Thanksgiving of Coughs

2008 coughs

"DIE MAMA!!!"

This is too odd and I swear to you that Tyoma spelled this all on his own!!!

Here's what happened: I washed Tyoma's hair today, first time in probably two months. He screams bloody murder when I shampoo him, so why make life miserable for both of us? Since the whole PDD-NOS thing has cropped up, I'm glad to find a slew of moms online with similarly wired children.

Anyway, he wailed and shook and clawed at me as I washed his hair. Afterward, I brought out his foamy alphabet letters and a piece of candy as a reward. He immediately spelled "DIE." I snapped this picture before he had a chance to spell out "VILE SHAMPOOING MAMA."

ETA:  This only gets funnier: my mom saw this picture and freaked.  She called me and told me I should just leave his hair alone.  She also asked in all earnestness, "Do you think he knew what it meant?"  I had to laugh and talk her out of the notion that my son wants to kill me for washing his hair. She was completely serious!

Birthday Girl!!!

Happy Birthday Ewbliette!!!!!

Our First Snowman!!!

Here he is!!!

E spent the greater part of Tyoma's naptime making a snowman for him. I believe that this is the second snowman of our married life, and our first here in New Hampshire. I waited down by the our glass patio door to catch the little one's astonished reaction to the real life snowman that papa made for him:

"Meh!"
It seems that the amount of effort you put into delighting your child is inversely proportional to their actual delight! However, he was delighted with the beany-baby snowman that my mom sent to him:





Tyoma's sharing some chocolate cake!

Videos!

This is so sweet! Our little guy asks for "more!"

"EXIT"

It's been a few weeks since Tyoma started spelling, but I finally managed to take a picture.
 
 He can spell about 10-15 words and I'm pretty sure that he can read twice as many. Actually, he probably started to read over the summer, in fact he could probably read before he could speak.  Weird.  the question is, does he understand what he reads?  I think so.  He knows what "open" means and how it is spelled.  He can pick out text everywhere.  I drive to the store and he points out the open signs.  What an odd world he must perceive.  All this text, numbers, letters around him.  I wonder if he searches for meaning or if he just files away the information into his memory?

Mom sent links for hyperlexia.  I see so much in T, but then there is a disconnect.  He does so well at home, with people he trusts and random people at the store but he can have an unaccountable aversion to some folks.

A Drummer at Last!!!

At long last! I am so relieved that Tyoma is banging on pots and pans instead of arranging them into abstract patterns (well, only arranging them!) Also, his speech has picked up a good deal. He's starting to make simple three word sentences, not always every day, but often enough to be encouraging. Yay!

I wonder if the new diet is making a difference?

Lil' Organizer

Such a mischievous look! Tyoma organizes a mosaic of blocks. "Who me, PDD-NOS?! Nah!!!  Got anything else I can line up?"

GSCF Diet

Well, I decided to try "the diet" aka the gluten free, casein free diet.  I don't know it it will make a difference, but it's worth a try.  Tyoma has never really drank milk and is fussy over yogurt so that part is no big deal. Getting rid of wheat, though, that will be a challenge.

I called Dr. Dobbins who siad to avoid too restrictive a diet (don't worry about gluten if he's not having serious digestive problems) and shared her experience that diets don't always work for AS.  She did hook us up with resources for nutrtion and suggested a calcium supplement with vitamin D.

I wrote to Kindercare asking them not to give milk, but they spazzed out and requested a doctor's note.  I asked if they would withold milk as a "preference" instead.  All I had to do was write a note and bring in rice milk:

SUBJECT: Rice Milk/water for Artyom (Tyoma) Degtiarev

Dear KinderCare Staff,

Our family is modifying our son’s diet to facilitate his speech therapy. Please help us limit his exposure to dairy by replacing his milk with either rice milk (which we will provide) or water. We understand that you will not be eliminating dairy for him and that he will still eat yogurt, cheese and other dairy products according to your menu. By helping us with this voluntary intervention, you will be promoting Tyoma’s successful attainment of developmental goals. Thank you for you consideration and time.

Sincerely,

Behavioral assesment at kindercare

say what