2/19/2011

Trevor is just getting over pneumonia. He has been home for a week from school, recovering, and we have had just about enough of each other. Last night when my husband got out of the shower he had some big scratches on his forehead-- from Trevor. Poor man. He is usually the one getting injured when Trevor has a meltdown. Last night it was because Trevor didn't want to use the nebulizer.  We have to give him medicine every 4 to 6 hrs. and the machine is pretty loud-- never a good thing for an autistic kiddo.

I think I might be coming down with Trevor's  cold.  I feel terrible today. I was laying in bed and Trevor came into the room and headed straight for the big mirrors in the bathroom. Today (like others) he attempted to 'trick' the mirrors. He stood in front of them, lifted up his shirt and stuck out his tongue and wiggled it.  Apparently his reflection did the same thing because he further 'challenged' it. He stuck his little arms straight out to the side and then slowly raised them over his head. He moved around in front of the mirror with his gaze locked on his reflection.

I know the mirror is a very curious thing for Trevor. He is trying to figure mirrors out. I remember when he first discovered them. He was just walking past it one day and suddenly he realized that it did exactly what he did. (to be honest I dont think he even knows its him looking back. Its like he thinks its this really annoying kid that keeps copying him and he is hoping to catch him making a mistake). That day he ran back and forth in front of the mirror at different speeds to see what would happen. Next he ran in front of the mirror while clapping.  He bent himself at the waist and tried to look at the mirror from upside down. He ran and got a toy from his room and brought it back and sure enough the mirror had the same toy! Ever since that day there has been an ongoing conflict between Trevor and the mirror. I wish he could talk so that I could explain to him. I wish he could recognize himself. Trevor is only 3 and I know that will come with time.

Tonight we are supposed to be going out with some friends and my parents are coming over to watch Trevor and put him to bed.  He is tricky to put to bed. There is this whole routine as well and giving him melatonin and two other meds to help him sleep. Trevor has seen many many specialists and we have a big medical suppot system.

--Okay, I'm back. Since writing the above Trevor came and grabbed my hand and dragged me to the refrigerator and threw my hand at the door handle. This is how he tells me that he is hungry. For the last week the only thing he will eat is strawberry 'Dananino' yogurt cups. He averages about 18 a day. Luckily they are only $2.14 for a pack of 6 and $1.88 on sale.  We have bought out almost every store in the area. Yesterday we went to my moms and I stopped by her grocery store and bought several more packs. I know you are probably thinking that I am an irresponsible mother to allow my child to eat nothing but yogurt--unless you have a child with autism.  Then you know that if that is what he wants- then I have no choice. Yesterday I pinned him down and fed him a gold fish cracker and he almost vomited it up. Then he started shouting nonsense and growling at me. I shouldn't have forced him, but he is so skinny and just a week ago he loved them. I thought I could remind him how good they are and he would smile and show me some love. On top of that his bowel movements have been something out of a horror movie. A terrible shade of pale spring green and about he consistency of soft serve. Yesterday my mom changed one in the morning and my husband changed the other! Yeah!  And now I have two people that unserstand my pain. Right now he smells pretty foul and so I better go and tend to my motherly duties.

Tomorrow I will try to post a picture of him with the nebulizer mask on. He is so cute! Happy Saturday!