I was very excited when Sean is started to say something, I even post it at my facebook timeline, here. I wrote,
"he said 'BLUE'...???!!....OMG!!!..yes he is saying that blue word!!!...our Sean is saying blue ...omg!!...I can't stop crying ...he is following one of his tablet's app, I installed a lot of autism apps for him, he is learning, all by himself since he doesn't like ppl to interrupt him....and, he answered all of the puzzles n questions correctly ...how he makes it, I don't know ....Thank You God, Praise The Lord...."
He makes me laugh, he makes me cry, he makes me happy, he makes me sad....ohh my life will be empty without him...Thank you God for everything.
Watch this video, it shows the 2nd time he said 'blue' and 'mommy', and also some of his behavior. My camera is always ready to catch those 'happy moment'. I don't want to miss it. Somehow, I realize that he is only repeating the words from us, he still pulls my hand whenever he needs something instead of calling me mommy. I guess he still doesn't know the meanings. But at least all these prove that his ears are in good condition.
Sean does a lot of scratching. It's been over a year ago. Normally, he scratches from his head till his both legs, including his back. This causing his skin sores and wounds. He is crying everytime in a bath because of the painful wounds. What I do is, after his bath, keep him dry, apply baby lotion on his whole body, including his back as well. Next, put some powder. He is using Agnesia - it's good for him since he has a very sensitive skin. After that, put on his clothes. Every evening, I'm going to make sure that he is not sweating after his bath. Otherwise, he will end up scratching his body during bed time because of itchiness. Every night, I help him to scratch his back softly until he falls asleep. This is also to prevent wounds that he makes if he scratch by himself, and of course have to make sure that his finger nails is always short.
It cannot be denied that most of the kids with autism are picky eaters, there's no doubt that it's a common phenomenon. This is including my 2yo autistic son, Sean. On my previous post I did mention about how happy I was when he started to eat noodles, but it only last for 1 week. A few days ago, he began to reject it as well. These give me a real headache, I'm worry that he only eats biscuit crackers and milk for his 3 meals, but I keep on searching for another solution on the internet, try to find another menu for him. My mind keeps on thinking what kind of food he probably likes. This is really stressing me, not only me, but also my hubby. Then I read about "Overcoming Feeding Problems in a Child with Autism", here is the link. Kimberly Kroeger-Geoppinger, an assistant pediatrics professor at the Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center. Kroeger says,"Choose a Food That's Similar to Those Your Child Likes Best." But at that time I couldn't think of any, maybe I'm too sick this few days, having a fever and headache, lack of sleep and too tired to think. I feel so guilty >.<. It's always during my difficult time, the solution came naturally. It was last night, my sister in-law stopped by, she bought some corns for us. Of course at first I didn't think about giving it to Sean. But after my hubby cooked some and served it while we relaxing and watching tv at the living room, suddenly our little Sean stared at the corn without blinking his eyes. He began to make sound and jump up and down over and over. As I walked near him, I asked, "Sean, you want some?" His responded by pulling my hand to a plate of corn. Wow!! my heart filled with delight. I put some in his mouth, and HE ASKED FOR MORE. :')...After that, I asked my hubby to cut the corn and put it in a bowl (I was sick ok..hehe) so that I could feed him easily. Guess what, he ate it all. All of us were happy and we rewarded him with hugs and kisses. Including our lovely daughter..LOL..Good job Shenna!!..The next day morning (it's today, 17/8/2012), I cooked corn mix with butter and some rice. I'm glad that he didn't notice the rice in it..lol..He ate it all, well done my son! Another new menu for Sean. I'm still searching for his new food though, let him try a new thing, I know it's hard, but I won't give up. My facebook friend, she is also my classmate, she suggests some good ideas for Sean, which is 'sweet potato' soup, Just boil cuts of it with some water and add a little bit of sugar on the soup. Good source of food cause sweet potato has lots of nutrients. If Sean doesn't like it, I'll mix it with corn. He might loves it. I just ask my hubby to buy some sweet potatoes, I'm so excited to try it tonight for his dinner. Another friend of mine, also my old schoolmate, he suggests that I might have to change his milk to rich-nutrition type. He is right, since Sean is a very picky eater. I have to remind myself to try it step by step for Sean, he might dislike it at first, he is always 'unfriendly' to a new thing, even a new toy. We bought a new bottle for him a week ago, but until today, he still refuses to drink from it, even though I give him everyday. I understand, it's an autism, that's why. Thank God for always be there for us, during our difficult time, thank God for sending His angels as a friend to give me some ideas and suggestions. Thank you my lovely friends for being very supportive, I am always ready for Sean, and Sean, let's make it work together!! Jia You!!..
Create my own poster about Sean...doesn't look like a poster isn't it?..hahaha. ...I enjoy trying though. ..;)......more to come......
It's sad to see him just pass by, he doesn't show any interest in other kids. I'm worrying about his future, how he makes friends, will he be bullied by other kids, is he happy, this kind of questions keeps on playing in my mind.
My daughter’s name is Shenna Bella Pau. She is 5 years old. She is a funny and talkative little girl with a curious characteristic. She is like most of the girls at her age, likes all the girly stuff such as Barbie dolls, long gowns, shoes with high heels, hair-bands..etc..
One day, Shenna played with her 4 years old cousin, Aaron, at our house’s living room. They were playing with Sean’s toy cars and blocks since Shenna's toys are all the girlish dolls, Aaron didn’t like it. As they played, suddenly Sean screamed aloud, and I rushed to see what was going on. They were playing with Sean’s favourite tablet, the only thing that Sean couldn't let go. Aaron started to ask Shenna in Mandarin, “Why he shouts? Can’t he just speak out?” Shenna grabbed the tablet from him instead of answering his questions, and gave the tablet back to Sean. She told Aaron in mandarin, “Don’t ever take that tablet from him, later he kicks your butt, I don’t know ooo.” I was laughing. It was funny ok, the way she spoke. Then, that night she asked me, “Mommy, how come Sean still can’t talk? He is almost as tall as Aaron, but he still can’t talk, why?” I answered her in alarmed, tried the easiest way to explain to her, so that she could understand easily at her age. “Sean is a bit different, he can talk but not now, not yet, its call Autism. That’s why you have to take care of Sean because you are his che che (sister). Play together with him, protect him if mommy and daddy are not around, and teach him how to talk. Who knows he might talk after that. Then everyone would be happy.” She nodded her head and said, “Ok, Shenna is che che, Shenna is a big girl and good girl too.” The next day, I saw three of them were playing together again, but they were not playing with toy car, blocks or tablet. 2 of them were following Sean’s behaviour, flapped their arms and hands, shook their head, and span their body. Shenna turned on some music and they were jumping high with flapping hands, just like a bird. They seem to enjoy that moment very much. I was glad, especially when I saw Sean was very happy and excited. Thanks to my beautiful daughter. I hadn’t realized how much she loved him, how much she tried to protect him in her own way. She tried to include Sean to play together in a group instead of leaving him alone. I am very proud of her.
That’s the sweetest thing I’ll always remember. Somehow, Shenna can’t run away from being a child with ‘attitudes’, that’s normal and she drives me crazy sometimes. There was a time when they (Shenna and Sean) fight over toys, jealous of each other (especially Shenna), unsatisfied and so on. It’s ok because it’s normal. My hubby and I just have to treat them fairly. We’ll try to explain to Shenna the details about her brother’s autism disorder from time to time, educate her at earlier stage. I know it’s not going to be easy as they grow up, Shenna might feel isolated, a bit perhaps. These are a few things that I need to take note, she used to raise it when she is angry:
1, why always me?
2, why can’t Sean do it by himself?
3, it’s not fair!!
4, he doesn't want to play with me!!
5, why mommy always treat Sean better?
6, Mommy and Sean are bad!!
7, I hate Sean!! (she doesn't mean it)
8, he doesn't answer me when I ask!!
Actually, this kind of scaring me, I always remind myself to be fair to both. Especially when they fight, I just can’t help myself to stand at Sean’s side. She’ll end up complaining to her daddy. But at least, in her heart, daddy is always her hero. But somehow, I need to learn to be strict to Sean too, fair to both of them, and the most important thing is to avoid ‘The Sibling Problem’. So far, Shenna enjoys handling her responsibilities as Sean’s sister. We are so proud of her. I’m glad to have these 2 kids around. Life would be empty without them, thanks God for everything.
Read this article about The Sibling Problem of Autistic Kids, here.
Shenna hugs her brother, Sean
but Sean struggles hard to release himself...haha
my lovely kids, Sean and Shenna
Baby Sean 4 months and Shenna age 3
"I can take care of my baby brother."
Shenna and baby Sean
Sean, less than 1 month, hugged by his sister, Shenna
Please watch the following video and enjoy. Thank you.
Other story,
Note:
on 4/8/2012, my facebook status wrote, here
"He ate noodle!!!!...our Sean is back, he ate 2 bowls of noodle this morning after for so long...all this while, due to his ASD, he only eat biscuit crackers ..my poor baby, u must be very hungry. ...:"(...I prepare his meal 3 times daily, hoping that he'll eat someday like other normal kids..but somehow he doesn't let me down today...thank God...hoping for better tomorrow and onward..:'')...."
This going to be the happiest day I have to record...and today, 5/8/2012, in the morning, he asks for noodles too...as usual, he grabs my hand and shows me the noodle's packet at the kitchen...Thank You God!!!...:')
Pic taken on 5/8/2012, shows how he enjoys eating noodles...well done son!!
2 days ago, there's a little changes in my autistic's son, Sean, the way he arranges his toys. He arranges his wooden rectangle plates into 2 rows instead of 1 like previously. ..I still don't know what does it means, but I'm going to find out. But somehow, he got angry several times before because it wasn't straight enough at 1st, he keeps on arranges it into really straight lines...;)..
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