Today is Jeffrey's 51st birthday. It has been a quiet one, which is a good thing. He took Carmie down to her mentor. She went kayaking and played chess, while Jeff sat by the water for two hours and read his book. Meanwhile I took Arley to the grocery store. Yesterday his OT recommended that I take him specifically to show him all the variety of food and to let him choose any new foods he might like to try. I'm not sure I have mentioned it, but Arley also has something called ARFID, which is Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder. Basically he eats very little, and he is dropping foods he likes all the time. His OT has suggested we let him eat whatever he wants, whenever he wants, to try to get him to enjoy food. So, we left the supermarket with Fruit Loops, blueberry muffins and some crackers that he used to like. He has lost half a kilo in the last two weeks, so keep your fingers crossed.
Anyway, back to Jeffrey and his birthday. He has had a nap this afternoon, and this evening we are getting take out - the kids pizza and me and Jeff sushi, and then we are watching a movie of Jeffrey's choice. Simple stuff and a far cry from how we used to celebrate birthdays, but we are simply aiming for no drama, and so far, so good!
This week has been pretty good. The kids have had their therapy and mentor sessions. Arley is still struggling with having less screen time and puts up an argument most days. He also isn't going to bed easily either. Carmie's sleeping is ok, and we are weaning her off her sleeping pills. Her friend Annabelle came over on Friday of last week and they had a lovely time, but her mother also broke the news to us that in a few months they will be travelling indefinitely, so both girls are quite upset. Trust Carmie to make a good friend who won't be here for who knows how long!
When we get back from Ulladulla and Sydney, the kids will each be starting a social skills group. Arley's group has three other boys in it who are 8 and similar to him, and Carmie's group has another girl her age and two older girls I think. The program is nine weeks long and is supposed to be great. I think it will be really good for both of them. I'm so glad that we moved here, there are so many programs and mentors and opportunities for the kids. It's pretty intense right now, but I'm hoping there will come a time when we are free of therapies! We don't even have time for our beloved equine therapy right now :(
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