Grape picking and Farm Animal petting at Farley Farm is.....

So, first a little info about the previous week's happenings. We got to go to the County Fair with my school! It was awesome, the first field trip of the school year. Heather go to ride on the bus with me and I did a great job of getting on, then off, then on again to do the evacuation drill...a sore spot for me last year. I aced it, no tears, and we were off! Mom, dad, and Nixi followed in the SUV. They got lost, sent to the wrong gate, it was a mess...but they found us and it was a great time! Nixi got to kiss a cow and I rubbed noses with a rabbit. It was a great day! Nixi went to school two days in a row and she did really well. The second day seemed easier on her because it was fresh in her memory and she knew exactly what was going to happen. Afterwards, as long as everything was "just so", Nixi was ok...still melting down a number of times, but the whole day wasn't a meltdown. About a 25% improvement! We ran some errands with mom and Heather...even venturing out to the dreaded Pet Food Store in the outlet mall. We did a great job of keeping our cool, even if we were anxious. Mom knew I was anxious before we went and she asked me if I was nervous or scared. I told her I was "nervous, makes me scared." I also have been doing a great job of telling mom when I'm scared and even told her that when I'm scared my tummy hurts! When we were in a parking lot and a car was pulling in, I told mom, "I'm so scared, my tummy hurts, I'm scared." Now, may not seem like a big deal to you...but that's HUGE!!! Unbelievably HUGE for a kid with autism, really cool for a kid in general, and absolutely WONDERFUL for me! Just darn cool!

So, this past week has been a blur. Nixi went to school two days, again. This time, Heather stayed in the background giving less direct support on the second day. Mom and her figured that because it was the second day, and last week that was her really good day, it would be a good time to try. Nixi struggled. She was confused at one point by one of the teachers trying to join in her play, ending with Nix shutting down and walking in circles with her toy. Later in class they were supposed to finger paint with pudding. Nixi wasn't too comfortable with the feel of it and they gave her a paint brush. Nixi looked at Heather and said, "all done?" Heather was proud that she had tried it, and even more proud with her appropriate use of functional speech (one of Nix's weaknesses)in saying she was finished. Well, the teachers thought it would be a good idea to tell Nixi to do more, which she did, because she isn't comfortable protesting with novel people in unfamiliar environments. When the teachers turned away, poor kid asked Heather again, "all done?" So, mom's gonna give the teachers a copy of Nixi's treatment goals so they understand that, as long as Nixi tries something, if she says she's done that's a great thing and something to be respected. After class, she was out of it on the ride home and just wanted to sit on mom at home and space out. So, seems without Heather doing direct support Nixi is shutting down. Mom and dad need to know what Nixi does in novel situations with novel people so they can get an idea of what real school might be like for her next year. That's kinda the purpose of Nixi going to this "preschool academy." This teachers in group act like Nixi's the star pupil because of her compliance. The thing they don't understand is that mom and dad would prefer Nixi to have a meltdown to a shut down, because a meltdown is at least communicative and Nixi has a tendency to go into her own world and shut out the world around her...ever since she was a baby. Scary that they don't see that...but rest assured, mom will make sure they do!

I had a great week at school. I even took my rubber bat with me to show my friends! I love singing about all of the stuff on a farm, especially tractors. I like to say that I'm a tractor, because they're my favorite. I'm doing a great job at starting to write my name and other words, and I really love all of our circle time activities. This week we used a parachute to bounce farm animals on while we imitated their noises and we had to find them under the parachute, too. So much fun!!

We had a great time riding our scoot 'n zooms at the park on Friday, and we went swimming on Saturday in our green pool. But the best thing ever was Sunday. We went to J&K Farley Farm and went grape picking and farm animal petting. We go there every year, as you may recall. This year was every bit as wonderful as it has ever been. There's just something so dreamy about being face to face with an emu, hugging a miniature horse, or snorting along side of a pig. Really makes our hearts sing....and we got some great grapes, too! By the end of our time there Nixi was getting a little overwhelmed and was ready to boogie so we headed out. Spur of the moment, mom and dad decided to take us to Apple Annie's restaurant. We did GREAT! We ordered a grilled cheese and mom snuck in some of our freshly picked grapes. It was really neat. Nixi's been a bit off since, but it was worth it because we both had a really great time.

This week we get to go to the College of the Sequoia's farm with Nixi's school. Really, we may just be all farmed out by the end of the month...NOT! How could you ever be all farmed out?!?! Even cooler, we get to go the the Pumpkin Patch with our friends Sebastian, Gideon, and Penelope on Friday!! Awesome week, or what?! Make sure to check back in next week to see how it all went!!

xoxo
Safi

Picking grapes is serious business...


Donkey, pig, miniature horse...oh, my!


When donkeys sneeze, you better take cover!

Very "Dairy" 'Round Here........

We got a HUGE surprise the day of the fair...we woke up from our nap to this cool livestock in our living room!! His name was "Smores"...but we renamed him Donkey!



It was an exciting, anxiety filled, super fun, terrifying, absolutely joyful week. We got to go to the fair with Safi's school, I went to school two days in a row and was much better this week afterwards, we ran errands with mom...just a lot of stuff. We're all tired so we're going to bombard you with pictures and video...enough to hold you over until next week when we'll do a real update! Soooo...enjoy!

Peace
Nixi

Video from the fair........

No still shots this week...but check out the great video!!!
Singing our ABC's on the fly...literally!

Dressing up my "baby"....

Our new train!!! Check out my happy feet and joyful clap!!


Crazy week. We had the long weekend, which was super fun...then Tues was Nixi's first day at her "preschool academy"(we'll call it school from here on out). We woke up on a roll. We had military precision in our morning routine and were ready to hit the road just on time. Heather went with us and she got to see one of my new nervous habits. See, when we're going somewhere new or doing something out of the ordinary I become the back seat driver of your nightmares. I get nervous about the cars around us, the red lights ('cuz who knows if mom sees them) and yell out things like, "Watch out!", "Stop black car!", "Yikes!!", and "Help". I think it makes perfect sense, clearly 4 or 6 eyes is better than 2...mom thinks its annoying and a bit jarring. So, I was on full alert all the way up to the Early Intervention center...and we got there safe and sound!

Mom and I hung out in some super lame room with no toys or anything...but there was a ton of cool physical therapy equipment taunting me in the hallway. Cruel really, but I digress. Nixi went into school with Heather with no problems. They commenced class and mom let me play with the iPhone, so it was totally horrible. I did a great job of staying put and coping with not being in the class...really great given the fact that that place used to be MY therapy center. Mom was super proud, and toward the end she said the heck with it and took me out in the hall to mess with all of the cool stuff. Nixi did a great job in class. It was just as chaotic and overstimulating as it was when mom went with her to the mommy and me class. Heather was there to try and provide additional structure and warnings for transitions. When class was over Nixi was happy as can be and so overstimulated that she was tripping over her feet...what mom calls "stim drunk." By the time we got to the car ans started driving home, shut down completely...sucking her thumb and twiddling her hair while she stared into space. By the time we pulled in the driveway she hit the wall and started getting screechy and weepy. For the rest of the day she was really brittle. The next day was the worst day Nixi has had since we can't even remember when. She just screamed, and screamed, and screamed, and hit, and trembled, and kicked, and cried some more for the whole day. A break here and there, but hour long meltdowns for the better part of the day.

By Thursday when it was time to see her OT, Teacher Jo, she was a little better. Her Early Intervention teacher came to the house, too. That was ok, a little confusing, but ok. Sadly, it ended pretty poorly for Nix and sent her back into the space she was in the days before. Friday morning we had an appointment with our psychologist in Fresno. We both were a little nervous because we haven't been there in a while, but I pulled it together. Mom had to scrape Nixi off of the floor and strap her into the car...she just couldn't pull it together. The ride was punctuated by lots of ear piercing screams, but we also got to watch Backyardigans so it was ok. We did great at Dr. Wells, sadly, mom was so frazzled by the time we got there that she didn't was pretty incoherent. She only had 50 minutes to give an update, toss out concerns, and hope for referrals. She was all over the place and didn't really get the help she was looking for, no fault to Dr. Wells. It was just one of those days.

Heather's grandpa has been sick so we haven't seen her since Tues....we hope he feels better soon. Its been intense, and just mom with us during the thick of it. We made it through the week and things are looking brighter heading into this week. Nixi will go back to school on Monday and Tues and we all get to go on a field trip to the County Fair with my school on Thursday! Woohoooooo! Should be pretty exciting...so make sure to check back in next week for pictures and such!

xoxo
Safi

So, the week dragged a little. After Safi got sick, mom and I got sick too. Even our BIA, Heather, got sick! So, no "preschool academy" for me and Safi missed school on Monday. That was ok, though, 'cuz Heather came over and we all hung out together feeling cruddy. It was fun!

The rest of the week Safi was able to go to school and she had a great week. The routine in class is more predictable and Safi is getting the hang of it so she had a great week in and out of school. I'm doing a lot better at leaving Safi's classroom, too! Mom instituted a sticker chart for me for when we take Safi to school. When I say "goodbye" to Safi I get a fairy sticker to put on a piece of construction paper that mom keeps in the car. So, while I still hate to leave Safi's school, I'm not having a meltdown because I know I'll get to put a new sticker on my chart and mom and I can count all of my stickers before we drive home. Its pretty cool!

My OT, Miss Jo, came on Thursday and we played a "guess what's in the bag" game. She showed us items then put them in a bag and had us feel around to try to find the item by touch. It was fun, Safi was really good at it...I really liked pulling everything out! None the less, a fun and challenging game!

Friday Safi and I went to the doctor because Safi still has congestion in her chest. Doctor said we both had a cold but everything else was "ok"...Heather went with us and our doctor told her how amazing we were doing. He said, "Remember when I couldn't get near them?"...and this time Safi even did the weird big breath in and out as instructed when he listened to her lungs. The highlight...we each got two stickers! The big ones! So rad!

Now on to the best part of the week....the long weekend! Dad was on call the last week and a half so he got Friday off. We've been having a blast with him ever since. We couldn't wait to show him our stickers on Friday after the doctor's, and on Saturday we went to the park AND did water fountains. We started Sunday with some dress-up (as you can see, above)and then we went to the pet store and then the park. Later in the day we watched a Bugs Bunny movie then we got to go play in our green pool with the slide at like 5PM!!! It was soooo cool! Really special! We even ate watermelon in the pool and mom sprayed us with the hose. Despite the fun and excitement of getting to do things a little differently and a little special, Safi had a rough time transitioning after the pool 'cuz it was a change from our regular schedule. I came in early because I was starting to get anxious. Still, tons of fun! Tomorrow (Mon), dad has another day off! We're planning on bringing out the RV and hanging out in it in front of the house....too hot and too crowded to go somewhere, but we can still have a blast having a vacation day our front! SOOOO awesome!!!!

Also, wanting to wish Great-grandpa Cummings a speedy recovery and Great-grandma Cummings some well deserved rest! We love you. Happy Labor Day to all!

Peace,
Nixi

Check out our band...we have a FABULOUS lead singer!


Fun at the water fountains...check out Safi going under the water "umbrella"...and very gutsy first!


And here's some video of Safi rocking out...look closely and you'll even see a little "air guitar", and my sweet leg stomp move!