tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-79311465095082340552011-12-05T23:42:52.415-05:00OptimumMomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13826850740793792164noreply@blogger.comBlogger441100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7931146509508234055.post-29628265637569524492011-09-30T22:11:00.001-04:002011-09-30T22:14:39.010-04:00

OptimumMomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13826850740793792164noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7931146509508234055.post-23221865439497016342011-06-04T00:08:00.000-04:002011-06-04T00:08:07.666-04:00

OptimumMomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13826850740793792164noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7931146509508234055.post-49602517393814829552011-01-01T00:01:00.000-05:002011-01-01T00:01:22.667-05:00

I got a reminder to reflect upon what I've learned in 2010... Good thing because I've got only 45 minutes left before it's 2011! This free photo collage generated with Smilebox What to start?  It's been a crazy eventful year to say the least.  I started off the year trying to run a new business... leading to switching places with DH (him staying at home, and me going to "work" for a month). 

OptimumMomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13826850740793792164noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7931146509508234055.post-84167451861620958202010-12-12T22:57:00.000-05:002010-12-12T22:57:40.686-05:00

Hi, Everyone! I'm back safe and sound from my wonderful trip of 5 days to Sheffield Massachusetts.  I spent 5 days with no cooking, no washing up of pee or poo, no dishes and no computer/Internet.  It was an awesome experience to meet so many parents, siblings and grandparents of children with autism/special needs.  There was such a unison of understanding and support.  I wish to return there

OptimumMomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13826850740793792164noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7931146509508234055.post-24122587600981634022010-12-01T15:17:00.000-05:002010-12-01T19:05:38.278-05:00

Hi, EveryoneLong time no post about what's going on here... ah, life has a way of living on you. Hehehe. I love my life! It's been great in the last few months, and I can only hope and expect that it will get better.I'm going away in a few days to the Option Institute (http://www.autismtreatmentcenter.org/) for the Start-Up program. Can I tell you how excited I am about this? I haven't travelled

OptimumMomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13826850740793792164noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7931146509508234055.post-61124071883741422562010-12-01T13:58:00.000-05:002010-12-01T19:16:00.148-05:00

Happy Holiday Greetings, dear family and dear friends!It's again that time of year when you see Christmas trees, reindeer (I saw a car dressed up as a reindeer already) and shoppers every where. In the midst of all this joyous chaos, remember to take the time to relax and be with yourself!Many of you have asked what our little elves (Little S and Little R) would like for Christmas this year.

OptimumMomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13826850740793792164noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7931146509508234055.post-56863435472691909512010-09-16T22:31:00.000-04:002010-09-16T22:42:51.662-04:00

The seasons are changing on the Island of Chez Shaker Family. Little R is no longer receiving ABA - so now, we are blessed to have his cheerful happy laughter chasing us for biting his belly! :) We've also taken him out of after school care. I've enjoyed every moment of the time with him and Little S - I've also endured the aches and pains of them jumping on and away from me.Little S speaks a

OptimumMomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13826850740793792164noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7931146509508234055.post-28565354680842907182010-06-16T21:21:00.001-04:002010-06-16T21:42:41.780-04:00

Hi, Everyone!Little R made me very proud yesterday when without a motivator (reinforcer) demonstrated that he knew a LOT more than we knew that he knew.He met his new speech path for the first time (she taking over for Little R's previous speech path who just had a baby), and he performed incredibly well! So, what am I talking about? Let me highlight with some bullets...good eye contact - he

OptimumMomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13826850740793792164noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7931146509508234055.post-21834177531609463402010-05-12T22:33:00.000-04:002010-05-12T22:46:45.374-04:00

Little S and Little R have been bringing home lots of germs, viruses, bacteria and all that "good" stuff since they've been going to school. They've been sick more often and demand more attention and clean-up (if you know what I mean), but I think the what's worse is when the parents become ill too!Anyway, I'm still coughing yucky stuff, suffering from headaches and aches, but I'm getting better

OptimumMomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13826850740793792164noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7931146509508234055.post-31698670642235367402010-04-21T14:46:00.000-04:002010-04-21T15:29:18.574-04:00

As mentioned in a previous post, our family is now on a new diet called the specific carbohydrate diet (SCD). So far so good with the progress Little R is making. He's been crying a bit every day for not wanting to eat certain things we put in front of him, but we've noticed (and others have mentioned) an overall improvement in his listening, awareness of others and even in speech and

OptimumMomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13826850740793792164noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7931146509508234055.post-83013240872911173112010-04-21T14:33:00.000-04:002010-04-21T14:46:42.657-04:00

Last week Little R contracted a case of pink eye. It wasn't bad, but it made him contagious, so he was not allowed to go to school and be around his worker.The weather was wonderful, and we took some long bike rides. He sat on his new bike with training wheels and pedalled as I pushed him. It was so much nicer than sitting in front of a computer screen inside an office building in a room with

OptimumMomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13826850740793792164noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7931146509508234055.post-36556758230612960172010-04-13T22:39:00.000-04:002010-04-13T23:16:54.756-04:00

Many changes again are underway chez SHAKER family. One of them is Little R's new diet. In fact, it's a new diet for all of us.A year ago, Little R was diagnosed with ASD (autism spectrum disorder) which led us to try many interventions to "recover" our little guy. First, we were vegan (pre-diagnosis), then we changed only Little R's diet to gluten-free and casein-free. Well, that didn't seem

OptimumMomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13826850740793792164noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7931146509508234055.post-77052305714458659602010-03-20T23:57:00.000-04:002010-03-21T00:27:16.817-04:00

Isn't life full of changes and surprises. We all grow up; it's part of life.But, boy does things changes quickly take places in our household! So, here it is in a nutshell: Starting Monday, March 22, Little S will be going to a school full time. Little R will continue with his worker in the morning, she will take him to school but will stay at school for extended care. I will be dropping

OptimumMomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13826850740793792164noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7931146509508234055.post-41532147720057495152010-03-20T22:33:00.000-04:002010-03-20T23:36:56.928-04:00

Yesterday was the Friday of the this March Break, the last day that I got to be "full time mother" with my children. I wanted this special time to be memorable. I took the kids to Friend D's house. Little R went to the toilet several times while we were there, and unfortunately, he also went (but no toilets were around) during our walk home. So, when we finally reached home, I took all his

OptimumMomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13826850740793792164noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7931146509508234055.post-26013513160295220682010-02-26T23:27:00.001-05:002010-02-26T23:36:19.262-05:00

Little R helping himself to what's in the pot Little S enjoying some home-made kale chipsLittle S is still crying loudly and ever so sharply at night. I'm in a state of zombie most of the early mornings, but I still manage to prepare meals and keep the house clean enough to live in. DH has been sick so I've been bunking with Little S (she has upgraded to my old bed!) for the last two nights.

OptimumMomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13826850740793792164noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7931146509508234055.post-5934901746213362502010-02-13T20:10:00.000-05:002010-02-13T20:34:00.439-05:00

What a two weeks it has been. I'm tired, the house is a mess, the kids are finally asleep, I'm tired, I'm tired... but I have finally some time to myself! :)Little R was away from school all this week, and two days off last week. The poor little guy was in bed (and quiet - nice break for DH and me) with a fever since Saturday. He didn't get out of bed for longer than 10 minutes until Tuesday).

OptimumMomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13826850740793792164noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7931146509508234055.post-75091369545816666512010-01-07T20:27:00.000-05:002010-01-07T20:57:11.856-05:00

First of all, don't worry: he's okay.Little R was wandering around the in the waiting room as Little S was sitting on a chair and I was talking to one of Remy's therapists at his nursery school when suddenly another little boy started slapping and walloping Little R in the head. All of us in the waiting room were too shocked to actually know now many blows the aggressor manage to take on Little

OptimumMomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13826850740793792164noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7931146509508234055.post-71511844996220989822010-01-05T21:11:00.000-05:002010-01-05T21:32:35.590-05:00

Happy New Year to all!Little S:Yesterday was a full day for all of us here. Brother went back to school in the afternoon, and I finally went back to the library with Mama. After we picked Brother up, we went to pick Daddy up then we drove to another town. Brother had an appointment for clearing his food allergies.The place was very cold because we weren't allowed to wear our wet boots. Poor

OptimumMomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13826850740793792164noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7931146509508234055.post-35517770075760358452009-12-31T14:22:00.000-05:002009-12-31T15:12:34.307-05:00

Little S:Hawo! HaWO! haWOoO! This year I turned one year oldAnd every day I get more boldI learned to fall, then I learned to walkI learned to scream, then I learned to talkI learned to eat with a fork and a spoonI learned the shape and name of the moonI learned to order Brother around like DadaI learned to cry louder and louder for MamaI learned to read some wordsI learned to name some birdsI

OptimumMomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13826850740793792164noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7931146509508234055.post-22789783161882690612009-12-18T19:16:00.000-05:002009-12-18T19:30:40.955-05:00

H A P P Y H O L I D A Y S !"See my new masterpiece." -Little R"Nice! Nice!" -Little S"No, no! Thomas." Little S takes toy Thomas book from Little R."Look at it." -Little S

OptimumMomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13826850740793792164noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7931146509508234055.post-50135065438674820252009-12-02T22:22:00.000-05:002009-12-02T22:45:38.161-05:00

Little R had his 6 month follow-up visit with the developmental paediatrician last Tuesday, at which time she highly suggested that he go to a nursery school in the afternoons. That Friday of the same week, we visited a nursery school for special needs children (all of the children have communication difficulties). In the first few minutes, I had it in my mind that I was NOT going to let my

OptimumMomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13826850740793792164noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7931146509508234055.post-40006125289616627472009-10-20T21:25:00.000-04:002009-10-20T22:09:39.900-04:00

Little R, Little S and I went to visit my uncle's home. There, we met my uncle, my dad, my grandmother, my grandfather and my uncle's friend, Auntie H. It was their first time visiting that house, and although it was not their first time seeing all those strange faces, they were both somewhat frighten and apprehensive. But Little R got comfortable pretty soon after arriving.My family shows care

OptimumMomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13826850740793792164noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7931146509508234055.post-46208395818971884252009-09-14T22:53:00.000-04:002009-09-14T23:08:45.382-04:00

Hi! Hi! Moimoi. I love shawbies (strawberries). I go and pick them when Mama is in the garden with her tomatoes. If Brother sees them, he will pick them too.I am practising talking more and more every day. I read many many books, and I love Hop on Pop by Dr. Seus. When Brother is loud I tell him to "shh" with my finger on my lip. I am in control here. When Mama or Dadda tell me something I don't

OptimumMomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13826850740793792164noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7931146509508234055.post-8194236275228531942009-09-14T22:37:00.000-04:002009-09-14T22:53:27.021-04:00

I loved being challenged in the kitchen, but I have been exhausted with recent demands. I'm exhausted right now, but I am actually in front of the computer and not in the kitchen, so let me update on what's been going on chez-nous.We received Little R's Food IgG test back a few weeks ago. Several foods turned up in the high, very high and extremely high reactive categories. To make a long and

OptimumMomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13826850740793792164noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7931146509508234055.post-45237850137876503152009-07-23T15:10:00.000-04:002009-07-27T21:48:59.447-04:00

On Tuesday we had our monthly visit with Little R's DAN! doctor. During this visit Little R had his finger pricked for something called a Food IgG test. Poor Little R was scared, struggled and cried as his dad held him tight for the prick. But he saw the blood coming out, he was calm and interested. Little S was interested too as she looked on.Once the taking of the blood was done, we talked

OptimumMomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13826850740793792164noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7931146509508234055.post-30935796007315267562009-07-14T21:38:00.000-04:002009-07-14T21:55:20.511-04:00

Meow, meow! It's me, H-Cat. I'm hardly in the house during these beautiful warm days of summer. I like going outside and having fun. I do come in the house here and there to eat and be pet, though.Little S has been talking up a storm with her "I want ..." and she's been petting us nicer, too. Little R was saying "I want" for about two weeks, then he stopped on Saturday afternoon. It seemed

OptimumMomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13826850740793792164noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7931146509508234055.post-75681006616158658622009-07-06T21:47:00.000-04:002009-07-06T22:11:23.159-04:00

"I want juice!" I've been saying this since last Saturday after Brother got his juice. I've been saying this phrase for cookies too. Sometimes I even say and sign "pease" (I can't pronounce the 'l' yet), and the adults think I'm really cute so they give me what I want. I think that using words may even be more effective than my loud cries and wet tears. But I still cry to get my way.Today

OptimumMomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13826850740793792164noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7931146509508234055.post-10287225266152259692009-07-03T09:25:00.000-04:002009-07-03T10:27:03.130-04:00

Little R has been learning how to use "I want" plus the item that he wants. Most parents with typical kids would probably want their kids to stop saying "I want," but for us, it's a milestone that takes consistent and persistent effort. Once he masters this string of words (subject -verb-object), we will start replacing these words. So, we could replace "want" with "have" or "give", etc.Therapy

OptimumMomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13826850740793792164noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7931146509508234055.post-34902677130963174012009-05-19T22:56:00.000-04:002009-05-19T23:27:58.983-04:00

Hawo? Howwayu?I like talking on the phone. When the phone rings, I answer it. Sometimes Mommy doesn't know, but when the voice on the phone tells me to get Mommy, I do it! But when Mommy tries to talk the phone away from me, I get mad! I walk quick quick quick to get away! My feet carry me off faster and faster every day.Brother likes to talk on the phone too. Sometimes he shares with me,

OptimumMomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13826850740793792164noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7931146509508234055.post-78634948642389326772009-04-23T22:01:00.000-04:002009-04-23T22:11:57.246-04:00

Little S is a phone hog... some of you may have already experienced this. Maybe you've called and some little innocent high pitched voiced answered, "hawo?" That's Little S for you. She pretends the remote, a magnet, a block, anything is a phone. But what she loves most is the real phone. Apparently she's even called out with my cel phone. I hope I still have minutes to make emergency

OptimumMomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13826850740793792164noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7931146509508234055.post-63330802289405482622009-04-23T21:46:00.000-04:002009-04-23T22:00:53.216-04:00

First it started with Little R. He missed nursery school all last week. Then Little S caught onto his sickness, and missed her toddler time this week. Now I'm not well. Alas, it shall all pass.The last couple of weeks have been more than busy. We have to shuffle through paper work, call and find therapy service, interview people, call places for applications for funding, take care of runny

OptimumMomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13826850740793792164noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7931146509508234055.post-82210407073447836242009-04-19T09:59:00.000-04:002009-04-19T11:15:22.936-04:00

Before I dive into my thoughts, I need to express that I am writing in the midst of deep anger. What I feel is what I feel; however, the reasons that make me feel this way may not be exactly as I perceive them right now. I just need to write about this, or else I will erupt and disintegrate whatever or whoever is close by (usually the innocent children).My throat feels that it is a rupturing

OptimumMomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13826850740793792164noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7931146509508234055.post-79814453496890778912009-04-07T21:58:00.000-04:002009-04-07T22:41:55.015-04:00

Finally, we have on paper that Little R is in the ASD spectrum. This is a relief, at the same time also overwhelming. There was a lot of paper work done at the developmental paediatrician's office, and we'll be expecting to meet other social workers and therapists.After a long discussion, answering the doctor's questions, she (the developmental paediatrician) said that she thought it was best

OptimumMomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13826850740793792164noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7931146509508234055.post-76175187427428153012009-04-07T21:51:00.000-04:002009-04-07T21:58:29.916-04:00

Our little girl is growing up. When Sister D started coming over to help with taking care of the kids two weeks ago, she said that she was going to make Little S walk by the time she was done.Well, when we came back from the paediatrician's with Little R, Sister D showed us just that! DH quickly grabbed the video camera (luckily there was still 3 minutes left) to record her first real walking

OptimumMomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13826850740793792164noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7931146509508234055.post-44663624906155245972009-04-02T22:52:00.000-04:002009-04-02T23:18:39.657-04:00

I don't want to sound like skeptic, but before throwing my son into any treatment and throwing money into that treatment, I really would like some questions answered first. From what I have read, it seems that many children who have an ASD (Autistic Spectrum Disorder) are also plagued by other health issues such as digestion and bowel problems. There is a theory that vaccination shots are

OptimumMomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13826850740793792164noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7931146509508234055.post-83300669276461313052009-03-31T21:21:00.000-04:002009-03-31T21:58:59.980-04:00

The days of March have quickly passed right through the gaps of our fingers just like granules of sand. Much has happened in this month: a visit from the developmental specialist, an appointment date with a developmental paediatrician, an appointment with the audiologist, a visit from my friend TM for some speech and language help, a visit from Infant Development Services, the debut of this

OptimumMomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13826850740793792164noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7931146509508234055.post-86453600860602012982009-03-26T22:13:00.000-04:002009-03-26T22:31:40.459-04:00

It was a beautifully mild day today. DH had to leave for work early, so I had to bring Little S along to drop off Little R at nursery school. It was a nice walk to the YMCA, and getting Little R ready to go into the classroom was a breeze since I didn't have to bend down (while wearing the baby with a sling) to change his boots to his shoes. However, Little R thought that I was staying so

OptimumMomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13826850740793792164noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7931146509508234055.post-30344219943286095382009-03-26T21:51:00.000-04:002009-03-26T22:02:09.920-04:00

As I've mentioned in a previous posting, we're looking for a child care provider for Little S so that Little R can have some needed one-on-one time with me. We are looking for a person who:-lives close by (preferably in walking distance to our home)-speaks a language other than English (just so that Little S would have exposure to a second language like now)-has green habits (for example, she

OptimumMomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13826850740793792164noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7931146509508234055.post-437014593491250812009-03-25T22:35:00.000-04:002009-03-25T23:04:31.510-04:00

Finally, March 24th was here. A speech language pathologist was going to see Little R at his nursery school today to assess his communication development. DH and I had been looking forward to this ever since the day this appointment was booked.DH and I walked to the nursery school today. We left Little S in the care of Sister D at home. Was Little R ever surprised to see us both there waiting

OptimumMomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13826850740793792164noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7931146509508234055.post-79959458451474267092009-03-23T21:54:00.000-04:002009-03-23T22:22:45.584-04:00

Little S has become a wild ball of fire. She dazzles us with her blazing smiles, the funniest faces, her tiny finger pokes in the eyes, nostrils and mouth, and her unstopable intonated chatty voice. (Oh, she's crying loudly now in the middle of her sleep - ah, DH will get her.) She still wakes me up at least twice a night. She expects me to hold and feed her back to sleep, but no more! I

OptimumMomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13826850740793792164noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7931146509508234055.post-3833820735841699152009-03-19T21:17:00.000-04:002009-03-19T23:12:48.174-04:00

Today has been a good day. Yesterday was a bad day.From the moment I grudgingly got up yesterday, I could feel my body and spirit very heavy. I had the sensation of unease and discomfort in the pit of my stomach and gut from the night before watching autism stories on Dr. Phil. It was difficult to breathe deeply. There seemed to be blockage of positive thought and energy.Negative thoughts

OptimumMomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13826850740793792164noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7931146509508234055.post-60034366801339065112009-03-16T21:26:00.000-04:002009-03-16T21:49:56.575-04:00

DH decided to start a jogging routine with Little R since reading that jogging for 20 minutes could help control about 67% of symptoms (we're hoping to reduce the babbling and licking of the windows). So they went out for a 20 minute jog this morning and again another 20 minutes before supper. I think that this routine will also help them sleep better; Little R seems to sleep very well at night

OptimumMomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13826850740793792164noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7931146509508234055.post-35632167520333570252009-03-15T21:59:00.000-04:002009-03-15T22:30:27.634-04:00

Today we went to my parents' house to celebrate my sisters' birthdays. Along with the cakes I also had to bring along some literature about autism so to warn my parents about such a diagnosis for their grandson in a month or so. My mother was too busy to read it; or perhaps she already knew what I would put in her face so she did not want to read it. I had already heard some worry in her voice

OptimumMomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13826850740793792164noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7931146509508234055.post-39258768500919598862009-03-14T11:34:00.000-04:002009-03-14T12:22:47.744-04:00

Since around the time of Little S's birth, Little R has shown regression. There was regression in toilet training, but most alarming was a regression in language and verbal communication. The toilet training has been going well again for the last 5 months or so, but the language has worsened.I googled "language regression" and "toddler" about a year ago and the only results all contained "

OptimumMomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13826850740793792164noreply@blogger.com0