This year due to Covid-19 pandemic, as Governor Gavin Newsom ordered to not have a big garthering , we could not throw a birthday party for William. His birthday felt on Tuesday Nov 24, so after working hour, we took him to 85 degree bakery so that he could choose a cake that he liked. We also stopped by Pop Eyes to get some chicken for dinner. When asked “What do you want for your birthday?” – Nothing! He replied. He’s the only kid that I know doesn’t want any toys. I love him for the fact that he’s a very simple kid. And I can’t believe that he’s 7 years old now!
After dinner, we took out the cake, light up all the candles that we had. He really enjoyed watching the lighted candles: he asked to light them up again after blowing them.
He chose a chocolate cake, no surprise there because everyone knows he loves chocolates!
His 6th year marked the start of his great improvements on everything; and this 7th year is a continuing of his improvements. Everyone is so surprised how much he progressed compared to 2 years ago. He talks a lot more now; he pays attention to his surrounding as well as what people is talking, even thought it might seem he’s not listening. He now starts to eat hamburger with meat (before he’d just have cheese, no meat in burgers) and crispy chicken. What I really would love is for him to eat veggie; he’s still saying no to any kind of vegetable: he’d spit out if I try to feed him that.
Ms. Gina, his speech therapist from Providence Speech and Hearing center said that his language is so good now; she suggested to discontinue the one-on-one session to start the social group. But too bad with the pandemic, we’re having the speech sessions at home; we can’t go to the office for social sessions so for now we’ll keep doing one-on-one thru the zoom meeting.
Another thing that we’re really proud of him is that he got transferred to a less severe autism school: Thomas Jefferson elementary school. Mrs. Heather Newman from Lincoln school said that his level is higher than his classmates. And the best thing is that he loves the new class with Mr. Castaneda! His new class starts at 8:30 AM, which gives him some extra time to sleep; but so far when I wake him up around 8:10 AM, he’d just wake up without me dragging him out of bed like before, which proves that he’s really looking forward to his class. And when in the sessions, he’s only get out of his chair when he wants to get something; some times he leaves the chair to dance with the characters from the videos that Mr. C is showing. One thing I’d like him to do is to focus more, he still like to have something in his hands and play with that toy and doesn’t look at the monitor much. So far his reading level is about right with his classmates but the words math is a little bit hard for him.
As for ABA goals, he has to know mom & dad phone numbers, house address and ask for permission when someone is at the door. He knows our phone and address now; and he’s getting better at asking to open the door when someone rings the bell: before he’d just open it with or without me being there.
Another thing that I have to note down that he’s so attached to his dad now. He especially enjoys watching Tim making coffee in the morning before Tim goes to work; and that’s 5:30 AM in the morning! His sleeping hours some times is so messed up: since he wakes up so early he’d fall asleep around 4 PM and wake up around midnight! Then he would not go back to sleep. It seems like he wants to wait till his dad to wake up to make coffee together with dad: Tim has coffee and he has milk, both sitting at the dining table at 5:30 AM! One day when he woke up late and looked at the security camera monitor and did not see Tim’s car, he begun to cry: I slept too much! – he said. And at dinner time, he’d wait for Tim to have dinner together: he’d sit next to Tim and want to eat whatever Tim eats. He basically wants to do whatever his dad does. “Papa, what are you gonna do next? ” is the question he always ask Tim. Now they brush teeth together at night and do exercise together too! He even goes to extreme by posting a sign “Boys Only” on the door while they’re exercising!
I’m happy that the 2 men in my house is getting along well (that gives me some free time to do what I need! :)).
Looking him blowing candles with no friends around singing the birthday song really sadden my heart. At this age he does not need any friends but as he gets older, what happens if he cannot make any friends at all? His loneliness will eat him alive! The last thing I want is for him to go thru life with no friends, especially he does not have any siblings.
Well I guess as a Mom I’m worried too much. It’s William’s birthday today, let’s just enjoy that moment.
I love you to the moon and back, William! Wish you to become a good and kind man; have lots of good friends and happiness always finds you.