Okay this post is for Mum and Naish. I PROMISE TO SPELL CHECK from now on!
I have never been the best at spelling and grammar. When I type, I type fast without really thinking. I have so much in my head that it just comes out. I forget to check. Sorry to all.
A great day was had by all with family for Yom Ha-atsmaut. Back to work tomorrow!
xx
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Monday, May 9, 2011
Yom Haatsmaut Sameach! (Happy Independence Day Israel)
A NIGHT IN BILU WITH FAMILY - NOAM, A ONE MAN SHOW!!!
BRILLIANT!
Today was the best day we have had since arriving at the institute. Noam seems to have settled and seems to be enjoying the staff and the environment! Thanks goodness as I was starting to really feel like I had put too much pressure on him by taking him aways from his environment and the people he loves!
All four sessions today were amazing.. It seems that I have this mediation technique down pat!! (well maybe not perfect) but I am defiantly on my way...
Today I came to some conclusions on my own about the Feurnstein approach.. I was proud of myself and at the same time fascinated with my discoveries and how they relate to 'Noam's life (of WOW).
Sequencing and the importance it plays in every aspect of life... starting with numbers leading to language,, sequencing sets the tone for understanding. This understanding gives the child the tools to understand, discover accept and participate. Over the past week and a half at the institute each therapist has worked on a different level of sequencing . Today i discovered why!
Before we left Australia Noam's kinder teacher gave me two drawings that Noam had done. One was a pig and one was a sheep! Noam knew what they were but to the average eye they were not recognisable. This was the start of symbolic drawing. Today at the institute together with the OT they worked on drawing a person. In order to help Noam understanding of the meaning of what they were drawing the Ot called the person 'daddy' Noam was very excited but the idea and decided to take a piece of paper and a texta. Rather than draw a person, Noam drew an aeroplane! WOW!! all that talk about Daddy he wanted to go on the plane to see his daddy! AMAZING
All four sessions today were amazing.. It seems that I have this mediation technique down pat!! (well maybe not perfect) but I am defiantly on my way...Today I came to some conclusions on my own about the Feurnstein approach.. I was proud of myself and at the same time fascinated with my discoveries and how they relate to 'Noam's life (of WOW).
Sequencing and the importance it plays in every aspect of life... starting with numbers leading to language,, sequencing sets the tone for understanding. This understanding gives the child the tools to understand, discover accept and participate. Over the past week and a half at the institute each therapist has worked on a different level of sequencing . Today i discovered why!
Before we left Australia Noam's kinder teacher gave me two drawings that Noam had done. One was a pig and one was a sheep! Noam knew what they were but to the average eye they were not recognisable. This was the start of symbolic drawing. Today at the institute together with the OT they worked on drawing a person. In order to help Noam understanding of the meaning of what they were drawing the Ot called the person 'daddy' Noam was very excited but the idea and decided to take a piece of paper and a texta. Rather than draw a person, Noam drew an aeroplane! WOW!! all that talk about Daddy he wanted to go on the plane to see his daddy! AMAZING
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Isn't it amazing to talk to people who understand! to have friends that you can be totally honest with and who totally understand where you are coming from and how you feel. The world of disability is hard. It brings out the best and worst in people. You gain friends you loose friends. You gain strength you loose strength. At times you feel out of control like your whole world is falling apart. At times you feel so empowered that anything is reachable. You develop a sense of determination to do anything in your power to give your child the best life they can have... to help them reach their fullest potential no matter what it takes. Without the understanding of friends and family you could never succeed. I am so blessed to have an amazing family both in Australia and Israel. This trip would not be possible without their support. They say that true friendship is never lost in time! I have always believed in this and have been through stages in my life where i haven't had contact with people for years to reunite to the same friendship..How blessed I feel to be reunited with a friendship. One i believe was always there but was brought back through two amazing and inspirational children.
Noam, Israel and this trip has given me so much. I don't have the words to describe how this trip has and is changing my life.... I am learning daily to understand my child and myself and how we work together!
Today at the institute
we played with horses, we did some puzzles, we played with those lying down and standing up icy pole sticks... we attempted to use them to create a square. We used a white board to copy the square made of icy pole sticks to a drawing.... MY fear was that with all the stubbornness of not wanting to co operate the concepts were being lost. For the final session we
went with Sara to the park next to the institute. I wasn't sure how Noam would go trying to cooperate in open space with slides and play equipment to distract him. As Sarah wheeled Noam around the park in his pram showing him all the lying down and standing up lines she explained the important link this had to his understanding of the world around him and his every day environment. Once out of the pram and running around Noam found two icy pole sticks on his own.He picked them up and showed them to Sarah and I "SQUARE" he said... Sarah picked up another stick and together we sat. Sarah made for Noam the letter N. Noam knows his alphabet and was excited by the letter 'N'- Sarah pointed out to him that the letter 'N' was for Noam. 'WOW' said Noam. Noam picked up the sticks and proceeded to make the letter 'N' on his own! HE GOT IT!!!!!
Noam, Israel and this trip has given me so much. I don't have the words to describe how this trip has and is changing my life.... I am learning daily to understand my child and myself and how we work together!
Today at the institute
we played with horses, we did some puzzles, we played with those lying down and standing up icy pole sticks... we attempted to use them to create a square. We used a white board to copy the square made of icy pole sticks to a drawing.... MY fear was that with all the stubbornness of not wanting to co operate the concepts were being lost. For the final session we
went with Sara to the park next to the institute. I wasn't sure how Noam would go trying to cooperate in open space with slides and play equipment to distract him. As Sarah wheeled Noam around the park in his pram showing him all the lying down and standing up lines she explained the important link this had to his understanding of the world around him and his every day environment. Once out of the pram and running around Noam found two icy pole sticks on his own.He picked them up and showed them to Sarah and I "SQUARE" he said... Sarah picked up another stick and together we sat. Sarah made for Noam the letter N. Noam knows his alphabet and was excited by the letter 'N'- Sarah pointed out to him that the letter 'N' was for Noam. 'WOW' said Noam. Noam picked up the sticks and proceeded to make the letter 'N' on his own! HE GOT IT!!!!!
Where to begin?
It's been a few days since I have blogged. In the world of 'Noam' a few days can mean a million experiences and a million emotions.
That pretty much describes the past few days we have had.
I am not even sure where to begin. I think the best thing to do in a situation like this is to simply write and whatever comes out you can either enjoy to read or just skip altogether!
Last Thursday was an interesting day at the institute. Besides the usual tears and anger we saw snippets of Noam's capability. An amazing little boy with so much going on in his head. His determination and passion together with his stubbornness has in the past two weeks made me cry laugh and be proud. Last thursday we had many sessions but one which stood in my mind was that with the head of the intensive program. Chana is a woman who i don't know very well, but one that I already admire. Not only is she compassionate and wise she sees beyond what's being displayed on the outside and see's the child for who he is! In reflection i have to say that all the therapist see 'Noam' Their understanding of the 'child' their development and what makes them tick intrigues me more and more every day! In trying to open his mind in a systematic way through play i was amazed at the imitation she was able to pull out of Noam! I have always and will always believe that a child learns through play! What I have learnt over the years with Noam is that his play at times needs to be directed and realistic! what I have learnt through feurenstien is that his play needs to be 'mediated' there is a difference one which i never understood until now! Over the years we have had many issues with Noam mouthing things!! from all types of objects to his thumb. The answer has been to give him this stimulation in a more appropriate way! A rubber strip maybe.. on thursday it was brought to my attention that his need for this stimulation may very well be not only due to his lack of language but also the types of food he eats (or should I say doesn't eat)!
Hmmm food for thought!
I have to take a break this evening from this blog, sorry i had so much to say but
i As I sit and type to you all it is 8pm in Israel... Tonight marks the start of Yom Hazikaron - Remembrance day! The Siren rings and I stand in silence together with a country that mourns!
TILL TOMORROW!
It's been a few days since I have blogged. In the world of 'Noam' a few days can mean a million experiences and a million emotions.
That pretty much describes the past few days we have had.
I am not even sure where to begin. I think the best thing to do in a situation like this is to simply write and whatever comes out you can either enjoy to read or just skip altogether!
Last Thursday was an interesting day at the institute. Besides the usual tears and anger we saw snippets of Noam's capability. An amazing little boy with so much going on in his head. His determination and passion together with his stubbornness has in the past two weeks made me cry laugh and be proud. Last thursday we had many sessions but one which stood in my mind was that with the head of the intensive program. Chana is a woman who i don't know very well, but one that I already admire. Not only is she compassionate and wise she sees beyond what's being displayed on the outside and see's the child for who he is! In reflection i have to say that all the therapist see 'Noam' Their understanding of the 'child' their development and what makes them tick intrigues me more and more every day! In trying to open his mind in a systematic way through play i was amazed at the imitation she was able to pull out of Noam! I have always and will always believe that a child learns through play! What I have learnt over the years with Noam is that his play at times needs to be directed and realistic! what I have learnt through feurenstien is that his play needs to be 'mediated' there is a difference one which i never understood until now! Over the years we have had many issues with Noam mouthing things!! from all types of objects to his thumb. The answer has been to give him this stimulation in a more appropriate way! A rubber strip maybe.. on thursday it was brought to my attention that his need for this stimulation may very well be not only due to his lack of language but also the types of food he eats (or should I say doesn't eat)!
Hmmm food for thought!
I have to take a break this evening from this blog, sorry i had so much to say but
i As I sit and type to you all it is 8pm in Israel... Tonight marks the start of Yom Hazikaron - Remembrance day! The Siren rings and I stand in silence together with a country that mourns!
TILL TOMORROW!
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Soliloquy - "Narration given by a mediator directed at the child without expectation for the child to respond or give eye contact but rather immerse them in a verbal environment"
This is a concept of embarrassing language that sounds easy but is actually a difficult skill to master! To gain the skill will be to develop a communicative child who feels comfortable and develops a greater understanding of and within the world around him.
This is a skill I am beginning to embrace, explore and use. Never fear, next week i will begin to tape Noam's speech sessions with Rina... Magical....
Today Noam had an OT session like no other... It started off as most sessions so far... angry, crying and not a very happy Noam.. After a little TLC and some clever diversion techniques the therapist Rachel did some work with plastic pipes that stretch and icy pole sticks... I wasn't really sure about what she was doing but once she explained it to me i was amazed! She was teaching Noam the concept of the 'stick lying down and the sticks standing up. Why? because this is how they teach pre writing. It sounds strange i know but really when you hear the reasoning behind it, it's truly amazing. Noam has now leant (within ten minutes might i add) about horizontal and vertical lines... in the next session we will take the next step of teaching him to Draw a square, then other shapes, then letters! WOW I can't wait to sit it all come about.
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Slowly getting into the routine of the day, Well i am anyway! Noam is struggling a little with the idea of participation! In true Noam style he is testing the waters with every therapist he sees! Lucky for them they are experts at diverting the negative behaviour to positive. I guess in a way I am happy he is showing these behaviours as these are the things Naish and I struggle with everyday. These are the things i need help with the most! For those of you who know Noam even a little, one of our biggest concerns is his tendency to abscond. Funnily enough this hasn't changed in Israel however...we are working on it! The therapists are determined to win and although Noam is a tough opponent it seems that they may have the upper hand! throughout his speech session today Noam tried to run out.. instead of locking the door (as some of the other therapists have done) the speechy aloud him to leave the room as long as he asked if he could! hmmmm after the third time he started asking, after the fourth time of leaving the room he realised that mum wasn't coming with. That made it the fourth and last time in that session that he left the room! Interesting don't you think?
The key to success so far seems to be language! we haven't even touched on things and already as Noam becomes confident with his use of language I am already seeing slight changes in behaviour and ability!
The day ended with another 3 hour walk for me while Noam slept the afternoon away... I walked to the 'old city' with the purpose of visiting the market I once loved so dearly! As i walked i noticed the absolutely amazing changes made to the streets of Jerusalem. As for the market, stairs, stairs, stairs and more stairs. PRAM = NO MARKET! Oh well at least I had a nice walk there
The key to success so far seems to be language! we haven't even touched on things and already as Noam becomes confident with his use of language I am already seeing slight changes in behaviour and ability!
The day ended with another 3 hour walk for me while Noam slept the afternoon away... I walked to the 'old city' with the purpose of visiting the market I once loved so dearly! As i walked i noticed the absolutely amazing changes made to the streets of Jerusalem. As for the market, stairs, stairs, stairs and more stairs. PRAM = NO MARKET! Oh well at least I had a nice walk there
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