End of an era.....

We had a really exciting week...despite the rain almost every day!

Nixi had lots of visits. Tuesday she got to see her Early Intervention case manager, Susan. That was cool. Wednesday she got to see Heather and that was super fun. Thursday she got to see her Early Intervention teacher, Lorene, and that was super fun. Quite the popular kiddo.

I had three great days at school. Mom got some bittersweet news...my teacher, Jenn, isn't going to be teaching preschool next year. She'll still be around supervising and teaching other teachers how to do what she did in her classroom...but she wont be with me. I thought I had another year with her, so this is gonna be rough. Mom says the positive is that it helps me get used to changing teachers yearly, and at least I'll still be in the same classroom with my friends and the aides that I already know. Nonetheless, a total bummer. I love my teacher Jenn and I'll miss her a lot. She's the magic, you know?

We a few park days in between rain. Over the weekend mom went out and bought us this blow obstacle course/ball pit thing and we had a BLAST! Check out the video. I also got to go hang out with dad by myself on Sunday because Nix was feeling out of sorts and didn't want to leave the house. It was cool, we went to the pet store and the park...but I missed Nix not being there. Either way, it was cool to get out alone with dad.

So, this week its supposed to start warming up. That means lots of park days and lots of playing outside, and I love that. We have lots planned this week with...school, Nixi's visits, and we've been invited to a birthday party as well as to join in an autism awareness walk. Depending on how we're doing, we'll decide if we're up to the party...or if we'll but out the Zigo and do the autism walk. Check back next week to see what we did....I'm sure mom will get some cool video and pics to share.

xoxo
Saf

Check out our cool new toy...watch all the way to the end to see me being a GREAT big sister....

Like news...illness travels fast!

Poor sissy...Saf has been sick all week! She came down with a fever Tuesday and it didn't break until Sunday! She went to the doctor Wednesday and got some antibiotics, but with a fever ranging from 104 to 102 for 6 days, seems like it must have been a virus. She's turning the corner now and seems to be feeling much better...as you can see in the pictures mom took tonight! Hopefully she can go to school this week. She was pretty bummed about missing 2 days last week.

So far, I'm not showing signs of whatever her and mom had. I do have a cold...but when don't I? Hopefully I'll just stick with my cold and skip the other.

We had a pretty uneventful week. With Saf being so sick we didn't go on any outings, other than playing out front a few times. I didn't mind. Lately I haven't been that interested in going to the park or stores.

I went back up to see the psychologist with mom on Friday. I've been going to see him for diagnostic evaluation and on Friday I was diagnosed with Classic Autism. Its the same thing Saf has, but it looks really different for me. The diagnoses that the psychologist was considering were Childhood Disintegratve Disorder(CDD), Pervasive Developmental Disorder-Not Otherwise Specified(PDD-NOS), and Classic Autism. He was able to rule out CDD because, while I have had some regression, the regressions started too early for CDD. Also, for CDD you have to have totally typical development until age two to four. I've had some blips in my development so that didn't fit the diagnosis either. I meet the criteria for both PDD-NOS and Classic Autism, in which case a diagnosis of Classic Autism must be given. Its interesting, Classic Autism is considered the most severe of the spectrum disorders...but is it the most severe, or the most pervasive? There are kids diagnosed with PDD-NOS because they have, say, 4 areas of deficit. Another kid might be diagnosed with Classic Autism because they have 10 areas of deficit. That PDD-NOS kid may only have 4 areas of deficit, but they may be severe. The kid with Classic Autism may have 10 areas of deficit that are mild....but because they have more areas of deficit they have Classic Autism. So, the kid with PDD-NOS may have much more severe symptoms, but the kid with Classic Autism has more pervasive symptoms. So, I guess its not a matter of severe as much as a matter of pervasiveness. Oh, the things I ponder at such a tender age. Regardless, now that we have some definitive answers...full steam ahead.

Its raining like crazy, and appears as though the rest of the week will be more of the same. What a drag. Now that Saf's feeling better it would be great to get out int he Zigo in the mornings and maybe hit the park in the afternoon. No such luck if this rain keeps up. But looks like Saf will be able to go to school, and I get visits from Heather and my Early Interventionist this week. So, sort of back to normal.

We want to wish Grandpa Cummings a very happy birthday! We missed not getting to see you this month but are so looking forward to a great visit in April. We love you very much and hope you have a GREAT b-day!

Hope you all are feeling well and keeping healthy. What a drag to be sick, messes up everything! Check back in next week to see how we're all getting on...

Peace
Nixi

Great news....mom is feeling much better. Turned out she had a sinus infection and strep throat! Dad stayed home all week so mom could get lots of rest. We missed hanging out with mom, but dad is so fun! Dad did such a great job this week, we're so proud of him! So, weird week...but great week.

As you can see from the pictures...Nixi got a new haircut courtesy of mom. We call it her little page boy look...very cute. We also got a tree tent so we can fairies in ernest! Cool!

I had three great days at school. I got my spring pictures taken and I loved it! The school photographer even posed me! That's a really big deal because Teacher Jenn didn't know we had spring pictures, so we didn't have an opportunity to prepare for it. Whenever we have something coming up we usually practice in class and have lots of visual aids to help us feel comfortable. We all did great on the fly, and that just shows how far we've all come since the beginning of the year! Mom went to my IEP (Individualized Education Plan)year in review. I completed and exceeded ALL of my goals from a year ago. Its amazing to think how far I've come. A year ago we didn't even know if I'd be able to tolerate going to school at all! Look at me now! I've even started asking my friends in class if they want to play! I asked my friend Alex,"want to play dolls?" and she did, and we did! That's just about the biggest deal ever! So cool!

I managed to escape the doctor....my eye is fine, and both Nix and are feeling great. Looks like we got off with no strep, thank goodness!

Nixi and I had a super fun time with Heather this week. She's just so fun! Nixi had a great meeting with her Early Interventionist, Lorene, and the OT (occupational therapist)Jo. She did lots of neat puzzles and matching games with Lorene, and Jo is coming up with a sensory "diet" for her. Nixi will snack on a specific balance of protein and carbs every two hours with sensory games and stuff in between. It should help her to get less upset, and when she's upset it should help her get less out of control. Sounds like a lot of work, but its also intriguing!

Nixi has started taking Melatonin to help her sleep. She hates it, but it seems to work. She's been sleeping better, only waking two or three times a night and then going back to sleep. Without it, she's been waking up at about 2am and not going back to sleep.

Also, our Cousin Ginny...but we like to call her Aunt Ginny....made us an amazing weighted blanket. Its got frogs on it and its sooooo soft and furry! We love it so much and think she's just the best! Weighted blankets help some kids on the autistic spectrum relax by providing deep pressure. We like to use them to chill...and to carry around for great joint compression and muscle work outs. Its the best!

This week we have lots of stuff going on. I have school, Nixi has Heather, and Nixi gets to go back up to Fresno to see the psychologist on Friday. We may be getting a visit from Grandpa Cummings, Weishi, and Cate over the weekend as long as Nixi and I aren't sick or anything. Should be super fun! So, great week ahead with lots of sun and hopefully lots of fun! Check back in next week to see how it all went down!

xoxo
Saf

A little video from the park today...

Mom's sick!

Mom's really sick, she had to go to the ER because her temperature wouldn't go below 104.9! Its been 4 days now and she's still going between 103 and 104, so dad's gonna take some time off to take of us and give her some rest.

So, blog entry for this week will be quick. Saf had some great days at school...this month they're doing a circus theme! At the end of the month they'll put on a circus for the families. Can't wait! I had a couple of great visits with Heather, and I got to go up to Fresno and meet the psychologist that saw Saf when she was my age. Looks like Saf might have pink eye, so off to the doctor this week. And that's about that. Oh, we also got to go to a batting cages place down the road that has pizza and arcade games. Dad helped us win tickets so we got cool plastic lizard prizes...AWESOME!

Check back next week to see how mom's feeling and to get a more in depth report on us!

Peace
Nixi