Updates

October 2009

I can't believe another year has past. Kaiden is now 8. He had a good year last year at school and finished the school year on honor roll. However, at the end of the school year last year we were struggling with reluctance to do homework, arguing about cleaning up his room, and his grades were falling. This summer was a bit concerning as his attention was waning and he was very low energy. When we started school again in August, he was having difficulty with attention and his math scores were way down. Since they work independently at school, he was having trouble completing his assignments and staying focused.

Kaiden had been on coccus cacti remedy for a chronic remedy and then the opportunity for the Pertussin nosode presented itself with frank pertussis. He did really well with that and I definitely saw a clearer picture. After some careful consideration, it was apparent Kaiden once again needed the DTP remedy. So I redosed him at the beginning of October. Wow - the response was great and he is back on track.

He is cleaning up his room, doing as he is asked, coming home from school and immediately doing his homework without any resistance. When I come out in the morning, he is dressed from head to toe ready for school, has brushed his teeth, and is eating his breakfast! So I am very pleased with how this dose went.

I was a bit perplexed as to why he still needed the DTP remedy but since some kids who have recovered see a resurface of symptoms around 3rd grade, I suppose it is somehow related to growth. In terms of learning, I have no doubt he is dyslexic however with this redose, we have seen these symptoms subside and his reading has picked up. He is even reading for pleasure on his own!

Kaiden discovered legos this year and can make about 500 different things with a $12 set! It's impressive wht he can come up with. Once he discovered he could build things, he pretty much abandoned his bakugans. He spent two weeks at art camp this summer and had one of his pieces selected to be framed and hung at the city hall.

He fenced in his first fencing competition this spring and was the youngest fencer there. He even took home a bronze medal. He did demonstrations in our city's 4th of July parade and had his first sleep over. Unbeknownst to us, he let it slip that he has a girlfriend! Of course, they don't speak to each other much but he says they say hi to each other in the hallway!

All in all, it's been a very good year.

September 2008

Can't believe another year has passed! Kaiden is doing great. He is in 2nd grade now. Last year at the end of the semester he tested 2 grades ahead in both reading comprehension and math. I am a bit concerned that he is still writing letters backwards and his handwriting is subpar but his teachers insist this is still within normal for his age. They are not aware of his previous history as he started at a new charter school this fall and we decided to let go of the past. I know they must think I am an overly anxious parent for even asking about his academics but I remain hyper aware of any warning signs.

He joined the poetry and writing club which really surprised me since he is all about Bokugan, Batman - the Dark Knight, and all that 7 year old boy stuff at home. He still enjoys drawing and painting a good deal. He also started his own business "selling fake FBI wallets made out of paper" at school. All the boys in the class wanted one after he requested I make him one. He reassures me he's selling them "for free."

Kaiden finally began fencing lessons. Looks like the 3,000+ hours of play sword fighting in the front yard are actually paying off. He beat 3 opponents in a row his 2nd week of class. He really has a knack for it. He is a natural leftie even though he writes with his right hand which to me demonstrates again the indecision in side dominance. But on the positive side, I am ambidextrous as well.

I don't have much to report other than he is a pretty regular kid. His room is a mess, he loves video games, playing outside with friends, riding his scooter, etc. He continues to be able to eat anything and everything with no issues. The only supplements now a days is a multi-vitamin when I think of it and an occasional dose of probiotic.

We are truly blessed.

September 2007

Kaiden pretending to be "Bear Grylls" while playing "Man v. Wild" (his favorite show) when we were in Maine this August.

Can't believe it's been so long... Kaiden is doing wonderful. It has been years since we have seen any behaviors of autism. He is in public school - 1st grade with no mention of autism. He's on par or ahead in all areas of learning. However, he still does some letter reversals and occasional mirror writing but this is well within normal for his age. He has many friends and is very social and respectful.

Kaiden is big into computer games and Xbox right now. Unfortunately, I think they both affect his attention span so I have restricted them for right now. He loves Webkins and it's amazing to see what a 6 year old can do on there - decorating all the rooms and maintaining his characters. He's really good at earning money from the games, too. (For anyone not familiar with Webkins, they are a stuffed animal you buy that you then maintain on line.)

He's interested in books, and doing art work, and playing outside with his friends. Like most boys his age, he's into Pirates of the Carribean and Spiderman. We recently got a new kitten who he absolutely adores! It's really sweet to see him snuggle with the kitten. It's a hypoallergenic cat (Siberian) and thankfully no one is allergic. He is a very affectionate child.

With the good things in life "not" on the spectrum, comes the bad, too... Recently a boy punched him in the stomach at the bus stop - for no apparent reason! I was standing right next to them, too - the kid just turned around and sucker punched him. Boys being boys - albeit naughty ones! The mommy lion in me was so upset. Kaiden said he was only upset because he "wasn't ready!" However, a few days later, Kaiden comes home from school...

<sigh> ... I'm so proud of him!

While the last thing I want is for him to be picked on, I'm really impressed with his ability to turn the situation around. Unfortunately, I can't say the same for his new friend who got in trouble again later in the week for socking another kid!

September 2006

Quotes that tell me he's OK...

After kindergarten screening:

While counting money I just got from the bank teller at the drive through...