We got a great deal from a local cake maker. Delicious caramel chocolate, and enough for everybody! Plus it had Dmitry’s favorite: gears and stars.
It got a little crazy cramming so much friends and family into our home, and you can see him disengaging a little. He never quite hit meltdown overload mode, but all he really wanted to do was run in circles and burn off his nervous energy. He was more interested in the cake before and after the party.
Not even four years old yet and we took the life vest off him last week. He can tread water and doggie paddle a little, but he’s really starting to become an excellent swimmer!
I’ve read multiple times that I need to find his interests and really play to them, cater to them, and use them to make him want to come “into our world”. We’ve already got visions dancing in our heads of the next Michael Phelps, but for now we can get him into a few classes. Cos this kid LOVES to swim, and loves to stick his head underwater in a way I’ve never seen anyone else love so much.
Best of all, he looks PROUD of himself when he swims! He looks at us and smiles and… almost puts himself up for “exhibition”. This can only be considered progress. I’ve talked about it before, that Dmitry has very good coordination and muscle tone for an autistic child, and I’m very eager and relieved to see it paying dividends.
I’ll try to get some pictures or video up soon, because it’s really quite amazing. We’re planning on starting “water therapy” soon, since he loves it so thoroughly.
In spite of the excitement, we’re still going to keep him in a life vest most of the time around the pool. He’s utterly fearless and will gladly plunge into the deep end by himself. But developing this swimming skill will help give us peace of mind. Accidental drowning accounts for 91% of all elopement deaths.
Anyone who’s spent any time around autism children and adults knows that they develop fascinations with strange or mundane objects, concepts or activities. Dmitry is no exception. Here are more of Dmitry’s bizarre fixations that I have observed over the last few months.
First installment:
It’s stomach sickness time in Dmitry’s household again. But as my regular readers know, Dmitry has a stomach carved of granite and usually makes it through just fine.
Not so, his big brother.
After a day of feeling awful, throwing up, stuck on the toilet and draining fluids from both ends, Nikolai had just about had enough. He could keep down some ice chips, nothing else.
Dmitry’s heart went out to him though. He came and rubbed his back. Gently.
He may not talk to us and he may do everything a little weird, but he has compassion. I’ve seen it before.
The wife has been hard at work.
April is Autism Awareness month. Please consider using this image on your blog to remember those autistic children lost to elopement. We will be holding a candlelight vigil on April 1st. For any more questions, click on this link and ask organizer Jillsmo at Yeah Good Times.
I fight sometimes with the guilt of not including Dmitry in “family time”, because there are just some things he can’t do. Movies. Long periods of sitting or standing still. Very long car rides.
But not the fair! He was a very happy boy, rode on many rides, stayed seated and buckled, and basically went through the entire day in a haze of happiness… except when we had to sit still for a bird show. Then he and Mom went for some food, to keep him moving and therefore happy.
I am really starting to notice that his listening and obedience, though previously nonexistent, have begun to materialize. No he will not follow directions, or sit still and wait for you, but he occasionally can perceive what it is he’s “supposed to do” like get buckled/strapped in, or wait patiently for the ride to stop so he can get on, or not stray too far. He used to be a runner, but now he’s more of a roamer: if you don’t watch him he can get away from you, but he doesn’t just bolt, and seems to want to hang out nearby. This sounds like something small, but it’s crucial when bringing him to public places like fairs.
Okay, better sit down buddy…
BUT THE MIDDLE THING, IT SPINS!
Big smiles for this one!
Even let big brother hold him on the rides. He was in flappiness heaven, eyes full of wonder on every ride.
.
All in all it was a GREAT trip! Not only was Dmitry wide-eyed in wonder and fun, but we were very happy we brought him to experience his delight. At no time did we regret having him with us or lament the difficulty he was giving us. It was just great family fun time.
Big brother makes Dmitry a pinwheel from his K’NEX, while parents swoon.
This is a little cooler that is absolutely fascinating because it rolls
I know just where to take it.
…and the silver spoon…
Here follows a disjointed stream-of-consciousness observation of my fatherhood.
There exists no father who doesn’t feel guilty about the time he fails to spend with his children and where he falls short. I am no exception.
Dmitry Laughs 