Autism Today

Today on Autism, we covered good phone etiquette, emotions management, and hygiene promotion (self shower and shampoo). I found and re-assembled his electric shaver components, which he then used to shave chin hairs and trim long locks that got in his eyes. He did a great job in a good amount of time.  

We cursed the leaf blower that someone tried to use across the street, until sheets of rain discouraged them for the day. On a plus note: James used his head phones each time they tried, after only 1 initial prompt.

I did more paperwork ad emails for the partial conservatorship while monitoring progress in the bathroom. His hair is curly after a shower. I try to not be verklempt.

We discussed:

• World politics (Russia and North Korea - why are they fighting)
• Geography (are North Korea and North Carolina the same type of thing (county, state, something else)? 
• Who is going to work (of our acquaintances)? 
• Weather check-ins (Is it raining? Will it snow?)
• Where are our cats?
• Have I ever been to Spain, Italy, France, Germany, China, Japan, North Korea, or Disneyworld?
• Why is Sassy meowing so much?
• What did I used to do in High School (on weekends - hahahaha, that's another lifetime ago!)
• Going to see Christmas lights

Writing Christmas cards sadly did not happen this weekend. I'll keep trying on that one. He already picked out cards to send during yesterday's visit to Cost Plus (I am not affiliated with this company and am still calling it that, I know it's a World Market!).  

Overall, a good day. One more week of school until winter break!

ETA an hour later: Um. I spoke too soon. Someone tried to trim their bangs with the trimmer. Oh my. Well, it will grow out!

Epic Milestone and Celebration

 Christmas Self-Care Miracle

My guy used the bathroom, took a shower, and washed his hair all on his own un under an hour. 

This is a first of epic proportions. Especially in light of regressions that hit their lowest during COVID-19 lockdowns. 

So proud of my guy!

Thank you, all you ABA helpers and family supporters!

Fellow parents, you will never know until you keep trying. I've been there, down and out. Sending you all big hugs. It can get better.

And now I am taking him out for a drive and pizza.

Dental Solution - At Last!

I am so glad James recovered from his cold so we did not have to attempt a reschedule his big dental day. It's been a 2-year, nightmare journey to get James seen and his dental health dealt with so that he could keep his teeth.

Long story short -- hygiene and dental hygiene have been an ongoing struggle, made worse by moves, disasters, and years of life crises. The programs and family dentists we'd been using told me, once the pandemic allowed for dental appointments and he was actually in the chair again, that his teeth were so deteriorated his top adult teeth and possibly some of the bottom, would need to be extracted. 

That's 8-10 teeth minimum. He is 17 and has speech difficulties. His jaw will not be fully formed until maybe age 25. 

No. 

Some day I will go into detail about all the calls I made, and how we got sent in circles, but not today.

Enter James' aunt, who got us a referral to a dental group who deals with special needs and works with an anesthesiologist. They are about 20 minutes away. 

5 hours under general anesthesia and a lot of work and money later, all but 1 of James' teeth were cleaned, saved, and restored. They also took x-rays and gave him a fluoride treatment. When the doctor came out and gave me the good news, I kept hearing Etta James singing "At Last".

Soothing Bathing Hour, With Chickens

When you are a caregiver, sometimes you have to get creative with your care. This is doubly so when both of you are coming off of a week plus of being sick (first James, then myself). For example, after clearing some dishes and laundry this morning, I focused the day on showering. This means almost two hours of psyching up and prep (clean bathroom, wait for clean PJs from the dryers, towels out, wipes and bag ready). The actual showering planned to take place during the warmest part of the day, when washer and dryer will be free to deal with his bedding. 

Then comes the bathing campaign, letting James know it's eminent, and literally catching him in a bedroom-bathroom loop that's lately been so find of, and sweeping him down the hall and stocking the bathroom with towels and choices of shirts and PJ bottoms for after.

While he preps for the shower I sweep the bedding into the washer (so glad it's a huge one and can take it all), add extra soap and turn it on. 

I am sitting in the armchair, encouraging the process - literally calling the plays, clapping, and giving out encouragement. I found something new to distract him from complaining and stalling: an online chicken timer, set to piano music: 

This helps us both not go down the meltdown hole and keep a our sense of humour.

Then, while he's working on shampooing his hair, I will get temporary clean bedding on his bed.

When shower sessions are over, the day is still warm and it's time for a milkshake reward.