a step in the right direction.
He had three accidents. One was a real messy poop. I don't have anything to blame for these accidents other than bad luck. He usually goes at least two hours between peeing, the first two were an hour and a half apart so I wasn't anticipating them. And he didn't give any signs.
The third accident was the poop. I should have anticipated this since he had not pooped in two days and it was a little over three hours after his previous accident. He wasn't constipated which, for cleaning purposes, was bad. He has gotten into the habit of sitting on the potty as soon as his dirty underpants have come off so poop got all over the potty seat as well. The interesting thing was that when he was done he told me he had to go to the potty so he is obviously a little confused.
Wednesday 7/13
Nothing of note today, he didn't ask to use to the potty again though we did talk about it.
He had one accident right before bedtime which I only found out about because he came up to me asking for paper. I gave him some printer paper thinking he wanted to colour some more and he said no and pointed to the roll of paper towels. I gave him a towel and he went over and started cleaning the floor. So I asked what happened and sure enough he had peed. I took over the cleaning and he went to the splat mat, removed his underwear, and sat on the potty.
It's not the first time he does this cleaning after his accident and I am not sure how to take it. On the plus side he knows it's not ok and that it needs to be cleaned up. I was worried that with his stubborn, non caring attitude that he would not care about the mess or being wet in urine. On the down side I am not sure if he sees it as ok since it just gets cleaned up and he gets clean underwear. I know not to punish accidents but I do not let him choose a clean pair of underpants since he always chooses a Thomas pair. Instead I choose one of the non Thomas ones and he has to wear it. But it's just underwear and he quickly gets over it.
Today I also made a new potty chart. Yup, he finished the other one. This one is similar to the old one but instead of one long train it is three trains with four carts. No numbers this time and he has to get a star on the four carts as well as the engine for a treat. I really think he just likes the putting stickers on it aspect anyway and with so many more successes than accidents, overall, I think it's fair.
Thursday 7/14
Today we had no accidents, he finished the first row of his train chart, and got a cookie for it.
He took a nap today and did pee during his nap. I am not calling this an accident, though, because he was asleep and there was nothing either one of us could have done to prevent it. I was in the bedroom and he came distraught and looking for paper again. I gave him a paper towel and he tried cleaning himself. He was upset he had gotten his Thomas underwear wet. I was glad he had been laying on a mattress pad that I have on the couch so the newly upholstered couch didn't get wet at all. Three books have minor damage.
Friday 7/15
No accidents today and he did poop in the potty. He asked once, at the end of the day, to go to the potty but I get the feeling that it was more to stop me from scolding him since he was not listening at the time. He did pee that time.
Saturday 7/16
Today was a bad day for potty training. We had to be out more than half the day and unfortunately no way to make it potty training friendly. Since I have no more diapers I put a disposable training pant on him and packed some extras. I changed him once while we were out and, of course, could not keep track of drinks or pees.
When we got home the disposable he had on was dry so I took it off and asked him if he needed to go. I had changed him about 40 minutes before and he had not had a drink so I did not push it. I put a pair of underwear on him and went to the bathroom myself. When I returned he had peed. A lot.
UGH!!!!!!!!! AAARRRGGG!!!!!!!!!
He peed one more time this evening and I managed to get him to the potty just in time (I'm learning well, aren't I?) so my tracking for today is very short. We'll see what kind of damage this day had on potty training tomorrow.
Sunday 7/17
Worst. Day. Ever. At least on the first day of potty training I was expecting and ready for this kind of day. On the 20th day? Nope, not at all. He didn't make it to the potty not once. He didn't give any of the cues I have learned and been relying on to take him to the potty on time. And it seemed like he was doing it on purpose: spreading his legs and watching himself pee. Whether it's regression because wearing the disposable training pants yesterday confused him or him acting up like he always does after those long saturdays or a combination of both is beyond me. I didn't even keep good notes today. I guess I sort of gave up too since I felt so defeated. I just hope tomorrow is a better day. It has to be.
Monday 7/18
Good day over all. Peed in the potty all day and had a poop accident. A couple of cues but not too many, just sitting him two hours after ever drink.
Tuesday 7/12
Today was interesting. It started off with Nicholas telling me he needed to go to the potty! This is great in the potty training progress!! I took him and he peed. It wasn't completely smooth as I was uncertain of what he was trying to tell me but it is definitely a step in the right direction.
He had three accidents. One was a real messy poop. I don't have anything to blame for these accidents other than bad luck. He usually goes at least two hours between peeing, the first two were an hour and a half apart so I wasn't anticipating them. And he didn't give any signs.
The third accident was the poop. I should have anticipated this since he had not pooped in two days and it was a little over three hours after his previous accident. He wasn't constipated which, for cleaning purposes, was bad. He has gotten into the habit of sitting on the potty as soon as his dirty underpants have come off so poop got all over the potty seat as well. The interesting thing was that when he was done he told me he had to go to the potty so he is obviously a little confused.
Wednesday 7/13
Nothing of note today, he didn't ask to use to the potty again though we did talk about it.
He had one accident right before bedtime which I only found out about because he came up to me asking for paper. I gave him some printer paper thinking he wanted to colour some more and he said no and pointed to the roll of paper towels. I gave him a towel and he went over and started cleaning the floor. So I asked what happened and sure enough he had peed. I took over the cleaning and he went to the splat mat, removed his underwear, and sat on the potty.
It's not the first time he does this cleaning after his accident and I am not sure how to take it. On the plus side he knows it's not ok and that it needs to be cleaned up. I was worried that with his stubborn, non caring attitude that he would not care about the mess or being wet in urine. On the down side I am not sure if he sees it as ok since it just gets cleaned up and he gets clean underwear. I know not to punish accidents but I do not let him choose a clean pair of underpants since he always chooses a Thomas pair. Instead I choose one of the non Thomas ones and he has to wear it. But it's just underwear and he quickly gets over it.
Today I also made a new potty chart. Yup, he finished the other one. This one is similar to the old one but instead of one long train it is three trains with four carts. No numbers this time and he has to get a star on the four carts as well as the engine for a treat. I really think he just likes the putting stickers on it aspect anyway and with so many more successes than accidents, overall, I think it's fair.
Thursday 7/14
Today we had no accidents, he finished the first row of his train chart, and got a cookie for it.
He took a nap today and did pee during his nap. I am not calling this an accident, though, because he was asleep and there was nothing either one of us could have done to prevent it. I was in the bedroom and he came distraught and looking for paper again. I gave him a paper towel and he tried cleaning himself. He was upset he had gotten his Thomas underwear wet. I was glad he had been laying on a mattress pad that I have on the couch so the newly upholstered couch didn't get wet at all. Three books have minor damage.
Friday 7/15
No accidents today and he did poop in the potty. He asked once, at the end of the day, to go to the potty but I get the feeling that it was more to stop me from scolding him since he was not listening at the time. He did pee that time.
Saturday 7/16
Today was a bad day for potty training. We had to be out more than half the day and unfortunately no way to make it potty training friendly. Since I have no more diapers I put a disposable training pant on him and packed some extras. I changed him once while we were out and, of course, could not keep track of drinks or pees.
When we got home the disposable he had on was dry so I took it off and asked him if he needed to go. I had changed him about 40 minutes before and he had not had a drink so I did not push it. I put a pair of underwear on him and went to the bathroom myself. When I returned he had peed. A lot.
UGH!!!!!!!!! AAARRRGGG!!!!!!!!!
He peed one more time this evening and I managed to get him to the potty just in time (I'm learning well, aren't I?) so my tracking for today is very short. We'll see what kind of damage this day had on potty training tomorrow.
Sunday 7/17
Worst. Day. Ever. At least on the first day of potty training I was expecting and ready for this kind of day. On the 20th day? Nope, not at all. He didn't make it to the potty not once. He didn't give any of the cues I have learned and been relying on to take him to the potty on time. And it seemed like he was doing it on purpose: spreading his legs and watching himself pee. Whether it's regression because wearing the disposable training pants yesterday confused him or him acting up like he always does after those long saturdays or a combination of both is beyond me. I didn't even keep good notes today. I guess I sort of gave up too since I felt so defeated. I just hope tomorrow is a better day. It has to be.
Monday 7/18
Good day over all. Peed in the potty all day and had a poop accident. A couple of cues but not too many, just sitting him two hours after ever drink.
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Potty Training - First Two Weeks In Review
Tomorrow (today, I guess, judging by the time) will be the first day of the third week of potty training. While I have been making regular posts on how we are doing (click 'Potty Training' under labels to the right for the play-by-play), they have been focused on the details of actual potty training and not on how this is affecting us overall.
Monday, July 11, 2011
Potty Training - Days 11-14
(7/8)
The new chart was a hit. I heard him get out of bed and come into the play room then exclaim "WOW! A train!" It made my morning.
Which was needed because it was another stressful day for me. He only peed twice today, at 1pm and 5:30pm. Both times on the potty but it was worrisome. I looked over the charts and he has been drinking the same amounts so maybe he is just holding it again because he doesn't want to stop playing. Which makes sense since he did wet his underwear several times. But then doesn't because I make him stop and sit on the potty more often when he does this. Hopefully it's just something he is trying out and will stop once he sees it's better to just pee.
The new chart was a hit. I heard him get out of bed and come into the play room then exclaim "WOW! A train!" It made my morning.
Which was needed because it was another stressful day for me. He only peed twice today, at 1pm and 5:30pm. Both times on the potty but it was worrisome. I looked over the charts and he has been drinking the same amounts so maybe he is just holding it again because he doesn't want to stop playing. Which makes sense since he did wet his underwear several times. But then doesn't because I make him stop and sit on the potty more often when he does this. Hopefully it's just something he is trying out and will stop once he sees it's better to just pee.
Friday, July 8, 2011
Potty Training - Days 7 to 10
Monday (7/4) was hard. He had two full accidents and only made it to the potty once. Again, the heat didn't help. Thankfully I was armed with lots of extra underwear that my mother brought on sunday. He showed an interest in the Thomas one, which is good. Last time potty training was attempted he didn't want them on at all.
I decided to use a potty chart so I went online for inspiration. I came up with a very simple design, three rows of four boxes, and drew it out on Tuesday (7/5) morning. I outlined the boxes with colourful markers, drew in numbers 1-3 in the first three boxes and an ice cream bowl in the fourth. I figured that since we've been averaging 1-2 accidents per day with a total of 4-5 times he pees that it would take him at least 24 hours to complete one row and get his ice cream. Well, this boy surprised me!
No real accidents on Tuesday!!
And poop in the potty!
He had one 'mini' accident when I caught him about to poop under the table. But after he took off the dirty underwear and sat on the potty he peed and poop some more on there. I took this as good rather than bad since the previous two poops had been in his diaper or completely in his underwear. Maybe now he realises that it's not so bad and will continue to poop in the potty, as long as I get him there in time, of course.
I decided to use a potty chart so I went online for inspiration. I came up with a very simple design, three rows of four boxes, and drew it out on Tuesday (7/5) morning. I outlined the boxes with colourful markers, drew in numbers 1-3 in the first three boxes and an ice cream bowl in the fourth. I figured that since we've been averaging 1-2 accidents per day with a total of 4-5 times he pees that it would take him at least 24 hours to complete one row and get his ice cream. Well, this boy surprised me!
No real accidents on Tuesday!!
And poop in the potty!
He had one 'mini' accident when I caught him about to poop under the table. But after he took off the dirty underwear and sat on the potty he peed and poop some more on there. I took this as good rather than bad since the previous two poops had been in his diaper or completely in his underwear. Maybe now he realises that it's not so bad and will continue to poop in the potty, as long as I get him there in time, of course.
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
The 'New' Playroom
It's 1:30am. WTH am I doing up at this time?? Cleaning, that's what. Hurricane Nicholas came through today will full force leaving behind a disaster zone that makes Katrina look mild. These past couple of days have been rough, he's been acting way out of character for him and by the time he is in bed I have been too exhausted to attempt cleaning up. Today I had a little extra energy, we had a surprisingly ok evening after his nap, so I went to work before FEMA has a chance to try and 'help.'
Cleaning up, while it took almost an hour, was a breeze!! All thanks to my new set up and system (yay!). I didn't move too much of his things around but did take out my bookcases from the playroom (aka living room) which has left an incredibly nice space. Moved a couple of things around and I have been incredibly satisfied with the result. And since insomnia has kicked in, I shall tell you all about these changes.
Monday, June 6, 2011
Painting Fun!
The latest creations from my little artiste! Don't look too hard, it's abstract art :P
This started as the Island of Sodor. The green is the island
and the blue is the water.
Friday, May 13, 2011
National Train Day
Ok, almost a week later...
On Saturday, May 7, we took a trip to Union Station in Los Angeles for National Train Day 2011 and the 40th anniversary celebration for Amtrak.
On Saturday, May 7, we took a trip to Union Station in Los Angeles for National Train Day 2011 and the 40th anniversary celebration for Amtrak.
Happy to be on the train, on our way to see the trains!
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