Thea turned 2

I know I know this is a month late but hey I wrote this Nov 1 pa I was hoping you could see the video. Unfortunately the video cant be uploaded, file too big I think, and then I forgot about it. So here are the pictures during my little princess' birthday.

October 30, 2010 9:00-11:00Am at Jollibee Puregold Malolos we held Althea's bday. It was a blast. Me and Alvin are bunso (youngest child) so we have lots of pamangkins already. We are sorry we couldnt invite everyone due to tight budget. You can see naman sa pictures na ang dami naming kamag-anak plus some ninong and ninangs.
Mommy and Birthday Girl Thea before the party

Kids had fun with the face painting, Kean (right side) even requested fire for tattoo, so fire it is

Here are my pamangkins na makukulit hehehe i love them, they grow so fast Gail - the girl in green stripe is the eldest, dalaga na

San Marcos kids, the younger ones are scared of Jollibee yayayay buti si Thea hindi umiyak

and here she is with a spoon of ice cream

Hey little girl, dont grow so fast ha. I love you much, mwaaah mwaaah.

Therabilities

We went to Thera for Thea's home program follow up session. When she saw the building she started to cling to A.Yos (her yaya), but this always calms her down.

I love the waiting room. I love the Sensory room. I love Teacher ALta. I love everything because Thea has been most cooperative yesterday. She didnt even cry when she saw Teacher, she walked going to the Sensory room and was following teacher's instructions all the time. She did very very well. Good job Thea!!!

Wasnt able to take pictures while she's doing her tasks because I worked in tandem with teacher. But there's this activity a little girl did that I'd like to do, here it is:
The pegs are immersed in the macaroni shells for tactile then she will go through the tunnel to shoot the pegs in the board. Oh the girl playing at the table is Thea, after her session she went to a pushcart toy full of toy groceries then she'll go to that table as if she's going to sell them. WHen it was time to go home she was upset that we need to packaway the things. We said bye bye and she even sat down on teacher's lap while I put on her shoes, I am a very proud Mommy :D

There's no question she is way way at ease in Thera than in Habilities. I love the people in Hab, they love the kids and are very approachable, but they really as in really need to improve their Sensory/Play room. My girl always put on a fight when it's time to go to Hab. When she sees the green gate she'll start wailing and even throws up just so we'll take her out. We wont let her win ofcourse, therapies cost a fortune and we wouldnt let it go to waste. But going to Hab is really hardwork, the entertainment showcase I got in my bag is usually not enough. Hopefully in a few more sessions she'll learn to like the place.

And here's another picture for you. Just so you know how happy she was. This was taken inside the car going home to Bulacan.


extra: Thea has fever today. I hope she'll feel better na. I dont have yaya on Sundays and it's really hard to make her drink medicine alone. Anyway, I'd like to see her smile like the picture above. She seldom smiles today and it breaks Mommy's heart. Get well na anak ha, Mommy loves you.

Playroom

This is the reason for my busy schedule lately. We've been fixing this room to become Thea's play and learn room. Before it was really difficult to make her go in, thanks to the community's Michaelangelo for the Backyardigans drawing Thea now wants to go there every morning! We will remove the bed but we are still waiting for the Thea's slide and swing to arrive from Brunei. It has been over a month so I guess it will arrive anytime now.

It is a family project. Tatay Henry (my dad) installed the insulation. Tatay Fred (FIL) installed the wall fan. Everything for the little princess.
that's the door
See the whiteboard? We now have a schedule. I noticed kasi she gets bored easily with the same activities everyday, so we need to plan which activity she'll do daily para iwas boredom

and the walls
We minimized the drawings since the goal is to only invite her in. Painting the entire room might just distract her when we do our sessions. SO rainbow and grass is just fine =D
Table and chairs - Check
Cabinet for toys - Check
Next project- soft mat.

Occupational Momma - Thea's Activities

Hi! Been busy lately. Since day one of diagnosis, I've been spending lots of time researching about GDD and ASD. Our twice a week visit to her OT , Teacher Camille, has taught me how to teach Thea how to play with her toys properly. Since she doesnt respond to words yet Thea needs to be prompted. By prompting, I mean I need to show her how to do things like when we do coin banking, you have to show her how to shoot the coin and say "Shoot".

I learned a lot, patience is one of them. Though i cant say I am a super patient mom at least I can say i am learning to be more patient. I also learned that I need to alter my expectations and be happy of what she has achieved. SHe has been trying hard too and i have to commend her for that.

Here are some of our activities:
-Coin banking - Very Good
-Shape sorting - very good as in she can put everything na, before kasi she would just put 4 shapes and then ayaw na nya agad but now she will put everything, Mommy's so proud!
-Animal puzzle - very good though there are times she gets tired na siguro she doesnt want to finish them anymore, so i made it fun by making funny actions like how chickens move etc
-stacking cups - she doesnt like it much. she needs a lot of prompting with this activity
- musical toys - these are the ones she like, her xylophone, barney radio everything that make sound is A-okay for her
-kitchen set plus slice the fruits - the slice toy was introduced by teacher and I (the proactive mommy) went my way to search for the toy hehehe, Thea likes it much she was even asking me to put themm back together para she could slice it again. She still needs to learn how to match the fruits
- I had new toys /activities, clothespin, balls and basket, and a lot more others. I am beginning to be a professional occupational therapist =D


Crawling in a tunnel na gawa sa mattress, I have to improvise since saan naman ako kukuha ng tunnel =D Minsan pwede din yang slide =D

So there, this is my new profession. I am an occupational momma! And like all good OTs I log what we do to keep track, I have a mission and I've written my goals -long term and short term.

Please remind me not be obsessed and have time for myself too. True yun because I might burnout and that's a bigger risk for both of us. With that said I better watch Harry Potter next week with or without a date may mga trabaho kasi mga girlfriends dito and I am only available up to 5pm since yaya goes home.

I've been baking too. The mouth watering, I want more of that cake is still yet to be baked but no worries marami pa kong flour hahaha. I will update you bout my concoctions next time. But tonight I will leave you with another picture.

after OT class Thea played at the kitchen counter toy at habilities

I thank GOD we have habilities near us, as some travels much farther to see their OT. I just hope they will improve their playroom (wink wink) para mas entertaining sa kids =D

PLAN

I just got Thea's initial evaluation and her proposed home program from her OT at Therabilities. It's overwhelming really, with the 9-page observation/assessment/recommendation I had to catch air to breathe. But all is well, I am thankful that they are taking their profession seriously and they made effort to do an intensive evaluation for my little girl. Makes me realize I still dont have one like that from Teacher Camille, her OT here in Bulacan? Should I ask her? I think so.

So now please pray that I'll be able to draw a good 'specific' schedule for Thea. And also pray that I will not get stressed with all the things that I need to do.

Thanks to Tita Mai, we now have a gym/therapy ball for thea's session. Next thing to do is fix Yeyeng's room and make it a playroom. Initially I was planning to ask someone to paint it with flowers, trees, sun, rainbow etc, but I figured it might distract lang Thea more - nag-agree naman si teacher so isa na lang ipepaint - rainbow na lang plus the door to make it more entertaining for her na pumasok sa room.

So that's it for my update. Hope everything is well with all of you.

Hugs,
Nyem

Me Time

I am now here in Brunei for a short stay. Short meaning I arrived yesterday and will go home tomorrow night - SHORT. I had to leave my bunny hunny to her lola and yaya to make room for myself.

Did I say room for myself? And why is it that I am still planning things that I have to do once I get to Pinas? Oh well, me time now also means time alone to think, to plan, to set goals and create new hopes. I am now looking at the home program activities at the net. I found one through a friend's blog, hi Clarice! , its therapyforkids. They got loads of activities there which can help my little girl's sensory/motor/etc development. I am excited to try them one at a time.

Going back, I got here 2am yesterday. Had the bestest guy for a date =D Went shopping a bit. Bought the elusive (by elusive I mean I've been looking for it at SM, Robinsons and even duty free but they dont have it) Happy Heart woohoo. AND I got to watch movie yey yey! And of all the movie we decided to watch the pretty Katherine Heigl's Life as we know it. I enjoyed it but it made me miss my little girl more yay. To all mommies and daddies you have to go and see it - NOW.


This visit is for my husband too. I may have had a pretty hard time adjusting with my new schedule in the Philippines but boy hubby surely had plenty of hard times too. Leaving us behind is heartbreaking already but living alone here in Brunei to earn a living is a huge task. To you my dear, know that I appreciate the things that you do for me and Thea. You are a blessing far more than what I hoped for.

Oh and btw, I am thankful for everyone's support. I am sorry for my recent ranting. Though I bet you understood naman how sensitive I can be and how the situation now made me more sensitive I still feel I need to apologize for being annoyed. I guess mommy's like me who's baby got diagnosed get a little more delicate but once they got past the denial stage they tend to be stronger naman. That's me now. I can now take your comments lightly I know now that it's a difficult phase for you too. You also love Thea sooo much and I bet you are in denial too as much as we are in the beginning. So lets just help each other ayt? Comments like "my child is like this when he is 2 blah blah" is now okay. For now, her progress may not be as much as other kids but I am positive with all the help we are receiving we'll get there.

So there, this is me during me time. As much as I want to chronicle the significant things in my life I couldnt. But if i could just like today I blog it. Just so when I look back I can see transformations in my life. In the future I want to read how our little girl get our of her cocoon and blossom into a beautiful butterfly.

have a wonderful day to you!
love - nyem

a Special Momma

This is for me and for everyone who believes that their children are a blessing.

The Special Mother by Erma Bombeck

Most women become mothers by accident, some by choice, a few by social pressure and a couple by habit.This year nearly 100,000 women will become mothers of handicapped children. Did you ever wonder how these mothers are chosen?

Somehow I visualize God hovering over Earth Selecting his instruments for propagation with great care and deliberation. As he observes, he instructs his angels to take notes in a giant ledger."Armstrong, Beth, son. Patron Saint, Matthew.""Forrest, Marjorie, daughter. Patron Saint, Celia.""Rutledge, Carrie, twins. Patron Saint...give her Gerard. He's used to profanity.

"Finally he passes a name to an angel and smiles. "Give her a handicapped child."The angel is curious. "Why this one, God? She's so happy.""Exactly," smiles God. "Could I give a handicapped child a mother who knows no laughter? That would be cruel.""But does she have the patience?" asks the angel."I don't want her to have too much patience, or she'll drown in a sea of self-pity and despair.Once the shock and resentment wear off she'll handle it."

"I watched her today. She has that sense of self and independence so rare and so necessary in a mother. You see, the child I'm going to give her has a world of it's own. She has to make it live in her world, and that's not going to be easy."

"But Lord, I don't think she even believes in you." God smiles. "No matter, I can fix that. This one is perfect. She has just enough selfishness."The angel gasps, "Selfishness? Is that a virtue?"God nods. "If she can't separate herself from the child occasionally, she will never survive. Yes, here is a woman whom I will bless with a child less than perfect.She doesn't know it yet, but she is to be envied. She will never take for granted a spoken word.She will never consider a step ordinary. When her child says momma for the first time, she will be witness to a miracle and know it.I will permit her to see clearly the things I see--ignorance, cruelty, prejudice--and allow her to rise above them. She will never be alone. I will be at her side every minute of every day of her life Because she is doing my work as surely as she is here by my side."

"And what about her Patron Saint?" asks the angel, his pen poised in the air. God smiles. "A mirror will suffice."

And to you my little one Thea, Mommy will always be proud of you. I will do anything - anything anak to give you the best things to make you better. I love love love you.