Happy Birthday to meeeee!

[04diamond<3]

Hi Maisie!

First I would like to say happy be-lated birthday!!!

With everything that it sounds like that you are going through, I hope you were able to have some what of a relaxing day! Your son is absolutely beautiful! I hope you don''t mind, but I read about the problems you were having with him...I''m sorry to hear that you MIL is not being helpful in anyway! I have always gone by the saying that "God never gives us more than He knows we can''t handle". And even though your MIL isn''t helping you or being supporting, I hope you know that you will ALWAYS have people here that love you and that will be praying for your son and your family! Seriously! Anytime you have a prayer request, just hunt me down! I wish you all the best for this year and admire what a strong and courageous person you are! *Hugs* all the way from Chicago!

 

[gwendolyn]

Date: 5/7/2008 12:08:46 PM
Author: Maisie
Gosh Gwendolyn! Thank you so much for taking the time to read my posts, and write such long ones back! Its really helping me to read your experiences with children similar to James.

No problem! I love to help kids. Anything to make them (and their parents

) happier makes me happier.

He won''t wear any kind of trousers for long. Even his lovely soft pyjamas. I don''t think he would let me massage his legs, which is a shame as I would love to be a bit more hands on with him. I really crave the closeness that hugging and kissing and generally loving your baby gives!

Hmmm, that''s very interesting about not being able to tolerate any trousers for long. Perhaps he''s just a born nudist?

Sorry...hmm, maybe some other form of stimulation of the legs would work, like jumping up and down a bunch of times? If it is a sensory sort of thing, you might find that after he did an activity like that, he could be more tolerant of touch, because the activities (if you find ones that work for James specifically) sort of regulate the body so touch isn''t as scary or disturbing to them anymore. He probably wouldn''t seek it out, but he might not recoil if you could find something that works for him. Guess he''s probably a bit too young for a pogo stick.

But maybe something to keep in mind--it sounds like his legs are his big element. Does your doctor have any theories as to what''s going on with that?

I never thought it could just be personal preference with the socks! Maybe he is just like his mummy (I am always barefoot!) and his Auntie Gwendolyn!!! He also has my habit of moving his feet around a lot... My husband says it keeps him awake sometimes!

Heehee, Autie Gwendolyn.

I think he only let the teacher put paint on his hands because all the other children were doing it. He wanted it washed off pretty quickly, but I was very proud of him for doing it in the first place. The teacher said he is a bit intrigued by glue. He puts a tiny bit inbetween his finger and thumb and opens and closes them to watch it stick.

Yeah, that is a big motivator--what the other kids are doing. I had a student once who wanted so badly to be just like the other kids that he tried to use glue sticks like everyone else, and he was screaming and crying and generally flipping out but he kept using the glue and crying, "Like them, like them! Glue like them!" It was so heartbreaking. He absolutely HATED the feeling of the glue, but because the other kids were doing it, he made himself do it. It was sweet, though--a couple of the other kids came over and said, "It''s ok, it''s ok, you don''t have to use the glue. We can use tape, see?" And those two kids used tape to show him it was ok to use tape, so he stopped crying and eventually used the tape instead (which didn''t upset him like the glue did).

So, yeah, if James doesn''t have an issue with glue and is willing to try paint even though it weirds him out a bit, he''s doing great! If he does have any sort of sensory issue, I''d be willing to bet it was pretty mild.

I think I will buy him a stress ball. He will like that, what a good idea!

I hope he does like it! And I''m sorry for taking over your birthday thread with all this stuff--happy belated again!

 

[Maisie]

Date: 5/7/2008 12:44:36 PM
Author: 04diamond<3
Hi Maisie!

First I would like to say happy be-lated birthday!!!

With everything that it sounds like that you are going through, I hope you were able to have some what of a relaxing day! Your son is absolutely beautiful! I hope you don''t mind, but I read about the problems you were having with him...I''m sorry to hear that you MIL is not being helpful in anyway! I have always gone by the saying that ''God never gives us more than He knows we can''t handle''. And even though your MIL isn''t helping you or being supporting, I hope you know that you will ALWAYS have people here that love you and that will be praying for your son and your family! Seriously! Anytime you have a prayer request, just hunt me down! I wish you all the best for this year and admire what a strong and courageous person you are! *Hugs* all the way from Chicago!

Thank you so much for your lovely post. I 100% believe that God won''t put anything in my way I can''t cope with. I sometimes get scared of what the future might bring but I just have to bring it back to trust and hope. He knows what He is doing and I won''t question that

 

[Maisie]

You are a sweetheart Gwendolyn. And I really appreciate you!

Your story about the kid who wanted to glue really got to me. The other children were so lovely to try and find him alternatives so he could stick things!

James is very small for his age, in fact he looks about 2 years old. The other kids seem a bit confused as to why a ''baby'' is allowed to come to school. The girls mother him and the boys run round after him bringing him toys etc. Its so sweet watching them. He has a friend called Ellis who calls him ''big boy baby James''.. I think Ellis is a bit full on with James, he tries to hug him and stuff. He meets a lot of resistance from James but its cute to see them sit alongside eachother playing.

Our doctor doesn''t really have much to say when I ask him stuff about the behaviours James displays. He just says they are classic autistic behaviours and to keep an eye on him to see if he carries them on after some time in school....

 

[gwendolyn]

Date: 5/7/2008 1:00:07 PM
Author: Maisie
You are a sweetheart Gwendolyn. And I really appreciate you!


Your story about the kid who wanted to glue really got to me. The other children were so lovely to try and find him alternatives so he could stick things!

Kids can really be nothing short of amazing sometimes. There have been a few times I''ve gotten tears in my eyes from watching how wonderfully caring they can be with each other. I really have the best job.

James is very small for his age, in fact he looks about 2 years old. The other kids seem a bit confused as to why a ''baby'' is allowed to come to school. The girls mother him and the boys run round after him bringing him toys etc. Its so sweet watching them. He has a friend called Ellis who calls him ''big boy baby James''.. I think Ellis is a bit full on with James, he tries to hug him and stuff. He meets a lot of resistance from James but its cute to see them sit alongside eachother playing.

Oh, I love this Ellis kid! I think it''s great he tries to hug James--it''s very possible that he''ll wear James down and get him more used to being touched. But for now, it sounds like he''s got himself a pretty good friend there.

Our doctor doesn''t really have much to say when I ask him stuff about the behaviours James displays. He just says they are classic autistic behaviours and to keep an eye on him to see if he carries them on after some time in school....

Aye, there is a chance that some of it is just developmental and he''ll grow out of it. Even if he is eventually diagnosed with some form of autism, chances are pretty good that, as he gets older, the signs will become less apparent to others. Some may always be present, but many kids to adjust to become more comfortable with touch, and can learn that eye contact is important to others. Sounds like he''s got some great support both at school and at home, and really, he can''t ask for any more than that. Except for maybe a nice stress ball (kidding!).

And going back to what started this conversation in the first place, he really is a GORGEOUS little boy! Just the sweetest face and smile. I''d find it hard not to hug him to bits all the time too if I was in your position.

 

[Maisie]

Oh believe me, I take the hugs when I can get them! He can''t fight me off when he is sleeping. I sometimes just sit and hold his hand

 

[gwendolyn]

Date: 5/7/2008 1:29:55 PM
Author: Maisie
Oh believe me, I take the hugs when I can get them! He can''t fight me off when he is sleeping. I sometimes just sit and hold his hand

Awwww.

 

[alli_esq]

Happy belated birthday, Maisie!! You have the same birthday as brother

And ohhhhh my goodness, your little James is just absolutely gorgeous!!!

 

[monarch64]

Happy belated birthday, Maisie!!! Hope your birthday was wonderful!!!

 

[diamondfan]

Maisie, I cannot believe I did not see this!

Hope it was awesome!!!!

You are a doll.

You can be 37 and holding if you like...my mom stayed 39 for like 10 years!!!

 

[Maisie]

Thankyou very much Alli_esq, Monnie and DF!!

I like the idea of sticking at 37! I shall be that age forever now! I wonder how long I can get away with it