Thursday, February 17, 2011

Progress, Progress, Progress...

I know it’s been a while since my last post but sometimes life seems to be in fast forward mode and before you know it, a month has passed you by.  Since my last post there has been so much that has happened with us but the one person who has had the most happenings in his life is my big kid Gavin.
In school, Gavin has an Autism Coach who works with him in the classroom throughout the day almost every day.  Gavin has taken huge strides in progressing and is truly coming out of his shell.  He is now doing a little more socializing in the classroom and his teacher, Mrs. Wiggins, says she has seen a huge improvement in him.  I couldn’t be any more proud!  He is constantly singing and talking and anyone who knows him has seen the dramatic improvements he has made. 
Speaking of improvements, Gavin is now in karate!!!  This is our first extra-curricular activity since YMCA Soccer in the fall of 2008 (which didn’t go over very well).  It was suggested to us that he be in an activity of either t-ball or karate because there is more one on one with the instructor.  So two days later I took him to the local karate center (ATA) with high hopes of him participating but felt he would be a little standoffish.  Gavin had his own little cheering section (keep in mind this place is small) of my, my mom, Rafe and both of Ralf’s parents.  We were there to cheer him and of course we were all holding our breaths hoping he would participate and love it.  WELL much to our surprise… he PARTICIPATED!!!  I was so excited for him!  He was on cloud nine as was I!  He talked about it for days so I knew we had to go back and sign up, and we did.  All of the little kids had their white suits on with their belts and the instructor asked Gavin if he wanted to put his suit on and he shook his head yes and ran right over to her.  As she was putting his little coat on (it’s more like a smock) he took his finger and looked over at us (us being his cheering section, we were all there again) and with a big smile on his face pointed to himself saying (without using words) look at me!!!  I couldn’t hold it in any longer; I smiled and turned my head because I began crying hysterically because I was so happy for him.  It still makes my eyes fill up with tears…I will never forget that day and how excited he was. 
We are so proud of Gavin and all of the obstacles he has overcome. 

Thursday, January 13, 2011

Breakthrough...

I know it's been over a week since my last post but we have been terribly sick over here.  Last week Rafe was running a high fever and this week I have been battling Strep Throat which I have never had nor want again.  I swear every time I swallowed it felt like razor blades were cutting right through my throat...I wouldn't wish this on my mortal enemy.  Anyway, so between my mom, sister and I we have come to the conclusion Rafe might have had it last week and passed it on to me this week so now I am just waiting for Ralfie or Gavin to fall ill.  Thankfully Rafe's Pediatrician prescribed him an antibiotic so he is much better this week.. 

Alright so with that said I must inform you of Gavin's Breakthrough!  Monday through Friday I strap the boys into the car around 7:20 and head on over to Gavin's school.  We wait in the carpool line for about five minutes until we pull up to the P.E. coach who then opens the car door and Gavin hops out.  And like every typical morning the coach says to Gavin "Good Morning" and it wouldn't be a typical morning without Gavin keeping silent.  The coach and I look at each other and I assure him one day Gavin will respond and say Good Morning.  Then I drive away and 24 hours later our morning routine repeats itself. 

Well...I have been working with Gavin every morning on our way to school practicing saying "Good Morning Coach".  I wasn't sure how long it was going to take Gavin to actually say these words but I was positive it would be before Valentine's Day.  Kids in general are funniest little things and always seem to do things at their own pace because even though we were practicing saying Good Morning Coach, Gavin never said it, but this passed Tuesday he almost sent me into shock!  The coach came and opened the car door and like every morning says "Good Morning Gavin" and my big kid (as I call him) responded appropriately and said "Good Morning Coach!"  The coach and I both looked at each other is complete shock both not saying a word as our mouths hung open for a few seconds but then the coach pat Gavin on the back and said "Good Job".  The Coach then gave me a thumbs up and as I waived and drove away with my eyes swelling with tears, I was definitely a proud momma that Tuesday morning and hope Gavin keeps this up!

Way to go BIG KID!!!

Monday, January 3, 2011

The Waiting Game...

I am a firm believer in children sleeping in their own beds from birth.  These "family beds", I think they are called, blow my mind!  I have always had a hard time understanding why parents would want their children in bed with them?  From the day we brought Gavin home he was in his own bed.  I refused to allow him to sleep with us because I need my own space while in the Land of Nod, therefore Ralf sleeps on his side of the bed while I sleep on mine. Gavin always slept in his bed and I never had any issues with getting him to sleep. Everything was great up until Gavin was about two and a half years old, my sister recommended converting Gavin's crib into a toddler bed...BAD MOVE MOMMA!!! 
Gavin learned very quickly that he now had free range to move out of his bed and into ours.  In the early days, he would wake me up and I would quietly walk him across the hall back to his bed but soon there was no waking Mommy.  He became a little sharper learning that if he would wake Mommy she was going to take him back to his room, so he changed his game plan up a little and didn't disturb my slumber.  Gavin would quietly crawl into our bed right between Ralf and I would sleep there the rest of the night.  It wasn't until I was kicked in the stomach or had his head laying across me that I realized he was there, and when I did notice this toddler laying there I didn't take him back to his room because I was either too tired to bother with it or didn't want to wake him. 
Before I knew which end was up Gavin was sleeping in our room permanately!  He called mine and Ralf''s room "Gavin and Mommy's Room".  Oh Lord!  I knew getting him back into his room was going to be a huge issue...and I mean HUGE!  Over the years Ralf and I tried, and failed tremendously ,at getting Gavin back into his own bed.  His sleeping with us has been a huge issue with me but not so much with Ralf.  You see Ralf is a big time cuddler, as I am not, and he enjoys cuddling with Gavin throughout the night instead of his pillow so getting Gavin back into his bed was not top on his list of priorities.  I made up my mind about getting Gavin back into his bed (he is now 5) and decided we would start a daily routine with him the night before he goes back to school, which is tonight.  I chose this night to start this because he goes back to school tomorrow from winter break and is getting back into his daily routine.  I knew getting him back into his bed was going to be a huge obstacle for us to overcome but it needed to be done.
at 7:30 this evening, after dinner and a nice bath (bathing is an entire different post I will discuss with you all one day) I informed Gavin it was time for bed and that he was going to sleep in his bed.  Now I didnt just spring it on him last minute, I had been talking about him sleeping in his bed all throughout the day so this was no suprise to him...or so I thought.
He broke down and cried and said, "I stay with Honey!" (For those of you who dont know, Gavin calls Ralf Honey because thats what I call him.  Go ahead and laugh because we do!  I wonder if Rafe will call him Honey as well?)  So to make sure he had no excuses to leave the room I made Ralf come with me.  I read the Gingerbread Man while he and Ralf laid together cuddling as they always do.  Once the book was over I turned off the light and Ralf sat next to his bed while I stood in the middle of the room, that's when the water works began to pour!  Ralf left the room because he couldn't stand to see him cry so it was up to me to be the bad guy, but I had to do it because I want my bed space back!  So the waiting game began...
I sat next to his bed with my back to him, I didn't want to make eye contact with him because I knew it would only weaken me.  With my back turned facing him I sat there starring at his night light.  Before I knew it I caught myself snoring (apparently it was loud if I woke myself) and after waking I slowly turned and looked over at him. In a low, soft and quiet voice he said to me, "Mommy close your eyes."  What?!  No?! He caught me completely off guard!  Did the tables turn while I was sleeping?  Am I now the person who is being be put to bed?  Ha!  Well, I was too tired to argue with him so I did fall back asleep time and time again.  Each time I woke up I looked over at him to see if he was out and without fail he too was looking at me telling me to go to sleep.  After being in his room for quite some time I had finally had it!  I looked at him and told him to go to sleep and then I turned away and didn't say another word and to my surprise it worked!  Ha!  Victory!  He was snoring within five minutes and I was out a minute or so after.  Now I went into his bedroom at 7:30 and didn't come out until 9:30...geesh this kid plays hard ball but momma pulled through and took home a WIN!  Of course as I have been sitting here at my computer typing this he has gotten out of bed twice and both times I have taken him directly back into his room without saying a word to him.  I am serious about it his time, I am going to be victorious!