Thursday

Just an ordinary day. I was in the laundry putting on a load, as you do, when I found I could see the children through the window, playing in the sandpit.

Tuesday - funny faces

At lunchtime Angus and I met Mum, Manda and baby Delilah for lunch.

In the afternoon, I was so gleefully happy to see my Scrapbooking Memories mag had arrived in the mail. I collected Tasmin from Monti and took the children home to play in the sandpit and enjoy the sun. They both love this sort of play, and even better if it's hot enough for an icy pole. Tassie stuck out her tongue to show me how red it was.

We're totally making the most of the last few weeks of summer sun.

Weekend

One of those classic Saturday-morning-reading-the-news moments where he shakes his head and rolls his eyes, saying something about "those politicians" (polite version).


This is a really good moment on Saturday when it's just minutes before bedtime. We're nearly there...

Sunday ... Ian managed to get the kids out of the house for a while in the afternoon while I rested. No sight of Gandy today. Ian ended up getting Chinese takeaway for the two of us in the evening. At least there were some vegies in there!

Wednesday - playgroup with a twist

On our way to playgroup. Angus was thinking about how he'd rather be running around the backyard and why did I have to strap him in to the backseat anyway?


Both children enjoy going to playgroup, and I really look forward to the respite it affords, the chance to sit and relax with other mums and watch the children play. I did intervene a few times with Angus, such as grabbing the chalk off him before he scribbled on the walls and furniture. Tasmin was unusually cuddly this morning, wanting to stay on my lap a lot of the time.





The twist at the end happened when the playgroup parachute was brought out. The mums hold the parachute while the kids stay underneath, and we sing songs. Angus suddenly ran over to be involved, as he does every week. But it was only when another mum commented about this that I made the connection for myself: he was suddenly WITH us, making eye contact, laughing, hugging me, and running in and out. In other words, this sensory activity had engaged with him, and unlocked his little world for a brief chance to step out. Wonderful!


This is me later in the day at 4.30pm, stepping out to go to my other (paid) job, tutoring senior high school English students.


Angus was particularly upset when I left this day, but Ian brought them over to the window to wave me goodbye.

Scrapbook page - Spring 2010

This was a layout I made a while ago but haven't got around to posting. It was very similar to the day we had today, actually, out in the yard, enjoying the sun, pulling weeds, mowing "grass" (weeds) and playing in the sandpit. Lovely day.



I love this little chipboard fence which is rather like our real fence! I've used brown ink and crackle medium to age it a bit.



...and the story.

Wednesday - Early days and engaging with trains

Last night I went to an "Early Days" workshop for parents of children with autism. It was an evening workshop, and after getting chatting to some of the parents afterwards, it was 11pm before I got in the car to come home. It was really worthwhile going along, and the best part was the privilege of meeting some amazing people, all with a child/grandchild - some with two or three - on the autism spectrum. I really hope we'll be able to stay in touch, as I think talking to other parents will be the best possible support we'll be able to access. There's a second workshop next week, so another chance to meet up then.

I was told about Kid Sense, a place here in Adelaide on Unley road, with trained Occupational Therapists, to deal specifically with the "sensory" issues. I'm planning to book in for that, since we're on a waiting list for Occupational Therapy. There's another place called Headstart where they offer ABA (intensive applied behavioural therapy) which is the main thing I'm looking for. Will be looking into that today also. I had planned to follow up the Hanen More than Words program but this doesn't seem to be readily available in Adelaide right now.

If you're a parent of a child on the spectrum, or suspect your child might be, please leave me a comment. I'd love to hear from you.



I couldn't resist taking more kids-at-the-breakfast-table shots this morning. Each day this little routine has been progressing. Now, not only did they sit nicely together, but Tasmin seemed to be trying to engage Angus with his trains. I couldn't believe it. Last night, in the ED workshop, we were advised about Floortime techniques, where you follow the child's lead and build communication based on what they want to play (not what you want to teach them). Yet here is Tasmin, doing exactly that, with no prompting from me. Baby steps, baby steps, but lots of hope for a happy sibling relationship developing.

Friday

Angus was out of his seat faster than I could grab the camera. He's learning to sit at the table to eat.


End of a long day and week - Daddy reads the kids a story before bed. It's great to see Angus joining in more with this activity.

poppet family - scrapbooking page layout

I used Grace Taylor and Kelly Panacci patterned paper, Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist for the sky, Kaisercraft paint for the sun, My Minds Eye acrylic sun stamp, Hot off the Press acryclic tree stamp, Staz On ink, die cut house, Scrap FX chipboard fence, ribbon, pearl beads, Kamera Dings.

Do you like my poppet family page?

This is what I got up to on Monday when both the children were in childcare and I had my first ever day at home since they were born. When I showed my sister, and explained that I'd done this project for my day off, she enquired "Is that all you did?" LOL! She's not a scrapbooker.




Each little person took me up to an hour to do, because I had to fiddle with the photos in Photoshop to get the outlines of the people, to trace on to my paper, (and I can't draw to save my life so it was difficult to do hands and feet especially) then repeat the process for the clothes, which were tiny little pieces moved about on the page with the aid of tweezers.


That's a tiny metal wrench he's got. Cute eh?

Yes, as I said, quite fiddly. But worth it, don't you think?

Saturday - cafe outing

On friday night I decided rather spontaneously to go to a local cafe for dinner, since Ian had been away all week and would be home late. Manda and Mum agreed to come too and it made a lovely change. Definitely plan to do this again soon. Angus was a little hard to keep happy but it wasn't too bad.




Today Manda and I went to a different local cafe - some cute artwork by a local girl, Emily Brown - and enjoyed coffee and brunch with baby Delilah. A belated double birthday celebration.

Weekend - Bangka Day Memorial Service

Saturday - caravan window shopping.



We're just thinking about it - could we live in one while the house is being renovated? Then keep it for holidays?



Ian took Tasmin along to the Bangka Day Memorial Service in the morning. It was a struggle to be up and ready in time for the 10am start, but they made it. Tasmin was honoured to be taken with Daddy. She kept the little sprig of rosemary for Show and Share at Little Playschool.



She had a bit of fun playing with lego afterwards and made a huge colour coordinated robot. It didn't exist long enough for a photo. We went to our annual street party later on, so it ended up being quite a late night.

Tuesday

I used my Christmas voucher to buy these beautiful dressmaker's scissors. They glide through the material. I did get to do a little sewing in my class last night and the neckline is starting to look like one!

In the evening right before bedtime Angus quietly got up on to the table to read a book that had been put there. A short while later, Tasmin followed him up to read.