Hello Sweetheart,
How are you doing? A cloudy day, not too much sun here in S. SF. I hope there's some sun in Los Gatos. Mommy did a lot of errands this morning, but stayed home in the afternoon. I got you some beautiful red carnations. I'll bring them to you tomorrow, ok? The weather forecast said it might rain tomorrow and Saturday, hopefully, it rains after I come visit you. But then with the rain, my allergies won't be as bad, and it would be a lot more comfortable for me to stay longer at your new home.
Mommy also finished the phone interview with the psychologist about your big brother. They really have a long list of questions. The two-part phone interview lasted over an hour and 15 minutes. I asked the Dr. if knowing so much details would be bad because the people evaluating your big brother would have a a preconception of what your brother is like. It's like when Mommy goes to work, and I read the intake packet of a client before meeting the client. Sometimes, it's a good thing, sometimes it's not. Not sure if it's a good thing or bad thing. The psychologist said it's their protocol to gather as much information as possible, especially, in regards to a child. I also asked her after meeting Aidan yesterday, if she had any other concerns aside from the obsession with the door. She said his attention span seemed a little short, and he seemed to keep himself busy with toys, instead of engaging in conversation or playing with her. Sometimes, he didn't immediately take directions and needed re-directions. Mommy is trying to keep an open mind about all this. Whatever the evaluation result it's going to be, I am going to think of the positives. I am hoping he would grow out of all these 'concerns', but if therapy is needed, then we'll do it. Somehow I always think he's on 3, and he should not be judged so early, especially, when he's only been in preschool for 2 months and is still getting to know the routine. Can't a boy be more interested in a toy than to talk talk talk?
Anyways, Mommy also mailed your clothes to Auntie Shelley today for the quilt. I hope I have sent enough. I still need to figure out what to do with the rest of your medical supplies, such as, feeding tubes and syringes. I think I might post on the message board and see if any other babies need them.
Well dear, Mommy will see you tomorrow. Take care and don't forget to watch over your big brother.
Love you,
Mommy
Showing posts with label autistic. Show all posts
Showing posts with label autistic. Show all posts
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Lovely lunch and Aidan
Hello Honey,
Did you get to enjoy some sun today after Mommy left? Mommy's allergies were acting up while I was there. I even took some drugs beforehand, but it didn't work very well. After I said goodbye to you, I actually sat in the car for a little longer. I didn't want to leave too early, so I sat in there, closed my windows, and took out my Ipod Touch to look at your pictures. Those pictures brought back so many memories. I've been looking at your pictures so much that it seems like you're still around. But when I looked at the final picture that I took of you when you're sleeping in the hospital, I felt sad again. You looked like a sleeping baby, so angelic, and didn't look sick at all.
After visiting you, Mommy went back to The Arc to visit some co-workers. Oh, I forgot to tell you that my dear co-workers donated to The Arbor Day Foundation and have 25 trees planted in memory of you! How cool is that! Honey, if you could live till you're 18, with some sort of developmental delay, I would want The Arc to provide services for you (assuming 18 years from now, The Arc continues to provide such excellent services with excellent people like now). I am confident that you would be in good hands, and you would have the best quality of life you could have when Mommy and Daddy are not around anymore. Mommy got to thank all her co-workers for all of their amazing support. Through this, Mommy also got to know some of them a little better, and their personal stories, which Mommy would have never found out if it's not for you. I am trying to think of all the positive things coming out of this experience. We had lunch at Don Ramon's. I love their chimichangas, and their super-fatty-lard-filled refried beans with cheese are to die for. I think my cholesterol level went up because of those beans. Noneless, it was a lovely lunch. Mommy has also decided to go back to work on July 1st.
Then Mommy went to pick-up your big brother from school and went to see the Child Psychologist for an evaluation. The psychologist played with your big brother alone for about 20-30 mins, while I waited outside. When I went back, she told me that she played with Aidan both in a little more structured way, and also a non-structured way. Your big brother was able to tell me what they did: playing with playdough and made a car, drawing a smiley face, counting, identifying body parts, making different faces of emotions. Apparently, he was able to do most of them. But the problem is his obsession. He was playing with the door, and when she wanted to redirect him to draw with crayons, he was using the crayons to do open-and-close motion. Just couldn't take his mind off that open-and-close idea. The psychologist recommended a more thorough, standardized evaluation in San Francisco. I asked her if Aidan's obsession is more of OCD instead of Autism. She said OCD usually involves some kind of anxiety, and Aidan doesn't have that. I then asked about ADHD. She replied Aidan is too young to be evaluated on that. They usually do that when kids start going to school. Right now, it's unclear if it's one of the symptoms of Autism, or he's just being a 3-year-old boy. He might grow out of it. But to get a more thorough evaluation will give us more information, and to have early intervention, if needed. I told her I would be leaving the country soon and then go back to work, so I'd like the evaluation to be completed the week after I come back from Asia. Tomorrow, we will complete the rest of the phone interview, and then she will make a referral to the ASD clinic in San Francisco. I might ask for a second opinion through the Regional Center after this evaluation. Going through Kaiser is just a little faster. I know the budget cut at GGRC will just drag the whole process, and I probably won't be able to get a hold of them before I leave. Logan, please watch over your big brother and make sure he's ok.
Speaking of your big brother, I think he really misses you. One night, he woke up from his sleep and was whining/crying. I heard him say "Baby Logan", but was unable to get much out of him. He doesn't understand what's going on and still wants to visit you in the hospital. It's so hard to hear him say that because I would have to explain to him that Baby Logan is not in the hospital anymore. Yet, he doesn't quite get it. I know he misses you.
Mommy also got to check out your brother's school pictures yesterday. The pictures were very nice and I really wanted to purchase them. However, they are super expensive. How can they charge $14.50 for ONE 4x6 picture?!?! Are you kidding me?? If I want to get a CD of all the pictures (all 34 of them), it costs $149!?!?! Geez! I know he's a fancy photographer, and the school is in Palo Alto, but still!!! I might order one or two, just because they do look very nice. Heck, I think I could take pictures like that, too! haha.. I know, Mommy is being stingy and silly.
Tomorrow will not be as busy as today. Mommy did a lot of driving today. South SF --> Palo Alto --> Los Gatos --> San Francisco --> Palo Alto --> San Bruno --> South SF. Wow! Time to pump gas again!
Take care for now, my dear guardian angel.
Miss you,
Mommy
Did you get to enjoy some sun today after Mommy left? Mommy's allergies were acting up while I was there. I even took some drugs beforehand, but it didn't work very well. After I said goodbye to you, I actually sat in the car for a little longer. I didn't want to leave too early, so I sat in there, closed my windows, and took out my Ipod Touch to look at your pictures. Those pictures brought back so many memories. I've been looking at your pictures so much that it seems like you're still around. But when I looked at the final picture that I took of you when you're sleeping in the hospital, I felt sad again. You looked like a sleeping baby, so angelic, and didn't look sick at all.
After visiting you, Mommy went back to The Arc to visit some co-workers. Oh, I forgot to tell you that my dear co-workers donated to The Arbor Day Foundation and have 25 trees planted in memory of you! How cool is that! Honey, if you could live till you're 18, with some sort of developmental delay, I would want The Arc to provide services for you (assuming 18 years from now, The Arc continues to provide such excellent services with excellent people like now). I am confident that you would be in good hands, and you would have the best quality of life you could have when Mommy and Daddy are not around anymore. Mommy got to thank all her co-workers for all of their amazing support. Through this, Mommy also got to know some of them a little better, and their personal stories, which Mommy would have never found out if it's not for you. I am trying to think of all the positive things coming out of this experience. We had lunch at Don Ramon's. I love their chimichangas, and their super-fatty-lard-filled refried beans with cheese are to die for. I think my cholesterol level went up because of those beans. Noneless, it was a lovely lunch. Mommy has also decided to go back to work on July 1st.
Then Mommy went to pick-up your big brother from school and went to see the Child Psychologist for an evaluation. The psychologist played with your big brother alone for about 20-30 mins, while I waited outside. When I went back, she told me that she played with Aidan both in a little more structured way, and also a non-structured way. Your big brother was able to tell me what they did: playing with playdough and made a car, drawing a smiley face, counting, identifying body parts, making different faces of emotions. Apparently, he was able to do most of them. But the problem is his obsession. He was playing with the door, and when she wanted to redirect him to draw with crayons, he was using the crayons to do open-and-close motion. Just couldn't take his mind off that open-and-close idea. The psychologist recommended a more thorough, standardized evaluation in San Francisco. I asked her if Aidan's obsession is more of OCD instead of Autism. She said OCD usually involves some kind of anxiety, and Aidan doesn't have that. I then asked about ADHD. She replied Aidan is too young to be evaluated on that. They usually do that when kids start going to school. Right now, it's unclear if it's one of the symptoms of Autism, or he's just being a 3-year-old boy. He might grow out of it. But to get a more thorough evaluation will give us more information, and to have early intervention, if needed. I told her I would be leaving the country soon and then go back to work, so I'd like the evaluation to be completed the week after I come back from Asia. Tomorrow, we will complete the rest of the phone interview, and then she will make a referral to the ASD clinic in San Francisco. I might ask for a second opinion through the Regional Center after this evaluation. Going through Kaiser is just a little faster. I know the budget cut at GGRC will just drag the whole process, and I probably won't be able to get a hold of them before I leave. Logan, please watch over your big brother and make sure he's ok.
Speaking of your big brother, I think he really misses you. One night, he woke up from his sleep and was whining/crying. I heard him say "Baby Logan", but was unable to get much out of him. He doesn't understand what's going on and still wants to visit you in the hospital. It's so hard to hear him say that because I would have to explain to him that Baby Logan is not in the hospital anymore. Yet, he doesn't quite get it. I know he misses you.
Mommy also got to check out your brother's school pictures yesterday. The pictures were very nice and I really wanted to purchase them. However, they are super expensive. How can they charge $14.50 for ONE 4x6 picture?!?! Are you kidding me?? If I want to get a CD of all the pictures (all 34 of them), it costs $149!?!?! Geez! I know he's a fancy photographer, and the school is in Palo Alto, but still!!! I might order one or two, just because they do look very nice. Heck, I think I could take pictures like that, too! haha.. I know, Mommy is being stingy and silly.
Tomorrow will not be as busy as today. Mommy did a lot of driving today. South SF --> Palo Alto --> Los Gatos --> San Francisco --> Palo Alto --> San Bruno --> South SF. Wow! Time to pump gas again!
Take care for now, my dear guardian angel.
Miss you,
Mommy
Friday, April 24, 2009
A Busy Day!
Dear Baby,
Wow, Mommy had such a busy day today! It started when I dropped off your big brother from school at 9:30 a.m. and ended after I picked him up at arrived home at 7 p.m. Non-stop! Let me tell you what I did today.
After dropping your brother off at school, Daddy and Mommy went down to the location of our future home. It's the first meeting with the Superintendents and our future neighbors at our new townhome in Sunnyvale. We toured around the site and saw that the foundation has been poured. We will have more of these meetings in the future, showing us step-by-step how our home will be built. This is exciting! This is probably going to be the only meeting that Mommy could attend. When I go back to work, it would be difficult to come down to Sunnyvale. But Daddy will try to attend those meetings. We met our future neighbors, who we have met several times when going to the model homes. This family has a young baby daughter with Down Syndrome, and is about your age. The mommy asked me how you're doing, and I had to break the news to her. I know she's sad for us, as her daughter is going through some medical issues herself, and she could imagine the pain that we're going through. But it's nice to see friendly and familiar faces, and to know that they will be living right across from us in the future.
Mommy and Daddy then went back up to San Bruno and had lunch with my old high school friend, Auntie Julie and her husband Uncle Andy, who are visiting from New York. It's been many years since I last saw Auntie Julie. Mommy visited New York many years ago, and Auntie Julie was nice enough to let me stay at her place. Auntie Julie has been very supportive of what's going on and has asked her Church friends to pray for you. Aren't you a lucky little fellow?
Mommy and Daddy then went to another appointment at Kaiser for your big brother. We attended an orientation on the services that their Child Psychiatry Dept provided. We also talked to the psychologist a little bit about your big brother, as your big brother's school was concerned about some of his behaviors and suggested us get him evaluated for Autism. Mommy will have another phone interview with the doctor on Monday, and then will bring your big brother in on Wednesday. Please pray for your big brother. Make sure he's fine. Mommy is not sure how much more emotional stress she can take if your brother were to be diagnosed with Autism. Mommy deeply feels that he is fine, but is scared that the doctor would tell me otherwise.
Mommy's day continued with finally buying plane tickets to go back to Macau. Mommy and your big brother will be going back from May 12 to June 20. I know this is a long time, but Mommy wants to make sure we're back to cheer up Ah Po before her surgery. Your Uncle Carlos and Auntie Mena are also helping us plan our Hong Kong Disneyland trip. Oh, how I want you to be able to go to this "happiest place on earth" with us.
Mommy then went to Bank of The West in Burlingame to drop off the checks for the March for Babies Walk, and got some T-shirts for the walk on Saturday as well. Well, the sizes of the shirts are not perfect for everyone, but at least we have shirts! This is going to be exciting. Mommy also had a conference call with other mommy walkers earlier tonight. It's nice to hear everyone's story and how inspired they are to walk this Saturday. I am really looking forward to it. We all love you, honey, and this event is for you.
Mommy ended the day with attending your big brother's preschool Annual Spring Picnic. Mommy really didn't know what to expect, but was glad to have attended. Your big brother had a lot of fun eating all the fruits and cookies, and totally ignored the puppet show until after it's over. I guess for him food is more important than the puppet show. Mommy also saw how your big brother interacted with his friends. I was glad I didn't see any hitting. The other boy was a little 'wilder' than your big brother, but they mostly played nice. Not much damage, aside from sand in the hair.
Wow, Mommy had a long day! I would have to go to sleep soon. Tomorrow is another big day. Mommy and Daddy would be going to see you and to select your marker. Would you please inspire Mommy tomorrow so that I could select something you like? How about an angel? Mommy wants an angel to always watch over you because I know you will be our guardian angel from above.
I'll see you tomorrow, dear. Mommy will bring you some toys to keep you company, ok?
Miss you,
Mommy
Wow, Mommy had such a busy day today! It started when I dropped off your big brother from school at 9:30 a.m. and ended after I picked him up at arrived home at 7 p.m. Non-stop! Let me tell you what I did today.
After dropping your brother off at school, Daddy and Mommy went down to the location of our future home. It's the first meeting with the Superintendents and our future neighbors at our new townhome in Sunnyvale. We toured around the site and saw that the foundation has been poured. We will have more of these meetings in the future, showing us step-by-step how our home will be built. This is exciting! This is probably going to be the only meeting that Mommy could attend. When I go back to work, it would be difficult to come down to Sunnyvale. But Daddy will try to attend those meetings. We met our future neighbors, who we have met several times when going to the model homes. This family has a young baby daughter with Down Syndrome, and is about your age. The mommy asked me how you're doing, and I had to break the news to her. I know she's sad for us, as her daughter is going through some medical issues herself, and she could imagine the pain that we're going through. But it's nice to see friendly and familiar faces, and to know that they will be living right across from us in the future.
Mommy and Daddy then went back up to San Bruno and had lunch with my old high school friend, Auntie Julie and her husband Uncle Andy, who are visiting from New York. It's been many years since I last saw Auntie Julie. Mommy visited New York many years ago, and Auntie Julie was nice enough to let me stay at her place. Auntie Julie has been very supportive of what's going on and has asked her Church friends to pray for you. Aren't you a lucky little fellow?
Mommy and Daddy then went to another appointment at Kaiser for your big brother. We attended an orientation on the services that their Child Psychiatry Dept provided. We also talked to the psychologist a little bit about your big brother, as your big brother's school was concerned about some of his behaviors and suggested us get him evaluated for Autism. Mommy will have another phone interview with the doctor on Monday, and then will bring your big brother in on Wednesday. Please pray for your big brother. Make sure he's fine. Mommy is not sure how much more emotional stress she can take if your brother were to be diagnosed with Autism. Mommy deeply feels that he is fine, but is scared that the doctor would tell me otherwise.
Mommy's day continued with finally buying plane tickets to go back to Macau. Mommy and your big brother will be going back from May 12 to June 20. I know this is a long time, but Mommy wants to make sure we're back to cheer up Ah Po before her surgery. Your Uncle Carlos and Auntie Mena are also helping us plan our Hong Kong Disneyland trip. Oh, how I want you to be able to go to this "happiest place on earth" with us.
Mommy then went to Bank of The West in Burlingame to drop off the checks for the March for Babies Walk, and got some T-shirts for the walk on Saturday as well. Well, the sizes of the shirts are not perfect for everyone, but at least we have shirts! This is going to be exciting. Mommy also had a conference call with other mommy walkers earlier tonight. It's nice to hear everyone's story and how inspired they are to walk this Saturday. I am really looking forward to it. We all love you, honey, and this event is for you.
Mommy ended the day with attending your big brother's preschool Annual Spring Picnic. Mommy really didn't know what to expect, but was glad to have attended. Your big brother had a lot of fun eating all the fruits and cookies, and totally ignored the puppet show until after it's over. I guess for him food is more important than the puppet show. Mommy also saw how your big brother interacted with his friends. I was glad I didn't see any hitting. The other boy was a little 'wilder' than your big brother, but they mostly played nice. Not much damage, aside from sand in the hair.
I'll see you tomorrow, dear. Mommy will bring you some toys to keep you company, ok?
Miss you,
Mommy
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Aidan, Autistic?
Yes, that question came up again yesterday. As I was driving to Aidan's pre-school to pick him up yesterday, I received a phone call from the Director of the school. She wanted to set up a time to discuss some of Aidan's behaviors that they are concerned about. When I arrived at the preschool, I briefly chatted with her. They are a little concerned about his obsession with opening and closing doors, washing his hands, and interacting with other children. Apparently, they observed Aidan pushing a kid, even though he wasn't provoked or the kid wasn't in his way. As if he wanted to get their attention, but did not know how to approach the kid, except to hit or push. Aidan would run around in circles and when he stopped, he had this daze-like look. She recommended me contacting the school district to have a specialist to observe Aidan's behavior. They would e-mail me notes of what the teachers have observed, and the specialist could come to school to observe Aidan as well.
I personally, do not think Aidan is autistic. He is very affectionate, has great eye contact, and loves to smile and makes up funny faces. He is obsessed with doors, traffic lights and elevators. If we have to categorize him, I would say he is more obsessive-compulsive with poor impulse control, and maybe ADHD since he likes to run around and can't sit down. But then, aren't most 3-year olds like that? Do we always have to be overly sensitive and label our children so that we can find the 'correct' diagnosis? Can't children be like children, run around and have fun anymore?
I am not a specialist, so I can't say what I think is right. If Aidan is autistic, it's best to start therapy to help him. I am not opposed to contacting the school district to have him evaluated. It would give me the peace of him if he's ok. If not, we'll do whatever intervention necessary to help him. Most importantly, if I don't do it, the school might bug me again in the future. Let's just put the issue at rest by doing what's best for Aidan.
How much stress can one endure emotionally, psychologically, physically, before the body breaks or shuts down?
I personally, do not think Aidan is autistic. He is very affectionate, has great eye contact, and loves to smile and makes up funny faces. He is obsessed with doors, traffic lights and elevators. If we have to categorize him, I would say he is more obsessive-compulsive with poor impulse control, and maybe ADHD since he likes to run around and can't sit down. But then, aren't most 3-year olds like that? Do we always have to be overly sensitive and label our children so that we can find the 'correct' diagnosis? Can't children be like children, run around and have fun anymore?
I am not a specialist, so I can't say what I think is right. If Aidan is autistic, it's best to start therapy to help him. I am not opposed to contacting the school district to have him evaluated. It would give me the peace of him if he's ok. If not, we'll do whatever intervention necessary to help him. Most importantly, if I don't do it, the school might bug me again in the future. Let's just put the issue at rest by doing what's best for Aidan.
How much stress can one endure emotionally, psychologically, physically, before the body breaks or shuts down?
Monday, March 9, 2009
Aidan and his new preschool
Let's talk about Aidan for a minute while I am waiting for the doctors to come in for the rounds.
Today is Aidan's second week of his new preschool. First week was tough as he's not used to being in such a scheduled setting. He was running around, was difficult to get him to sit still during circle time or group activities. He's just so curious about everything and too excited. Of the 5 days he was there last week, he only napped one day. He was so tired after school that on his way back home, he slept through the whole trip, and even slept till 11:30 p.m. a couple nights. Poor guy, it's normally hard to get him to nap, now in a new environment, it's even tougher. Hopefully, this week will be a little easier.
Last Friday, the teacher asked if Aidan has been evaluated for Autism because he has such an obsession with doors and washing his hands. I told her that he hasn't and he is very interested in doors. But probably not washing hands, but just to be able to play with water. I don't think I can handle a child in the hospital, and another one with Autism. I think I will go crazy. However, even though I haven't worked with kids with Autism, with my experience working with adults with Autism and in the spectrum, I don't think Aidan is autistic. He is very touchy-feely, very sociable, has great eye contacts, definitely not monotone and is a very happy child. Aside from the obsession with doors, but then he's not just standing there and play with one door, he would go around and play with all the doors available. He's not obsessed with washing hands because at home, I have to drag him to wash his hands sometimes. He does like to play with water (provided it's not in his head or eyes). So, my unofficial, unprofessional diagnosis is, he's not autistic.
Today is Aidan's second week of his new preschool. First week was tough as he's not used to being in such a scheduled setting. He was running around, was difficult to get him to sit still during circle time or group activities. He's just so curious about everything and too excited. Of the 5 days he was there last week, he only napped one day. He was so tired after school that on his way back home, he slept through the whole trip, and even slept till 11:30 p.m. a couple nights. Poor guy, it's normally hard to get him to nap, now in a new environment, it's even tougher. Hopefully, this week will be a little easier.
Last Friday, the teacher asked if Aidan has been evaluated for Autism because he has such an obsession with doors and washing his hands. I told her that he hasn't and he is very interested in doors. But probably not washing hands, but just to be able to play with water. I don't think I can handle a child in the hospital, and another one with Autism. I think I will go crazy. However, even though I haven't worked with kids with Autism, with my experience working with adults with Autism and in the spectrum, I don't think Aidan is autistic. He is very touchy-feely, very sociable, has great eye contacts, definitely not monotone and is a very happy child. Aside from the obsession with doors, but then he's not just standing there and play with one door, he would go around and play with all the doors available. He's not obsessed with washing hands because at home, I have to drag him to wash his hands sometimes. He does like to play with water (provided it's not in his head or eyes). So, my unofficial, unprofessional diagnosis is, he's not autistic.
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