It has been awhile. Sorry. Maddy has mastered quite a few more reflexes in this time. She is working on one that is nicknamed "the lizard". After she masters The Lizard, she will have one remaining reflex left.
It is quite strange, baffling actually, how these different reflex responses all work together to help out other areas of her body. If someone had told me five years ago that having Maddy lay on the ground and crawl like a lizard to help her handwriting skills, I would have laughed at them, called them crazy in my mind and walked away.
Strange thing is that it's true. If I haven't been witnessing it with my own eyes, I probably would still be questioning the validity of it.
Either way, writhing like a lizard or pretending to be Superman, bundling like a starfish and all her other moves have done wonders on her.
For that, I am thankful. So thankful for her willing spirit to accept that she has a hard road, God and Jesus love her, and she can be a very happy and highly functional kid with autism.
Granted some days are harder than others. Some moments are harder than others.
She still has anger management issues, something that is very common with children with autism as they reach developmental milestone and hormonal changes with puberty. Yes, I said it. She may only be approaching the tender age of eight but we all know how puberty is effecting girls earlier and earlier. So we remain vigilant with helping her find new ways to express herself in healthy outlets with positive outcomes.
She still can throw things and run away faster than anyone I know, but she is getting better at managing herself. We all have moments when we want to throw things and run away. At least, I know that I do.
Recently at OT, she was tested on her handwriting skills. Handwriting, cutting, and reading have been major road blocks on her journey through school. Cutting has finally be mastered to a well enough degree. So handwriting has been the main focus. I was very pleased with her test results.
It is quite strange, baffling actually, how these different reflex responses all work together to help out other areas of her body. If someone had told me five years ago that having Maddy lay on the ground and crawl like a lizard to help her handwriting skills, I would have laughed at them, called them crazy in my mind and walked away.
Strange thing is that it's true. If I haven't been witnessing it with my own eyes, I probably would still be questioning the validity of it.
Either way, writhing like a lizard or pretending to be Superman, bundling like a starfish and all her other moves have done wonders on her.
For that, I am thankful. So thankful for her willing spirit to accept that she has a hard road, God and Jesus love her, and she can be a very happy and highly functional kid with autism.
Granted some days are harder than others. Some moments are harder than others.
She still has anger management issues, something that is very common with children with autism as they reach developmental milestone and hormonal changes with puberty. Yes, I said it. She may only be approaching the tender age of eight but we all know how puberty is effecting girls earlier and earlier. So we remain vigilant with helping her find new ways to express herself in healthy outlets with positive outcomes.
She still can throw things and run away faster than anyone I know, but she is getting better at managing herself. We all have moments when we want to throw things and run away. At least, I know that I do.
Recently at OT, she was tested on her handwriting skills. Handwriting, cutting, and reading have been major road blocks on her journey through school. Cutting has finally be mastered to a well enough degree. So handwriting has been the main focus. I was very pleased with her test results.
Most first graders score anywhere from 85% to 90% and most second graders score from 95% to 100%. Technically Maddy is in second grade but she is a very young second grader and could very easily be an older 1st grader....the beauty of a June birthday. She is reading at a 1st grade level yet doing math at a third grade level with many of her other subjects being in the 2nd grade range. This the beauty of homeschooling...we can take more time on the things she is lagging in and go faster on the concepts she understands. That creates a much more obedient and happy kid.
It might not seem like much but it's huge. To be scoring this well, is a big WIN. And Stephanie, her OT, commented that she could have done much better at her number handwriting but was clearly DONE with testing that she got lazy. Ah, yes. Attitude makes a difference. So in actuality this is probably on the low end of her ability.
It might not seem like much but it's huge. To be scoring this well, is a big WIN. And Stephanie, her OT, commented that she could have done much better at her number handwriting but was clearly DONE with testing that she got lazy. Ah, yes. Attitude makes a difference. So in actuality this is probably on the low end of her ability.
It's a win. I'll take it.
Her reading is coming along. She is still behind but she's not losing ground. She is slow and steady and that's the way we'll take it. She is developing more of an interest and can read almost all of her 3rd grade math papers by herself...another win. She is starting to enjoy it. I think I'm still missing a piece to the reading puzzle for her but I also feel like we are on the cusp of something great so we'll keep plodding along.
Her reading is coming along. She is still behind but she's not losing ground. She is slow and steady and that's the way we'll take it. She is developing more of an interest and can read almost all of her 3rd grade math papers by herself...another win. She is starting to enjoy it. I think I'm still missing a piece to the reading puzzle for her but I also feel like we are on the cusp of something great so we'll keep plodding along.
She is sweet, caring, loving, funny, and a JOY. These are all blessings. She can talk, write, count, sing, interact, tickle, run, swim on her back, sleep through the night, use the bathroom, eat.....all things that some kids as severe as she was on the spectrum will never do.
In the last month, she began showering and washing her hair on her own. Another win.
In the last month, she began showering and washing her hair on her own. Another win.
I am incredibly thankful for her. For all that she has accomplished, for the love she has in her heart. Her smile. Her drive. She is definitely a gift.
In April we will start Social Skills Group again in hopes of continuing the overwhelming process of understanding social interactions, making friends, asking questions about others, and learning when and what to share. Some might think by keeping her home we are not helping her learn social skills. In all actuality, we are teaching her in a safe environment so she can learn without the very real reality of bullying in school. While I love our school system here, I know that Maddy's quirks make her a target and in order for her to grow out of some of those quirks, she needs positive reinforcement. Not that we keep her home 24/7 - she has activities and other homeschool friends that help her along the way.
Thank you for all who have kept Maddy in your prayers. We are praying that we will be done with OT services by the end of summer but time will tell. One Friday at a time.
In April we will start Social Skills Group again in hopes of continuing the overwhelming process of understanding social interactions, making friends, asking questions about others, and learning when and what to share. Some might think by keeping her home we are not helping her learn social skills. In all actuality, we are teaching her in a safe environment so she can learn without the very real reality of bullying in school. While I love our school system here, I know that Maddy's quirks make her a target and in order for her to grow out of some of those quirks, she needs positive reinforcement. Not that we keep her home 24/7 - she has activities and other homeschool friends that help her along the way.
Thank you for all who have kept Maddy in your prayers. We are praying that we will be done with OT services by the end of summer but time will tell. One Friday at a time.
