Shame on Mommy

It has been way too long since I have updated Owen's blog and soo much has past. First off, SUMMER! It has come and gone and we had a very busy one. Owen started at his new school with Ms. Susan. I think he's happy there, he gave me NO complaints EVER getting on the bus, and when I went in for a quick meeting, he was totally fine with me leaving him in the classroom. I think this has to do with the fact that Miss Penny is there with him. Owen adores Penny so as long as Penny is with him for anything new, I think he is just fine. As a parent, it's hard to get used to new people in his life. Everyone seems great, but I still keep thinking about things and want to ask Beth or Voula from Village.

Owen has also started with vocal play! This is the next step after babbling according to Sarah, our private Speech Therapist. He's constantly making sounds, and wanting you to repeat them and we've heard lots of spontaneous words! The only thing that has really STUCK is Bye Bye. It's adorable, appropriate and I can't get enough of it.

His outdoor play skills have improved so much. He is swinging on swings alone, using his body to move and it's so great to see it. We've waited a long, long time for it. Today is Kindergarten Orientation, which is so weird. I can't believe he's starting! But, I'm also so sad that he's starting and still non verbal. I hope things change soon. I know he has a voice.

More to come!

The Tee Shirt Photo

I'm late posting this, but this is this year's tee shirt photo! We take one every year, and will continue to do so until the shirt falls apart or he refuses!

Opening Day for #47

Soccer finally started today. Last week was called due to weather so today was the big day. We've been having Owen practice wearing his shin guards at school and he was doing great, today he was a bit resistant in putting them on. I think he thought he had to go to school and associated the two and had a meltdown. Once that crisis was averted it was off the fields.

He got nervous once at the fields and was crying a bit. He followed us on the field and the proceeded to try and leave the field about 100x before the game started. Once his coach, John called for the team, he assigned all the "buddies" to the kids. Sarah is Owen's buddy so Owen we thought would have the upper advantage, but...

He gave Sarah a run for her money.



I noticed that there was a few extra buddies so I asked his coach if we could get some extra help so he assigned a really sweet girl named Jasmine.


Basically, the whole theory behind Just 4 Kixs at this age is to have them do soccer drills, some kicks and just follow directions. Owen with his age is on the 3-4 year old team. Even though he'll be 5 in a few weeks, I'm happy he's with the younger kids, I think he's more in his element. Owen started to "sort of" follow the group. He was running back and forth when the other kids did, but he refused to follow the more specific directions like "run sideways" or things like that. It was a lot of stuff he could do, just chose not to do.






Then they had an obstacle course, which Owen always loves. He needed some prompting though, which I was sort of surprised about. After that, they broke out the giant soccer balls and had a mock bowling game with the kids and the buddies. Then it was over. 1 hour, felt like 3. I'm hoping next week goes a lot smoother. Today wasn't bad, but it could have been better.

The fog is lifitng....

or at least I think so.

Now, I may change my mind today, next week or next year, but right now--
Something is changing.

His vocal sounds are more clear, more purposeful. His attention is great and he is following 2 step directions like a Superstar. Miss Beth at school reported that this week his attention has been better and he is working so great during his 1:1 sessions. For example, each table has something to call it, such as a picture of a Star is the Star Table. Usually she has to prompt him and give him the card, now she just shows him and he goes to the appropriate section. At home, he will get undressed for his bath, put his clothes in the hamper and put his pullup in the garbage. All with little to No prompting on our part. At his private Speech she was working on animal sounds and yesterday Owen said "Woof" for Dog, "Ba" for Sheep and "Puppy" for Fergus. Yesterday he engaged in a rousing game of "Peek a Boo" with the dog. He would hide, Fergus would watch him like he was God, and then he would pop out smiling at the little furball.

Pretty great.

This morning he ate his morning Banana and I told him "Good Job" and clear as a bell he yelled out "Good Job".

Good Job Indeed, O.

50 degrees = Outdoor Fun

It was beautiful out this weekend so we took Owen up to Turtle Back Zoo for the 1st trip of this year. It was, eventful.

Owen's chelating this weekend, on top of him getting used to Chiro adjustments, and he wasn't in the mood. I think sensory wise, it was a tad much. But, we took lots of bench breaks and we made our way around most of the zoo.

We didn't ride the train, O's been super sensitive to alarms and sirens as of late so we skipped. We went into what they call their new "aquarium".


No further explanation needed, I'm sure.

Overall, the trip was OK. He's done much better previously, it was sort of disheartening. BUT, if you think about Autism as a whole body disorder as it effects the entire body, and what O's currently dealing with, He did pretty awesome.



And here's the peacock that let me get super close to take a snap!



And the bears were super active! This was the best photo we could get:



In other news, we're at the 30 minute mark with potty training at school, and Owen said "dog" and "doggie" tonight appropriately. Always exciting! Owen also has been taking Fergus's toys from him every time Fergus takes one of his toys. He then will hold it up so Fergus can't get it.

Does that look a little crooked to you?

and the answer would be Yes.

So, after lots of reading, and thinking, and just a little more reading, we decided to take Owen for a Chiropractic Assessment. I had gone to a lecture at Owen's DAN! MD a LONG time ago, and held on to Dr. Dennis Brown's card. He's a Chiropractor in Atlantic Highlands who specializes in Special Needs kiddos. You can find out more info on them at www.shorehands.comWho'd have thought, right? He's also a Hope for Autism Doctor, which I love. You can read more about that here http://www.hopeforautism.us/.

We went for our visit, met the Doc, his RN and wife Jennifer, their office manager, Brenda and all went well. Owie got an X-Ray, adjusted and was on his way Day 1. Day 2, we saw the X-Ray and well, he's a little left of center, actually right.

He's off in his hips, his spine as scoliosis, his neck is not great either. When you look at the film, the black line is normal, the red, is our little red haired man. They are recommending 3x a week for 12 weeks and then another Xray to see progress. Dr. Brown is very confident it can all be corrected.

Today was Day 3, and Owen let Dr. Brown PICK HIM UP and was happy about it. He was a champ for his adjustments, even allowing him to do his neck. He also broke out the these tuning forks and gave 'em a whack. It's to basically put his Propreoceptic System into overdrive and really maximize the visits.

Overall, I'm really hopeful. They've dealt with a lot of kids and the literature out the on Autism and Chiropractic Care is so positive, I really didn't feel like I couldn't give this a shot. After his first adjustment, Rich and I both thought he was just a little bit more babbly, I'm definately going to keep a good log, I want to see where this goes.

Potty training is also going well. We're at almost 30 minutes at school with no accidents. Home, well, let's just say that isn't happening, yet.

More to come!

And just like that, it was February.

and Owen's blog hasn't been updated in months.

We've been busy, we've been sick, we've been rolling along. And we've had lots of good stuff! After Halloween, our first big thing was FERGUS!

We've got a puppy. We felt it would be great for Owen to have that bond and develop a love with a pet. He's been an awesome addition to our family and we couldn't be more pleased. He's a Yorkiepoo, and he's all black like a little ball of soot who loves socks, Owen's trampoline and most importantly, Owen. He follows him everywhere, and Owen loves it. We're working on playing fetch, and Owen thinks it's hysterical.

Owen also started bowling. We have a great Special Needs play center that Owen goes to every week called "Our Special Place" and they ran a bowling league. The Oster had a ball! He loved it!
So much so that when the league ended, we've taken him back for the sensory input it gives him.

After that, we had Christmas. Pop Conroy came to visit and Owen just loved having him here. They really bonded. Owen requested Pop put him to bed, which was so sweet and gave us a much needed break for a few days of having to lay with the boy.

We've also have had a bunch of new words and sounds out of The Short Man. We've started private speech, signed up for a soccer league, of course, Hippotherapy, and he's been super, super happy. He's been changing every day. His laugh is hardier, his run is more steady, his gaze when he meets yours is much more direct and there, and in the moment.

We've also started POTTY TRAINING! He's been going at school and doing awesome. They've got him at 20 minute Intervals and he thinks it's comedy gold to pee in the potty, and on the bed, and on the kitchen floor and on the trampoline.

He also told me to "Get Up" the other day, and when I told him "No". He told me "Yes". The conversation came so naturally I didn't even realize it happened until it was over. Hopefully it will happen again sooner, and more frequently then later.

More to come, More to happen, I'm sure!