Action Packed Day!

This morning was busy with doing activities with Brody and having to give him eye drops every 4 hours. I thought it was going to be like the nose tests, but we played Doctors and i pretended to do the eye drops in me, I also said this will give us special powers to turn things into ice. We also had to do the magic spell to make us Brave! It worked and i got the drops in each time. I was so happy.

Then Mary-Anne form Aspect come at 2.00pm and Brody still is not used to her, as he told her to go away and he doesn't like her. He then come around and played activities with us, with the help from his reward chart.

Brody was getting really tired by this stage as he normally has a afternoon sleep, but he had another visitor that come to visit him. He had his dad. So I went down stairs for a break.
I had come back up and the nurse had given Brody the eye drops, after all my good work, to get him to take them. It's now probably gone, as this is what happens if he doesn't stay in routine and especially if he has a bad experience, which the nurse said he screamed and he didn't get much in. Told him to wait for me next time, as he even gave it at the wrong time. But another nurse said that it was ok.

Otherwise Brody went to sleep at 6.30pm as he was so tired, he is starting to go off food again, so chemo is making him feel sick, otherwise no other side effects yet. Busy day, hopefully tomorrow is rest day.
Have to say a Big Thank you to two wonderful ladies that have been through what i have been through and still they can do kind things for us, Thanks Judi and Helena for the wonderful T-shirt that was sign by some country singers in Tamworth. Brody like it, good fit for him too, and the chocolates, they were yummy Judi. Thanks again, sending you all my LOve. xxxx

Back in Hospital Wednesday!

We waited around Grandma's house all morning to find out if we had a bed in hospital, we packed our stuff and watched DVD's. At 12.30pm we finally found out that we could go in. Grandma and Grandpa took us down to help us unload our truck load of stuff.

Brody again had to have the nose test as he still has his runny nose. But his temperature is still normal. I think he must be getting something as he is not his normal self. The hospital has again put us in the isolation ward because of his running nose. As we dont want to effect any one else with what every Brody has. We made it to our room around 6.00pm. Brody had a rough day as he cried his little heart out because he didnt want to come and then when he had the nose test. He is getting so sick and tired of it all, which is also making it harder and harder for me to be strong.

Brody then watched some movies on the starlight machine and went fast asleep, until i had to wake him for eye drops and his medicines. The eye drops are to help his eyes as the chemo he is taking this time can effect his eyes. This job is hard to as he tried to be brave but i don't even know if it got in his eyes. They say to let him closes his eyes and once he opens them it goes in. But Brody hardly opened them and hated the feeling of it going onto his eye. We have to do this all the time, every 4 hours, while we are in here, not looking forward to this week.

Thank you to Chantelle's hubby for making me wonderful meals to eat, and her beautiful children for giving up their mummy to come and visit me, and the gorgeous lady Chantelle. Also big thank yous to Grace and the Autism Advisory and Support Service for wonderful sensory toys. Brody loved them, he really liked the fan with the lights. Thanks again xxxxxx

Wet, lazy day!

What a wet and lazy day for the start of Autumn. Brody and i have had a normal day at Grandma's, watching Tv and playing activities. I also fixed Brody's posters up, ready for our stay in hospital.

Grandma and Grandpa have been busy with phone calls and organizing Pop's funeral, there is so much involved and its all taken its toll on everyone.
Brody is a handful when someone gets on the phone, as his voice gets louder and he runs around the person. So i have had to kept him occupied most of the day.

Brody has come down with symptoms like before when we spent 2 weeks in hospital. His temperature is still normal but a little bit high for him. So i am keeping a close eye on him. But we are all feeling tired and run down. Its been a hard time but like every thing else we push forward and move on.

Thank you to everyone for there thoughts, prayers and kind wishes. From all the family.xxxxxx
Thank you to every one that has offered to sit with Brody so i could go to my pops funeral, but like some of you have said Brody will not do any thing for any one else, even Grandma now has trouble with doing things with him, as all he wants is his mummy. My pop would have wanted it that way too, so thanks again. Also remember children with Autism don't like strangers and if there routine is not the same they will muck up, Brody does not need that stress either.But thank you for all kind thoughts. Its ok, I have said my goodbyes and will visit him again when visiting my sister. Thank you. xxxx

Check Up! and A sad Day!

Brody's check up went well, his echo (Heart test) was normal. His levels were low, so might need transfusion next week. They have booked him in for next Wednesday to go back to hospital for chemo depending if his levels are ok and they have a bed. We again waited around for long times and we were there for 5 hours.

Brody had performed again for the echo test and dressing change and seeing the Doctor. Brody has a few bruisers as his platelets are low and he keeps bumping himself when he performs. The Doctor said no wonder why he has so many bruisers, He is so active! I told her, no its because he is in this small room and you want to touch him and talk to me. Other wise the day was tiring running around chasing Brody through the halls of the hospital. We then come home and went to bed early.

Mum and dad come in and woke me up at 1.00am, as my grandfather had passed away. We had a few cries and had a talk. We then had to fix pop up ready for the doctor and undertakers to come and collect him in the morning. This might seem horrible but this experience has certainly toughen me up, i think i am prepared for anything. Mum used to be a nurse and she knew what had to be done, as if we left him he would of been to stiff for the undertakers (sorry if this offends you). My pop was a proud man and we wanted to fix him up for him too, he then looked so peaceful. Our family was very close to pop as we always went to visit him as kids and my two beautiful boys loved their great grandfather as well. Its been a emotional day, fixing the house up and sorting pops belongs out. We love you pop and will always miss you.xxxxx

Sleepy Day!

Brody was tired all morning and tried to fight it, but i ignored his behaviour and he put himself to bed. The only thing wrong was he missed out on seeing Mary-Ann From Aspect. I thought his sleep was more important and let him sleep as he hasn't been having day sleeps much.

While he was alseep Grandma let me pop up to the new shops at Rouse Hill, as i needed new pj's and nappies. I felt so out of it. I walk around seeing women having their nails, hair and wearing all the trendy stuff. They looked great, then i would look at myself and think, i have really let myself go. But thats the thing its not that i have let myself go, its beause of the money, time and the love for Brody that i think Who gives a **** what i look like! But it does make you feel like crap and this experience is very hard! One of the other mothers in hospital asked me, when do you get to do things, I said i dont! As most of the children have both parents doing shifts because they are not seperated. So beening a single mum and having a child with Autism makes this experience extra hard. I dont wish it upon anyone.

Brody is still doing ok, temperature normal, no sickness, eating and drinking. He again had a normal day at Grandma's house. He ate lots of dinner as grandma cooked chicken on sticks, chips and herb bread. All Brody's favourties. He was really happy.

Hospital tommorrow for check up and a heart test. Have to leave early and most likey be back late, so i will not post anything tommorrow as i will be too tired. Back again on Saturday.

Behaviour Problems!

Brody had a great day! The brilliant and lovely lady Jill from ABI come to help with Brody's behaviour problems. It was fantastic and what Brody needed, but as we lived so far away these services aren't available. Jill helped me understand why and what to do when he does certain behaviours. We also did lots of role play to help Brody with his hospital things, like blood pressure, dressings and sharpies. We all had lots of fun. Jill was also teaching Brody what the word Brave means, and we had to be brave to open a toy toilet that shots water. Brody thought this was real funny and made us be brave all the time. The strategies that Jill gave me will take time and need lots practice before we see any results, but she believes we will. Hopefully staff at the hospital will also do these strategies as Brody will then go back to his old ways or worse and then its like starting again when he comes back home. But i will be there to push them too.

Thank you so much Jill, for your work and support and just beaning you. Thank you my dear friend Chantelle for introducing me to Jill. xxxx

We then just had a normal day at Grandma's, doing activities, watching TV, PlayStation and going for a drive to pick up pop's car. Brody is still going well, a little bit moody today, but other wise he is doing fine.

Strange Day!

Today Brody has only ate toast with Jam and had all sorts of different drinks. He has felt like other stuff and i make it for him and then he dosen't want it. I think he has felt a bit off, but its hard to know as he cant express how he feels. The Autism lady will be making up a feeling chart and i hope this will help him to express his feeling a lot more.
He had a strange day today as grandma and grandpa had to go to the doctors for grandma's foot as it has swollen up with fluid and she cant walk on it. She is in a lot of pain and Doctor said she might need a operation to fuse her ankle together. This was not good news!
But because Grandma and Grandpa wasn't here, we had Auntie Dianne and Uncle Peter to watch over my grandfather, so Brody was active and full of beans as strangers were here in the house. He could not settle and ran around the house for most of the day. Otherwise he is ok and has now gone to sleep early.

The video i have posted is of Brody doing a drawing, to help him learn how to sit and do this. Brody has no idea how to play with things or even begin to draw things, so he needs to be taught how to, this is part of the Autism. Most children play with play dough and make things Brody cant not do this but he is getting there. There is alot of work and knowledge you have to have to help Autism children and if you dont you will find they will just be stressed and wont learn the right things. Hope you enjoy it!