Communication Break Downs

It’s Saturday morning, it’s early, and not too bright. The sun was just barely lighting the sky, but the cloud cover was blocking it’s light anyways. I was awakened by a very unhappy Mia. Not knowing exactly why she was waking in this state, we went through the motions. But her tantrum continued to accelerate into a meltdown. After several trips to the bathroom, several breakfast options, and sensory toys galore, it was clear that Mia was not going to come out of this anytime soon. Her meltdown status was clearly invoked by her inability to tell me what was wrong, and I felt like a horrible mother for not being able to figure it out.

Our plan for the day had been to meet up with a friend to do some ice fishing. I was in hopes that we would still be able to make the trip, even though we would now be slightly delayed. I plugged my ear buds into my phone and cranked the music, allowing Mia to holler as she needed to while I gathered our fishing gear. I was hoping once she saw the traps, she would realize what fun was in store for the day and it would help her calm down. But she carried on anyways.

I further gathered the necessities of the day, dressed, had my coffee and breakfast, and then helped Mia get dressed once she finally calmed down. She ate her breakfast when she was ready, and soon was in much better spirits. I was in hopes that the rest of the day would be filled with her smile and giggles. But either way, I decided to carry on with our plans. We packed up the vehicle and headed out.

The drive to our destination was a long one. Well over an hour. Once we hit the last stretch, I stopped at a store so Mia and I could use the restroom. Another tantrum ensued as she refused to sit on the public toilet. I can’t blame her, most restrooms smell funny, have odd lighting, and the flush is ridiculously loud. She did not appear to have to use the toilet at all. So we washed our hands on the way out, put some fuel into the truck, and continued on.

Almost big enough to drive!

It wasn't long before we reached the lake. A quick text to a friend who was already on the ice, ensured us a four wheeler ride to the shacks that he and his friends had set up. While we waited for his arrival, I helped Mia get into her snowsuit. She seemed agitated by this, but we continued on anyways. I was unclear of how Mia would react to being on a four wheeler, since this would be her first time. But I figured that because it had wheels and threw wind in her face, she would love it. And I was right.

Soon, we were heading down the lake, and Mia was giggling with delight. When we stopped, we all dismounted the wheeler, but Mia wanted more. Telling her that we would ride again later proved to do nothing in terms of deterrence. She started having a fit because she wanted to ride more.

I tried to get her mind off of the wheeler by walking around with her. My friend also tried to catch her attention to no avail. Another meltdown started to take place. Then my friend got the idea that we should go get the glorified “pee bucket”. Maybe Mia did have to go to the bathroom after all. We took another ride on the wheeler to get it, and then back again. The ride calmed Mia down, but the moment we stopped, she went right back into tantrum mode.

I again tried to get her mind off of things. She didn't have to go to the bathroom. My friend offered her some yummy snacks. But nothing worked. This was so unusual for Mia. Normally, even when she’s having a bad day, activities that she likes, such a ice fishing, are a happy time. And, with her sudden interest in the male gender (I've got a little flirt on my hands), you would've thought she would be even more ecstatic to be here. But, something else is going on in Mia’s world.

A dog came over to greet Mia, and she’s never been fond of dogs that like to get in her space, but she turned away to avoid him. And then, the dog did what dogs do when they want attention. He jumped on her. Mia fell to the ice, and in an instant her meltdown turned into one of the worst I've seen in a long time.

That was pretty much the end of our ice fishing trip. I tried for several minutes to get Mia to calm back down, but it was clear that she was completely upset. Our little adventure on the ice lasted merely an hour. The truck ride back home calmed Mia slightly, but she continued on this sequence for the remainder of the weekend.

Truth be told, this isn't the first time this has happened with one of our outings this winter. Mia has become increasingly aware of the world around her, and even more so with the fact that communication is the key to being heard. Her meltdowns these day are coming from complete frustration in not being able to communicate her thoughts. And I can’t blame her. I’d be upset too if I couldn't speak my mind.

So, I’m working on a new plan. Trying to find a way to help Mia communicate more effectively. PEC’s isn't working for her, so something new needs to happen. I've got an appointment set up with Mia’s teachers and speech therapist to give them my ideas on the situation, and to see what they have to offer for input. I've also set up some appointments for Mia to be seen by her neurologist  Because one of the anti-epileptics she is on could cause some changes in behavior, and some seizure activity could be in play here. I'm covering all the areas just to be sure.

Have any of my readers ever been in this communication break down with their kiddos? I’d love to hear how you overcame this hurdle with your little one!

Extraordinary Outdoors February Event!

It's time to get together to play outside! We've planned a sledding event in the town of Topsham on February 24th at the area's local "go to" for sledding. Come on out for some hot chocolate, coffee, snacks, social time, and most importantly, FUN!!!

RSVP to our event via Facebook, or just show up on the day of! The fun starts at 1:00 p.m., and the address is 86 Foreside Rd. in Topsham Maine!

Wear lots of warm, weather proof clothing, and bring the family! If you want to join but don't have any sleds, contact me an let me know. I am able to get some spares together so that everyone can join in the fun!

Hope to see you there!

https://www.facebook.com/events/487940287909274/

First Words Are Great, But First FUNCTIONAL Words Are Even Better!

Over the years, I've heard numerous noises form in Mia's beautiful little voice. Within the last six to eight months, these noises have become more used, elaborated, and she has increased the type of noises she makes ten fold. 

Though I posted Mia's first real word a while ago, this is Mia's first FUNCTIONAL word!

Why do I say functional? Because her first word, "action", though reciprocated, was only used at random times with no apparent meaning behind it. 

Here, Mia is imitating the elaborated "HI!" Greeting I have given to her at the end of every work/school day for the last six years! 

This word is functional not only because she says it back, but because she is using it to initiate a greeting and socialization with others around her! 

This moment marks a turning point in Mia's communication skills! Now that she knows that she can uses her voice to gain attention of others, I have a strong feeling that more functional words are coming in the very near future!!! 

Potty Training..........SUCCESS!!!!!!

We've been working on something pretty big in Mia's world. Something that makes her feel even more like she's just your average kid. And she's nearly mastered the skill.

We've been working on, POTTY TRAINING!!!
How did this breakthrough come about?! Potty training was something I'd been working on over the years. But, when it wasn't being done the same way in every place that she went, she never grasped the concept. As one of Mia's goals in her I.E.P., potty training was added as a skill for her to learn. When asked how I thought Mia would best learn this skill, you can bet I gave my input!

First, Mia went from wearing pull ups all the time, to only wearing them at night. Big girl underwear during the day meant that every time she had an accident, she would feel it. And since she hates the feeling of wet clothes against her skin, I knew without a doubt that this was the best method to get Mia on her way to toileting success.

The transition from one to the other took her a while to get used to. Because she's a very tactile being, the pull up was a comfort she had grown accustomed to. Underwear left her feeling odd, as though nothing was there. For a bit, it was hard to get her to keep her pants up! But after she realized that she had no other choice but to wear these thin monstrosities, she gave up and taking her pants down!

Then, her school started taking her to the bathroom in short intervals through out the day. Though, because they were seemingly spending more time in the bathroom than anywhere else, they lengthened the amount of time between bathroom visits. The pattern was continued at home as well, and Mia only wore a pull up at night to prevent her from wetting the bed.

Because Mia has always had a hard time figuring out what her body is telling her (i.e. pain means something is wrong, this sensation means you have to go to the bathroom), I assumed it would take a while for her to catch on to these signals the body sends. But, as usual, she surprised me! In just a short couple of months, Mia went from six or seven accidents a day, to NONE! Minus the number two issue, which she's now catching on to as well.

Now, Mia is wearing big girl underwear to bed as well. She has no night time accidents, though now she wakes up confused in the middle of the night when she has the sensation to pee. Cutting back on fluids in the early evening and making sure she goes pee before bed time help, but once in a while she still has to get up. Though she might be a bit cranky about it, I'm proud that she knows when she's got to go!

And, in most recent weeks, she's been going number two on the potty as well!! Well, Some of the time anyways! She still hasn't quite figured out when she actually needs to go, and sometimes her seizure medications bind her up, making it even more difficult for her. But she's getting there!

I'm so excited for Mia's progress in this area! And even more excited that when the weather warms up, I can start teaching her a new bathroom skill. HOW TO PEE IN THE WOODS!! (Yes, her teachers laughed when I exclaimed this notion!)

What, that's a normal motherly reaction, right?!

New Years Reflections

Well folks, we made it through the holiday season. Mia got lots of gifts from Santa. Her favorite being her new pink ice fishing tip ups! (Pictures of pink ice fishing escapades are coming soon!)

Now, a new year is upon us. While many people use this time of year to set resolutions, I use this time to reflect, and count my blessings. 2012 has been a busy and eventful year for us. And, an overall successful one as well.

The year began with a transition to a new living area, with a promise of better schooling to help Mia along in her battle against Autism. This move was planned for many months prior to the actual event. Mia flawlessly grew accustomed to our new surroundings. It was mom that had the harder of times. We now live in a city, with relatively few connections to nature. But, with some effort and searching, we've found that getting outdoors in the city is actually very manageable. And, it makes our further trips into the wild even more enjoyable.

After a few months, Mia transitioned to her new school. Again, flawlessly. She embraced this new setting and new people instantaneously, effortlessly, and courageously. She has made great progress in her new school, and continues to amaze me daily with new skills.

We also managed to get to some new outdoor places to adventure in, and accomplished some pretty great things. Mia experienced a bit of lobster boating when we boarded the Lucky Catch. We hiked to the top of Sabattus Mountain. We camped in White Mountain National Forest. We fished in many new lakes and streams, and visited several of the state parks.

Mia's progress is really what strikes me as astonishing though. This little girl takes triumph in jumping over some of her toughest hurdles. And once she's over them, she courageously takes on the next one. Potty training took her less time than I had assumed, with merely an accident a week at this point! And in the year of 2012, Mia has become increasingly interactive with not only adults and her favorite people, but with strangers we pass in the store, and with children of all ages. Just the other day, she walked up to a two year old boy sitting in the front of a grocery cart, and made her valiant attempt to say hello. She smiled at him, and gave him direct eye contact while doing so. His response of a smile and an outreached hand was more than accepted by little Mia, and she took his hand and giggled at him with pure joy in knowing that she was seen and accepted. This is truly an amazing feat in the world of Autism.

Now that 2012 has drawn to an end, we are looking forward to more adventures, and new experiences. We're setting our sights towards some upcoming ice fishing adventures, and planning our spring hikes.

2013 will be another year of progress and great adventure for Mia and I, and we wish you the happiest and most adventurous year of all!

Thanks for reading!

Christmas Light Spectaculars!

Mommy/daughter picture opp! 

Mia and I have Christmas traditions, just like most people do. But our most favorite thing to do during the Christmas season, is going out in search of Christmas lights! The other night, we headed down to Freeport to check out their light setup. 

Their tree is enormous, and lit with red and green lights. I tried to get a picture of Mia in front of it to depict it's gargantuan size, but she was having too much fun running around the cluster of small trees up on the wooden deck. The picture below should show it's size in relation to the building behind it. 

Next year, I think we should have a tree like this in OUR living room!

They also had some "Kid's Crooked Houses" set up for the kiddos to play around in. These things are so cute, and come in a ton of designs and sizes. 

Kids Crooked Houses! We want one, or two! 

Mia thought they were pretty neat also, and had fun playing around in them!

Mia in the Kids Crooked House!

The best part of the gigantic L.L. Bean tree, is that every hour on the hour, from 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., the tree and surrounding lights become a light show with some great music playing along. Mia loved this, and loved the fact that we were outside watching instead of sitting in a car like some other light shows!

The video below is short, as I had to keep an eye on Miss Mia, but in total the show lasted about 20 minutes. 

What are some of your favorite holiday traditions?!

We’d Rather Be…….OUTSIDE!!!

Mia enjoys the cooler temps of the fall/winter seasons!

Hello all! I hope this finds you all in good spirits. It's been a bit since I've posted, and though I dislike excuses in general, mine for the lack of posting is simply that I'd rather be outside than stuck inside on the computer.

Further north in the state, we found some snow to play in!

The month long firearm season for deer hunting seemed to come and go in a flash. And though I spent much of the season walking and sitting in the woods, I had no luck in harvesting a deer. I even took out the muzzle loader for the two week loader season, to no avail. Oh well, a bad day (month) of hunting, is better than a day at work! And there’s always next year! :)

Ice fishing season is soon coming!

Mia and I have also been out bird hunting and rabbit hunting (searching) on our weekends together. And, we're gearing up for the soon coming ice fishing season!! We’ve had a lot of outdoor play time despite the cooling temps, and we’ve found a ton of cool things to see in the woods. Animal tracks, snow capped mushrooms growing on trees, and tons more!

Snow capped mushrooms!!!

Now, we’re just patiently awaiting the arrival of some snow so we can adventure out in our snowshoes!