Don't you love it when you are trying to have a conversation with your daughter, and you tell her to look at you, and she automatically turns her head toward you but not her eyes?
Gotta love Autism!
Saturday, April 17, 2010
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Jessica and Dr. Becker
Yesterday was Jessica's semi-annual visit to Dr. Becker. He is Jessica's developmental pediatrician that we see at Children's Hospital Boston. I call him her "autism doctor". He and his team at the Developmental Medicine Clinic were the ones that initial diagnosed Jessica as being on the autism spectrum.
Dr. Becker is truly a wonderful doctor. He is easy to talk to, listens to all my concerns and questions, and above all is fantastic with Jessica. He asks her questions about school and home in such a way that puts Jessica at ease. She really likes him, and I honestly wish he was her regular pediatrician...but that is a whole other story!
Here you see Jessica patiently reading a book in the waiting room.
Jessica really had a good visit with him, and was just so good for the whole trip. The weather was cool and sunny, so I took a few minutes after the appointment to let Jessica play at a small outside playground the hospital has. It was so nice because we were the only ones there, yet we were in the middle of towering sky scrapers. I had never taken Jessica to this playground before, and she was so excited.
She loved climbing the structure, and sliding down the slide. The look of happiness on her face was so beautiful. Jessica is really a great kid, and I love her so much!
I just want to thank Jessica for being such a great daughter, and for being so well behaved for appointments that I wish didn't even exist. I love you Jessicat!
Dr. Becker is truly a wonderful doctor. He is easy to talk to, listens to all my concerns and questions, and above all is fantastic with Jessica. He asks her questions about school and home in such a way that puts Jessica at ease. She really likes him, and I honestly wish he was her regular pediatrician...but that is a whole other story!
Here you see Jessica patiently reading a book in the waiting room.
Jessica really had a good visit with him, and was just so good for the whole trip. The weather was cool and sunny, so I took a few minutes after the appointment to let Jessica play at a small outside playground the hospital has. It was so nice because we were the only ones there, yet we were in the middle of towering sky scrapers. I had never taken Jessica to this playground before, and she was so excited.
She loved climbing the structure, and sliding down the slide. The look of happiness on her face was so beautiful. Jessica is really a great kid, and I love her so much!
I just want to thank Jessica for being such a great daughter, and for being so well behaved for appointments that I wish didn't even exist. I love you Jessicat!
Friday, April 9, 2010
Jessica and mornings
Have I mentioned Jessica is not a morning person? Well if I haven't, I am now.
The morning started off innocuous enough. Jessica got up a few minutes earlier than she normally does, and snuggled in my bed with me for a while. It was really nice until I started talking about going to school. She then started to pull the "I'm sick" card....fake cough and all. How at the age of 7 she knows how to do this, I have no idea.
Of course I had to bargain with her to go to school. I told her that if she still felt sick at school, she could go to the nurse and I would pick her up. Then I pulled out the big guns. I told her after school we could go to the Hello Kitty store. That promise sealed the deal.
It should come as no surprise that I got a call from her special education teacher at 3pm letting me know that Jessica had a bad day. Of course the Mommy-guilt hit me in the gut. If I had just kept her home she would have been able to participate in Reading Buddies, she would have been able to draw the dandelion the rest of the class did, and she wouldn't have cried all day at school.
I am a bad Mommy.
P.S. We did go to the Hello Kitty Store. So maybe I am not that bad after all.
The morning started off innocuous enough. Jessica got up a few minutes earlier than she normally does, and snuggled in my bed with me for a while. It was really nice until I started talking about going to school. She then started to pull the "I'm sick" card....fake cough and all. How at the age of 7 she knows how to do this, I have no idea.
Of course I had to bargain with her to go to school. I told her that if she still felt sick at school, she could go to the nurse and I would pick her up. Then I pulled out the big guns. I told her after school we could go to the Hello Kitty store. That promise sealed the deal.
It should come as no surprise that I got a call from her special education teacher at 3pm letting me know that Jessica had a bad day. Of course the Mommy-guilt hit me in the gut. If I had just kept her home she would have been able to participate in Reading Buddies, she would have been able to draw the dandelion the rest of the class did, and she wouldn't have cried all day at school.
I am a bad Mommy.
P.S. We did go to the Hello Kitty Store. So maybe I am not that bad after all.
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Jessica and her Birthday
Seven years ago today I couldn't breathe, I had high blood pressure, and I was ready to "get this thing outta me!". You guessed it. Today is Jessica's 7th birthday.
I really can't believe she is 7. It seems like only a minute ago she was a peachy, square-faced baby with blueberry eyes. Now she is a peachy, square-faced 7 year old with blueberry eyes.
So much has changed, but so much has stayed the same. When I think about Jessica as an infant, I think about how she loved her swing....and the hours she would spend in it. I remember telling people what a good baby she was. "She hardly ever cries, and can keep herself occupied!". Little did I know this was a trait that should have shouted "WARNING: AUTISM AHEAD"
I think about how one day she could say her name, and other words like "blanket" and "cup", and the next day she couldn't. I also think about how her thin, beautiful hair curled at the ends, and how excited I was to have a child with blue eyes. I think about her exquisite chubby cheeks, and how if she was thirsty she would go to the fridge and bring me the milk instead of asking for a drink.
Jessica has come such a long way. I am so proud of what she can and has accomplish. I love her with all my heart, and wouldn't trade her for a bazillion dollars.
Happy Birthday Jessica!
I really can't believe she is 7. It seems like only a minute ago she was a peachy, square-faced baby with blueberry eyes. Now she is a peachy, square-faced 7 year old with blueberry eyes.
So much has changed, but so much has stayed the same. When I think about Jessica as an infant, I think about how she loved her swing....and the hours she would spend in it. I remember telling people what a good baby she was. "She hardly ever cries, and can keep herself occupied!". Little did I know this was a trait that should have shouted "WARNING: AUTISM AHEAD"
I think about how one day she could say her name, and other words like "blanket" and "cup", and the next day she couldn't. I also think about how her thin, beautiful hair curled at the ends, and how excited I was to have a child with blue eyes. I think about her exquisite chubby cheeks, and how if she was thirsty she would go to the fridge and bring me the milk instead of asking for a drink.
Jessica has come such a long way. I am so proud of what she can and has accomplish. I love her with all my heart, and wouldn't trade her for a bazillion dollars.
Happy Birthday Jessica!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)