THIS IS WHAT'S UP

Some of you might be shocked but back when I was younger, I read the Bible. A LOT.

My favorite verse has always been this:

The mouth speaks out of the fullness of the heart (Matt. 12:34)


I've always loved it because it's so simple. So true.


So let me speak from my heart.


I haven't been blogging much because I had to deal with so much heartache last year.  Apart from the separation which has been difficult (Now, I can actually say that I'm a-ok!), my dear Joaquin was diagnosed with Autistic Spectrum Disorder right after his 4th birthday last November.


Our Pedia noticed Joaquin's hyperactivity early last year so she asked me to set an appointment with Dr. Bernie Benitez.  I called late April and the earliest appointment I got was for November.  It was worth it. She was amazing and Joaquin had no difficulty liking her.


The verdict-- mild autism, because he only has a few symptoms.

• Poor eye contact
• He lines up his toys
• He likes to repeat what you say
• He's obsessed with a particular toy or object (my son is obsessed with electric fans)
• During birthday parties, he'd rather play alone
• His outbursts! He cries about every little thing!
• He flaps his hands when he's super happy or excited about something
• He can't tell detailed stories. (Like if you ask him what he did in school, he'll just say, "I play.")

On the upside, Dr. Benitez says Joaquin has the smarts--she was showing him shapes and asking him to name them and was surprised that he was able to name a hexagon.  She was also impressed by his memory skills.

Joaquin started pre-school last June.  His teachers (nuns) were concerned because he wasn't paying attention in class and he would always go out of the classroom. He was distracting the other kids.  So after our appointment with Dr. Benitez, I called the school and pulled him out.

He can still go to school, but it has to be a progressive school where the student-teacher ratio is smaller so they can pay more attention to him.  I already have a couple of schools in mind.

My little boy has been going to Occupational Therapy twice a week since December.  It has only been a month but I can already see the improvement.

He can now tell stories in detail.  If you ask him what he had for lunch or dinner, he'll tell you.  Last week, I asked him what he did with Teacher V (his therapist) and he said, "I jump on trampoline, I crawl under a tunnel and I put up boxes!".  My heart jumped for joy!  

He still lines up his toys (I woke up this morning and there was a carpet of aluminum foil on our floor. Should have taken a photo).  His eye contact is still a problem. He doesn't repeat much of what we say anymore and wow, I just realized that I can't remember the last time he flapped his hands.

His social skills are also improving.  He now plays with other kids although he still has outbursts sometimes but at least it's not that often. 


He's an amazing kid and right now, I'm not the least bit worried. I know he will manage beautifully.


So, that's what's up.  How are you?




P.S.
I hope I keep my resolutions this year.
1. Read more.
2. Blog more.