It has been a busy week! On Friday the kids went with their support workers to a high ropes course. Carmie thought it was fun but a little scary, Arley did not like it at all! I think because he is smaller it was harder for him to reach the obstacles, so he had a tougher time of it. But it was great exercise for them, so I was thankful for that. Also, Jeff and I got some time to ourselves, always a bonus.
On Saturday the kids and I got hair cuts while Jeffrey went out and chopped down a Christmas tree. It is a funny looking tree, but it is ours. We couldn't buy one - apparently we have to book one by early November!! Anyway, on Saturday night we decorated the tree. It is wonky and lanky and so funny, but the kids love it, and that's what's important!
The kids finally were able to try their surf class on Monday. It is specifically for autistic kids, and the guy who runs it comes from a trauma therapy background and himself has an autistic son. He was great with the kids. There were five kids in all, and three instructors. Carmie absolutely loved it - Arley not so much. Poor Bear, he got hit in the head with a surfboard, and then when they all went in swimming before the lesson, the water was too cold for him, so he came to put his wetsuit on. When he had it on, he went down to swim in the water, but they were all finished swimming and he felt a bit silly and got embarrassed. That's all it took for him to refuse to get on a board. It was really sad. We did cajole him to get into the water though, and he ended up having a great swim in the waves while the other kids tried their hands at surfing. The main instructor joined Arley for a swim, and we have organised to meet him on Sunday at a quiet, flat beach so he can get Arley up on a surfboard before the next lesson on Monday. So, all in all, it was a success. Carmie had energy for days afterwards, and the fact that Arley went and got in the water is a win for me.
On Tuesday we had our private Taekwon Do lesson, and it was great. The kids are doing so well, and both are enjoying it, despite the extreme heat. Horse riding was postponed until Wednesday, so I took them up there after their morning with Clint. It was a really good session. On Thursday morning the kids had OT. They have been making curtains for their bunk beds with Toni, the OT. It was their last session with her for a while because of Christmas. Right after OT, Jeff dropped Arley off with Clint, who took him fishing on a boat. This was Arley's dream come true! He was counting down the days for this, and he had a blast. They only caught one fish, but they lost four, and Arley got to drive the boat, so he was happy. When Clint dropped Arley home, he saw on our fridge a poster that we are using for Alrey to try new foods. Once he gets to 10, Arley gets a reward, so today Clint sent through a video telling Arley that once he tries his ten new foods, Clint will take him on a fishing adventure. Arley can't believe his luck!
Carmie is still ploughing through her physio exercises. Her creative writing class has ended, and now she is getting private tutoring in creative writing once a week. She is still working on the same story, and it is awesome. Carmie has such a great imagination. I remember when she was little, I would go into her room and I would find her stuffed toys bound up and hanging from her draws, and tied up as prisoners, with scenarios that we weren't allowed to move. She is so funny.
We got Arley's blood test results back. He does not have coeliac disease, thank God! He does have very low iron, so we have to give him a strong supplement every day for three months, and then every other day after that. Nutritionally, everything else is fine, which means the supplements I give him are working, because his diet is crap! We also found out he has a strong allergy to house dust mites, which is such a drag, but explains his constant stuffiness. He also has a low allergy to egg whites, which was a surprise. I meet with his dietitian next week, so I'll see where we go from there.
The kids are very excited for Christmas. I am too, now that I have everything in order. Last year I was in a total panic, but this year I am on top of it. Way better!
