a day at the zoo

i wanted to go to the zoo for the longest time, but couldn't find the right time.
for holy week, my mom went to my brother's place for a vacation.
when she came home for Easter, I took the opportunity to
finally go to the zoo with my kids. my brother, his wife, and baby Bea went, too.

the first thing i noticed was the entrance fee. *grin*

since my dad worked for the zoo
when we were kids as a payroll clerk,
we could get in for free.
now, we had to pay. *LOL*

now, it's 40 bucks for adults and 20 for the kids.





next thing i noticed was... oh my God, where is Tony?!

And that pretty much sums up what I did there. Look for him.
Good thing my mom was there to take care of Dale who wasn't interested in animals, i guess. 'Coz all he did there was eat ice cream, and then play (there's a playground).







Unlike Tony, who couldn't last a minute from one cage to the next.
And with, i think, half of Manila and Pasay there that day,
I really couldn't afford to let him out of my sight.
i couldn't even get a decent picture of him.



anyway, it was fun. the animals were abundant compared
to the last time we were there (ages ago). except they were still missing a giraffe.
the old one, well, got old and died. pity.
the giraffe is one of the main attractions there.

of course there was this cool chimpanzee who has a kitten for a pet.
too many people around the cage = no picture.

and the scary limping tiger. the falcons... i loved the falcons!



the peacock.



the gigantic rhinos.



the turtles.



this drugged bird (or maybe the flash shocked his eyes out).



the bunnies that Bea loved.



and this lonely monkey. is it me, or is one of her tits showing? *LOL*

and the stuffed animals. Of course, they were off limits to people.
But hey, my brother got carried away and thought that Dad still
works there, so we kinda 'slipped' into the office quietly. *wakokokoko*

funny thing with the stuffed animals is that they scared the bejeezers out of Tony.
I was carrying him that time, and when he saw them,
he tightened his grip on my neck, and he probably would've killed me,
til I managed to say that they were already dead. and stuffed. *cough*



I couldn't blame him though, they scare me, too.



we only stayed there for less than 2 hours, but we were exhausted after.
what with all the chasing we did with Tony, and with the playing with
Bea who kept on going for the slides.

but it was a fun experience and if you really don't have enough money to spend,
the zoo is the right place to bring your kids for a little exploration.

Note:
if you're gonna go, bring food and drinks. they cost double there.
alcohol, a change of clothes, tissue, hankies are necessities.

oOo



i'm posting this triumphant smile coz Dale got in at
San Isidro Catholic School as Grade 1 full mainstream.
He did well during the interview, the principal informed me afterwards.
Her only negative comment was that he talks too fast.
He was asked to pray, to write certain words, count,
recite the alphabet, and some pertinent questions.

they only ask for submission of regular assessments,
and a dialogue with his former teacher.

he was sure that he got in that when i was looking at the list of school supplies
he needed he wanted me to buy them already.
he didn't leave until I said yes. and we did.

now, i really am not sure if i'm relieved that he passed.
coz now, i have these fears.
the workload, the schedule, the teacher, the classmates, the parents,
his bowel movement schedule, his penmanship, his... everything.

scenarios keep on flashing on me before i sleep, when i look at him, and in between meals.
what if he doesn't make it? what if he couldn't deal with it?

i'm also thinking too much 'coz i have to work.
with no yaya, and three kids going to school, how will we manage?

what if something happens and i'm called by the school for some reason and i'm at work?

during these times, i wish i wouldn't need to work and just be a
plain mother and be with my kids more.

but reality sucks.

big time.

happy days

the past two days have been busy with Anea and Dale's recognition days.
Thank God they were done on separate days or i'll be in a
dilemma to which recognition i'd have to go. *whew*

Anea received 2 medals, both for being the 3rd outstanding student in Grade 4.
One medal from the school, and the other from the Mayor.

<



The first week of March, Tony graduated from Nursery and was 10th in his class.



Today, it was Dale's turn. He was excited about the day.



Of course, who could be more happy and excited than me?



Dale officially graduated from the Pasay City SPED Center and was the Best in his class.



It was a happy day, even if it was raining... all the students received some kind of award.
It was also obvious that a lot graduated from SPED this year, unlike the past.
It was like the rain is blessing each and everyone there.



With his classmates and teacher:





He was so happy with his medal that the first thing he said was:

Call Papa.

What? I asked.

You call Papa, Yahoo Messenger mo sya.

We can't, we're outside the house.

O, i-text mo na lang.

Why ba? What will I tell him?

Tell him, I won a gold medal, o!

I couldn't help hugging him for his logic.
It's obvious that he misses his grandfather.

After the event, we all went to Max's to eat.
With all of us very hungry, I forgot to take pictures. *hehe*
The restaurant was full and busy.
A lot of students were celebrating their graduation day.

I was able to take my kid's pictures anyway,
and I'm so happy that all of them have awards this school year.









Indeed, you cannot have everything.
You may not be happy in some aspects of your life.
You may not have enough money, or a big house.
But God gives you what you deserve.
Something worth more than everything you've wished for.

Thank you for all the support and prayers.

*sigh*

Dale was unusually quiet today. I had to talk to him everytime so i'd make sure he's okay. I don't want him to go into a seizure again. Once is enough.

I was preparing dinner, and I saw him just staring out the sky... he stayed like that for more than 5 minutes... I asked him why he was quiet, he said, WALA LANG. AFTER I'M QUIET, I TALK.

oh well, okay, i thought.

then we ate dinner. When he was about to go down to start playing the computer again, he came running back to the dining room, and lay down the chairs... I asked him why, he said CLOSE THE DOOR. I did, and I noticed he looked scared. When he finished eating and went to brush his teeth, he asked for the lights to be turned on. He also asked me to stay with him beside the sink while he brush.

When all of us finished dinner, we found him curled on the sofa. I asked him why again. he said, there's something inside the CR.

I carried him to my mother's bedroom, and let him listen to the MP3 player til he fell asleep.

he was so scared i pity him. I told him there was nothing there. But he was still scared. i asked my kids, my mom, and the help if they said something or if he watched something on tv, they said no.

hay...

times like these, i wish i have lots of money and need not work so i can take care of him personally everyday.

p.s.
his teacher also told me about his rain instincts... along with Kim, his classmate with autism. I told her I already knew about it.

yesterday, the sky was so dark I was sure it's gonna rain... but Dale wasn't bothered, unlike before... so i asked him if it's gonna rain... he said NO without looking at me, and went down to play. Anea and I waited... after an hour or so, the clouds cleared.... IT DIDN'T RAIN.

it's good that Anea and I didn't bet on it.

Beh!

i went to Dale's school to talk to his teacher about his progress and
other plans for his improvement.
She told me too many beautiful things that Dale did...
His teacher also told me that Dale will
finish first this school year with a gold medal.
The recognition is on March 31st.

Why finish?
'Coz he can now be transferred to a regular school
as Grade 1 full mainstream this June.

It's as if the problem of the whole world dissolved into nothingness... hahaha!

nothing can top this.

that's why i chose the picture above to go with this post...
it's like Dale telling the whole world that he beat it.
"beh...!"

yey!
we're off to face new challenges in his life.
and we will face them no matter how difficult and painful they get.

My heartfelt thanks to everyone who showed concern and support...
My parents, family, and relatives.
His brother, Tony..
His sister, Anea..
My friends who were there with me all the time to see me cry and share my joy:
Bes, Mai, Anne, Basti, Bon, Saint, etc.
His teachers--Belle, Lisa, Shirley, Mila
All the other teachers and the principal who took part in changing his life.
The Pasay City SPED Center.

I know this is not the end, but a beginning...
but i would like to thank you people for every step accomplished...
i know another post like this will come in the future...
and my acknowledgment list will be longer than this.

thank you.

Thank God.

article on Autism Treatment for Older Kids

most of my worry about Dale is thinking about what could happen when he grows older. Would there be any problem with his social life.

read this... nice article on Autism treatment. =)

my reasons for breathing...

aren't they lovely?









my ate is so grown up!

this is what we do sometimes...but most of the time, we just watch DVDs and play. have a nice week ahead!

How To Keep Your Sanity

1. Pray.

The first thought that came to my mind when I learned about Dale's condition was,

Why him, God?

It is shameful that I have to question God about His intentions about my son. But I guess, it is but human nature to do so.

I learned that praying is a good way to keep you sane. Conversations with the unknown? Yes, it is. During times when I doubt Dale's capabilities or future, I talk to Him. Even if I don't hear His voice, I see his answers through Dale's magnificent, even miraculous transformation.

2. Accept.

The second thing I did was to accept that Dale has autism. And I guess that was the best thing I have ever done.

With acceptance, I helped Dale become who he is now. Without it, you'll be living in a state of denial and will not help your child to overcome his/her condition.

3. Find Support.

Everywhere. Start with your family. I just hope that your family is as supportive as mine. They also accepted the fact that Dale has autism, and this helped so much.

My Dad taught him a lot, especially about patience. He used to take Dale to school, and patiently disciplined Dale. My dad, the behavior modification therapist. =)

My Mom, Dad's counterpart, gives Dale a lot of love. She spoils him rotten and gives him almost everything he wants.

I guess it was what Dale needed, a balance of superpowers hovering over him. =)

My parents cover for me when I can't go to school for a meeting, or to watch a program they were having. They provide for Dale when I can't do so. They bring him to the hospital when he is sick.

My brothers and sisters helped me in so many ways... especially when taking care of Dale. They bring him along for Church service and malling.

My nieces and nephews, played with him and taught him new games... they looked after him when I can't.

My husband's family.... another support group. I owe them a lot... especially in taking care of Dale when nobody from our side is available.

My husband Ronald... I know he was in a state of denial for a long time, even if he won't admit it. He might not witness everything that Dale ever did and have accomplished, but I know he loved Dale deeply and is ready to provide for him when the need arises.

My daughter Anea... when she learned that Dale has autism, she patiently told him to stop pulling her hair. Before that, she screamed and hit him when he did. She takes time to teach him how to behave, how to read, how to talk. She's my first miracle.

His brother Tony, the greatest brother that ever lived, became his therapist. When Tony started talking, he talked to Dale everyday... soon after, Dale started talking. When Tony started being playful, he played with Dale everyday.... soon after, Dale started playing with him.

I guess the best thing I did after Dale was having Tony. Do not be afraid to have another child in your lives. I know it will be difficult, but he/she might be your next miracle. He saved us 500 pesos per hour worth of speech therapy, and 500 pesos per hour worth of play/occupational therapy.

4. Work.

Yes, work. You might not have a lot of time for your son, but working keeps you away from him for 8 hours a day. You can say that it is selfish of me, but it helps to keep your mind away from his condition even for a few hours. Keep yourself sane, or else you might not be able to help your son at all.

And with the expense that comes with his condition, you need all the money you can get. =)

Working for a good company also gets him medical insurance for free. We have been using this insurance since he was 4 months old. He was already hospitalized 8 times, for infantile asthma and a seizure.

5. Be patient.

Improvement will not be seen overnight. Breathe. Live life one day at a time. Marvel at his successes. Wait for him to grow.

6. Read.

Be in the know. You will learn tips and tools to use on your child. Sort of like What to Expect When (You're Expecting) You Have a Child With Autism.

It doesn't mean read books. There are websites to help you, too. You can google on the word AUTISM and you'll get thousands of hits.

7. Join Egroups.

You'll get great tips from parents about everything!

8. Study.

When reading isn't enough, you can always take up SPED (Special Education). You'll learn a lot from people who have taught special children on a first-hand basis.

9. Be firm.

Mean what you say. If you say NO, then mean NO. If your child asks for a chocolate brownie and you said NO, don't give it to him when he cries for it.

Why? Children are great manipulators. They think that if they can cry their way into you, they will do that. Besides, crying is really good for the lungs. =)

If he doesn't stop crying, offer him something else.

10. Treat your child like any normal kid.

Shout all you want. Bottling up your anger will give you a heart attack. I do spank, but not that hard. I do shout, that, I do loudly.

Do not treat him differently. Do not think that he already has a condition, why be harsh? Discipline your child if he needs it. Treating him differently will not help him at all.

11. Find a good doctor.

Your child's Pediatrician should know about his condition. If you find a good doctor, stick to him/her. The first thing I look for in a doctor is how he gives medicines. Mine takes into consideration his age and weight before actually prescribing the dosage. He doesn't give antibiotics right away. In short, he assesses the child's condition thoroughly before advising.

Try Dr. Jose Clemente, Room 349 of Makati Medical Center. His clinic is also a haven for kids with all his toys and free lollipops.

You may also want to know that I was impressed with the MMC Emergency Room when we took Dale when he had a seizure. Imagine Chicago Hope or ER. Great professional service.

12. Find a good yaya.

Your lifesaver! A good knowledgable and patient yaya will phone you during emergencies, knows your child's diet by heart, knows his medicine schedule and the corresponding dosage, will follow your rules.

13. Take your child (almost) everywhere.

Do not keep him like a prisoner at home. The more he goes out, the more he sees how it should be outside his own world.

While in the zoo, talk to him about the animals. Do not lose hope and think that he doesn't listen. He does! Continue talking and offer him things to touch, things to see, and things to hear.

Let him roam, but keep your eyes on him. If you're going out as a family, ask the yaya to come with you so she can take care of the other children.

14. Find time for yourself (and your other children, and your husband).

Take a day off from taking care of your special child. Ask your parents to watch over him for a day, and take your spouse for a date.

You can also take one of your kids out, just you and him/her. Siblings tend to be jealous of your special child because of the special attention you give him/her. Doing this even once or twice a month lessens jealousy among siblings.

15. Keep memories.

Take loads of pictures! Capture precious moments on video. Go back and see them once in a while. You'll see the changes in your child's face there.

16. Blog.

Write on your journal. Let out your feelings. Write your child a letter. Let your creative juices flow.

I chose to do this online, 'coz I thought that maybe some other mom out there needs to know how I am feeling. Maybe, in some way, I could help.

This will also serve as a memento for your child when he learns how to read in the future.

17. Buy an MP3 player.

No, this is not a joke. Most kids like Dale calm down when they hear music. Choose soothing ones. You can have him listen to them when you're in the car going somewhere. My mom gave me an MP3 player (no, not the iPod, but works the same) and I discovered that it is helpful to keep Dale quiet. Now, the MP3 player never leaves my bag.

18. Choose a good school with supportive teachers.

The Pasay City SPED Center is a public school for special children living in Pasay. They have airconditioned rooms and well-trained teachers. Tuition is almost free.

19. Pray again.

And thank the Lord for another day with your special child.


Finally, BREATHE.

Live life one breath at a time. Just like what the song from Garbage says:

The trick is to keep breathing.

Videos

watch a sample video of Dale.

Dale tells a story--Little Red Riding Hood Baby Looney Toons Style:



here is a video of Dale dancing to Pinoy Ako during Autism Week 2006 where he won First Place:



This one never ceases to crack us up.

currently uploading some more.

...updating...

hi! i'm currently changing this blog's template...

please bear with us. =)

career choices 101

we were talking to the kids about their career choices 2 days ago...

Anea made up her mind... she wants to be a chef. Since when I look at Classified Ads, there are a lot of job openings for chefs around the world, I said sure. She can take Culinary Arts or HRM first, then she can study different types of cooking from other trade schools... gusto ko kasi pati HRM para if she wants she can manage her own restaurant someday.

si Tony naman... pag tinanong mo kung anong gustong maging... sabi niya Taxi Driver.... eh di nagtawanan lahat... ako naman i probed kasi naisip ko there can be more to it than that... sabi ko ilang taxi? sabi niya 10... siya daw magddrive ng isa tapos yung iba, iba din magddrive... tapos ibibigay daw sa kanya yung pera, tapos ibibigay daw sa akin.... at least alam na niya yung concept ng boundary (at sa akin naman pala ibibigay... hehehe). eh operator naman pala ang gusto, ok lang.... eh kung sa sampu, 500 isang boundary, eh di 5T na yun a day... not bad.

tapos nung tinanong namin si Dale, sabi niya, wala... hindi ako magwowork... sabi ko, naku patay... Tony, you have to make that 20 taxis... kasi di daw magwwork si kuya mo.. okay naman daw sabi ni tony... mabait na anak na, mabait na kapatid din naman pala.

so all in all, i have 2 business-minded kids and a bum. Not bad at all. =)