Horse Therapy Rocks for Autism!

 Kaden has been back in the Saddle for a few months now.  We took a break over the Holidays and Winter months.  The place he rides also had to close their doors for awhile, thankfully it was during the Holidays and cooler months last year. 

His riding skills have improved so much.  I have to say, I was a little doubtful on the whole horse therapy idea.  But, I am super glad that we gave it a try.  We first heard about it from a friend that has MS.  She had been riding there for awhile and she had seen kiddos out riding too.  I called them and they had a great, affordable program for Kiddos with Autism!  Yipeeee!

I think it has gave him confidence and something positive to look forward to each week.  And it helps with coordination, core strength and social skills.  A riding day has not come up that he wasn't ready to go with a BIG Smile on his face!!!

Amazing Spanish Program for Kaden!

 

I have to start my review of Spanish for You! with a back story.  It is a story that my Family has yet to let me forget about and when they found out I was asked to Review this Spanish Curriculum they expressed their condolences for Debbie Annett and her Spanish Curriculum.  Okay, now for the back story....  In college, I needed a foreign language and there was a Spanish class open at the perfect time between my other classes.  The teacher was amazing....I loved him.  We had themed lunches, outings as a class and the lectures were never boring.  The only problem was that I could never seem to pass the class.  I took it not once or twice, but threeeeeeeeee times.  Close to the end of the 3rd semester my Spanish Teacher took me out to lunch and said that maybe I should give Spanish a rest.  He loved me in his class and could see I was trying, but knowing two languages is not for everyone.  I mean who has that said to them!  Only me, HAHAHAHAHA

My Sweet Family has never let me forget that.  And when I brought up the review they kind of laughed about it and I was a little intimidated.  I know it sounds silly, but I was.  I wasn't sure how this was all going to go down.  To my SURPRISE though after getting everything organized, cut, printed and put into folders it seemed doable.

Kaden who is 6 and 13 year old Mahala Boo did it with me.  Yes, I took the challenge on myself because I figured even though it's geared for 3rd-8th grade I probably fall into that category. :)  After the 1st lesson we were all excited with our handful of new words we had learned.  By the 2nd week I had recalled things I remembered back in college.  I was planing on just doing it 2 days a week, but the kids were so into it that we ended up doing a lesson just about every single day, even on the weekend.  The kids LOVED the artwork and hearing the audio clips in both non and native tongue.  I loved the playful and simple approach.  I was not intimidated teaching it even with my bad experience in college.  The kids also enjoyed doing the extra Activities and Games that you can find Here.

My kids are sad that we have went through the whole book almost and are dying to get their hands on the next one.  So, you don''t have to wonder at all if we will continue this program.  Because the answer is Yes!!
                                

Spanish for You! is for kids in 3rd-8th grade, but my Kaden is 6 and Loving it.  This Program is designed to effectively build speaking, reading, and writing skills as well as grammar knowledge. And your Kiddos will have fun while doing it!!  Here are some Highlights:

• Self-study, family, or class use
• Affordable - an effective, quality program to last an entire school year at a price you cannot beat!
• Flexible - Go at your own pace.
• Easy to use - Just follow the lesson guide & go!
• Time Saving (and More Money Saving) - Use one package with students of multiple grades at the same time.
• Fun - Uses simple games and activities to engage students

To purchase your very own Spanish for You! Curriculum click right Here!   You will not be disappointed, you will only become Bilingual....and that's the point!  :)  Debbie Annett is so Amazing and thoughtful that she even offers Free Mini lessons and Worksheets on her website.  Thank You Debbie!!

 

The Happy Scientist

Kaden went to a Birthday Party last week.  It was his first Birthday Party ever to go to, so it was exciting for all of us.  The Birthday Person was having a "Mad Scientist" Party", complete with a "Mad Scientist"!!  Kaden was a definite No from the moment he found out.  He handed the invitation back to the kiddo and said no thanks.  Thankfully the Birthday Kiddo is in Kaden's social skills class so the Mom didn't give much thought about Kaden's refusal.

Cool thing about the party was the fact that they were having it at the center.  YAY!!!  That meant there would be helpers to get all the kiddos through the party.
On the day of the party Kaden still didn't want to go.  Everyone had explained to him that "Mad" didn't mean that he was angry and wanted to hurt him.  We ended up being 30 minuted late, because we literally had to drag him into the van and across the parking lot once we got there.

When we opened the door the lights were out and the "Mad Scientist" had flames coming from one hand and the smell of burnt hair filled the room.  This was not a good 1st impression.  Zooooooom, there went Kaden!!!!  Thankfully the staff was ready and he was safe, just scared.   Kaden kept asking why they can't be called the Happy Scientist.  That he would like that more. :)

After a nice, comforting conversation and the help of a Staff sidekick we got him in the room to enjoy the last half hour or so.  He was able to answer a few questions correctly about electricity and lightning.  And then he saw how fireworks were made and at the end he was able to make glow in the dark slime.

The important thing was he was smiling by the end of the party.  I was proud of him for trying so hard.  I know some people might think, come on it's a party for gosh sakes.  He is 6 years old, cut the cord!!!  But, the difference is the look of fear in his eyes is real, imagine being sent to a huge volcano to plunge into or being trapped in a burning building.  It is a true fear for him to be in social situations.  The noisy, smells, activity, even just the thoughts of a social environment becomes so overwhelming.  It will take time, but he is one step closer. 




I remember when he was almost 5 and we went to this amazing event at a local church.  They had turned it into Bethlehem.  Kaden was so overwhelmed by the music, amount of people and all the different pictures and scenery that he had a full on breakdown.  It was tragic the way he was shaking and rocked his head back and forth while screaming so loud with his hands over his ears.  It was like he was on fire, he looked terrified.  When he wasn't screaming he was calling out numbers and hitting himself.  It took all we had to get out as fast as possible.  This was before we knew a diagnosis.  This was when people said, he's just a boy, he'll grow out of it.  He looks normal to me!!!!  Well, after all we have been through as a Family....I agree!!  He is normal, maybe not "Your Normal".  Or what the World thinks is "Normal".  But I wouldn't change this little guy for all the money in the World!!!!

Adventure-Search & Rescue with Kaden

Sensory is heightened for Kaden always.  Every day is a new smell, sound or texture that he either seeks out or runs away from like it's the end of the world.  To him, it is the end of the world in his mind.  So, when he is crazy overloaded I sometimes try to over stimulate him sensory wise. 

For example on this particular day it was non stop with the hitting and negative self talk.  He was not responding with words, only grunts and pointing.  Wouldn't show eye contact and very withdrawn.  I decided to have Mahala do a math exercise with him and then we went outside to toss the football.  Not a good idea on the football tossing.  It ended up being a smaller version of WWII. 

So, I decided to take the pan we used to make our chicken farm for Easter and turn it into a Search and Rescue Dig".   We just finished our dino unit study, so he understood the whole excavation process.

The pan is filled with steel cut oatmeal and I put in anything & everything that I could find that could be buried.  And then we asked him to find things with wheels, things blue or round.  You get the picture......

It was a ton of fun and even though it only held his attention for about 10 minutes it was worth it.  Running his hands through the oatmeal and seeing the different objects settled him down and helped him refocus long enough to get dinner done ad then we started our night time routine.

To us, it is important to always have an activity or two like this up our sleeves so we can pull it out when all else fails.  The idea is to help Kaden have successful days and to feel positive about himself. 

Every day is an Adventure!!

Eat Bento, Be Happy

 Hail to the Almighty Bento Box!!!!!  Today during Kaden's 2nd session of therapy he enjoyed his Lunch Bento Box.  His BT was AMAZZZZED at how easy it was to get Kaden to not only eat, but eat Everything.  I was very pleased too!

She even looked online for herself one during her break.  Bento Time for Everyone!

So, in the top portion I put a pressed PB & J Sandwich with a little heart cut out.  Of course I ate it....quality control expert here!!  :)  Several sliced up cucumbers, spinach leaves and a cut up strawberry.  He ate it all, even the cucumbers, no dip needed......

The bottom half I made some homemade granola bars the other day, so I put one in with also some yummy almonds.  Kaden loves grapes, so I gave him a container of those and some yummy heart shaped cheese pieces.                                         He was so funny, he told the BT that I must have worked so HARD to cut out those tiny hearts.  Got to LOVE him!!!  And I sure do.....  :D

Later in the afternoon he begged me for some more cheese and his NEW favorite drink....Carrot Juice.  And like a nice Manic Bento Crazy Momma I did!


Be Happy....Make a Bento Box! ;D

Hey, What's Kaden Wearing?

Kaden dresses himself, most mornings.  This morning was kind of cold.  So, he decided to pick out his cool Camo pants and long sleeved Dino shirt.  I added the socks, because he NEVER picks out socks.  He likes going bare foot and sock less when he wears shoes.  I found the insoles of one of his pairs of shoes last night.  Are you kidding me, I was shocked.  The child has been walking on the hard plastic part of the shoe.  He says it feels better, the insoles were bothering his toes.  :)  He never fails to amaze me!!!  I wonder what he will pick out tomorrow?

Do You Bento?

Everyone knows we have a HARD time getting Kaden to eat his food.  And when we do get him to eat, it takes F-O-R-E-V-E-R for him to finish.  And he gets it all over him like he's trying out for the Cutest Clown in the WORLD contest.  Believe it or not he Loves fruits and veggies!!!  Don't get me wrong, he isn't at the table "tantruming"it up because there happens to be carrots on his plate.  It goes more like this:

On the plate we have cut up chicken, spinach with tomatoes, mashed potatoes and a salad.  He will say everything is gross and why does it need to look this way or smell that way.  Then he will bypass the fork and pick up a chicken cube and some lettuce and chew for 10 minutes.  During that time he will put some spinach to his mouth and zone out and basically his face will turn a not so bright shade of green.  Then, like always he will sort the items in the salad and maybe try another bite of something, but hold it up to his mouth like a squirrel and munch till it's gone.  Now during all this he will get up and down several times.  He wont leave the room, just drift from one person to another until he's told to sit back down and work on having a quiet body.  :)  And one of two things will happen.  He will be eerily quiet.  Or he will be talking 90 miles a minute about Starcraft or Math, stimming all the way.  Usually after an hour 1/3 of his food will be gone, unless it's like his Ultimate favorite food.  But, even then he is NEVER done when we are all done.
Some people have said that I should take his food away once we are all done.  I tried that and you know what??  He's fine with that, shows no emotion.  So, it doesn't help to limit his time, he will simply just not eat.  We supplement his meals with pediasure, no more then 3 a week.  And he takes his vitamins and fiber daily.

So, I have been wanting to find a way to get him interested in food and to try and make it crazy hands friendly.  :)  So I think I have found my answer....Bento Boxed Meals! 

He ate all of this right under an hour!!

With the tight small compartments I can fit several different types of food.  Make some cute shapes out of otherwise boring looking fruit and use little tiny food pics for easy handling. 

I love this Blog I found called Small Potatoes......she is Amazing!!!!!  And she is as Bento Crazy as I Want to be!!!  :D  You must head over there right now and give her a Warm, Manic Mom Hello!!!  Here is a Link to her latest post.....Kaden sooooooooooo wants this Bento Box and Momma is gonna get it for him!  I'll post pics of His different meals as we get started o this new food journey.

Anyone else Rock the Bento Box for Lunch?

Before we Knew What Autism Was

A Blast from the Past.....My 1st Post ever about Kaden before we knew he had Autism.  I was struggling and saw NO end in sight!  Wow, what a difference a year and a half makes!!!!

It has been so long I feel drained just looking at the date of my "real" last entry.  I have missed being here so much it hurts.  It's like coming home after a long vacation.  The smell of piled up laundry on top of a mile long to do list, mixed with the remembrance of sandy beaches and an umbrella drink I can't even remember the name of.
Well, life has been many things for me lately and none of it came with a little umbrella.  But, I'm here now and I have so much to share.  I feel like a tea kettle that's been boiling for a few hours....days. 
Let me start with  complaining first.  It's always good to clear the air and let it all out.   My love bug Kaden is about to turn 5.  And we have had struggles with him for a long time.  I just pushed through and parented the best I could.  I never said a word about his behavior, just kept loving him.  And after a season of watching the show Parenthood I secretly thought to myself I wonder if Kaden has Aspergers.  This new season started and Kaden became more Kaden and I knew I needed to say something.  I talked with friends first and they all gave me the line, "he's 4 years old".  Yeah, a 4 year old that has been reading since he was 2, has an obsession with numbers and self taught himself multiplication by the time he was 4. Not to mention the amazing vocabulary and need for organization that he can not even enjoy himself.    The violent rages bring the whole family to tears, loud noises bring him to tears.  The constant counting and lack of expression from him has worn me thin.  No one sees this because I keep it to myself, I've never shared it even here in blogland.  Everyone thinks I'm lucky because he's so smart and advanced.  But, with that is a great responsibility that makes our family exhausted. 
My hardest part of the day is keeping him from getting so angry or upset that he hurts himself.  And keeping his brain challenged.  He reads 2nd and 3rd grade books and wants to learn division.  But, the problem is his maturity level.  Just because he can explain to me what enursha is and his favorite number is infinity, he is only 4 years old.
Back to the point, I talked with Thanh and he thought I was crazy, that he was just smart and a typical boy. So, I decided to take it up with the pediatrician.  He told me I should have told him a long time ago, not to question my judgment.  So, tomorrow we are going to a specialist.  My friends still think I'm crazy, but I have Thanh on board with me after spending 2 weeks at home over the Holidays.  He got to see first hand what it was like homeschooling 3 kids with our Sweet Kaden. 
I love him so much, I just want to give him the best start in life.  I need to learn how to discipline him without causing him to downward spiral. I want to know how to teach him how to thrive in life with this small speed bump.
I have been searching online for helpful websites.  And what has got me aggravated is how many sites took you to books to buy or websites you have to pay for for support and advice or discussion boards.  I was disappointed, because I'm desperate for help and in need of answers. 
Tomorrow I will have a new start, a new start for Kaden.  It's been a long, lonely road and I have a feeling it will still be long in our future, but not so lonely.

Would You Like a Side of Manners with That?

 With the other 2 kids we just expected table manners.  You were polite, used your utensils, napkin and cleared your plate when you were done.
And then there was Kaden.......even as a baby he never held his bottle and most of the time there was more food smeared on his chubby cheeks and highchair then in his belly.  Not much has changed except he sits in a regular chair now and his cheeks aren't as chubby.  :)

Before ABA therapy I wondered when he was going to turn the corner and just get it.  Everyday I thought today would be the day.  When we went out I was quick to clean him up and order food that would look less like an erupted volcano on his face and more like a careless preschooler.

Now that he has been in ABA therapy for more then 8 months and has went through 3 different eating programs I have thrown in the towel. 
I haven't given up on Him, just the part of having a tidy kiddo sitting across from me at the table.  I figured is it really THAT important right now?  Is he hurting anyone?  We have bigger fish to fry....right?  I know for him it is 90% sensory and he has No desire to do any differently.  The average punishment just will not apply here....trust me.  How do You handle Your Kiddos on the Spectrum and their table Manners?

National Autism Day!!

 This is a great article I found about Autism.  Autism is different in every person.  There is No one look, behavior or kind of person.  Kaden has Many faces of Autism.

We all Love him so much and Celebrate Him EVERYDAY!!!!