Behavior

So Rowan is on a disobedient streak lately. Mostly it is doing the thing I ask him not to do "one more time". So don't blow bubbles in your milk - he does it one more time. Today he was blowing bubbles in his juice before Sunday School, and did it one more time - so I took his juice away. He gets so devastated when it happens, but can't seem to associate the punishment with the behavior yet. I hope he starts connecting soon.

Baseball season starts today - hooray!

We have tickets to opening day for the Twins - should be fun. I know the game is sold out. Should have bought an extra ticket so the boys had some m ore room.

We went to see "Horton Hears a Who" yesterday. The boys loved it, and it was easy for parents too. Great story, and no gross jokes or innuendo that I had to explain. The different styles of animation were fun, and made it even more interesting.

Friday Changeup

I am so excited for baseball season to start. I know that the first games have officially been played already in Japan, but until the Mariners play - it hasn't really started for me.

We have tickets to opening day for the Twins - and they're playing the Angels - so I have someone to root against.

Class

I'm teaching a class at 3M for work this week, makes me appreciate what Jenny does - my legs are tired at the end of the day. The people are nice, but the class is pretty big so it is hard to get around to everyone. The sponsors seem to be pretty happy with how things are going so that is good.

Dominic has been doing pretty well since Easter - still a little too much yelling. Jen and I have been commenting on it, but I'm not sure he's seeing that it is not wanted. Instead I think he is doing it for attention.

Rowan has had some issues with disobeying, and taking some gum out of Jen's purse. I can't decide if he is just looking for attention, rebelling or what. I've talked to him a couple times about how Dominic might need more attention but that we love him just the same, but it may take a few more times. He is determined to act goofy, and I'm afraid something is going to have to happen before he learns it isn't always appreciated.

It makes me look at my own behavior and see maybe where it is coming from sometimes. I don't always have an answer.

Easter

Easter Sunday was fine, once we got the boys into the nursery. There was no nursery for the 8AM service - so Jenny and I traded watching the boys. Actually, Jenny did most of the watching.

Dominic has taken to screaming when he doesn't get what he wants - very annoying - and effective. Not sure yet how to stop it.

Bad Days and a Good Teacher

Dominic had a bad day Tuesday at pre-school. Hitting and acting out. Problem was a combination of tiredness from staying up late the night before, and possible trying to fixit from the staff. Monday night was the last Autism night we went to and it was about dealing with bad behavior.

Most interesting thing for me was what not to do, which turned out to be - don't do anything if you have a full on tantrum on your hands. Just stand back, give the child a quiet place to relax and let them come down on their own. Talking - no good. Explaining - no good. Also, trying to talk about the bad behavior and what not to do is not effective right away. The data wont get processed.

So Dominic started getting cranky and the staff tried to explain and talk to him and this just pushed him further into a tantrum. Finally, he just sat at a table and read a book until he was OK, and much better after a nap.

His teacher from the ECC - Ginger - came the next day and worked with the staff about finding him a quiet spot and getting him some thing to help him change his focus from whatever caused the tantrum. I like her - she seems to be able to handle and talk to kids.

Easter Sunday - three services - no telling what will happen.

Weekend Fun & Paperwork

Pretty much my weekend with the boys. Jenny had some school work to catch up on, and two extra performances at church. I did get in a long nap on Saturday afternoon - ahh bliss.

Dominic was a little cranky over the weekend, not sure if it is the lack of naps or structure or both - too soon to tell, and I've really just started paying attention. I hung out outside the Sunday School class and watched him interact with the other kids there, and it really brought home how he just doesn't know how to start interacting with other kids. He sort of wandered around the room while they were playing a movie, and did random things to different kids - touching or play hitting. I could tell that the other kids were a little freaked out by it. Rowan wasn't really helping by getting up and moving around himself.

After a few minutes I went in and had Dominic sit on my lap for the rest of the time. I'll probably have to do that again this spring off and on.

We did have fun playing at home. Dominic kicked my and Rowan's butt at Crazy Eights, and we had a good time with the computer and playing outside.

We got a large packet of information from the Alexander Center - seems like the same questions that we (I) did for the ECC, I think even the same form. Will work on those this week.

Busy week with Holy week and extra services. Will try not to do too much with the boys until Sunday.

Diversion Friday

I try and take the bus as often as I can to and from work. It takes longer - 20 minutes total - but costs less and is better for the environment. While I'm letting someone else drive, I get a chance to read (or sleep). The last few weeks I've been listening to podcasts and really enjoying the break. I've found two podcasts that have great (free) short stories:

www.escapepod.com
&
www.starshipsofa.com

I've also found a good Star Wars RPG pod cast:

www.d20radio.com

It has some cool discussion of my favorite roleplaying game.

Listening also makes the time go faster at the gym.

It could be that I'm just trying to justify my iPhone purchase.

IEP Meeting

Took the afternoon off from work yesterday for Dominic's IEP meeting. This is essentially where the teachers get together and decide what to use as benchmarks for Dominic. Mostly they broke down where he needs help - communication and integration - and devised some goals.

One interesting thing was his IQ score was part of the report, I guess I missed that during the meeting with the psychologist. Interesting to check the score again in a few years.

There were three folks from the ECC - one of them was the teacher we have had a the Autism 101 classes. Finally got to meet Ginger and she was pretty cool, and seemed enthusiastic about her job. The teachers at Small World were the most interested - they ate up everything, and asked for more.

I think Dominic is in good hands, but we are going to look at a medical diagnosis and see what other services are offered.

Bonus from yesterday was the chance to have lunch with Jen at Don Pablos, and then sit for a bit at Caribou.

Another Monday Night

Last night was another Autism meeting at the Early Childhood Center. This one was more focused on communication, and initiation - getting your child to interact with you. A lot of the session was spent on things that Dominic can do, but does not do well. He doesn't need help to wash his hands and face, but he could communicate a little better during the process.

Dominic and Rowan had an OK time at the child care, but they didn't get to go to the "gym" that they have setup because there were not enough workers. Dominic almost threw a tantrum when we were leaving, but the ladies from Small World were very good with him, and Jen did a great job of distracting him on the ride home. I think we only have one more session, and I hope they talk more about behavior, because we (I) could use some help with that - what parent couldn't.

Gaming Notes:

The GaryCon was excellent - some good adventures, even though I didn't get to run Star Wars. Lots of Scotch was consumed - and not all by me.

Jen had an OK time with the boys, and Dominic was pretty good at the birthday party on Saturday.

A Weekend Away

Geek day yesterday. Spent the whole day at a friends in Waseca (little town by Rochester) plating D&D. It has been planned for months, but with Mr. Gygax passing away this last week it turned into a memorial. We dug out a First edition module by him and ran it with his pregen characters. Fun mixed with lots of memories.

Checked in a few times with Jen to see how Dominic was doing. He had a good time at the birthday party in the afternoon. A little problem with patience, but I think he was otherwise good. It was the second party he was invited to, and the first were he had to give a present. Jen took them to the mail to play and shop for Easter clothes earlier in the day. I guess they were good, but Dominic had a hard time understanding that this wasn't going to the party, and threw a fit when they were leaving because he thought he was missing out.

Still working on transitions - they seem to be the hardest thing right now.

The official IEP meeting is Wed at the daycare. One more step.

Good Days and Goodbye

Dominic (and Rowan too) have both had good days the last few days at pre-school. Very nice not to come home to bad news - Rowan even met me at the door and told me what a good day Dominic had.

Ginger - his assigned teacher from the early childhood center - observed Dominic and seemed to get along with him very well. I think it is even more important that he gets along with the teachers at his pre-school. We have a meeting next Wed morning to setup his IEP.

On a personal note, Gary Gygax passed away this week. He "invented" role-playing games (along with some friends), and pretty much was the biggest influence on my adolescent years. I still play the latest incarnation of D&D nearly every week. And the friends I've made are my friends for life. Mr. Gygax invented something new - something that lasted, and his creation has influenced millions - positively. How many people can you say that about.

I saw him in person once, but didn't thank him. Now I wont get the chance. In place of thanks all I can do is spread the word. Tell good stories. Tell them with friends. Have Fun.

A Case for Positive Persuasion

Last night was the second night of Autism orientation at the Early Child Service Center - not sure if that is right, but I'm going with it. A very good presentation about visual schedules, and tours of a few different classrooms there. Going to try atleast some word schedules with Dominic and see how he does. Every classroom was using some form of visual schedule. Teachers find what works, and this seemed to be working.

The only downside was that Dominic threw a fit when we left because he wanted to stay in the day-care room. Evidently they had a great time in their gym and he wanted to do it again. While he still threw a tantrum, trying to bribe him with stories seemed to work best.

I think the thing I am gong to try most is the "First - Then" approach. Ex, First eat your vegetables, then get desert - or something like that.

They had a good book for sale with lots of examples, and while they seem to be for kids with more severe(?) autism, I think the principles will work out.

Science Museum

Daycare closed on Friday and it was my turn to take the boys. So I decided it would be fun to take them to the Science Museum. There was a new exhibit all about animation that looked cool.

What I didn't count on was the state wrestling tournament being held across the street, so traffic and parking was a nightmare. There were also quite a few schools there on a Friday. Anyway, the boys behaved pretty well, a bit scatterbrained and running from exhibit, but they have been begging to go back ever since.

Dominic really enjoyed himself, and didn't have any moments until we left when he screamed a bit. I think it was more frustration than anything else.

Most of the exhibits were a little advanced - too much reading, but there was plaenty to look at, and lots of fun things going on. Oh yeah, they had mac & chees & hot dogs at the cafe. I told the boys we would go back in June when they hsve the Star Wars exhibit - very cool.

Took the boys to the pool this morning while Jenny graded. Again, they were pretty good. Rowna made up a game where he yelled and then jumped into the pool. Dominic thought it was great, but he always paused and made sure I was close enough before he actually jumped. They both practiced kicking and pretty much wore me out.

We'll see how church goes Sunday. The Sunday School teachers are pretty good.