Feb 21, 23
Stephen suck his pillow a lot, when I take away he will cry. Most of the time we were at “war”. I try to put him to “horse sit” on my shoulders and do the usually songs and he enjoyed it very much with laughter. I stood in front the full length mirror and that helps to obtain eye contact most of the time. If you ladies like to try, pls take care of your back. Stephen is quite heavy. Taking away things from him may not be the best solution over long term, any suggestion?

One of the days he also engaged in soccer with us in the kitchen which went on for a while. His kicking skill look great and as the Occupation Therapy told us, he is quite on par in term of gross motor skill. Fine motor skills looks quite ok too as he is able to nimbler small thing. But must work on writing skill (holding pen).

Invited Stephen to stack blocks with me and he responded. Was able to take turns too. Of course will also destroy after building.

One of the day when he was watching TV, I told him to wear shoe (as we were going out) he responded immediately. Then he run out of the house, I said “come here” and he responded. When I said “go out” he also responded. In all these speech, I deliberately did no gestures to see if he understood what I was saying and I think he did. When we were in the car, I told him to “sit straight” and he responded too.

Let’s look forward to more of these.

Feb 24, Friday
Today I brought Stephen to the play ground at Tai Kang garden after sending Deborah to school (his second time there but this time the intention is to see if that place can be used as a outdoor intervention ground as it is quite in the morning). I got some very good observation of Stephen’s improvement (pray that it will be more consistences along the way).

He enjoyed swinging with me on the swing. I just kept saying “swing” but he has yet to request by words. When I stop, I will say “stop” so that he will know that the word “stop” has an action respond. He did however use gesture to indication his interest. He pulls my both feet up.
We also tried the see-saw. After a few up and down’s, he was actually requesting by saying “up”. He should have already known the meaning of this word as we very often use it in physically plays. I am waiting for the time that he will say "down”.

There is also a spinner that go round and round. This time he actually enjoyed it without fear. The last time he was much afraid. He walked, lie, and kneel on it while I push it round. He also tried to push it round and round.

At a number of occasions when I took picture with the mobile camera, he actually heard the “clicking” sound and responded by coming to see the pictures. (He is hearing and knows if he wants to respond).

At one instance when he was jumping from the wooden plank to the ground, I sang the “if you are happy and you know song just to see if he will notice and he did at the “hooray”. He jumped and “hooray” at the same time.

One other imp achievement is he is now very much able to drink from a water bottle. ie without putting the whole opening into his mouth. You guys know what I mean? I wanted to verify and let him try a few times and he managed well.

We also went to the gym area. He was able to walk on and thru the low beam without demonstration what to do. Later I initiated by walking on it and he actually imitated me. I think this is part of imitation described in the “hannan program”.

I also ask Stephen to do catching with me and he gladly responded for all the request made. Interesting part was I only started running away when he responded to the request to catch me and he gladly give chase.

At times when he wanted to drink and eat, he sat down on the bench and he also imitated by sitting down. He often will just stand there to wait.
There was once when we were far from the “spinner” I told him to go to the spinner and he went very close to it and looked back as if to get an acknowledgement that that’s the right one. When I nodded my head, he went up immediately.

At the see-saw, he was also pushing the lower side up than climbed up at half point (lowest part of see-saw at any one time) to walk to make the same side to come down. He did it quite a few times before I realised what he is trying to do.

It was a good day. Of course along side was the eye contacts and “words” said when songs are sang. I think songs are really doing a lot in helping him learn words. So much so that the last one week, he has been requesting us to play song one after another. Soon we will have to keep the CDs too. I will be trying more at this play ground (think the fitness equipment and new and the kink that will help in sensory integration and the next time bring along some equipments like ball and physically games stuff to see if I could get more responses. I don’t know if these responses imply any imp in professional sense but to me, some good steps in social play, imagination and understanding.

Stephen

1) Stephen has shown that he is able to sit down and listen to familiar music/songs as compared to watching TV prog eg Hi5. He could sit at the sofa for quite a period of time before he get onto the rebounder .

2) Stephen said "shoe" and stamped his feet when I brought him into a shoe shop. He looked interested as I pointed at the different types of shoes. I was also pretty excited about the shoes in the shop but nothing beats Stephen's spoken word. "Shoe" has come in unsolicited and in context. Beautiful!

As now we have 5 person involved in stephen's intervention. Thanks everyone. If anyone of our friends are keen to participate. do feel free to contact me.

Hui Ping - church friend
Adrain - church friend
Joanna - my sister in law
Angel
Danel

Dear all, we have got a good news. since the last time angel mentioned that stephen school placment was taken, late last week we got a call that the school (rainbow special school at Balestial) managed to have another teacher so he can will start tomorrow wed from 1pm-3pm. actually i was tempted to put him in another time-slot, was actually feeling angry too, but i held back (in fact i ask them to throw him back into the central waiting list) trusting that God had better plan in view that this time slot will be more in line with our home intervention effort and will likly add more value to stephen.

we will see how it goes as he is actually "too young" and there might be some teaching methods that will chash with what we are doing at home. i got my father to help bring him for some days while i will do the rest for now.

i have just put up a time-table of stephen intervention so you may want to take to look. not all listed are in place, at least somethings that we are trying to put in place.

I've given all of us administrator status for the blog so you will be able to change the settings. Just go to the dashboard page and click 'change settings' to see what you can do. If you want to add links, the instructions are at
http://help.blogger.com/bin/answer.py?answer=110&topic=22

Although we've replied to the school on Fri, they did not keep a place for Stephen. So he is not attending the school for the time being. Got to wait till they've got a vacancy. Hope it isn't depressing for everyone tho' we all hope that more can be done. Good news on the way... maybe 2 more volunteers are joining us possibly in the morning slots.

here's some other things that likely will bring stephen's attention.
1. number flash card (1-30) on the small green table. he can say 1-10 rather clearly now as you flash. sometiime i will say 1-9 and build the excitment to 10 for him to say. he will enjoy this.

2. when you sing the song suggested by angel, leave out some of the key words and he will most likely fill in eg. twinker, twinker little _____"Star".

3.there is a "shark" hand puppet. use it to do physical interaction like biting his nose, fingers, he likes it and eyes will follow it.

4. throw his pillow up the ceiling. say "up" "down" he enjoy. at times he will want to throw it too. this is good bec he is follow the initiative and is learning to take turn. pualse and see if he will say "up" and "down"

5. some time ago, we had a good time of kicking and throwing ball in the kitchen, try it. when we say kick and throw he actually followed and enjoyed.

6. i play runing with him and it got his attention. basically just run from the bench to the wall and back and call him to "come" to your location, then run off again to the next location.

7. there is this "baby shakespeare soundtrack" that he recently starts to enjoy. i carried him and try to dance in the tempo and he enjoys and did give reasonable eye contacts. trying this will definate build hui ping's muscel.

8. with the rebouncer and "plastic rocking hourse" we observed more eye contact as he play, so use it alot.so much for now, try and share what new thing you found successful.

most imp, the 3 Es, energy, excitement, enthusium.

btw. i thought we will not lock him in the room from now on, i kind of figure out that it will be better. i think he wiles bec there is nothing in the bed room that attracts him. i realised this when i brought him to the OT the first time. bec the set up was liken unto a gym, he willing came dowm from my arm and play joyfully.

Good news! Stephen got an invitation to join the "rainbow special school" it came 1 yrs ahead of the expected timing. now we are trying to see how to fit him in. went for the assesment today and he is accepted and can start anytime. we are trying to work out a possible way bec someone got to bring him to school and sit thru with him. so pray with us. will keep you guys informed.


daniel

This is Angel's email to us...

Dear Hui Ping, Adrian and Chee Hoong

Chee Hoong, Thanks for your gift to Zhong-Sheng & Deborah. The rebounder is placed in the living room with a kid-sized tent and a rocker next to it.

Since last nite, Zhong-Sheng jumps on the rebounder by himself and he looks really happy. Deborah watches him jump and would say "it's now my turn" but he would just go on and on. When both of them jump at one time, Zhong-Sheng would look into his sister's eyes. At times, he tries to walk on the frame while watching his sister jump. So the living room is virtually a mini occupational therapy room for Zhong-Sheng.

2 weeks' back, Daniel brought Zhong-Sheng for occupational therapy. There, he did some amazing things. He climbed very confidently up and down a vertical ladder (mounted onto the wall). Then he ordered a set of manipulatives according to colour and height. It's amazing b'cos he hasn't shown that aspect of him in our presence.

Today while Zhong-Sheng was listening to Beethoven's "Fur Elise", I moved my fingers, in the fashion of playing music on keyboard, his eyes were either looking right into my eyes or at my fingers, alternating between both. Back in the Dec sch holidays, we started playing a DVD on a children's choir for him as he was on a "rehabitation" prog from overdosage of Thomas the train. He apparently enjoys watching the children sing, particularly those close-ups which feature kids vocalising. Music is another area which may be helpful for us to connect to him and vice versa.
Hui Ping & Adrian, these are some familiar songs :
1) Isty, bitsy spider
2) Head & shoulders, knees and toes
3) Twinkle, twinkle little star
4) 1,2,3,4,5, once I caught a fish alive
5) I love you, you love me
I'll place my green notebook on my desk in the study, you may go thru' the pages & see if you want to try out some songs which Zhong-Sheng would likely to give you eye-contact or response.

Along with this special child of mine, I am learning many things. In educational psych, we learn about accomodating but I reckon that I haven't fully understood the meaning till I really need to accomodate my own child. Hui Ping, you're right in that we really need to increase the awareness and understanding of others before they could try to accomodate Zhong-Sheng.

The many blessings outweigh a few little setbacks - for one, I thank God for you as volunteers for Zhong-Sheng. I can't express the deep gratitude that I have for each one of you who has spent time and precious resources in helping Zhong-Sheng. It sounds cliche but Thanks alot for remembering us.

Take care and may we be mindful that God is on His throne and He is ever watching over us. Adrian, share with us your results; we'll be praying with you.

Daniel & Angel

Hi all,

Angel suggested that we have a blog for us to share about our experiences with Stephen. Daniel can share with us what happens during the occupational therapy sessions and we can use this to encourage one another and see how God transforms this child!

Happy blogging!

Huiping