April 2012

             April has been a wonderful month in our house.  Looking back it was very peaceful, with just one meltdown from Victoria.  She has been on her anti-anxiety medication for about a month now, and it has been difficult to judge/tell if it is having any positive affect on Victoria, until last night!!!  She has been using a heater in her room pretty much since she first got here, and we have tried a couple of times to get her to stop.  Well the last week or so, I would walk in her bedroom in the morning and it would be hot as heck, and she wasn't even using her covers.  So I would make her drink a huge glass of water at breakfast, I told her she was sweating too much and getting to hot she needed to rehydrate, she didn't like to do it, but she knew the alternative was turning her heater off.  Well, yesterday afternoon, Matt called her out her room and told her she didn't get to use the heater anymore, it's just too hot, but she could use the fan setting.  Two months ago this would have been a huge meltdown that probably would have taken an hour to get through, and her first reaction was to panic, but we had a rational conversation with her and she accepted it.  It was amazing.

She got another award at school on Friday for going the "extra mile."  Micah and I went to the assembly, it was wonderful. She is taking Art now instead of P.E.  So we are brainstorming ways to keep her active at stuff she wants to do.

I am currently reading Temple Grandin's Book "The Way I See it."  Temple is in her sixties now and was diagnosed with Autism at a very early age.  It is widely agreed upon that she has given the most insight into autism over anyone else.  She is amazing.  Her book has me inspired and very hopeful for Victoria.  I have had a lot of  "a-ha" moments, and moments when I feel good about the steps and work we are doing with Victoria.  However, on the other hand, we have a long way to go, and Victoria has ALOT of work ahead of her.

Micah is doing amazing.  He is definitely enjoying the freak wonderful weather we are having.  He loves being outside and we usually bribe him or bring him inside kicking and screaming.  Luckily he is still little, so mom and dad still win.  He literally is talking non stop, and for the most part I can understand him.  I don't know about everyone else.  Micah and Victoria spend a lot of time playing outside together, which I love.

Micah's favorite new phrases

Cretch Mom ~ Catch Mom

Hi Mom, a doin?  ~ What are you doin?

strawbees ~ strawberries

Where go? I can't find em?

see Momma's computer

see iPad?

Micah does it

until next time...

Reminder to self

Reminder to self: As much as Matt and I feel that we are on the steepest learning curve of a lifetime with Victoria. She is on a very steep one also. She is learning how to be a big sister to Micah. She has no idea what to do with him, but is still doing simply amazing. She is learning how to be part of a family. The size of her household doubled when she moved here. When she asks me something, most of the time she will also ask Matt the EXACT same question. She is trying to learn that whatever one of us says goes for both of us, and she is learning that it makes us CRAZY when she asks both of us. Unfortunately/fortunately for her (depending on who you ask), she has gone from a single parent household where mom is very busy and preoccupied, to a house where stepmom is home when she gets home and is very involved in every aspect of her day.

As each day passes we are all getting used to and learning our new and ever changing roles. My prayer is that I remember her side and cut her a little slack. :)

4 1/2 months

Victoria came to live with us 4.5 months ago. Wow! It feels like both yesterday and a lifetime ago. I think she has made some very positive changes since she got here. Her sense of humor grows everyday, which is great, considering this house runs on humor. I honestly can't think of any examples this second, but maybe I will while writing what will probably turn out to be a monster of a post. So go grab a cup of coffee and take a seat.

Victoria started swim lessons about a month ago and is doing very well. Her second week she was actually swimming. It was so awesome to see. Her goal now is to swim under water. She also goes to gym time for expectational kids at the YMCA after swim lessons. I love to watch the kids in the class play, there is a wide range of ages and abilities, and it doesn't even seem like the kids notice. They just like playing together.

Victoria started anxiety medicine two weeks ago, and we are watching for changes. I don't think we have seen anything significant yet, but I know time will tell. We are watching to see if she if she is treating herself better. She is very hard on herself, and doesn't like herself if we have to get on to her. On the bright side, we haven't seen any negative affects with her taking the medicine.

She should be seeing an Applied Behavior Analyst (ABA) soon. We are not quite sure on the specific details, but she should be receiving around 40 hours a month. We are very blessed that Matt is in the Air Force. We are paying minimal out of pocket costs for this therapy. It is the only research based therapy proven to help autistic children. So we are very excited for this to begin.

For those of you who aren't aware, we are being transfered to Luke Air Force Base near Phoenix, AZ in September. We are very excited and nervous about our move. Victoria will be moving with us. Her developmental pediatrician has told both Victoria's mom and us, that it would be most beneficial for Victoria for her to stay with us longer. So now the plan is for her to move back with her mom in January. However, I believe that will depend on if her mom can get transfered out of Bethel to Anchorage. The good news is that Victoria will be able to receive ABA in Anchorage.

4 1/2 months later I can honestly say that I finally feel like I am treading water instead of being beneath the water with a straw trying to suck in air. Victoria visited her mom Easter weekend, and it was nice to have a break for both her and us. I knew that I was going to be tested when she got home. And we did see some very minor things that we attributed to her being with her mom, but as soon as she walked through the door I felt awesome and was so glad she was home. This is where I want her to be, because I believe it is what is best for her. (I will probably come back and read this paragraph on rough days :)

Victoria and Micah have started playing together a lot more. Of course, I have to tell her to or she will be in her room on the computer, but we are taking baby steps. I love how much they love each other, and I love listening to them from another room when they don't know. Victoria is anxious about everything, so if Matt or I am in the room, she spends a lot of the time asking us if she is doing okay.

Well, I think that is enough for now. I promise not to be a stranger to this blog. Thanks for reading.